WWE NXT
Episode 429
#WWENXT
Original Air Date: January 10, 2018
Event Date: January 4, 2018
City: Atlanta, GA
Venue: Center Stage Theater
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson, Nigel McGuinness
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Backstage
The Undisputed Era welcomes everyone to 2018, a year where they will prove their dominance.
Intro Video
“Resistance” by Powerflo
Video
In a video recorded last week by Shayna Baszler at the WWE Performance Center, Baszler interrupts a training session with Jessie Elaban and Dakota Kai. Baszler offers to show Elaban how a rear naked choke is supposed to feel, but she refuses to let go even when Elaban taps. Baszler laughs as she walks away.
Match 1
Shayna Baszler vs Dakota Kai
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: Shayna Baszler wins via stoppage when Dakota Kai can’t continue the match after a stomp to her arm
Time: 1:32
Match Thoughts
This was completely one-sided. Baszler had her way with Kai, manipulating Kai’s body into any submission she wanted. Short match, kind of a squash, but it certainly put over how dangerous Baszler can be.
Ring Area
After the match, Bazsler puts Kai in the Kirifuda Clutch. She only lets goe when Ember Moon rushes out to the ring. Baszler smiles as she walks away and Moon helps check on Kai.
Backstage
The Authors of Pain and Paul Ellering say they want to face the winners of tonight’s tag title match.
Backstage
Christy St. Cloud tries to get a word from Shayna Baszler, but William Regal steps in. He tells Baszler that attacking people from behind won’t get her a title match. Baszler doesn’t seem to care.
Match 2
Kassius Ohno vs Raul Mendoza
(referee: Tom Castor)
Result: Kassius Ohno wins via pinfall after a High Tension Elbow Strike
Time: 4:26
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. Mendoza flew around the ring and Ohno hit Mendoza really hard, so both guys did what they excel at. There didn’t seem to be a great flow to the match, but it was fine. It was a nice showing from both guys.
Backstage
Earlier today, Zelina Vega says that Johnny Gargano has not earned a title shot. Johnny Wrestling is a lie, but Almas is a true champ.
Backstage
Christy St. Cloud asks Johnny Gargano what he’s thinking. Gargano is excited to have a title shot, but Velveteen Dream interrupts. Dream knows lots of things, including that the Dream deserves his spot more than Gargano.
Backstage
The Street Profits need some gold, so they ask William Regal when they’ll be getting their tag title shot. Regal informs them that there will be a number one contender match between the Street Profits and the Authors of Pain next week.
Match 3
Lio Rush vs Lars Sullivan
(referee: Drake Wuertz)
Result: Lars Sullivan wins via pinfall after a Freak Accident
Time: 1:53
Match Thoughts
Rush looked good early, running around and avoiding Sullivan, but that was just delaying what this match really was. It was a squash.
Ring Area
Sullivan gets on the mic and talks about winning matches. There’s someone he wants to face though. He wants to destroy Killian Dain. He then picks up Rush and hits him with a Freak Accident from the second rope.
Backstage
The Undisputed Era attacks SAnitY.
Ring Area
The Undisputed Era heads to the ring. Adam Cole thinks something is missing. Kyle O’Reilly wonders where SAnitY is. Bobby Fish wonders if they forgot they had a match. Nikki Cross then tries to run to the ring but is held back by referees.
After Nikki is dragged away, William Regal comes out to the stage. He informs O’Reilly and Fish that they’ll be defending their tag titles tonight. Before he can announce their opponents, Roderick Strong comes out and says he’ll fight. Before he can go look for a partner, Aleister Black comes out.
Match 4
NXT Tag Title Match
Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish (NXT Tag Champs) w/ Adam Cole vs Roderick Strong & Aleister Black
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: Kyle O’Reilly pins Roderick Strong after Total Elimination
Time: 8:10 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Great match. The action was very good in this one, probably highlighted by a segment where Roderick Strong took on both O’Reilly and Fish by himself. The teamwork of Undisputed Era was very good, including a well-timed distraction from Adam Cole.
Ring Area
After the match, Undisputed Era attacks Aleister Black. After beating him down, Adam Cole hits Black with an Ushi Garoshi onto a chair set up in the center of the ring.
Undisputed Era heads to the stage, but William Regal ends their celebration when he announces that Cole’s match with Aleister Black at Takeover: Philadelphia will be an Extreme Rules match. Cole looks angry at first, but he ends up thanking Regal after thinking about who he’ll be able to have as his side.
Show Impressions
I liked this show. It felt a little disjointed, but the stories were good and the main event was great. This show did a lot to help me get excited for the next few weeks in NXT, including Takeover.
Match of the Night
NXT Tag Title Match
No question. Great match.