NXTweet 02.12.15

This week's episode of NXT was all about solidifying the spots of the main players ahead of Takeover: London.

Nia Jax got to win a squash match and calmly confront Bayley backstage. 'The Hugster' got to show she was intimidated by her new challenger (always important for a fightin' babyface) and officially accept the unspoken challenge. Then she was thrown through a door, which got over Nia's power and made her ruthlessness clear while putting Bayley at an even larger disadvantage than she was before. Because she's now not just facing a larger opponent, she's doing so after being thrown through some specially constructed collapsible furniture. 

The tag title competitors didn't get as much air time but chances are they'll get spotlighted next week. Here we were shown champs Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson bragging about having already injured Big Cass's leg, a nice change of pace from the kind of heels presented on the main WWE roster. It's a basic thing but not something anyone on the more high profile WWE shows would get to do. What's more, Dash and Dawson are good at it. It plays to their strengths.

The more interesting news from the tag division came after the Vaudevillains versus Jason Jordan and Chad Gable match. English and Gotch lost and were offered a handshake. Despite having shaken backstage beforehand they refused. The bad sportsmen shtick signals a heel turn for the pair which, while not exactly needed because they're so popular, is still welcome because the pair were in danger of becoming stale, having faced most teams available to them and having been champs. It'll be interesting to see how bad guy hipsters are portrayed in NXT.

While NXT champion Finn Bálor remained unseen his next opponent, Samoa Joe, got to headline the show. He had a stiff (or, as Steve Austin would likely say, snug) match with Tommaso Ciampa. It was wonderfully hossy and a credit to both men. Joe won with the Coquina clutch, a move that's been built up as inescapable and a sure-fire match-ender for months. Were he heading into a match with John Cena we'd obviously get a spot where Cena powers out of the hold. In NXT against Bálor that's not going to happen, but the champion could escape the hold.

As things stand now I'm expecting a Joe victory at Takeover: London. A Bálor promotion to the main roster seems like it could happen on any given Monday night. There's no more obvious candidate to replace him than Samoa Joe. He could work with Apollo Crews before turning face and doing something with Baron Corbin, should he be in NXT for long enough.

There's also the Sami Zayn return to factor in. He could come back and challenge Bálor. They'd have very good matches but it doesn't quite feel like the direction in which NXT would go. What seems far likelier (to me at least) is a Joe win over Bálor at Takeover, only to be confronted by a returning Zayn as the show closes. For now, that's what I think we're going to get.

Intro

Tweet 1: It's NXTime. I've done that one before and I don't care.

Tweet 2: James Storm shown in the still for this episode. It's already quite the show.
Tweet 3: To be clear, I do not rate Jim Storm. Can't even enjoy him ironically.

Baron Corbin v Tye Dillinger

Tweet 4: But someone I CAN enjoy ironically is 'The Big Wolf' Barry Corbin.

Tweet 5: Had Barry been around in the early 90s he definitely would have gotten work in Smoky Mountain.
Tweet 6: I want a pre-match promo from Barry in which he claims to eat tens for breakfast.
Tweet 7: Wish Jim Ross was still alive to gush about Barry's football background and stud-like appearance.
Tweet 8: Sadly Jim Ross of NXT 1610 died in a company-wide crossover event.
Tweet 9: If Dillinger had a finisher to hit he probably could have won that.

The state of this move.

Tweet 10: Still think the End of Days is a daft-looking move. Good name though.

Apollo Crews interviewed backstage

Tweet 11: Apollo Crews is concerned for Barry Corbin's safety. He's even laughing about how concerned he is.

Tommaso Ciampa interviewed backstage

Tweet 12: Tommaso Ciampa looking decidedly like a hipster here.

Tweet 13: Ciampa is convinced he's winning. His loss will trigger a breakdown which leads to the return of the Tommy Penmanship character.

Nia Jax v Blue Pants

Tweet 14: Surprising lack of heat for Nia Jax considering she attacked Top Girl Bayley last week.

Tweet 15: Book Nia like 911 and use her to destroy jobbers making their last appearance.

Blue Pants: the natural first opponent for a new heel in NXT.

Tweet 16: Nia working "snug" here...
Tweet 17: Nia should switch to Gangrel style elbow drops.
Tweet 18: Big fan of Nia almost going for her usual style of pin before remembering she'd been told to do the cocky foot on the chest routine.

Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder talk to Tom Philips backstage

Tweet 19: Dash and Dawson sitdown interview. Tears.

Tweet 20: They're really good to be fair. Getting themselves over as a couple of lads who don't care about hurting people.
Tweet 21: "... carry-on item Enzo Amore..." - Scott Dawson

Adam Rose v James Storm

Tweet 22: Adam Rose entering wearing glasses with no music? Yes.

