NXTweet 04.11.15

This show was all about the main event championship match between Finn Bálor and Apollo Crews. But there were action from Samoa Joe that were Truly Shocking (assuming you avoid spoilers).

Intro

Tweet 1: I am watching the NXT.

Tweet 2: What this show needs to get to the next level is Kane in a prominent role.
Tweet 3: Tonight: Apollo Crews versus Finn Bálor. It'll be good. But think how it could be improved turned into a three-way featuring Kane.
Tweet 4: Big fan of people going along dressed as their fave wrestlers then looking awkward when the cameras go for closeups.

Asuka v Cameron

Tweet 5: Asuka. She's great and all but she's no Glenn 'Kane' Jacobs.

Tweet 6: So much laughter for this bizarre appearance from Cameron.
Tweet 7: Why wasn't Cameron billed from Planet Funk? In fact why isn't she still doing the Funkadactyl gimmick?

Cameron doing a Ribena gimmick here. That'll get over.

Tweet 8: Let me tell you, this "Girl bye!" thing is on the cusp of taking off (it isn't).
Tweet 9: Why is this match still going? Why hasn't Asuka won already? I like her spamming the Rear Views though.
Tweet 10: Imagine booking Cameron the Funkadactyl to look even vaguely competitive.
Tweet 11: I'd be interested in knowing what Vince thinks of Asuka. She wrestles, which he's not interested in, but she loves a pose, which he is.

Tom Philips interviews Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder

Tweet 12: Recap of The Not-Mechanics trying to "cripple" Big Cass.

Tweet 13: Live to our medical correspondent Carmella for an update on Cass and Enzo.
Tweet 14: Dash Wilder having 'Powder Keg' on his ring jacket. Superb.
Tweet 15: You know what I like? I like every tag team on this roster wanting the titles. Because you would, wouldn't you?

Jason Jordan and Chad Gable challenge The Ascension

Tweet 16: They are not the World's Greatest Tag Team™.

Tweet 17: Jordan and Gable will give The Ascension their best match since they returned for the Dusty Classic.

Bull Dempsey v Angelo Dawkins

Tweet 18: I'm a fan of Dawkins and Fulton and their experimental act. Fulton looking like Rick Steiner doesn't hurt.

Tweet 19: You know what would really get Bull Dempsey over? Facing and beating Kane.

You should never have taken the rucksack off, mate.

Tweet 20: I've gone right off Bull since he became the new Simon Dean. He had potential as a lardy Tazz.
Tweet 21: Saddened to see Sawyer Fulton shouting at little Ange. I liked that team.

Tom Philip interviews The Vaudevillains

Tweet 22: Tom Philips playing go-between with The Vaudevillains here. What a mug.

Tweet 23: Why don't Dash and Dawson just take The Roughnecks as a name? It fits and it's a name. Could do worse.

Apollo Crews sits in a locker room

Tweet 24: Apollo having a stare at the NXT title hanging in the locker room there.

Tweet 25: Why are he and Finn sharing a dressing room when they're facing each other? Surely one would rather dress alone. For concentration, like.

Bayley introduces the Hype Bros as her partners to face BAMF

Tweet 26: Recasting Mojo Rawley as a 90s throwback is a stroke of genius.

Tweet 27: Disgusting that we have to put up with him dragging Bayley down to his level though.

Eva Marie v Marley

Tweet 28: Lol at Eva Marie having "RED" written on her WHITE ring gear. Slow clapping this.

Tweet 29: They should do a storyline where Eva's desperate to get a front cover shoot with Zoo. Relatable innit. For someone.

All red everything. Except for the white.

Tweet 30:  This girl Eva's wrestling. Is she The Kendrick's sister? Because there's a similarity there.
Tweet 31: These "Eva's ratchet!" chants though.
Tweet 32: A rare off night for Eva Marie there.
Tweet 33: Don't know about you all but I'm hyped for the inevitable Eva Marie title reign.

