WWE NXT
Episode 502
#WWENXT
Original Air Date: April 17, 2019
Event Date: April 10, 2019
(available on the WWE Network)
City: Winter Park, FL
Venue: Full Sail University
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson
Ring Announcer: Kayla Braxton
Intro Video
“All Out Life” by Slipknot
Match 1
North American Title Match
Buddy Murphy vs Velveteen Dream (NA Champ)
(referee: DA Brewer)
Result: Velveteen Dream wins via pinfall after the Purple Rainmaker
Time: 14:56
Match Thoughts
Great match! Dream has been taking quite a beating as North American Champ, but that always just seems to set him up for a big comeback. Murphy showed that he could very well be the North American Champ, but Dream was quick to capitalize on any small gap in Murphy’s attack. Murphy hit Dream with kicks, knees, dives, and more, but Dream answered with big moves at the right moments. This was fun to watch.
Video
The Street Profits plan to create an opportunity by knocking on William Regal’s door. After knocking, the War Raiders emerge from Regal’s office. Hanson and Rowe say they’ve already asked Regal for a match with the Street Profits, and that match will happen next week.
Ring Area
Johnny Gargano heads to the ring with his NXT Title. He gets the “you deserve it chant,” naturally. Johnny says it’s been a long journey, but this is what happens when you don’t take “no” for an answer. He says his match with Adam Cole was the toughest of his career, but as he speaks, the Undisputed Era comes out to the stage.
Adam Cole says he will not sit in the back while Johnny has another love fest. This isn’t about not taking “no” as an answer, because Cole beat Gargano in New York. The fact that johnny can pretend to be proud of himself makes him an idiot. Cole also calls Gargano a punk.
Gargano wonders if there’s trouble in Cole’s boy band. Gargano says Cole did beat him in the first fall, but Gargano made Cole tap out in the second and third falls. And that is undisputed. Gargano says he wouldn’t be crying like Cole if he lost, but if the “bay bay” wants to come down to the ring, Gargano wouldn’t mind putting a few more points on the scoreboard. Cole heads to the ring.
While Gargano looks up at Cole, Fish, and O’Reilly as they head down the ramp, Roderick Strong attacks Gargano from behind. O’Reilly and Fish hold Gargano as Cole hits him with a superkick. The Undisputed Era poses over Gargano as the segment ends.
Video
KUSHIDA debuts in two weeks.
Match 2
Aaron Frye vs Dominik Dijakovic
(referee: Darryl Sharma)
Result: Dominik Dijakovic wins via pinfall after a spinning big boot
Time: 0:12
Match Thoughts
A one-move squash.
Ring Area
After the match, Dijakovic says he’s only in NXT because his family gave him that opportunity. His blood drives him to see opportunities, and right now he sees the North American Title.
Backstage
Cathy Kelley asks Undisputed Era if there is any tension within their group. Adam Cole starts to talk about how they don’t let their emotions get the better of them when William Regal walks up and interrupts them. Regal has just spoken with Johnny Gargano, and Gargano wants to face the Undisputed Era. Cole smiles, thinking Gargano will face him, but Regal says Gargano wants to face Roderick Strong. Strong smiles, but Cole doesn’t.
Selfie Promo
Aliyah and Vanessa Borne says Candice LeRae got lucky last week. They weren’t ready, but they’ll be ready next time. They challenge LeRae to find a partner and face them in a tag match.
Match 3
NXT Women’s Title Match
Kairi Sane vs Shayna Baszler (NXT Women’s Champ) w/ Marina Shafir, Jessamyn Duke
(referee: Drake Wuertz; stipulation: If Sane loses, she will never get another shot at the NXT Women’s Title)
Result: Shayna Baszler wins via DQ when Io Shirai pushes Baszler off of Kairi Sane
Time: 8:22
Match Thoughts
Good match. This fight started quickly. They pushed the pace early, and it looked like they might be nearing the end after only a few minutes. Sane looked very strong, but a missed flying elbow strike caused Sane to smash her arm into the barricade. Baszler immediately took control of the match and set out to hurt Sane. Since we already know Sane has been moved to SmackDown, I think this was a very good and interesting way to end Sane’s time in NXT. It helps Baszler continue to look like a monster, and it transitions some of Sane’s momentum onto Io Shirai (even though Sane could understandably have a problem with how Shirai handled herself during the match).
Ring Area
After the match, Io Shirai confronts Shayna Baszler. Duke and Shafir hold Shirai back and make her watch as Baszler stomps Sane’s arm. Baszler, Duke, and Shafir leave the ring and celebrate on the stage as Sane is attended to in the ring. Io Shirai looks up at Baszler as the show ends.
Show Impressions
This was a very good show. Two title matches (one focused on wrestling and the other focused on story) makes for an entertaining night.
Match of the Night
Velveteen Dream vs Buddy Murphy
This was a great match between two guys who are great in different ways.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2019-04-17