Tweet 23: Why does Rose have to be sacrificed to 'Big' Jim Storm?

Former TNA champ there...

Tweet 24: These striped shin guards on Rose though.
Tweet 25: Heel Adam Rose is worthy of so much more attention from Creative™.
Tweet 26: Honestly no idea what people see in Storm. Only thing he had going for him in TNA was that he could be presented as "their" guy.

The Vaudevillains interviewed backstage, featuring Jason Jordan and Chad Gable

Tweet 27: #Vaudevillainspop

Tweet 28: "Tonight we will win" - Simon Gotch, who's probably wrong

Sami Zayn vignette

Tweet 29: Reminder of Adrian Neville being a smug prick in his rivalry with Samuel Zayn Esq. here.

Tweet 30: I remember this R: Evolution main. It was good, weren't it?

Jason Jordan and Chad Gable v The Vaudevillains

Tweet 31: Hyped for this match.

Tweet 32: Looking forward to Kurt Angle suggesting he return as Gable and Jordan's manager, cementing himself as the new Ric Flair.
Tweet 33: That's if he hasn't already.

Dlicious drop kick from Jordan there.

Tweet 34: The Vaudevillains would probably benefit from being given a regular second that isn't Blue Pants. Someone new who fits their gimmick.
Tweet 35: Solid match that.
Tweet 36: The 'villains splitting without shaking hands and Gable loling about it is world class stuff.

Emma v Liv Morgan

Tweet 37: The point of that Emma and Dana segment? No idea beyond extending their thing with Asuka.

Tweet 38: Emma wears glove because of all those flips and springboards she does.
Tweet 39: It will eventually be revealed that Liv Morgan's origin story is that she's an Alexa Bliss clone.
Tweet 40: NXT: Clone Wars, coming summer 2016.
Tweet 41: Culminates with a clean shaven Reigns clone being introduced to feud with the original Reigns.

No, that's not Alexa Bliss.

Tweet 42: On the women's division: either Dana and Emma or Asuka are Bayley's feud after Nia Jax.
Tweet 43: Either would be good. I'd prefer Emma and Dana. They've been around NXT longer and deserve the spot more.
Tweet 44: Then again maybe Nia will beat Bayley and then be challenged by Asuka.
Tweet 45: This is why NXT's so good. Mostly logically booked but very few things are obvious when it counts.
Tweet 46: That said Emma was always going to beat Jersey Alexa.

Bayley interviewed backstage, featuring Nia Jax

Tweet 47: Bayley doing great work as a top babyface champ here.

Tweet 48: Crying at Nia throwing Bayley through a stunt door.

Tommaso Ciampa v Samoa Joe

Tweet 49: Thomas the Champ Engine versus 'Mr TNA' Samoa Joe. This'll be "snug"...

Tweet 50: "Samoa Joe introduced Tomasso Ciampa to his eventual wife." I need details on this...
Tweet 51: Joe punching Ciampa into the ropes. Great stuff.
Tweet 52: That slap exchange.
Tweet 53: "Submission specialist" - This means he knows a submission hold in WWE
Tweet 54: Really enjoying this match. Hoss levels are off the charts.

Nice teeth.

Tweet 55: Yeah, that was great fun. Proof predictable outcomes don't ruin wrestling.
Tweet 56: "Báloooooor!" - Samoa Joe
Tweet 57: Great episode. Great hustle, loyalty, respect.

NXTweet 16.09.15

When three of NXT's Four Horsewomen got promoted to the main WWE roster in July it seemed as though the developmental league's women's division had taken a big hit. Three of its main performers gone in one fell swoop. Pleasingly that hasn't been the case. All three have made appearances on NXT since their promotions, with Banks remaining a regular and continuing to wrestle for the brand.

The main event segment of this show went to a Banks and Bayley promo, the purpose of which was for the pair to agree to a rematch at the next Takeover event. And not just any rematch, it's to be an Iron (Wo)man match headlining the show. It's a slot that 'The Boss' and Bayley, not to mention the division they represent, fully deserve. They have a long-running feud, they're wrestling for a championship that means something to them and fans, and they outperformed everyone else at the last Takeover in August.

All of which is great but slightly surprising. The booking of the post-match at Takeover: Brooklyn seemed as though it was a goodbye from Charlotte, Becky and Sasha to the NXT audience, and a see-you-on-the-main-roster-soon to 'The Hugster'. The announcement of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Classic on the same night made it seem as though tag teams would become a bigger focus for NXT. Like competitive women's wrestling it's something that's not on offer with WWE's main roster product and it seemed like the obvious thing to fill the void left by the departing trio, rather than expecting Bayley to carry the remnants of a division.