Tom Philips interviews Dana Brooke and Emma

Tweet 34: Dana and Emma with their sensational Mean Girls shtick here.

Tweet 35: Emma v Asuka could be great. That's what should have gone on at Takeover: Respect. I get that they wanted to give Dana the rub though.
Tweet 36: Eight of Spades is the theme song of Takeover: London. #fingeronthepulse

NXT championship: Finn Bálor (c) v Apollo Crews

Tweet 37: Eighteen minutes left on this show. Settling in for a hot little title match.

Tweet 38: I like that we're getting big matches for Bálor where he doesn't do his face paint. Makes it mean more.

Cut the lights!

Tweet 39: I'm into this lighting change for the ring intros.
Tweet 40: I'm less into a break about a minute into the match.
Tweet 41: "Moose"-esque shouts of "Crews!" there.
Tweet 42: An idea: have that punt kick become a regular thing from Bálor and call it the Hooligan kick.
Tweet 43: Finn Bálor and Davey Richards have the same haircut.
Tweet 44: Randy Orton and Eric Roberts. Condemned 2 looks like a powerhouse of acting.
Tweet 45: Such a fan of the Vaudevillains v Not-Mechanics getting an ad dedicated to it. Makes it seem like a big deal.
Tweet 46: Ads are entirely pointless during NXT though.

Referee with a W for a head there.

Tweet 47: Crews v Bálor is, as expected, really good stuff.
Tweet 48: That Bloody Sunday move really encapsulates the frustration of a Sunday. #deliberatePartridge
Tweet 49: That exchange that followed. My word that was good.
Tweet 50: Oh look, it's wolf and motorbike enthusiast Barry Corbin attacking champ and challenger.
Tweet 51: Corey Graves describing Corbin's actions as a mugging. Hope he takes a wallet from Finn's tights before he... oh, Joe's here.
Tweet 52: Joe finally doing his heel turn here. I'm obliged to ask why, Joe, why?

Why, Joe, why?

Tweet 53: Lol at the crowd actually chanting that.
Tweet 54: I want Joe to explain that he turned because Bálor refused to sign with TNA. "We could have turned it around, Finn! We could have saved it!"
Tweet 55: Good show. Good hustle.

NXTweet 23.09.15

As episodes of NXT go this was a strange one. It was very heavy of backstage promos and catch-up videos. They've become more common in NXT since it was stretched from forty-five minutes-ish to an hour each week but this is the most we've had in a while. The show was also light on matches. There were only three on offer: Eva Marie v Carmella, Breeze v Dempsey, and a tag title rematch from Takeover: Brooklyn. Of those only the Vaudevillains and BAMF produced anything worthwhile. The other two bouts were both underwhelming, although they did at least serve a purpose in continuing Eva's push, keeping 'Prince Pretty' strong, and giving Dempsey and Carmella some air time.

Future NXT women's champion? My money's on yes.

The main thing this episode is likely to be remembered for is the debut of Kana and her name change to Asuka. Her contract signing ceremony was interrupted by Dana Brooke and Emma. After taking a pop at the new girl they instructed her to leave. Breaking from WWE babyface tradition Asuka did, pausing briefly at the top of the entrance ramp to glance back at NXT's resident mean girls.

This was odd booking for a company that generally doesn't have its good guys back down from a fight under any circumstances. Presumably it will lead to Asuka "finding herself" and possibly a tag partner for a match against Brooke and-or Emma at Takeover: Respect where she'll get her first WW win before she's built up as a challenger for Bayley or Eva Marie in a few months time. At least I hope that's what they go with because this sort of booking, while fine in isolation, will do Asuka no favours if it's the long term plan.

Intro

Tweet 1: Early morning NXT watch go!

Tweet 2: Immediate shill for Takeover. Excellent work, Rich.

Eva Marie v Carmella

Tweet 3: 'Red Queen' Eva Marie? Does that mean she's a communist?

