NXTweet 22.04.15

It's not the rematch we wanted, but it's the rematch we deserved: Riley v Owens II. It happened and Riley lost, as he was always going to. More Owens versus Bálor, Zayn or Itami now please.

Intro

Tweet 1: It's NXTime.

Tweet 2: Psyched for this Alex Riley match. Lol, not really.

Finn Bálor v Tye Dillinger

Tweet 3: Can't wait to hear on "the dirt sheets" what Vince makes of Bálor's demon mode.

Tweet 4: Finn? Who's gonna get beaten up by a guy called Finn?

Easily WWE's best current entrance. Fact.

Tweet 5: I like Tye Dillinger's leather scarf. He'll go far with that and his haircut and his pseudo-Punisher emblem on his trunks.
Tweet 6: Graves doesn't shy away from highlighting the ridiculous aspects of what he's seeing. I approve. Adds credibility.
Tweet 7: I often wonder how guys like Dillinger, who have been linked to WWE for years on end and aren't especially good, would fair on the indies.
Tweet 8: Look! Look, everyone! It's Tyler!
Tweet 9: Breeze saying he's been dominating. So sexual. So needlessly, enjoyably sexual.
Tweet 10: I could get into Bálor v Breeze.

Dana Brooke talks to Devin Taylor

Tweet 11: Dana Brooke's valley girl voice. My word.

Tweet 12: That wasn't particularly strong verbal work but it wasn't horrendous. She's got time to improve. Charlotte did.

Kevin Owens talks to Devin Taylor

Tweet 13: Owens is about to talk about Alex Riley. Should be gold.

Tweet 14: I enjoyed that. Wasn't as lol as his recent Twitter work but it was never going to be.
Tweet 15: Imagine if it had been though. Imagine Owens going full Twitter mode on Riley on TV.

Number one contender match: Bayley v Becky Lynch v Charlotte

Tweet 16: Apathy reading: 10/10. Yeah, it's Becky Lynch.

Tweet 17: Two babyfaces teaming up against one heel. This won't work, guys...
Tweet 18: At some point I might hunt down a picture of Charlotte from when she debuted and compare it to her now. I bet the difference is massive.
Tweet 19: In my mind it's big. I bet it's bigger. The point I'm so eloquently making here is that Charlotte has changed a lot since signing with WWE.
Tweet 20: Sasha should have been on commentary for this match. Would have spiced up commentary and put over the women in the match as larger threats.
Tweet 21: That inverted figure four from Becky and Natural Selection from Charlotte was good.
Tweet 22: Charlotte just got an unexpected Doomsday Device on Lynch and didn't cover. n00b.
Tweet 23: Love the angle Charlotte gets on the figure four. Looks incredible.

You never saw 'Naitch' doing that, did ya?!

Tweet 24: That finish WWE acceptable in Axel v Miz v Barrett that one time because it didn't expect better.
Tweet 25: Disappointing something so cheap went down on NXT. But that's the point. Becky looks cheap. Charlotte's protected.
Tweet 26: Lynch does nothing for me as number one contender. But she's fresh in the role.
Tweet 27: Charlotte v Banks is played. Bayley can't keep challenging and losing. Too early for Dana and Carmella. Bliss has had a turn.

CJ Parker v Hideo Itami

Tweet 28: Pleased to get another CJ Parker match. Every week I see him I think it's the last.

Tweet 29: I like both guys but Itami v CJP doesn't sound like the best thing ever.
Tweet 30: Hoping CJ invests in better fitted trunks now he's a true independent contractor. The ones he's wearing here are unnecessarily skimpy.

This was about the best thing to happen in this match.

Tweet 31: I was right to be skeptical about this match.
Tweet 32: That could've gone better. The shotgun kick being Hideo's finish doesn't help.
Tweet 33: He needs something a little more dynamic for when he's not busting out the G2S.

Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks snipe at one another in a locker room

Tweet 34: "I'm kind of a big deal" - Becky Burgundy

Tweet 35: "Save it for the ring, Bosco" - Becky Lynch, with what I assume was a putdown
Tweet 36: That backstage exchange perfectly illustrated why I'm not especially interested in Lynch's title shot.

Rhyno v Jesus de Leon

Tweet 37: This lad has a fun look to him. Blatant Gore fodder though.

Those Captain America tights would get him a contract from me.

Tweet 38: The commentary team need to do a better job of putting over Rhyno's thighs.

Enzo, Big Cass and Carmella argue about jewellery backstage

Tweet 39: OMG Carmella's wearing Blake and Murphy's mall necklace gift. What a traitor!

Alex Riley v Kevin Owens

Tweet 40: SAY IT TO HIS FACE!! #RAGE

Tweet 41: Alex Riley smacking his hand against the ring steps. You know what that tells me? Riley is a MAN.
Tweet 42: Honestly though, the state of Ragin' Riley.
Tweet 43: Sickened by this crowd's lack of hatred for Riley.
Tweet 44: This match will end with Riley unleashing the power of Rage only to realise it's not enough. Owens will apron bomb and pin him.
Tweet 45: I still can't look at Alex Riley without seeing a textbook mid-90s WCW mid-carder.

Where's your rage now, Riley? Where's your rage now?

Tweet 46: "Look at that!" - Rich Brennan, who can't call the match because Riley's doing random nonsense instead of actual moves
Tweet 47: Lol at Graves saying Riley's calling on the power of RAGE.
Tweet 48: Alright. Riley's been beaten twice now. Can he just be released please. Let him take his natural place as TNA's new colour guy.
Tweet 49: Generico versus Steen: the feud that never ends.

Future WrestleMania main event? Maybe if Triple H gets The Book.

Tweet 50: Referees and young boys out to pull the lads apart and go on crash mat duty. Triple H pulling plays from the Heyman play book.
Tweet 51: Really good show that. Good hustle, everyone.

NXTweet 15.04.15

Sami Zayn returns for his first match in two months, facing 'The Man Beast' Rhyno. We also get another match form the enjoyable combo of Fulton and Dawkins, the tag champs handing out flowers, a Blue Pants match, and the final ever CJ Parker match... unless he re-signs in a few years.

Intro

Tweet 1: Alright, guys. I'm watching NXT.

Tweet 2: Always pleased to see Orton on the opening credits. That guy doesn't get enough screen time.

Solomon Crowe v CJ Parker

Tweet 3: CJ Parker's in the opener. I'm shedding a tear for him.

Tweet 4: Really can't get past my feeling that they're getting a tonne of stuff wrong with Solly Crowe.
Tweet 5: "Look at the rage there from CJ Parker" - Corey Graves, who must have forgotten that rage is Alex Riley's thing
Tweet 6: This match is making realise how much of a loss CJP is for NXT.
Tweet 7: I'm impressed by the number of merch shirts in the audience.
Tweet 8: Still think Crowe could have been introduced as a caveman Sylvester LeFort discovered frozen in ice.
Tweet 9: That would have been tremendous.

A muffling stretch.

Tweet 10: Stretch Muffler being called the Stretch Muffler there.
Tweet 11: See, the problem is that they're positioning him as a hacker but he doesn't actually hack anything.
Tweet 12: Dana Brooke debuts on this show? Now you're talking.

Baron Corbin v Steve Cutler

Tweet 13: Barry Corbin! Not seen him in a few weeks. In his time off he's traded one wild jacket for another. He's a big fan of wolves.

Tweet 14: Steve Cutler's marine experience is no match for Barry's Wolf Power.
Tweet 15: "All hail the big bad wolf" - Corey Graves, embracing my idea of giving Barry Corbin a bunch of inane gimmicks

Sami Zayn interviewed backstage

Tweet 16: Sami Zayn isn't letting Rhyno fast track his way to the top. He's got an annual performance review planned for him...