While the Dusty Classic has seen a greater focus on the NXT doubles ranks it's actually come at the expense of time dedicated to the men's main event scene (handily disguising the fact that it's a little thin there once you're past Samoa Joe and Finn Bálor). Dana Brooke and Eva Marie have continued to receive strong booking with Nia Jax's debut also being tightly hyped up. This week's episode showed us that Asuka (formerly Kana) will debut next week. While it's a little surprising that her introduction is not being held off until after Nia Jax has arrived it demonstrates that the NXT writing team (which I'm convinced can't just consist of Triple H and Jimmy Jacobs) are keen not to let the women's division they've worked hard to establish suffer with the departures.

Intro

Tweet 1: NXT is rated TV PG. Because it includes violence. NXT is rated TV PG. Because it includes violence.

Tweet 2: If only WWE could get rid of the pesky violent overtones to their wrestling shows they could get the U rating they dream of.

Tyler Breeze, Adam Rose and Bull Dempsey segment

Tweet 3: Such a fan of the Breeze entrance. Such a non-fan of Byron Saxton's return to NXT commentary.

Tweet 4: Adam Rose, sans party people.
Tweet 5: This new party pooper gimmick is my kinda thing. Mid-card in its purest form.
Tweet 6: Not going to get into Bull Fit until Simon Dean returns to manage him.
Tweet 7: Imagine if they'd given Adam Rose a multiple personality gimmick, featuring the much anticipated return of Leo Kruger.

Best facial expression in this picture? The referee.

Tweet 8: "Tubby". Crying.
Tweet 9: What even is this opening segment?
Tweet 10: Hyped for that Rose-Breeze-Bull three-way at the next Takeover. That'll definitely get Breeze prepped for his match with Doug Williams.
Tweet 11: Doug Williams: LEGEND.
Tweet 12: Interesting to Adrian Neville in that UK tour ad.

Tye Dillinger v Danny Burch

Tweet 13: We are witnessing the height of Tye Dillinger's career with this 'Perfect 10' thing. #justsaying

Tweet 14: Dillinger facing one half of the Stixx and Stone tag team, Martin Stone. He's back under the Danny Burch name because why not?

Sticking with the good facial expressions theme...

Tweet 15: I want Dillinger to start cutting pun laden promos. Tendency. Tenacity. Tenable. Tenure. Tenant... Get on this, writers.

Rhyno and Baron Corbin discuss Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa

Tweet 16: Rhyno and Barry respect each other. That makes them a solid tag team, apparently.

Tweet 17: To clarify neither Rhyno nor Barry Corbin are worried by Johnny Gargano or Tommaso Ciampa.

Asuka vignette

Tweet 18: So Kana signs, becomes Asuka, and debuts before Nia Jax? What's the rush? Debut Jax then bring in Asuka. Excite us, Trips.

Solomon Crowe v Apollo Crews

Tweet 19: So tired by Solomon Crowe. I hope he loses and goes nuts after the match.

Tweet 20: Then he can turn up in a few weeks in the suit he should have been wearing all along.
Tweet 21: Kicking away a handshake. Mate, that's SO bad guy behaviour.

Luger could do that too.

Tweet 22: 'The Total Package' Apollo Luger.
Tweet 23: I want the Uhaa Combination renamed the Luger Combination as a nod to Apollo's mentor Lex Luger.

Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa discuss Rhyno and Baron Corbin

Tweet 24: "You get one life and you get one chance" - Johnny Gargano

Dana Brooke and Emma announce they're tired of being overlooked

Tweet 25: Big fan of Dana Brooke doing the Bellas' grizzled vet gimmick.

Sasha Banks arrives at Full Sail

Tweet 26: Shot of Sasha Banks getting out of a car there. Apparently Russo's taken over the booking.

Tweet 27: Actually, had Russo booked that we wouldn't have found out who was in the car until after a break. He's convinced car contents is a hook.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic: Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano v Rhyno and Baron Corbin

Tweet 28: The four spotlights aren't lined up properly. I bet Barry's well annoyed at that.

Tweet 29: Tasty bit of matching gear on Ciampa and Gargano. They're winning. #sarcasm
Tweet 30: Ciampa knows WWE aren't keen on signing overly stiff guys, right?
Tweet 31: "Tommaso Ciampa is my favourite wrestler" - Nobody
Tweet 32: Please note that Barry Corbin is wearing some basic tights from No Mercy on the N64.
Tweet 33: Barry was signed because he's good at life. Credit to Corey Graves for that belter.
Tweet 34: I want a feud based around use of the tag rope.