Tweet 4: Does Eva having red queen written on blue gear have a hidden meaning?
Tweet 5: Carmella. *puts ear plugs in*
Tweet 6: Carmella being a female Enzo is not cool.
Tweet 7: Running knee Nakamura would be proud of from Eva there...

Such power in that right knee.

Tweet 8: Eva has said "How you doin'?" more times than Carmella. Create your own shtick and use it, luv. It'll pay off.
Tweet 9: WWE teasing a story where a referee has a crush on Eva Marie in 2015. My word.
Tweet 10: Big Match Eva wins again!
Tweet 11: HAHA! SHE WON BY COUNT OUT, MAGGLE!

Bull Dempsey v Tyler Breeze

Tweet 12: Dempsey v Breeze. If Adam Rose doesn't appear I'll riot.

Tweet 13: Bull Dempsey, the love child of Bam Bam Bigelow and The Taz.
Tweet 14: Lol at some girl screaming during Breeze's entrance.
Tweet 15:  Shades of Kamala from big, bad Bull there. #whataworker

Breeze doing some big bumps to make an undeserving Bull look good.

Tweet 16: This match is a chore. I blame Bull.
Tweet 17: I preferred Bull when he was an ineffective bad ass who couldn't live up to being Taz: The Next Generation.

Recap of NXT's Texas tour

Tweet 18: Texas tour recap, Maggle.

Tweet 19: I remember Finn Bálor. He's that lad who used to wrestle on NXT's weekly show.
Tweet 20: For some reason I'm surprised that Dana Brooke is getting house show title matches. I assumed Trips would save that for a Takeover.

Kana becomes Asuka, signs a WWE developmental contract, and gets scared off by Dana Brooke and Emma

Tweet 21: Regal introduces Kana. Konor from The Ascension comes out. It's awkward.

Tweet 22: Like a Graeme Harper episode of Doctor Who, Asuka is full of pace and energy.
Tweet 23: Emma and Dana Brooke. #feelings

Putting this here for #ratings.

Tweet 24: Tag match at Takeover? Alundra Blayze as Asuka's tag partner.
Tweet 25: So Asuka actually left? Weird.

Tyler Breeze walks along a corridor, Apollo Crews blocks his path

Tweet 26: Apollo Crews openly bullying Tyler Breeze there. Someone needs to smarten that kid up to Being A Star.

Hype Bros promo

Tweet 27: Mojo Rawley cosplaying as Ash Ketchum here for whatever reason.

Tweet 28: Dash and Dawson are my picks to win this tournament. Feels like Tripper's way of building up a team.

NXT tag team championship: The Vaudevillains (c) v BAMF

Tweet 29: I wish Jim Ross was still around so he could call a BAMF entrance. "Look at this pair of yahoos! These two young punks!"

Tweet 30: RIP JR's WWE commentary career.
Tweet 31: Saddest part of Ross's WWE career is that it didn't just end. It died slowly over years, via SmackDown, part time work and Todd Grisham.
Tweet 32: Saddened to see Alexa Bliss leave ringside.

Aiden English casually suplexing two men there.

Tweet 33: Nice to see Blake and Murphy still can't remember who's who and have retained the names on gear gimmick.
Tweet 34: 'Bigtime' Buddy Murphy still looks like a short, young 'Mean' Mark Callous.
Tweet 35: Kicks. Innovative offence apparently.
Tweet 36: "That's it, we're gonna have new tag champs!" - Corey Graves, letting us know the Vaudevillains would retain
Tweet 37: Good match that. I'd have to rewatch both but it was possibly better than their Brooklyn one.

Big Cass and Enzo and Samoa Joe and Finn Bálor promos

Tweet 38: Why end on a match when you could end on promo?

Tweet 39: Enzo and Cass reckon they're beating Joseph Samoa and Finn(lay) Bálor. I don't like their chances tbh.
Tweet 40: Dusty Rhodes was Finn Bálor's mentor. Apparently.
Tweet 41: There's nothing subtle about the Joe v Finn tease.
Tweet 42: Good show. Good hustle.

