WWE NXT
January 8, 2015
Full Sail University
Commentators: Rich Brennan, Jason Albert, Corey Graves
Recap by: Jason Namako of Wrestleview.com
We see the usual intro, then the music of NXT Champion Sami Zayn hits as he makes his way to the ring. “OLE” chant by the crowd for Zayn.
Zayn goes to speak, but then leaves the ring and heads into the crowd to be amongst his fans, holding up the NXT Title. Zayn gets back in and says he thought a proper thank you was in order. “You deserve it” chants by the crowd. Zayn says let’s talk for one second about what this title means. Now in the hands of anyone else, this title means you are the best. In my hands, it means something entirely different. It means you can do it your way! It means you don’t gonna listen to what they tell you what you gotta be. It means you don’t have to listen to what they want you to do, what they think you need to do to do it, all you gotta do is do you, do it better than anyone else and the proof is right here! Crowd chants for Zayn. Zayn says here is the cheesy part. I’m gonna hate myself for saying this, but I have to get this off my chest. This is not mine, this is ours. You see, I’m not just a wrestler and I’m not just a WWE Superstar, I’m in a band and that band is Sami Zayn and the Zayneiacs and everybody here plays an instrument. Everybody here makes the music with us, we make the music, we do! We write the songs that make the whole world sing! Another “OLE” chant by the crowd for Zayn, who says he loves that song.
Zayn says that NXT Takeover should have been the best night of my life and it really was, it just didn’t end exactly how I wanted it to end. It ended with Kevin Owens coming out here, sweating and crying and bleeding, literally, blood, sweat and tears all over his face, hugging me right here. And it was a moment, man, it was a moment, 100 percent real and then he ruined it, he killed it, he hurt me. Well, guess what? You hurt me, but you didn’t end me! I’m right here, I’m back! And I have this with me and I’m ready to defend this, anytime, anywhere.
The music of Adrian Neville hits as he makes his way to the ring. Neville has a mic and says he is sorry to interrupt Zayn, but this is something I wanted to say to you weeks ago, but obviously, I didn’t have the opportunity, but still its something I need to say. Last time we were in this ring, we had a battle. We stood toe-to-toe, we tore each other to pieces, we give our very best and on that very night, you came out the better man. I saw a new Sami, Sami the champion, congratulations. Neville and Zayn shake hands.
Zayn says that it means a lot, after all we have been through, it really means a lot to me and look, I don’t know everything, I don’t know every rule that’s in the rulebook, but I’m almost sure that you are entitled to a rematch. Now, I haven’t been 100 percent and you haven’t been 100 percent, but………
The music of NXT GM William Regal hits as he makes his way onto the rampway. Regal has a mic as the crowd chants for him. Regal says its not about me tonight, its about these two great competitors standing in the ring in front of you. Gentlemen, firstly, I’d like to thank you both personally in front of everybody here because its unquestionable that the contest that you two had at R Evolution was one for the ages and it makes me proud that you compete under the NXT banner and it is without question that Adrian Neville is due a rematch for the NXT Title. And so next week, on this show, the NXT Title will be contested again between Adrian Neville and the champion, Sami Zayn.
We go backstage with the Vaudevillains as they are preparing for their NXT Tag Team Title match later tonight. Aiden English says that they are preparing to right the wrong from NXT Takeover and thank you, thank you to the righteous Mr. Regal for giving us that opportunity that we rightly deserve and now, we get a chance to show the entire WWE Universe why we deserve to be Tag Team Champions and why we are so manly.
Commercial
Hideo Itami vs. Curtis Axel
Axel backs Itami into the corner, then says that he doesn’t care who Itami is, Itami is a piece of crap. Axel with a knee to the ribs and a back club. Gut kick, a chop, Axel misses a clothesline, Itami with a flying kick. Series of chest kicks in the corner by Itami, but Axel fires out of the corner with a forearm. Axel catches double boots by Itami in the corner, drapes him across the ropes, then hits a series of crossface shots to the back of Itami’s head, followed by a Northern Lariat. Axel taunts the crowd. Axel stomps away at Itami, followed by a dropkick. Elbows to the top of the head by Axel, then rakes his foot across Itami’s face. Chinlock applied, crowd wills on Itami. Itami fights out, but Axel sidesteps a backdrop with a front kneelift for 2. Axel rakes his forearm against the face of Itami, chinlock re-applied. Itami gets to his feet, but Axel drives him back down to the mat. Axel says to the crowd, “who is this guy? Who cares about him?” Crowd chants for Itami. Elbow drop to the back of Itami by Axel, then chokes him with his shin. Head and arm lock applied, Itami fights out, Axel with another knee to the ribs. Itami slips out of a slam, but Axel with a back elbow. Itami comes back with a flying clothesline. Axel runs into a boot by Itami in the corner. Tornado Hotshot by Itami, heads up top, Top Rope Flying Clothesline gets a close 2. KENTA Series by Itami, but Axel catches a running chest kick. Axel goes for the Perfect-Plex, but Itami slips out and snapmares Axel.