Naff tights on Corbin here. Shameful.

Tweet 35: Barry pins Gargano, putting himself into contention for the Open the Freedom Gate and EVOLVE championships.
Tweet 36: I hope Jody Kristofferson is one of the EVOLVE lads to get brought in for job duty. That lad is money.

The Vaudevillains discuss their rematch with BAMF next week, then BAMF show up

Tweet 37: #Vaudevillainspop

Tweet 38: Heel Alexa Bliss. Good. Lord.

Bayley v Sarah Dobson

Tweet 39: That Bayley entrance got me.

Tweet 40: The Izzy heel turn is going to get nuclear heat when it comes...
Tweet 41: Didn't even hear Sarah Dobson announced. That's got to make her crazy.
Tweet 42: Imagine not enjoying Bayley.
Tweet 43: Banks versus Bayley was really good but match of the year is a bit strong.
Tweet 44: Not sure I'd stretch to "best women's match in WWE history" either tbh.

A pair of great characters here.

Tweet 45: Liking Banks and Bayley making this about being the best and winning.
Tweet 46: "I am the best female wrestler in this company" - Sasha Banks, who was doing so well
Tweet 47: #Regalpop
Tweet 48: Eff this crowd for booing Regal's music.
Tweet 49: That segment was flawless.

The Power of Bolief

Bo Dallas's motivational speaker gimmick is similar to the archetypal televangelist. For whatever reason WWE seem unwilling to fully embrace this¹ and instead keep Bo doing the same trite promos that end in his "Bolieve!" catchphrase. Yeah, it's a damn nice pun but Bo could be doing more as a character and livening up the lower card as he does it.

Do you.. Bolieve?

Here's an idea. Have Bo come out dressed in an all white suit, including a white tie and white shoes. They should go full televangelist with it and have him look like he's trying to resemble an actual angel. The New Day lads have honed the televangelist promo style but they're not using the look. That's still wide open and Bo would fit it well.

With this new look could come a new focus in promos. Instead of just setting himself up for his punchline catchphrase Bo could spend a few weeks or a month talking about how he wants to help WWE Superstars™ who are floundering and struggling. Interrupting random matches on SmackDown and getting segments on Main Event would be enough to get this new approach across, with it being made clear that Bo's looking to help lower card lads.

After a few weeks Bo could reveal the guys he wants to help, interrupting a match involving them or simply calling them to the ring during SmackDown (this clearly isn't high profile enough to get air time on RAW). There are a few options for this. Bo could tell Cutis Axel and Damien Sandow that they're better than imitating people from decades ago. He could tell Fandango and Adam Rose that they're both great athletes not being taken seriously because of their silly gimmicks. He could tell Zack Ryder that management aren't interested in him despite his hard work and that he hasn't been relevant for years.

Bolievers?

They're all middle or lower card guys (whether they deserve to be or not). The diea should be that Dallas recruits them to be Bolievers and becomes their manager. Let him manage two guys, give them new all-white ring gear (maybe have their names in black on them or something) and use them as a tag team. You'd have a new team, a new use for Bo Dallas that plays to his strength of being both irritating and ridiculous, and something for guys who are currently directionless.

You would also have the option to imply that Bo is some sort of sinister cult leader who's brainwashed guys into being Bolievers. That may not sound like anything particularly novel in and of itself and it wouldn't be. But it's worth noting that Bo's real life brother is Bray Wyatt, a man well established within WWE canon as a cult leader. Doing something similar with Bo would create the option to play the cult leader thing up in a future storyline. It's an idea that does things short and long term.

But it won't happen. Obviously. Nobody in WWE writes for the mid-card anymore.

***

¹ It's possible they're concerned about upsetting big Christianity fans in their own locker room or religious groups outside the company. But that argument doesn't really tally with them referring to Brock Lesnar as the Devil or the continued depiction of The Undertaker as a demon and-or zombie.

NXTweet 03.06.15

A balanced episode, featuring something from each of the three main divisions and managing to hold interest even without NXT champion Kevin Owens.

Elimination Chamber recap and intro

Tweet 1: Watching that NXT show.

Tweet 2: Michael Cole and John Cena are not the ideal start to NXT.
Tweet 3: Watching Cena take bumps in slow motion does him no favours at all. Pretty telling that him taking power bombs elbow first has been edited.
Tweet 4: #veteranadvice
Tweet 5: Dana Brooke has a spot in the intro now. That'll please the purists.
Tweet 6:

Tyler Breeze v Adam Rose

Tweet 7: Big fan of Breeze's furry cape.