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.

NXTweet 09.09.15

One NXT this week: Australian women, more Dusty Tag Classic action, and NXT being recorded at WWE TV tapings! What a time to be alive, as they say.

Intro

Tweet 1: Just put on the Network to find an Orton v Cena match. The people in charge of schedules really know how to grab people.

Tweet 2: I'm switching over to NXT... now.
Tweet 3: NXT could totes do its own opening tag thing. It would go against the point though, failing to celebrate the history of WWE.

Peyton Royce v Carmella

Tweet 4: You're not a princess, Carmella. Nor are you fabulous.

Tweet 5: Can't wait until Peyton Royce and Emma form a pro-Australia stable.
Tweet 6: Fist bump of Honor.
Tweet 7: The usually solid Rich Brennan just calling a fisherman suplex a suplex there.

A fisherman suplex.

Tweet 8: Imagine if someone won off a cross body in 2015.
Tweet 9: Carmella won by tap out. In WWE that qualifies her as a submission specialist.

Samoa Joe and Finn Bálor backstage

Tweet 10: Joe handing Bálor the title belt was utterly cringe and I can't say why.

Tweet 11: I did like Joe pronouncing Bálor as "bailer" though.

Recap of Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic house show matches

Tweet 12: Other than a Dawkins and Fulton appearance it doesn't look like we missed much with these round one house show matches.

Tweet 13: Wouldn't have minded seeing Wilder and Dawson wrestling though. Those lads are #enjoyable

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic: Tyler Breeze and Bull Dempsey v Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano

Tweet 14: *Looks at Tyler*

Tweet 15: Where's Bull's robe?
Tweet 16: Bull Dempsey is the kind of guy who'd be booked as a monster if he was in EVOLVE. Just bear that I'm mind.
Tweet 17: Really liking Gargano and Ciampa running through some generic tag team posing.
Tweet 18: That slap though.
Tweet 19: Honestly, seemed a dick move from Ciampa. Breeze sold it so well though.
Tweet 20: Why is Bull being booked as the more competent member of his team?
Tweet 21: I wish Ciampa was wrestling as Tommy Penmanship.

This is where Bull Fit gets you.

Tweet 22: Half-arsed tag work to get the pin aside that match was pretty good. Could've done with more 'Prince Pretty' though.
Tweet 23: Lol at this vicious post-match kicking from Breeze to Bull. Bit of a comedown for Breeze if Bull's his next Takeover opponent though.

The Lucha Dragons talk about the DRTTC backstage

Tweet 24: Sin Cara having a little chat in Spanish here. Got to keep the luchador gimmick strong, brother.

Tweet 25: I don't speak Spanish but I'm assuming he botched something. Because he's Sin Cara.
Tweet 26: Backstage "Lucha!" fist pumping. #cringe

Dana Brooke talks to Devin Taylor

Tweet 27: Excellent mid-promo pauses from Dana Brooke here.

Tweet 28: 'The Total Diva' needs to learn how to talk to the total correct camera.

Dana Brooke v Billie Kay

Tweet 29: Billie Kay, Peyton Royce and Emma form a new trio and join in the main roster feud. #bookit

Tweet 30: Their motivation is that they're angry at being left out of The Greatest Women's Feud of All Time. Like the Sontarans with the Time War.
Tweet 31: Y'know, like in The Sontaran Stratagem and The Poison Sky.

RIP Dana's silver and pink motif.

Tweet 32: Really liking Dana Brooke's work here. She has the potential to be a solid trash-talker.
Tweet 33: Dana spamming a handstand into an elbow drop like some sort of n00b fighting game player.
Tweet 34: Or, if you prefer, character.
Tweet 35: When is Dana's finisher going to be acknowledged as the Alex Shane tribute it CLEARLY is?