Enzo Amore and Big Cass v Sawyer Fulton and Angelo Dawkins

Tweet 17: "And this right here? This is Carmella!" *Audience boos*

Tweet 18: Does nobody in The Office understand that there's totes room for a chatty act on the main roster?
Tweet 19: Angelo Dawkins + Sawyer Fulton = World's Greatest Tag Team 2.0
Tweet 20: I always like teams with an amateur background gimmick. No idea why. #insightfultweet


Carmella being won over by flowers there.

Tweet 21: Loling at Carmella being won over by the old buncha posies routine. What a mark.
Tweet 22: That was a good Outlaws match. Road Dogg got worked over and Billy came in to clean up.
Tweet 23: Eh? Not the Outlaws, you say...?

Alex Riley backstage

Tweet 24: Highlight of the show right here.

Rage.

Tweet 25: "Did you think Alex Riley was just going to go away?" Honestly? Yes. And I was hoping I was right.
Tweet 26: A-Ry talking about battling for every inch there. Must... resist... obvious... joke...
Tweet 27: "Remember, Kevo! I got nowhere else to go!" - Alex Riley, revealing his tragic but utterly deserved status as a vagrant

Dana Brooke v Blue Pants

Tweet 28: Really enjoying the seventeen poses and a flip Dana Brooke's loaded into her entrance.

Tweet 29: She's a former fitness model. Basically they're hoping for a new Trish Stratus.
Tweet 30: Dana Brooke running through a stomp routine like a grizzled vet here. Puts me in mind of a young Randall 'Bag Violator' Orton.

She'll be doing the Check Up From the Neck Up next.

Tweet 31: Dana Brooke using Alex Shane's One Night Stand for the win there.
Tweet 32: Remember when Shane booked a kayfabe relationship between himself and Nikita? Great days. Great lad.
Tweet 33: Riley v Owens II confirmed for next week. I hope Riley's Twitter name is RageRileyRage by then.

Sami Zayn v Rhyno

Tweet 34: Love the fact that Rhyno's Titantron vid features an actual rhino.

Tweet 35: Just noticed Rhyno's lack of kneepads. I remember him wearing really skimpy pads in ECW. I always enjoyed that. Made his legs look bigger.
Tweet 36: Imagine how much less intimidating the Gore would be if it were called the Lol.
Tweet 37: Is the skull on Rhyno's singlet covered in rags like a mummy?

Well done, Sami. That was textbook.

Tweet 38: This ref's awful. Took him a two count to start counting. Fire him. Bring back Brad Maddox.
Tweet 39: Enjoying Rhyno channelling Marc Mero there. One of the biggest stars of the Attitude Era.
Tweet 40: Well that match happened.
Tweet 41: It wasn't bad but it wasn't anything special. The crowd being tired hurt it. The lack of a proper Gore and kick out definitely did.
Tweet 42: To be fair they're probably saving the Gore kick out for something bigger. I'm down with that.
Tweet 43: Solid episode, everyone. Good hustle.

The Takeover is Over

AJ Lee wasn't the only person released by WWE on Friday 3 April. Joseph 'CJ Parker' Robinson officially got his walking papers too.

CJP apparently left on good terms. He was rated highly by trainers and his peers (Kevin Owens singled him out as an underrated guy in an interview on WWE's website shortly after his debut) and rquested his release, as opposed to finding himself fired. He's got his eye on a job with New Japan. Which is understandable but possibly a little lofty at this point.

That Parker wanted out is understandable. He'd been in the WWE system for four years and in that time had only managed to progress to the role of NXT's most notable jobber. I enjoyed his work there. I thought the modern day hippy shtick was uninspired at first but it came to life when the negative crowd reaction was embraced and he was turned into a preachy eco warrior. It was a rare example of WWE writers thinking on their feet and altering their plans to fit with audience reactions.

Phenomenal dress sense.

I also liked the way Parker had become the guy who debuting fellas defeated. His appearances started to signal to the crowd that they were going to get to see someone new or watch something noteworthy happen. For someone who lost pretty much all of his matches that was a good position to have. And there was potential for a long term story in which CJ acknowledged his losing streak and went on a quest to end it. That could have turned him into a bigger name within NXT had it been timed right.