Tweet 8: Liking Rose coming out without the entourage and looking utterly dishevelled. Budget cuts and malaise caught up to him.
Tweet 9: Also digging Rose basically having reverted to Leo Kruger, the audience acknowledging it, and Rose kind of going with it.
Tweet 10: If the Breeze character ever loses steam they could repackage him as a modern day Robin Hood. He has a bit of that look to him.

The Bring Back Leo Kruger campaign starts here.

Tweet 11: This ref is getting his sweat on. He's possibly the sweatiest ref I've ever seen.
Tweet 12: If Adam Rose ever gets released he could get a solid team together with Dalton Castle.
Tweet 13: Rare example of me not enjoying a Breeze match there. Too slow. Nice moments but not enough. It did keep the Beauty Shot strong though.

Devin Taylor chats to Solomon Crowe

Tweet 14: Devin Taylor calling Solomon Crowe by his surname. Is he the latest lad to lose a first name?

Tweet 15: Solly reckons he'll be back in the ring with the NXT champ. Good call that. Makes the title mean more.
Tweet 16: Preps someone to replace the current batch of main eventers. Which is needed because they're all injuring themselves or getting call-ups.
Tweet 17: Or both.

Greg Hamilton speaks to Eva Marie

Tweet 18: Eva Marie's popular with the crowd isn't she?

Tweet 19: "I love YOU guys!" - Eva Marie to an audience booing her out of the building and chanting that she can't wrestle
Tweet 20: Putting over the women's division. I wonder where this is going...
Tweet 21: Pros and cons to Eva in NXT. Pros: she's got so much heat and helps flesh out the division. Cons: she's bland and can't wrestle.

William Regal announces a Network special for July 4

Tweet 22: Regal's talking up a Network spesh in Japan. Big fan of his pronunciation of Bálor.

Tweet 23: Bálor and Owens should comfortably steal that show.

Carmella v Alexa Bliss

Tweet 24: Enjoying this crowd not knowing how to react to Carmella. They still don't like her BUT SHE STAYED LOYAL TO ENZO AND CASS.

Tweet 25: Carmella not turning was possibly the biggest swerve of the last half decade.
Tweet 26: Alexa as a mean girl heel though. Big into this.

Alexa as a heel is one of the best things ever.

Tweet 27: Disappointed in Enzo and Cass wearing their own baby blue merch. I thought those guys were better than that.
Tweet 28: Just noticed the lack of signs in the crowd. Are they not allowed at NXT? Is Full Sail anti-sign?
Tweet 29: Let's take a moment to remember that this time last year Carmella was a hairdresser. The progress she's made verges on inspirational.

Devin Taylor chats to Rhyno

Tweet 30: Rhyno's not a talker.

Tweet 31: "His theatrics and his mind games aren't going to phase a psychotic man beast like myself" - Rhyno on Finn Bálor
Tweet 32: That was a lol line. Still wish they'd bring in fifty-year-old Don 'Cyrus' Callis to manage him though.

Sami Zayn medical update

Tweet 33: Sami Zayn here, doing his best to force a Cena heel turn by revealing that it was him that caused the shoulder injury.

The Vaudevillains v Marcus Louis and Jason Jordan

Tweet 34: #Vaudevillainspop

Tweet 35: So sad we're not getting their old music.

More over than The Impact Players' pose I reckon.

Tweet 36: Jason Jordan and Marcus Louis are a team here. This will not last.
Tweet 37: Remember when Marcus Louis went all Hunchback of Notre Dame and stalked Tyler Breeze?
Tweet 38: Really enjoying Marcus Louis basically being reintroduced as NXT's answer to Kane.
Tweet 39: Commentary team talking up the tag division. Nah, mate. It's been all about two teams for months now. Needs getting back on track.
Tweet 40: I miss Sylvester LeFort.
Tweet 41: Dying at Marcus Louis' hilarious squealing noises.
Tweet 42: Louis takes the pin. Classic Kane booking.

Sasha Banks video

Tweet 43: Video package reminding us that Sasha Banks exists and is great. Not that we needed it.

Tweet 44: Such a fan of Sasha Banks. Great character. Great wrestler. The future of WWE's main roster women's division.

Rhyno v Finn Bálor

Tweet 45: Anyone else think it's weird that the Network special is being held in Japan on Independence Day?