Apollo Crews talks to Devin Taylor

Tweet 36: Apollo Crews there, saying he can't put into words how great it is to be in NXT then putting it into words anyway.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic: The Lucha Dragons v Finn Bálor and Samoa Joe

Tweet 37: Jimmy Uso and Tom Phillips on commentary for the main event. Lower your expectations.

The latest addition to the Finn Bálor package: a jacket. Exciting times.

Tweet 38: Finn Bálor's jacket is verging on Chris Jericho territory. Not somewhere you should want to be these days. Because Jericho's a mess.
Tweet 39: Providence, Rhode Island does not seem like NXT country. Hopefully the lads can win them over.
Tweet 40: "This is awesome!" chant for a wrist lock. That's why I hate that chant.
Tweet 41: Kalisto running into the ring like a weaselish little heel there.
Tweet 42: Maybe he thought it was Lucha rules and Cara had left the ring. That'd be a good gimmick for the Dragons: they wrestle under lucha rules.
Tweet 43: Looking forward to Joe tagging in and beasting Kalisto.

Fingers crossed they start calling themselves
The New Mega Powers.

Tweet 44: Bálor gets worked over by the Dragons. Joe gives both of them a kicking. I hope Joe handling them better leads to Joe's title shot.
Tweet 45: Because the Lucha Dragons should definitely be booked as the gateway to the NXT championship.
Tweet 46: Celebrating with a too sweet because teasing some sort of New Kliq is a thing that's happening.
Tweet 47: Good show. Good hustle.

NXTweet 26.08.15

In addition to broadcasting the Takeover: Brooklyn special live on the WWE Network the NXT crew also recorded a selection of matches for an extended TV episode over SummerSlam weekend. Of the four matches on offer the four-way women's match was, predictably the best of the bunch. It not only featured some of the most over wrestlers on the roster but some of the most motivated and talented too. Becky and Charlotte presumably understand they won't get to wrestle the sorts of matches they've become accustomed to for much longer and made the most of it here.

Of the other three matches the eight man tag was the standout, mostly because it was so busy that there was plenty for the guys to pack in. It didn't hurt that super-over (not actually) hometown boys Enzo and Big Cass were involved either. Eva Marie v Carmella got time to be good and wound up as inoffensive, which all things considered is probably quite the accomplishment. Meanwhile Bull Dempsey versus Elias Samson was a peculiarity more than anything else, featuring the newly slimmed down Bull Dempsey looking exactly as big as he was before he was handed his humiliating overweight lad gimmick and Elias Samson debuting a character out of the blue. Okay, it wasn't much of a character but it was something that could get him somewhere at some point.

Intro

Tweet 1: Going to watch the NXT hour-and-a-half regular episode spesh.

Tweet 2: Considering the extended time I'm going to try and pace myself. Not sure how that will work out.

Enzo Amore, Big Cass, and the Hype Bros v Scott Dawson, Dash Wilder, Jason Jordan and Chad Gable

Tweet 3: That Enzo pop was something else though.

Tweet 4: Not crazy about Zack Ryder and I actively dislike Mojo but it is nice to see that they've got themselves actual team gear.

Enzo's sock game.

Tweet 5: Enjoying Dawson and Wilder essentially being the New Brainbusters here.
Tweet 6: Incredible to think that Ryder is the veteran of this match.
Tweet 7: 'The New and Improved Real Double J' Jason Jordan wrestling in those ankle-height amateur sneakers exposes the business.
Tweet 8: Heart that one arm monkey flip from top lad Chad Gable.
Tweet 9: Why isn't the crowd booing Mojo please?
Tweet 10: That was a fun match. Gable and Enzo made it work.

William Regal talks about the Dusty Rhodes Tag Classic

Tweet 11: #Regalpop

Tweet 12: Regal rocking up to remind us about the Dusty Tag Classic. 'Don't Call Me Adrian' Neville rudely interrupting to ask for a spot.
Tweet 13: Then they did a little handshake. #CodeofHonor
Tweet 14: Wish there had been a time in the mid-00's when Regal was free to hit up ROH. That could have been excellent.

