WWE NXT
Episode 404
#WWENXT
Original Air Date: August 2, 2017
Event Date: July 12, 2017
City: Winter Park, FL
Venue: Full Sail University
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Intro Video
“Resistence” by Powerflo
Match 1
Johnny Gargano vs Raul Mendoza
(referee: DA Brewer)
Result: Johnny Gargano wins via submission with a crossface
Time: 4:13
Match Thoughts
Quite a good match. I like Mendoza. Hopefully we’ll see more of him which will mean more fast-paced matches with great, agile sequences. This was a good opener and a good match for Gargano’s return to the ring.
Backstage
Paul Ellering (with Akam and Rezar) whispers about SAnitY.
** This was difficult to hear, but I don’t think I missed much anyway. **
Ring Area
Asuka heads to the ring. She brags about beating Ember Moon before, and says she will beat Ember Moon again. Ember Moon is not ready for Asuka. Ember Moon heads to the ring.
Ember has been doing everything she can to get back into the ring after her injury. SHe’s ready, and everyone knows it. Including Asuka. Asuka offers her hand to Ember, but takes it away and slaps Ember. Ember then attacks. After a short brawl, Ember hits Asuka with an Eclipse.
Backstage
Bobby Roode says Roderick strong lost the “Bobby Roode Lottery.” Strong will want to play again, but he doesn’t belong in Roode’s NXT. He then says Drew McIntyre might be a changed man, so he offers to sit down and speak with him. Strong then comes in and has to be held back from attacking Roode.
William Regal tells Strong he needs to be a professional about his grievances with Roode. Strong asks what he can do to get at Roode, but Regal says the McIntyre/Roode match is already set for Takeover. Frustrated, Strong walks away.
Video
The Street Profits are headed to NXT next week.
Match 2
Sonya Deville vs Jenna Van Bemel
(referee: Tom Castor)
Result: Sonya Deville wins via submission with a triangle armbar
Time: 2:03
Match Thoughts
This was pretty much a squash. We didn’t really get to see much from either woman.
Backstage
Kayla Braxton asks Hideo Itami about his attack on Kassius Ohno last week. Itami says no one is showing him any respect, so why should he respect Ohno? Braxton then interrupts Itami and says she needs to send it back to the ring. Itami grabs the mic and walks away.
Ring Area
Itami walks into the ring and demands that people show him respect. He starts to speak in Japanese when Aleister Black heads to the ring for the next match. Black gets in Itami’s face. Itami starts to walk away but heads back in to attack Black. Black hits Itami with a Black Mass kick instead.
Match 3
Aleister Black vs Kyle O’Reilly
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: Aleister Black wins via pinfall after Black Mass
Time: 13:48 (2 breaks)
Match Thoughts
Very good match! This was a great debut for O’Reilly, and it was easily one of Black’s better matches in NXT. These two were very evenly matched throughout, and there were some nice sequences of moves, holds, and strikes. I liked the exchange in the finish. I’d like to see this match again sometime when O’Reilly has a little momentum in NXT.
Show Impressions
I liked this show. Other than the women’s match (which did alright to build up Deville but still felt like a throwaway segment), this episode had a lot of good packed into it. I think the NXT title picture is interesting with Strong apparently not finished even though Roode seems to be moving on to McIntyre, the women’s title feud is still shaping up nicely, and O’Reilly’s debut helped get me a little interested in Aleister Black.
Match of the Night
Aleister Black vs Kyle O’Reilly
As stated above, a great debut for O’Reilly and a memorable NXT main event.