Tweet 46: Finn Bálor revealing he'll be engaging #demonmode in Tokyo. Not surprised by this but it's nice to know.
Tweet 47: "Hi, my name's Rhyno and I like to wear only one kneepad" - Rhyno
Tweet 48: Brief "E-C-dub!" chant there. Hope the audience does a "New Japan!" chant too, to keep things even.
Tweet 49: "Woooooooooo!" - 'The Nature Rhyno' Terry Gerin
Tweet 50: When did announcers stop putting over the thickness of Rhyno's thighs?
Tweet 51: Loving this hoss versus plucky, experienced junior dynamic.

'The Real Rock 'n' Rolla' versus 'The Manbeast'. Great stuff.

Tweet 52: "Like tree trunks" - Rich Brennan hyping Rhyno's legs and thus earning his keep
Tweet 53: How joyless do you have to be to participate in a "We hate Rhyno!" chant?
Tweet 54: Bálor avoided the Gore and won off a roll-up. Noting this because nobody has kicked out of the Gore since Rhyno's return.
Tweet 55: I thought Bálor might get to because he's Bálor. Apparently not.
Tweet 56: Rhyno's clearly being protected to a degree so he can be that upper mid-card guy lads go through on their way up.
Tweet 57: Then Rhyno killed Bálor by Goring him on the stage. RIP Finn.

NXTweet 13.05.15

The fina bits of hype for Takeover: Unstoppable. It's another packed card, even when you consider two of the key performers (Zayn and Itami) have injuries that will either hamper their performances or stop them wrestling entirely. This show was good. Even with Carmella wrestling.

Intro

Tweet 1: It's NXT time.

Tweet 2: Lengthy recap of Zayn versus Cena off the RAW where Sami kicked out of an AA with a popped freakin' shoulder.
Tweet 3: Tonight: a face-to-face chat! #money

Solomon Crowe v Baron Corbin

Tweet 4: Liking Solly Crowe's new hairdo.

Tweet 5: 'Wolf Shaman' Barry Corbin exhibiting #malice according to Byron Saxton.
Tweet 6: Remember the other week when they showed a video of Barry Corbin talking about being special and being heelish? This is where it was going.

Still wish Crowe was wrestling in a shirt and tie tbh.

Tweet 7: That was a nice End of Days to be fair.
Tweet 8: I like the phone dial tatt on Barry's arm. Just noticed it. Very Dial H.
Tweet 9: "Are we gonna do this or not?" - Rhyno on making sweet, sweet love to Barry Corbin
Tweet 10: Rhyno there, Goring trainees dressed as security staff. Great stuff.
Tweet 11: All he needs is Cyrus back as his manager and I'd be on board with Rhyno getting a title reign.

Finn Bálor is interviewed

Tweet 12: Earlier this week Finn Bálor wore a tie and chatted about wanting to be the NXT champ.

Tweet 13: Bálor basically said he wants to the champion. Did its job. He talked about things like they matter.

Tyler Breeze is interviewed

Tweet 14: Earlier this week Tyler Breeze looked mmmmmm... gorgeous.

Tweet 15: Love Breeze's gimmick of being more interested in becoming number one contender then champion.
Tweet 16: If Breeze becomes champion will he get a spinner belt?

KC Cassidy v Sasha Banks

Tweet 17: No NXT name for this week's enhancement talent. #sadface

'The Boss' versus Nobody.

Tweet 18: The crowd have gone with Black Shorts. It's not as catchy a name as Blue Pants.
Tweet 19: Sasha doing Becky's hair flip taunt way better than Becky there. Yeah, Becky can't even pull off a hair flip.

Devin Taylor interviews Bayley and Charlotte

Tweet 20: Charlotte and Dana Brooke feuding over a Tapout sponsorship. Emma and Bayley feuding over head bands. It was all going so well...

Tweet 21: Charlotte still can't wooooooo.
Tweet 22: "Tempers are beginning to flair" - Corey Graves with a cheeky comment

Not Uhaa Nation vignette

Tweet 23: Name TBD reuniting with Solomon Crowe there. That was something.

Carmella v Alexa Bliss

Tweet 24: Everything about Carmella is ridiculous.

Tweet 25: I like Bliss having her name written in purple on the back of her purple vest.
Tweet 26: Not really a fan of Carmella's ring work but that arm hook submission looks pretty good.
Tweet 27: Blake and Murphy distracting Carmella and giving Bliss the chance to win.

Why not change Blake's name to Bloke?

Tweet 28: I'm kinda hoping the setup for the Carmella turn is a swerve and Bliss is the one who becomes their manager.
Tweet 29: Is Carmella's gimmick that she's a modern day Sunny?
Tweet 30: Carmella shamelessly thieving Enzo's shtick there. Absolutely sickening.

Hideo Itami is interviewed

Tweet 31: Earlier this week Hideo Itami sat down with his lovely hair.