Emma hype video

Tweet 15: Recap of Emma embracing the dark side of the force here.

Tweet 16: Her new look and new music are both great. Just saying.

Devin Taylor talks to Charlotte and Becky Lynch

Tweet 17: Good lord this Charlotte and Becky promo is bad. They're delivering poor lines poorly. Just let them be themselves, lads.

Tweet 18: Love that Dean Cain's career has become such a mess that he's starring alongside Big Show in WWE Studios straight-to-DVD films.

Becky Lynch hype video

Tweet 19: "What makes Becky Lynch special is personality" - Becky Lynch

Tweet 20: If you're a submission specialist in WWE it basically means your finisher is a submission hold.

Eva Marie v Carmella

Tweet 21: Eva Marie's been pilfering Ric Flair's wardrobe again.

Tweet 22: Looking forward to Eva swerving us with a twenty minute classic here.
Tweet 23: No idea how people don't find Carmella's character massively irritating. If she was on a Made in Chelsea type show she'd be a heel.

Textbook lockup. Eva Marie is a future all-time great.

Tweet 24: That the whole MIC shtick is her gimmick should make her a heel here.
Tweet 25: Good moonwalking skillz though.
Tweet 26: Eva shrilly working the crowd while being out of breath. Brilliant.
Tweet 27: Leonardo Marie winning with the Sliced Bread No. 2 there. Some of the people in the crowd seemed to want to pop for that.

Tyler Breeze announces that he has a challenge for William Regal

Tweet 28: Breeze calling out Liger for having to still wear a mask. Except in pictures with Kevin Nash, obvs.

Devin Taylor talks to Emma and Dana Brooke

Tweet 29: Emma talking about being dominant. Oh my.

Tweet 30: Why isn't the four-way just a tag match? Wouldn't that make a lot more sense?

William Regal talks about the Dusty Rhodes Tag Classic... again

Tweet 31: Regal again. Still talking up this Dusty Classic.

Tweet 32: Barry Corbin in the tournament. My word. All the big names.
Tweet 33: Calling it now: Tyler Breeze will wrestle either William Regal or Doug Williams at the Takeover in London.

Bull Dempsey v Elias Samson

Tweet 34: What is this gimmick on Elias Samson?

Tweet 35: This has "lower card ECW guy" written all over it.
Tweet 36: Hilarious that the Brooklyn crowd didn't pop for Bull Dempsey until the ring announcer reminded them he's actually from Brooklyn.
Tweet 37: Bull Fit could be the new DDP Yoga.

Bull taking a breather because he's still a big lad.

Tweet 38: Nice that WWE are making the most of the extra half hour on this episode. Everyone wanted to see Elias Samson versus Bull Dempsey.
Tweet 39: Bull Hulking up there. That doesn't mean he's being racist.
Tweet 40: Polite applause for hometown winner Bull Dempsey.

Devin Taylor talks to the BAMF

Tweet 41: "You're here to ask them how they feel?" - Alexa Bliss to Devin Taylor, after Devin had just asked that

Tweet 42: Blue Pants v Alexa Bliss has potential. Needs Blake, Murphy and the 'villains at ringside for max shenanigans.
Tweet 43: Strip out the ads and the majority of the hype videos and this could have been a regular length NXT episode.

Emma v Dana Brooke v Becky Lynch v Charlotte

Tweet 44: Dana Brooke's entrance needs more flips.

Tweet 45: Surprised by the rowdy reaction for Becky Lynch. Not because she's not over or anything but because it didn't happen at SummerSlam.
Tweet 46: Imagine how different Charlotte's act would be if she patterned herself after her husband instead of her dad.

Worth mentioning the indy lighting WWE went for. It was good.