Basement Spinning Roundhouse gets Itami the win.
Winner: Hideo Itami by pinfall (Basement Spinning Roundhouse)
Itami celebrates his win afterward.
Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Tyson Kidd & Natalya. Natalya says that Kidd is busy preparing for his match with Finn Balor next week, do you have any questions for me? Byron congratulates Natalya on the new season of Total Divas.
Natalya starts to speak, but Kidd interrupts her and asks when did Natalya last check on his cats?
Natalya corrects him by saying our cats.
Kidd says that when the cats are sick, I’m the one chewing up the food and feeding them mouth-to-mouth, so that makes them a little bit more my cats than yours.
Natalya says that first of all, that is just weird, that is what mama birds do with baby birds and you’re not a bird, last I checked.
Kidd says that he has a big match next week and I’m just trying to get everything cleared in my head.
Natalya says that she has a big match coming up too next week, so I’m just as busy as you.
Kidd asks if Natalya can please go check on our cats, it would mean the world to me, please.
Natalya says OK, she will go give them some milk, whatever you want, pumpkin. Natalya leaves as Kidd says that remember, Louie needs the metal one, he has allergies to the plastic, thank you.
Kidd quickly says that they are his cats, then says that Finn Balor next week, I’m not looking past him, but I’m looking past him. You see, I’m looking at the NXT Title and I will finally become the face of NXT, but not just that, I will also replace Sarah McLachican and become the face of the SPCA. See, Tyson Kidd is more than just a humanitarian, FACT! I am also a man of the animals, especially cats, but not Grumpy Cat, FACT!
We see video on the rivalry between Baron Corbin and Bull Dempsey. They finally face-off next week on NXT.
Commercial
Alexa Bliss vs. “The Boss” Sasha Banks w/Becky Lynch
This is a return match from a month ago when Sasha broke the nose of Bliss during the match. Sasha trash talks Bliss as the bell sounds and piefaces her. Bliss fires back with a series of forearms. Bliss goes up & over Sasha in the corner, Sunset Flip gets 2. Bliss with a boot, but Sasha counters a spinning headscissors with a backbreaker for only 1. Sasha stomps on Bliss’s fingers, then yells “how is your nose, Alexa?” before slamming Bliss’s face into the mat. Crossface shots by Sasha, gets 2. “Sasha’s ratchet” chants by the crowd. Sasha goes for a slam, but Bliss counters it with an inside cradle for 2. Crucifix by Bliss for another 2. Sasha catches double boots by Bliss in the corner and drapes her across the middle rope. Double knees by Sasha in the corner.
Lung Blower into the Bank Statement, Bliss taps.
Winner: “The Boss” Sasha Banks by submission (The Bank Statement)
Sasha keeps the hold applied a little longer after the bell sounds until finally breaking and celebrating her win with Lynch.
Backstage, Tyler Breeze says that the time has finally come, my vacation is over and your dreams are about to come true. Prince Pretty returns, NEXT!
Commercial
We see video highlighting the Sami Zayn-Adrian Neville NXT Title match at R Evolution. Next week on NXT will be the rematch.
“Prince Pretty” Tyler Breeze vs. Chad Gable
This is Gable’s NXT TV debut as he is a former amateur wrestler who competed in the Olympics. Gable with a series of amateur takedowns early into a front chancery. Breeze tries to get free, but Gable keeps the hold applied. Crowd chants for Gable. Breeze backs Gable into the ropes, gut shot and a right hand. Breeze stomps away at Gable in the corner, then mocks the crowd chanting for him. Snapmare, legdrop gets Breeze 2. Chinlock applied, crowd wills on Gable. Breeze says that Gable might as well give up, this isn’t the Olympics. Gable fights out and hits a judo arm throw, followed by dropping his body weight across Breeze’s arm. Breeze comes back with a kick to the knee, but Gable with a right hand, then goes to the middle rope and falls back, locking Breeze in a cross armbreaker.
