August 17, 2016
Episode 349
(taped July 13, 2016)
#WWENXT
City: Winter Park, FL
Venue: Full Sail University
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves
Ring Announcer: Dasha Fuentes
Video
Tonight, Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura will come face to face.
Intro Video
“Roar of the Crowd” by CFO$
Match 1
Hideo Itami vs Mustafa Ali
(referee: Shawn Bennett)
Result: Hideo Itami wins via pinfall after a Busaiku Knee Kick
Time: 3:22
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. Ali tried to avoid Itami early on, but he would get caught and hit with some impactful strikes. This was another easy return match for Itami.
Video
Bobby Roode is NXT. And he is glorious.
Video
Bayley finally gets her rematch, but Asuka has been dominating the women’s division.
Video
A look at some of the matches at Takeover: Brooklyn including Aries vs Jose, Roode vs Almas, and The Revival vs Gargano and Ciampa.
Backstage
William Regal talks about how great Takeover will be, but Billie Kay says it can’t be too great since she isn’t on it. Regal agrees that she should have a match, against the debuting Ember Moon.
Match 2
Liv Morgan & Nikki Glencross & Carmella vs Daria Berenato & Mandy Rose & Alexa Bliss
(referee: Danilo Anfibio)
Result: Carmella makes Mandy Rose submit to the Code of Silence
Time: 7:50 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. Alexa Bliss’ personality helped build interest in the match and gave it a good focal point. No single person was given a lot to do in the match, but for me Daria Berenato seemed the most interesting. Her style seems like it’s different from everyone else. Nikki Glencross seemed good, but she spent a little too much time yelling and posturing when she should have been attacking. Mandy Rose and Liv Morgan both seem like they need more work.
Backstage
William Regal gives Samoa Joe instructions to behave during the upcoming interview.
Video Promo
The prophecy of fire speaks of Ember Moon.
Backstage
Byron Saxton conducts and interview with Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura. Both men are excited about Takeover, but Joe is still upset about how Nakamura was named the number one contender. He wonders if Regal has a grudge against him.
Joe respects what Nakamura has done, but maybe not the man. Nakamura says he respects Joe, but Joe gets upset and ruins the interview. Security has to remove him.
Show Impressions
This show felt a little like they ran out of taped matches and had to fill time with video packages. I suppose it worked as a way to remind everyone of all the matches coming up at Takeover, but I would have liked a little more stuff happening at the venue.
Match of the Night
Liv Morgan & Nikki Glencross & Carmella vs Daria Berenato & Mandy Rose & Alexa Bliss
This match was more competitive, longer, and had more to it than the Itami match.