Tweet 47: "You wanna be a Barbie?!" - A seemingly outraged Dana Brooke to Charlotte
Tweet 48: Has Charlotte expressed an interest in being "a Barbie"? Doesn't seem like her vibe tbh, Dana.
Tweet 49: The heels are teasing a fall out? WHO COULD HAVE SEEN THIS COMING?!
Tweet 50: Emma v Dana happens... not now.
Tweet 51: Loling at the amount of posing in Dana's act.
Tweet 52: Becky Lynch v Eva Marie won't be happening any time soon. Because women in WWE aren't allowed to share hair colours.
Tweet 53: Unless they share a surname, like the Bellas. Then it's fine because of genetics.
Tweet 54: That ending looked a bit botched. Don't think it was though.
Tweet 55: Right decision having Emma win. She's the one staying in NXT and should make a good challenger for Bayley. Plus she's better than Dana.

"This is Emma" said Drake Younger.

Tweet 56: Is Dana's name a rib on Dana White?
Tweet 57: Charlotte and Becky tapping out the heels after the bell. I get keeping the audience a happy and everything but they look like sore losers.
Tweet 58: Very good show that, considering the pre-show nature of it. Good hustle, everyone.

NXTweet 05.08.15

This show was headlined by the first WWE singles match between Samoa Joe and 'The Man Beast' Rhyno. It was a fun big lad encounter but the real highlight of the programme was Charlotte versus Bayley. Not only was it a better match, and slightly longer, match but the story behind it was better. Rhyno and Joe were facing off because of some fairly convoluted stuff involving Finn Bálor and Kevin Owens that happened a few weeks ago.

Bayley and Charlotte were facing off because Bayley had never beaten Charlotte in a (televised, which is where it counts as far as WWE's concerned) bout and felt that she needed to achieve that feat before mounting another challenge against women's champion Sasha Banks. The usually slick commentary team did a terrible job of explaining this but that didn't discount the importance of the meeting or the two years of history to it (the pair first met in a televised match in June of 2013).

Charlotte v Bayley

Tweet 1: Oh hai, everyone. I'm going to watch NXT right now and do some tweets about it and that.

Tweet 2: Charlotte's Titantron video is just her name in capital letters with different coloured backgrounds. Bit rubbish, innit?
Tweet 3: She's been on NXT for a couple of years now. They should have enough footage to cobble something better together.
Tweet 4: Give it to one of those tech studios as a project or whatever.
Tweet 5: Video thing is probably true of most NXT wrestlers. Bad with Charlotte because she's all #mainroster these days.

Good enemies, better friends.

Tweet 6: Charlotte v Bayley. Code of Honor: activated.
Tweet 7: Has a wrestler ever worn Wellington boots as their gimmick? Looked like Bayley was for a second there.
Tweet 8: Big fan of the cartoon characters on the sides of Bayley's tights.
Tweet 9: Commentary team doing a rubbish job of talking up the history of Bayley v Charlotte.
Tweet 10: The point of this match is that Bayley needs to win to feel validated and ready to challenge for the women's championship again.
Tweet 11: Lovely bit of spot calling from Charley there.
Tweet 12: Charlotte gets a spear. Roars instead of going for an immediate pin. Probably would've won if she'd been quicker tbh.
Tweet 13: That backslide exchange into the Bayley-to-belly was nice.
Tweet 14: Charlotte no-selling finishers and German suplexes like an absolute beast.

After two years Bayley has finally pinned Charlotte (on TV).

Tweet 15: Good match that.
Tweet 16: Waiting for Rhyno to come out and Gore Bayley, setting up his next feud.

Michael Cole interviews Kevin Owens

Tweet 17: Sit down interview with MAGGLE COLE. Yes!