Tweet 32: Itami putting it out there that he wants a title match with 'Mr Disrespect' Big Kev Owens.
Tweet 33: Itami's promo was electric.

Devin Taylor interviews Dana Brooke and Emma

Tweet 34: "And Charlotte thinks I'm jelly of her?" - Dana Brooke

Tweet 35: Two women's matches on one special? Will the world not implode?

Adam Rose and Tyler Breeze v Hideo Itami and Finn Bálor

Tweet 36: No Rosebuds and Rose has a beard. So this is basically Leo Kruger wearing a red robe and Terry Funk's tights.

Tweet 37: IT'S TYLER!! *swoons*
Tweet 38:

Tweet 39: If Itami can't wrestle in the triple threat match (which he can't) Adam Rose should totes replace him.
Tweet 40: Just kidding, obvs.
Tweet 41: Bálor likes crouching in the corner by the fans before getting in the ring because it reminds him of the Butlin's circuit.
Tweet 42: No idea if Bálor ever participated in the fabled Butlin's circuit but I like the idea of him doing so.
Tweet 43: They should have done a show-long story where Breeze tried to recruit a partner.
Tweet 44: Imagine the fun to be had with him in skits with Corbin and Rhyno. He could have asked Blake or Murphy to get involved.
Tweet 45: They could even have had Mojo Rawley back for a cameo. I'd have marked.
Tweet 46: Obviously that's a very un-NXT idea and I wouldn't want it to happen. It's too Russo.
Tweet 47: Rich Brennan just called a snap suplex. I shouldn't be but I'm impressed.
Tweet 48: Don't really cover enough Rose matches to mention it often but I really like his spinebuster.
Tweet 49: Rose has applied the dreaded Sleeper. This is OVER.

Stray thought: I like Bálor's elbow pads.

Tweet 50: It's great how Bálor and Styles have lifted moves from each other and that most people in positions of authority in WWE won't even realise.
Tweet 51: Bálor will be busting out the Bálor Clash soon.
Tweet 52: Breeze wins with a small package more often that 2005-06 era Danielson.

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in-ring promo

Tweet 53: Another recap of Zayn v Cena. Big match for Zayn, yeah, but I really don't need it covered more than once per show.

Tweet 54: Top Dog versus Big Dog. Kennel From Hell. So much money to be made.
Tweet 55: Sami's out for his main event promo wearing his all business flat cap.
Tweet 56: And his own merch. Standard.
Tweet 57: Hilarious bit of ADR slipped in to get the shoulder injury mentioned. Got to keep up the kayfabe that this isn't taped a month in advance.
Tweet 58: Zayn going full heel, revealing that Owens' son prefers Zayn's merch. What a villainous move. I'm all for Owens breaking Zayn's arm now.

Owens versus Zayn. The new Sandman versus Raven.

Tweet 59: Owens will win. Zayn will be demoted to the main roster because he can't hang in the big league of NXT.
Tweet 60: That... was a great show. Good work, everyone. Good hustle.

NXTweet 29.04.15

A packed episode that advanced a load of stuff: tweaks to the Barry Corbin character, building Lynch up for her title challenge, further teasing Carmella hooking up with Bland Blake and Mundane Murphy, and the Zayn v Owens feud. Oh... and more rage from Alex Riley.

Recap of Owens v Riley II: The Ragening

Tweet 1: I'm about to watch NXT.

Tweet 2: Starting off with a solid recap of Owens versus RAGE.
Tweet 3: Alex Riley should change his ring name to The Rage.

Kevin Owens promo, featuring Sami Zayn and William Regal

Tweet 4: I hope this Owens promo sees him no-sell Sami Zayn and talk about Alex Riley instead.
Tweet 5: Put over Riley as the greatest threat to your title, mate.
Tweet 6: NXT general manager, bouncing Billy Regal.

These men are, quite literally, prize fighters.

Tweet 7: Regal using his Force powers to stop Zayn getting into the ring there. Impressive stuff.
Tweet 8: Enjoying the hypocrisy of the Owens character asking what Zayn's done to earn a title match. Nice work.
Tweet 9: Equally nice work on this Zayn promo winding Owens up.

Greg Hamilton tries to plug NXT tour dates and gets interrupted by various wrestlers

Tweet 10: This bland backstage lad is Greg Hamilton. How did he get a job? Looks like he belongs on a shopping channel.

Tweet 11: Everything about Carmella's character is ridiculous. She'll fit in nicely with Blake and Murphy.
Tweet 12: I hope jumping over sofas becomes Blake and Murphy's new thing. Put one of the ramp for them to leap over during their entrance.

