WWE NXT Results
January 8, 2014
Full Sail University
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Alex Riley, Byron Saxton
Recap by: Jason Namako of Wrestleview.com
To watch the 1/8/14 WWE NXT on Hulu, click here.
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We see the usual intro, then go to the opening match.
Summer Rae w/Sasha Banks vs. “Its” Bayley w/Natalya
The BFFs come out before the match wearing Bayley’s headbands that it appears they have stolen. Summer taunts Bayley as the bell sounds. Summer wants to hug Bayley, but Bayley is reluctant. Bayley then goes for it, but instead removes Summer’s head, allowing Bayley to Sunset Flip for a nearfall. Summer tries to leave, but Bayley slams her face-first off the mat. Bayley goes after Summer, but Summer kicks her away. Summer sends Bayley repeatedly off the turnbuckles, then chokes her with her boot. Summer taunts the crowd, but then Bayley comes back by sending Summer repeatedly off the turnbuckles. Summer sidesteps a backdrop, then hits a savate kick to the ribs, followed by a face plant for a nearfall. Summer goes to the apron and does a ballet exercise while choking Bayley in the ropes. Summer with a butt smash, then gains another nearfall. Japanese Stranglehold applied as the crowd wills on Bayley. Bayley fights back, then Summer misses a clothesline and Bayley with one of her own. Another clothesline by Bayley, followed by an avalanche in the corner and a crossbody for a nearfall. Bayley goes to the middle rope and hits a flying reverse elbow for another nearfall.
Bayley avoids a Summer spin kick and hits the Belly to Bayley for the win.
Winner: Bayley by pinfall (Belly to Bayley)
Bayley & Natalya celebrate their win afterwards.
THOUGHTS: OK Divas match. Summer adding in the ballet exercises I thought was a nice touch. Bayley getting the win was surprising, but as a babyface, she has done a great job in garnering sympathy from the NXT crowd, night and day Bayley has improved compared to her time on the indy scene.
Backstage, Devin Taylor interviews Xavier Woods. Xavier says he is here for NXT 200, but Devin corrects by saying its episode 203. Xavier goes to leave as he says he will be back for NXT 300, but Devin stops him to say that Kane is here to address Xavier. Xavier says that R-Truth told him that Kane might come from the depths of hell with the Authority to give me something to do while I’m here on NXT. So, bring it, because I am over 9000!!
THOUGHTS: Over 9000, eh? OK……………………..
Commercial
“Big Cass” Colin Cassady vs. ” The Artiste” Aiden English
English does his usual singing before the bell. Cassady backs English into the corner and hits a series of knees to the ribs. Right hands and back elbows while spelling out “SAWFT”, followed by a big back club for a nearfall. English avoids a corner charge and Cassady hits his head on the ringpost. English with a chopblock, followed by a series of forearms to the back for a nearfall. Combination keylock/chinlock applied by English while he yells that no one steals his spotlight. Cassady fights out and hits a big backdrop. High knee and a leaping elbow drop for a nearfall. English goes to the ropes and the ref keeps Cassady back. English takes advantage by hitting a kick to the knee.
Cassady then takes a bow as English hits the Director’s Cut for the win.
Winner: ” The Artiste” Aiden English by pinfall (The Director’s Cut)
Crowd wants an encore, but English doesn’t give them one, although roses are thrown at him afterwards.
THOUGHTS: Solid first match in the feud between these two. Liked the intestity from both and Cassady showed a lot of good babyface fire on his comeback, including showing some nice crowd interaction by having them spell out “SAWFT.” The heel usually wins the first match, so English going over was smart and the finish was well done with English going after the leg before hitting the Director’s Cut finish. Good stuff.
Backstage, Devin Taylor interviews Adrian Neville. She begins to ask Neville a question, but all of a sudden, Neville’s cell phone begins ringing. Neville takes the call and its Tyler Breeze on the other line, while in the same room as him. Breeze explains that this way of talking means I don’t have to look at your “Uggo” face and that way, my beautiful eyeballs don’t melt out of my head. I do need to talk to you, I just wanted to tell you…..sorry about that Bo Dallas loss thing. Neville & Breeze begin arguing back and forth about who started it. Breeze says that the NXT Universe deserves a champion that’s gorgeous and that’s me. Not you, not anyone. Neville says that Breeze likes to play games, so let’s play the waiting game. I could hit you right now with my fist, but I won’t, I’ll wait til next week. Its much more fun to watch you squirm. See you then, pretty boy. Neville walks off as Breeze mocks his nickname while staring at himself in his iPhone.
THOUGHTS: Not gonna mince words here, that was not good.
Commercial
Xavier Woods makes his way to the ring. Then, the music of Kane hits as he makes his way to the ring. Kane says that he is sure Xavier is proud of his recent successes on RAW, but I’m not referring to what you have done in the ring, albeit it quite impressive. I’m referring to your adjacation behind the scenes, specfically you were instrumental in putting together the petition that helped Big Show get back into the WWE. I can assure you that the Authority has not forgotten this fact. The Authority was patiently waiting for the apporiate time to punish you and that time has come. Kane introduces Xavier’s opponent tonight, Alexander Rusev.
THOUGHTS: Boy, I love me some Glenn the Libertian in swank gray suits with red ties. This may be Kane’s best acting to date in this company. So good.