Tweet 18: Clever use of pre-tapes over the last few months on NXT. Gets them up to an hour without tiring out the crowd.
Tweet 19: Owens wants the NXT title as a trophy for what he did to Zayn and for cash. Hashtag heel motives right there from Big Kev.
Tweet 20: Montreal Screwjob Klaxon.
Tweet 21: And with that comment Owens sets up a storyline screw job in a few years.
Tweet 22: Ladder matches. Very different to bladder matches.
Tweet 23:

Video about Bull Dempsey working out

Tweet 24: Bull Dempsey internal monologue. Absolutely beautiful.

Tweet 25: Really looking forward to Simon Dean rocking up to offer moral support.

Baron Corbin v Steve Cutler

Tweet 26: Ambassador, with these Barry Corbin squashes you are spoiling us.

Tweet 27: Steve Cutler has a bit of a Mike Mondo thing going on.
Tweet 28: Cutler's Mondo mode was no match for Barry's Wolf Magicks.

Tyler Breeze v Aaron Solo

Tweet 29: OMG it's Tyler! *swoons*

Tweet 30: Immediate mud hole stomping from Breeze. Why do the commentators never impersonate JR when he does that?
Tweet 31: Actually, scratch that. Wrestling doesn't have a good track record of Jim Ross impersonations.
Tweet 32: Breeze brushing up on his squashing skills. Maybe he'll get a match against Barry Corbin. Squasher versus squasher.

Tyler is so fetch.

Tweet 33: Official announcement of Jushin Liger as Breeze's opponent followed by a predictably strong video package explaining why he's a big deal.
Tweet 34: This is the sort of thing WWE does so well when they bother.

Uhaa Nation becomes Apollo Crews

Tweet 35: Remember when they ran vignettes about Uhaa Nation signing then he disappeared for a bit.

Tweet 36: Uhaa moonsaulting a camera there for some reason.

Byron Saxton interviews Finn Bálor

Tweet 37: Saddened that Finn Bálor has been lumbered with Byron Saxton for this interview. Because Byron's rubbish.

Tweet 38: Next time have Corey Graves do this.
Tweet 39: Byron just refusing to react to anything Bálor says here ffs.
Tweet 40: Big Kev wants a ladder match but THE CONTRACT HAS ALREADY BEEN SIGNED.

Hype Bros v Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder

Tweet 41: Zack Ryder trying to control Mojo's hype levels. Never going to happen, Zack. Nobody can de-hype Mojo.

Tweet 42: High waist band on Mojo there. Got a real Zangief feel to him.

Look how hyped Mojo is here. So much hype. How does he retain it?

Tweet 43: Give it a few years and Mojo's hyped act will be established enough that WWE can run a substance addiction angle with him.
Tweet 44: "He's hyped because of the stuff he snorts" would be the gist of the story. The harrowing downfall of Mojo Rawley.
Tweet 45: Have Dawson and Wilder announce their new team name as the Shatter Bros as a knock on the Hype Bros. Year-long feud off that.

William Regal tells The Vaudevillains they have another tag team title match at Takeover

Tweet 46: Regal and The Vaudevillains are sharing a screen. Feels like there's a lot of potential here.

Tweet 47: Are Gotch and English going to recruit a bearded lady? Is that where this is going?

Another Bull Dempsey video

Tweet 48: Bull Dempsey doing a work out here. Cool handshakes with the hot chick. Nod of approval from the built cool lad.

Tweet 49: Finish off on Bull being made to flip a Really Big Tyre because of peer pressure. What sort of message does that send?

Samoa Joe v Rhyno

Tweet 50: Samoa Joe v Rhyno for the vacant NXT hoss championship.

Tweet 51: Meaty slaps on these shoulder tackles.
Tweet 52: Imagine wishing Joe had stayed in TNA to be in the BDC.

Big lad kingdom.

Tweet 53: Rhyno's shin has been busted open hard way. Joe will be labelled unsafe by Vinnie Mac for that.
Tweet 54: "RHYNO DRIVER!" - Rhyno
Tweet 55: What is a Rhyno driver please?
Tweet 56: A match chock-full of hossy goodness that.
Tweet 57: Good show, everyone. Good hustle.