WWE NXT
Episode 442
#WWENXT
Original Air Date: April 4, 2018
Event Date: March 7, 2018
(available on the WWE Network)
City: Winter Park, FL
Venue: Full Sail University
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson, Nigel McGuinness
Ring Announcer: Kayla Braxton
Backstage
In the control center, Charly Caruso talks about tonight’s final match of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. She also confirms that Bobby Fish has been injured and cannot compete.
Intro Video
“Resistance” by Powerflo
Match 1
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Final Match
Authors of Pain w/ Paul Ellering vs Roderick Strong & Pete Dunne (UK Champ)
(referee: Darryl Sharma)
Result: the match ends in a double DQ when Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly attack
Time: 8:06 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Very good match up until the end. The finish was all about story and made perfect sense heading into Takeover, but the action before that was very good. AoP dominated early, but Roderick Strong helped get some momentum on his team’s side when he tagged in partway through the match. Strong and Dunne then used some extremely good teamwork and tandem moves to believably get AoP on the defensive. It seemed like the match was heading to an exciting conclusion when it was cut short by the Undisputed Era.
Ring Area
After O’Reilly and Cole’s attack, William Regal comes out to the stage. Regal says the Undisputed Era is smart. If there’s no winner to the tournament, then there will be no number one contender and no title match. Unfortunately for the Undisputed Era, they aren’t as smart as they thought. Regal makes a triple threat match for the NXT Tag Titles at Takeover: Undisputed Era defending against AoP and Strong & Dunne.
Video
The Six Man Ladder match at Takeover: New Orleans to crown the first NXT North American Champ is previewed.
Video
The history between Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa is chronicled, leading up to their match at Takeover: New Orleans.
Match 2
Kairi Sane vs Vanessa Borne
(referee: Jessika Carr)
Result: Kairi Sane wins via pinfall after an Insane Elbow
Time: 4:17
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. Sane started quickly, then Borne started to take over with her power advantage. This allowed Sane to fight back and make a comeback to lead to a predictable yet fun finish.
Backstage
Lacey Evans is not happy that the “societal trash” of NXT are getting opportunities over her, a mother and a marine.
Outside the Venue
Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly yell at William Regal about his decision earlier tonight. Regal says they have three choices: Cole can wrestle twice at Takeover, O’Reilly can defend his title on his own, or Cole can drop out of the North American Title match. The Undisputed Ersa doesn’t like any of those choices.
Video
Buildup for the Almas versus Black match at Takeover for the NXT Title.
Video
Last week at the Performance Center, Ember Moon and Shayna Baszler got into a brawl.
Backstage
Earlier this week, Ember Moon said she isn’t sorry about getting into a fight with Baszler. Baszler doesn’t respect anyone or anything, and she started this war. Moon is going to end it.
Match 3
Lars Sullivan vs Killian Dain
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: the match ends in a No Contest when Velveteen Dream, Adam Cole, EC3, and Ricochet enter the ring
Time: 5:56 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
This was okay. Sullivan and Dain didn’t really get into the match too much before the rest of the six men competing for the North American Title on Saturday came down to the ring and interrupted the proceedings.
Show Impressions
This was an okay show. It was very much focused on building up Takeover. It touched on every match whether with an in-ring segment or a video, and for that it was fine. I do like that they managed to squeeze in a match that has nothing to do with Saturday’s show, but is instead promoting next Wednesday’s NXT.
Match of the Night
Kairi Sane vs Vanessa Borne
It wasn’t spectacular (nor was it trying to be), and at the end of the match it was clear that the biggest goal was to showcase Kairi Sane. Also, this is the only match tonight that had a definitive conclusion.
Official Results: http://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2018-04-04