But being the guy who loses to everyone who's going to get a big push can't have been fulfilling and while the heel hippy gimmick was enjoyable it clearly wasn't going to get him to the NXT championship, let alone a meaningful position on the main roster. He was best off doing what he did: politely asking for his release. He can use the notoriety he's gained on NXT to get work elsewhere.

The New Japan job he's said to want is, as already noted, probably out of reach at this point. It's not impossible though. Japanese wrestling promotions have an esoteric taste in which westerners they select for prominent roles (look no further than Karl Anderson). He could be just what they're after to spice up their junior scene. It doesn't seem particularly likely.

As far as Japan goes a stint in NOAH seems like Parker's best hope. The company's currently going through a restructuring with Jado implementing the New Japan booking style and attempting to elevate the entire roster with the invasion of Suzukigun. Parker could be brought in as a fresh face for the flagging junior division, which seems far less lively than New Japan's. It would be a low key role but it would be something. And it could lead him to New Japan thanks to the working relationship the promotions share.

A spot in ROH doesn't seem too farfetched right now. Tommaso Ciampa recently revealed he was leaving the company because he felt overlooked, much like CJP had in NXT. The loss of a mid-card guy like Ciampa and the rumours of WWE gunning for some of the company's leading names could make ROH keen to sign a reliable fresh face with decent name value. He couldn't be introduced in a featured spot after losing for so long in WWE, but he could be rehabilitated for something meaningful over time.

He'll definitely receive offers from the usual suspects: TNA and the World Wrestling Network. I'd like to see him in the WWN because I have a soft spot for Sapolsky's approach to booking, although I suspect they're going to start getting wary about using too many former WWE guys soon. I really don't want to see Parker lower himself to TNA. Until that company's back on its feet (which I'm convinced isn't possible with the current creative line-up) it's best of avoided.

I'll miss CJP on NXT. He was always entertaining. But if his departure from WWE leads to him getting a better role elsewhere then I'll be pleased. Plus it opens up a spot for someone new in NXT, even if it is only that of a featured jobber.

NXTweet 11.03.15

The not-at-all-anticipated return to the ring of Alex riley. That and that alone is what this episode will be remembered for.

Enzo Amore and Big Cass v Lucha Dragons

Tweet 1: I am watching NXT.

Tweet 2: Marking for Enzo's leopard print jodhpurs.
Tweet 3: So is Cass a character from The Fast Show now?
Tweet 4: I miss the days of Sin Cara botching his entrance every week. Might start a Bring Back Mistico campaign.
Tweet 5: Sin Cara kicking out of a double team at one. What a dick. Mistico wouldn't have done that.
Tweet 6: Genuinely want to see Cass v Kalisto here. Don't think it's going to happen.
Tweet 7: "The headbutt!" - Rich Brennan on an elbow

Just a pair of #lads

Tweet 8: Cass and Enzo v Blake and Murphy will not be a masterpiece. Should be a laugh though.
Tweet 9: And it'll probably give us that Carmella turn we're all waiting for.
Tweet 10: Looking forward to this Schwarzenegger sponsored episode of NXT. Two matches and fan tryout filler. I'm down.

Alex Riley hype video

Tweet 11: This video putting over Alex Riley. My word.

Tweet 12: His awful music. His finisher being called the A-Bomb. His declaration that he was a future WWE champion. So many bad memories.
Tweet 13: Then this pic...

Carmella v Alex Bliss

Tweet 14: I like the implication that Carmella danced all the way through the break.

Tweet 15: Also enjoyed the ref being uncomfortable at her gyrating near him.
Tweet 16: Carmella mixing leopard print with the black and white stripes of a zebra. Sort your life out.
Tweet 17: The crowd are pretty quiet here. Makes me suspect they're more into former indy standouts than I originally thought.

Bulked up fairy cheerleader.