Breeze then comes back with the Beauty Shot for the win.
Winner: “Prince Pretty” Tyler Breeze by pinfall (The Beauty Shot)
Breeze celebrates his win afterward.
Backstage, Devin Taylor interviews Finn Balor about his match next week with Tyson Kidd. Balor says that obviously, I’m very excited to face Tyson Kidd, he’s someone I’ve looked up to my entire career. We’ve trained in a lot of the same places and he’s a product of the infamous Hart Dungeon. But, everybody knows that Kidd loves his cats. Well, he’s gonna need a lot more than nine lives to survive Finn Balor and that is a fact.
Commercial
We see that before the commercial after Tyler Breeze’s match with Chad Gable, we pan to the crowd and see someone in the balcony that appears to be Marcus Louis, peering down at Breeze.
Main Event in a R Evolution Return Match for the NXT Tag Team Titles: The Vaudevillains (“The Artiste” Aiden English & Simon Gotch) vs. The Lucha Dragons (Sin Cara & Kalisto) (c’s)
Kalisto & Gotch start. Gotch misses a clothesline, springboard crossbody and right hands by Kalisto. Dropkick, Cara tags in. Snapmare, sandwich kicks, wheelbarrow-assisted back senton by the Lucha Dragons gets 2. Gut shot, chop, knee to the ribs by Cara. Gory Special applied into a pin attempt for 1. Gotch backs Cara into his corner, English tags in. Right hands, kneedrop by English gets 1. English yells at Cara, “not tonight, they’re coming back with us” before stomping away at him. Kneelift, English runs into a back elbow. Cara with a shot to Gotch on the apron, English with a gut kick. English with a Schoolboy that sends Cara outside, but then Cara pulls out English by the legs, sending English crashing down to the outside. Kalisto dropkicks Gotch off the apron to the outside. Lucha Dragons with a head of steam, stereo tope suicidas wipe out the Vaudevillains! Back in, Cara gets 2 on English. Armbar applied as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial as Kalisto with a kneedrop to the arm of English. English runs into a boot by Kalisto in the corner. Kalisto with a kick to Gotch on the apron, overhand chop to English. Knucklelock applied, Kalisto with multiple springboards, going for a lucha armdrag, but Gotch grabs English’s leg on the way down, causing Kalisto to crash & burn on the mat. Gotch in, series of kneedrops and stomps to Kalisto. Cradle Back suplex gets 2. English in, another stomp to Kalisto gets another 2. Right hand, English rakes his forearm against the face of Kalisto. Gotch in, double arm wrench, double chop by the Vaudevillains. Neck vise applied by Gotch, crowd wills on Kalisto. Crucifix by Gotch gets 2. English in, double arm wrench, double back club by the Vaudevillains gets another 2. Kalisto avoids an English corner charge, roll-up gets 2. English stops Kalisto from making a tag, pinning predicament gets another 2. Chinlock applied, crowd again wills on Kalisto. Kalisto gets to his feet, but English drives Kalisto back down, using Kalisto’s tights for leverage. English begins singing opera while keeping Kalisto in the chinlock. Kalisto sidesteps a backdrop attempt, spinning headscissors to English, Cara blind tags in during the move.
Springboard headbutt, clothesline, springboard crossbody, English misses a clothesline, spinning headscissors by Cara. Gotch comes in, Cara with a dropkick. Cara places English up top, chop. Super Inverted Code Red by Cara, Gotch breaks up the pin. Gotch charges at Kalisto on the apron, Kalisto pulls down the top rope, Gotch goes sailing to the outside. Kalisto blind tags in, roll-up into a Power Clean by Cara.
Top Rope Corkscrew Clothesline/Power Clean Bomb combo by the Lucha Dragons on English gets the win.
Winners and STILL NXT Tag Team Champions: The Lucha Dragons by pinfall (Top Rope Corkscrew Clothesline/Power Clean Bomb combo)
Lucha Dragons celebrate their title retention as the show closes.