WWE NXT
Episode 448
#WWENXT
Original Air Date: May 9, 2018
Event Date: April 11, 2018
(available on the WWE Network)
City: Winter Park, FL
Venue: Full Sail University
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson
Ring Announcer: Kayla Braxton
Intro Video
“Resistance” by Powerflo
Ring Area
Ricochet heads to the ring. He says his mission during Wrestlemania weekend was to make sure everyone was talking about him. He has plans to take over NXT, and the only thing on his mind is the NXT Championship.
Velveteen Dream comes out to the stage. Dream says “no.” Dream wants to know who gave Ricochet the authority to ask for title shots. He also wants Ricochet to take a step back. Ricochet may be “the one and only,” but there is only one “experience.” However Ricochet chooses to flip or flop, he better land at the back of the line.
Ricochet reminds Dream of his loss to Aleister Black. Ricochet tells Dream that he’s good, but he’s not Ricochet. Ricochet is here to steal Dream’s show and his spotlight. Dream thinks that’s funny. Ricochet can try, but anything Ricochet can do, Dream can do better. Ricochet tells Dream to prove it.
Dream and Ricochet stare at each other for a while before Dream slides out of the ring and walks away.
Match 1
Raul Mendoza vs EC3
(referee: Darryl Sharma)
Result: EC3 wins via pinfall after The One Percent (TKO)
Time: 2:42
Match Thoughts
Mendoza had some offense, but EC3 didn’t seem to have much trouble in this match. It wasn’t a squash, but it was close.
Ring Area
Cathy Kelley asks how important this match was. EC3 says adversity makes a man, and EC3 is a man. The only thing you’ll see from EC3 in the future is victory after victory until NXT turns into NX3.
Backstage
Last week, Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch tell Pete Dunne that they don’t like him. But they all have a problem with the Undisputed Era. Dunne acknowledges their shared problem before walking away.
Match 2
Dakota Kai vs Vanessa Borne
(referee: DA Brewer)
Result: Dakota Kai wins via pinfall after a sunset flip double knee backbreaker
Time: 2:35
Math Thoughts
Pretty good match. Borne didn’t have much offense, but it was a good showing for Dakota Kai. Her finisher was pretty neat.
Ring Area
Shayna Baszler heads to the ring after the match. Baszler walks toward Kai, causing Kai to cower in the corner. Baszler backs away and puts Vanessa Borne in a choke hold while Kai watches. Kai leaves the ring. Baszler stares at Kai before Kai heads to the backstage area.
Backstage
Dakota Kai runs into Cathey Kelley. Kelley asks why Kai is so scared of Baszler, but Kai doesn’t have an answer. Baszler walks up and dares Kai to kick her. Kai freezes, and Baszler walks away. Alone, Kai hears someone laughing. Nikki Cross is hanging out nearby, and she thinks something is quite funny.
Match 3
Heavy Machinery vs War Raiders
(referee: Tom Castor)
Result: Hanson pins Tucker Knight after Fallout
Time: 2:49
Match Thoughts
I was hoping this would go on a lot longer, but it was a fairly entertaining and very dominant performance from War Raiders.
Video
The Street Profits work out on a basketball court. They want the NXT Titles, and they’ll do anything to get them.
Match 4
Tommaso Ciampa vs Kassius Ohno
(referee: Drake Wuertz)
Result: Tommaso Ciampa wins via pinfall after a cutter
Time: 9:27
Match Thoughts
Good match. There was a lot of anger and frustration sow between these two men. It made for a slightly brutal and dangerous-feeling match. I don’t think the result was any surprise, but it was certainly good for Ciampa (which will make it that much better for Gargano when he returns).
Show Impressions
This was another NXT with a lot of mini-matches followed by a good main event. I wish they could even things out a bit more, but I was still entertained. It still feels like NXT is in a story building phase, so I can forgive the super short matches.
Match of the Night
Tommaso Ciampa vs Kassius Ohno
Best match of the night by default, but I do think it’s a good step in the larger story of Tommaso Ciampa.
Official Results: http://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2018-05-09