Tweet 18: That or it's the end of a taping and they're knackered.
Tweet 19: Or it's just hitting them that there's an Alex Riley match on the way.
Tweet 20: "She calls that the Sparkle Splash!" - Rich Brennan

Alex Riley shouts about cages backstage

Tweet 21: Earlier today... Riley sat in front of some lockers wearing a T-shirt with "hard knocks" written on it and a back-to-front baseball cap.

Tweet 22: I hope dressing like a Saved By The Bell character is his new thing.
Tweet 23: "What if you were locked in a cage for two years?" - Alex Riley
Tweet 24: "It's time to rage" - Alex Riley
Tweet 25: That was one of the funniest interviews I've seen in ages. It wasn't meant to be, obvs.

CJ Parker v Alex Riley

Tweet 26: Depressed that CJ's going under to a man who's greatest achievement is standing at ringside while Miz main evented WrestleMania.

Tweet 27: Alex Riley there, looking like he's just stepped out of WCW's mid-card circa 1995.
Tweet 28: "You gotta remember Alex Riley has been at WrestleMania!" - A-Tensai, forgetting to mention Riley didn't wrestle there

Ry-Daddy.

Tweet 29: Riley won with a Blockbuster. Too apt for words that he's using Buff Bagwell moves.
Tweet 30: Best thing about that segment was Owens' generic subpar promo.
Tweet 31: I spoke too soon. The best thing was the closing shot being Alex Riley in tears.

Hideo Itami v Tyler Breeze

Tweet 32: Look! Look everyone! It's Tyler Breeze and his selfie stick! #swoon

Tweet 33: "Knees into the mid-section" - Rich Brennan on knees to the face
Tweet 34: Itami pressing the right shoulder button at just the right time for a textbook No Mercy counter to that light B press kick.
Tweet 35: Every week Rich Brennan manages to sound more like Vince McMahon. That's quite the feat.

KAPOW!

Tweet 36: I love me some Vince but his is not commentary to be emulated.
Tweet 37: Prospect of a G2S has woken this crowd up. Commentary team acknowledge it by saying the crowd wants to see the "best" from Itami.
Tweet 38: Pleased Breeze went over. It was his turn after Takeover: Rival. Itami can win the feud at the next one.
Tweet 39: Final shot: Tyler Breeze looking like a svelte He-Man.

As the Crowe Flies

So how about that Solomon Crowe debut, eh?

On the February 18 episode of NXT CJ Parker wandered to the ring and announced he hated NXT and was taking the show hostage because he'd been left off the previous week's Network special. As he draped tape across the ring ropes Crowe appeared, hit him a few times, and performed his slingshot splash. After saying "And now we return to your regularly scheduled broadcast!" he left.

It was a rare miss for the show. Crowe delivered his disappointingly clichéd line in a disappointingly clichéd manner. His ring attire, while sufficiently different from the rest of the roster to let him stand out, was less attention-grabbing than the variety of looks he's trialled at house shows, shots of which have been posted online. Most obviously there was nothing to tie what we saw in this (admittedly brief) segment to the hacking that had foreshadowed Crowe's first appearance.

There was nothing wrong with him attacking CJP though. That Parker's role has developed into being the guy newcomers, particularly indy darlings, get over on is enjoyable. It gives Parker's character something to do and a theme that can, at some point in the future, be paid off.

The look does not match the gimmick.

But Crowe is the focus here and his debut was not what we have come to expect. Basically it wasn't as impactful as it could have been. The next episode did nothing to rectify this. As Jason Jordan and Tye Dillinger walked to the ring for what may have been their last ever match as a team¹ the broadcast was hacked (even though it's a taped show) and Crowe was shown sitting in a stairwell gazing at an iPad. Without acknowledging the camera he said his actions the week before had been a statement rather than a introduction and that his plan (because he has one of those) will be complete when he's the NXT champion. Then he tapped his iPad and we were sent back to Jordan and Dillinger versus the Lucha Dragons.

The week after that Crowe defeated Bull Dempsey in an unimpressive match. He won with his slingshot splash move. That won't last as his finisher. It's far too unimpressive for WWE, even on the developmental level.