“The Bulgrian Brute” Alexander Rusev w/Lana vs. Xavier Woods
Kane remains at ringside to watch this match. Woods with right hands to Rusev early. Rusev misses 2 clotheslines, but catches Woods with a Samoan Drop for a nearfall. Rusev applies a nerve hold, followed by 2 elbow drops and 2 falling headbutts for another nearfall. Nerve hold re-applied. Woods fights out and hits a series of jabs. Discus right hand, followed by a flying forearm and a front dropkick. Woods hits the Honor Roll, but Rusev blocks Lost in the Woods and hits the running body block.
Accolade applied and Woods taps.
Winner: “The Bulgrian Brute” Alexander Rusev by submission (The Accolade)
Rusev stands tall over Woods while Lana & Kane are pleased by the results.
THOUGHTS: Short, but fun match. Loved Woods ducking and diving to avoid the bigger Rusev and then picking his spots before he was shot out of a cannon and mowed down to continue Rusev’s domination. Thumbs up.
We go to an exclusive interview from after last week’s NXT with Kofi Kingston. Kofi says he broke the most important rule in wrestling by under-estimating Rusev. I took my eye off the ball thanks to Lana, but I will not under-estimate Rusev again, I challenge him to a re-match, I will not make the same mistake twice.
THOUGHTS: Not a Kofi fan, but that was a good straight-forward promo to hype up a rematch with Rusev.
Commercial
Tyson Kidd vs. Baron Corbin
Kidd with a side headlock, but Corbin mows him down with a shoulder tackle. Kidd slides under Corbin’s legs, kips up and hits a savate kick to the ribs. Kidd off the ropes, but Corbin with a back elbow for a nearfall. Right hand knocks Kidd down. Kidd comes back with a chop, but Corbin throws him into the corner and hits a series of gut punches. Another running shoulder knockdown by Corbin for a nearfall. Chinlock applied with Corbin’s knee driven into Kidd’s back. Kidd gets to his feet, but Corbin slams him back down and re-applies the hold. Kidd fights back, but Corbin with a knee to the ribs. Kidd then catches Corbin with a drop toe hold, sending Corbin face-first into the middle turnbuckle. Backflip kick by Kidd sends him onto the apron. Enziguri, followed by two kicks. Running front dropkick by Kidd for a nearfall. Slingshot legdrop while Corbin’s throat was across the bottom rope.
Kidd heads up top and hits a Blockbuster for the win.
Winner: Tyson Kidd by pinfall (Blockbuster)
Kidd celebrates his win afterward.
THOUGHTS: Kidd looked good, Corbin looked decent in his first bit of actual ring time in NXT, but this was nothing to write home about.
Commercial
Main Event in a Tornado Match: Hunico & Camacho vs. NXT Tag Team Champions The Ascension (Konnor & Viktor)
No Count-Out, No DQ rules in this match. All 4 men in the ring at the same time, can only win by pinfall or submission. Bell sounds and all 4 men begin brawling with one another. Hunico & Camacho take over early, but the Ascension fight back. Viktor gains a 1 count on Hunico. Camacho with a back suplex on Konnor. Hunico & Camacho regain control. Konnor comes back with a back suplex on Camacho. The Ascension now take control of the match. Konnor runs into a Camacho back elbow, then Hunico hits a Rampage Bomb on Viktor, followed by a top rope leg drop by Camacho, but Konnor breaks up the pin. Hunico nails Konnor with a dropkick, sending him to the outside. Viktor goes out as well as the Ascension re-group while we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial as the two teams brawl on the outside. Hunico & Camacho drive the Ascension face-first off their bicycles. Back in, Hunico & Camacho continue to work over the Ascension. Hunico & Camacho begin to do the ten punches in the corner, but the Ascension come back with stereo powerbombs, gaining stereo nearfalls. The Ascension begin working over Hunico & Camacho. Hunico driven into the apron by Viktor. Konnor with the one man flapjack to Camacho for a nearfall. Viktor with a series of uppercuts to Camacho. Snap suplex for a nearfall. Hunico sent onto the apron, but then he heads up top and wipes out the Ascension with a crossbody. Double clothesline by Camacho, then stereo dropkicks by Hunico & Camacho to the Ascension. Springboard moonsault by Hunico on the Ascension for a nearfall. Hunico heads up top as Camacho with a Samoan Drop to Konnor. Hunico hits the Falling Star, but Viktor breaks up the pin. Hunico clotheslines Viktor to the outside. Baseball slide kick by Hunico, but Viktor catches Camacho off a tope suicida attempt with a big uppercut. Hunico is distracted by this, allowing Konnor to hit a full nelson slam.
Fall of Man by the Ascension for the win.
Winners: NXT Tag Team Champions The Ascension by pinfall (The Fall of Man)
The Ascension stand all over Hunico as we go to credits.
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THOUGHTS: Decent main event but these two teams just never seem to click with one another for some reason. The tornado stip helped things a bit to give it that freneic brawl feel to the match and there was some nifty sequences, but they never seemed to get out of first gear which has also been the story of this feud. Hunico & Camacho have potential as a fun babyface tag team, but the Ascension since winning the titles have been very underwhelming. So this was a decent affair but it just didn’t click with both the crowd and the viewer.
Overall, real pedestrian NXT this week. Some good performances sprinkled throughout, but there was nothing must-see whatsoever. Love me some NXT, but you can skip this one without any problem at all.