William Regal and Sami Zayn about serious business, Alex Riley comes in, has a rage, and gets booked against Sami Zayn

Tweet 13: Lol at this booking of Alex Riley. This should be his new character. A deluded guy who thinks he's in the main event and isn't.

Tweet 14: Zayn v Riley. Why are these Riley matches happening?

Enzo Amore and Big Cass v Blake and Murphy

Tweet 15: Carmella's dressed like she works in a launderette.

Tweet 16: Carmella trying to gyrate in time to a "How you doin'?" chant. No, luv. Stop.
Tweet 17: Still amazed The Blake and Murphy Express have this 90's kids TV show theme for their entrance.
Tweet 18: So if Enzo and Cass are the number one contenders and they're facing the champions why isn't this match for the championships?
Tweet 19: Looking forward to finding out how Carmella's going to cost Enzo and Cass the match this week.
Tweet 20: Cass, don't use the high knee. It's not a good look on you.

Not exactly the greatest finisher ever.

Tweet 21: Had that match been for the champs there would be no champs now. Enzo and Cass should complain to someone about Regal's match-making.

Becky Lynch vignette

Tweet 22: "How important is it to my career to win the NXT women's champion?" - Becky Lynch, apparently competing for ownership of other humans

Tweet 23: Thirty seconds or so of talking from Lynch there. I still have no idea what her character's meant to be.
Tweet 24: All I got is that she wants to be the best and the championship is her focus. True for most wrestlers, Becky.
Tweet 25: That motive would be fine on the main roster because nobody has a motive there so anything is refreshing. More's needed in NXT though.

Bayley tells Devin Taylor that she can't find her headbands

Tweet 26: Uh-oh, Bayley can't find her headbands!

Tweet 27: Oh man, Emma had them! WHAT A PRANKSTER!
Tweet 28: I'd love it if Emma having the headbands was the beginning of the kleptomaniac gimmick she should have been given last year.

Baron Corbin vignette

Tweet 29: Barry Corbin there, standing in rain and looking moody and talking about not following the rules. #badboy

Tweet 30: Distinctly heelish. But how can a man blessed with The Power of the Wolves go bad?!

Dana Brooke v Bayley

Tweet 31: I like Dana Brooke more than most people seem to. Her entrance is way too busy though. So many flips and flexes...

Tweet 32: Bayley will lose because she doesn't have a headband to draw power from.

Such power!

Tweet 33: Dana Brooke, wearing the pink and black of Bret Hart with the heart motif of Shawn Michaels. #boldcombo
Tweet 34: It will eventually be revealed that Emma stole all this stuff from the merch stands.
Tweet 35: Dana and Emma high five. Bah Gawd, it was a setup all along!!

William Regal announces Finn Bálor v Tyler Breeze v Hideo Itami for Takeover

Tweet 36: Regal's worked office is Jason Albert's shoot office.

Tweet 37: Itami v Bálor v Breeze will be great and all but why is it happening? Ah, number one contendership. That wasn't initially clear.

Hideo Itami v Adam Rose

Tweet 38: I like how Adam Rose has regrown Leo Kruger's goatee.

Tweet 39: Why is Hideo Itami not being allowed to just hammer guys on Rose's level in quick matches?
Tweet 40: Alright, that was quick. But into could have been quicker. And there wasn't much hammering.
Tweet 41: I enjoyed that elderly woman in the audience looking really shocked at that result.

Becky Lynch v Sarah Dobson

Tweet 42: Becky Lynch? Do we have to?

Tweet 43: I like the implication that Byron knows a lot about this unsigned lass because he hangs around in the back letching on people.

Good submission application but I still dislike Lynch.

Tweet 44: Becky wins what was more or less a squash with an arm bar. I fail to be impressed by her.

Rhyno chats to a camera backstage

Tweet 45: Rhyno pulling a move from the Mick Foley play book and sitting around in the building's generator room.

Alex Riley v Sami Zayn

Tweet 46: Alex Riley has a new entrance video. It doesn't acknowledge his rage and it seems to be based on a cowboy motif. I don't like it.

Tweet 47: "Let's all rage together" - Kevin Owens on commentary
Tweet 48: Current topic of conversation at the commentary desk: rage.

Well done, Sami. That was textbook.

Tweet 49: Riley using the TKO there, perhaps the most WCW mid-card move ever.
Tweet 50: Looking forward to that Owens v Zayn v Riley match at the Takeover after next.
Tweet 51: "Thank you, Kevin!" - The audience, after Owens apron bombed Alex Riley
Tweet 52: I liked that episode. Good work, everyone.