Right now the character is confusing. Crowe is dressing in a singlet like a regular wrestler but is portraying a hacker-slash-computer genius whose skills are advanced enough to allow him to hijack a broadcast. There's no reason a wrestler with these computer abilities shouldn't dress like Crowe does but it feels off. A gimmick so tied into modern culture should surely warrant similarly modern wrestling attire.

Get Crowe in this gear. I'd mark.

It's frustrating because the concept of a wrestler who can hack the TV show they're appearing on has so much potential, and not just because an iPad would be a deliciously absurd signature foreign object. Like The Vaudevillains it has just the right amount of silliness to work in an environment like NXT and would help to set Crowe apart from the crowd.

The good news is that as enjoyable as NXT is it remains WWE's developmental area. It's designed as somewhere to trial ideas and concepts. Not everything has to be perfect and arrive whole. Crowe and the production team have time to figure the character out and make some tweaks. Admittedly here are a lot of tweaks that need to be made (the outfit, the direction of the gimmick, the character's focus, the move set) but there's time. Crowe is going to be one of the guys who inherits NXT once the current batch of top guys leave for the main roster. That's more than enough time for him to get his act together.

***

¹ RIP the Jordan and Dillinger team.

NXTweet 18.02.15

New champion Kevin Owens wrestles Adrian Neville. Rhyno debuts and gets a roaring pop. Solomon Crowe debuts and gets polite applause. And, perhaps most importantly, Blue Pants makes her triumphant return to NXT.

Intro

Tweet 1: It's back to regular episodes of NXT this week. Which means tweets.

Tweet 2: Here come said tweets.
Tweet 3: They're being very thorough with this Rival recap.
Tweet 4: Enjoying Owens' power bomb-fest just as much second time round.

William Regal addresses Kevin Owens' title victory

Tweet 5: #Regalpop

Tweet 6: Regal is amazing in this role.
Tweet 7: Books and a John Lewis lamp in his office. Nice touches. The man's never out of character.

Kevin Owens promo

Tweet 8: Who's going to beat Kevin Owens for the NXT championship? My money's on Samoa Joe.

Tweet 9: Always like to think Owens' bull tatt is a nod to The Rock. It's probably not but still.


The bull tattoo cannot be seen in this picture.

Tweet 10: Zayn's the past. It's all about Bálor now. Get with the times, you squares.
Tweet 11: Owens predicting that Bálor will knock himself silly on a ramp and allow him to retain by stoppage there.
Tweet 12: Good chat. It was all true to the established character rather than being heelish for the sake of being heelish.
Tweet 13: Blue Pants had advanced to announced match graphics. Edging closer to a contract.

Rhyno v Elias Sampson

Tweet 14: Rhyyyyyyyyyyyyyyynoooooooooo!

Tweet 15: Please bring in Cyrus as his manager.
Tweet 16: Commentary team immediately credit him with inventing the... hang on...
Tweet 17: Gore! Gore! Gore!


Goooooooooooore!!

Tweet 18: He didn't. Ridiculous claim.
Tweet 19: He is no longer a rookie monster.

Devin Taylor interviews Finn Bálor

Tweet 20: Bálor talking about self opinions. Turn getting stared out by Rhyno.

Tweet 21: Is it too much to think that Triple H would acknowledge the SCUM connection? I'm going to go with yes.

The Vaudevillains v Enzo Amore and Big Cass

Tweet 22: #Vaudevillainspop

Tweet 23: Great use of "gentlemen grapplers" by Corey Graves there.
Tweet 24: Erm. What's that on Enzo's face?

Enzo. Mate. No.

Tweet 25: Loling about Carmella getting booed. Back in the Attitude Era she'd have been the reason Enzo and Cass were over.
Tweet 26: Why does nobody on commentary ever put over how manly Gotch is for not wearing kneepads?
Tweet 27: Cass is like a young Kevin Nash in there!
Tweet 28: Loving Blake and Murphy's toothless simpletons gimmick.

Generic interview man interviews Adrian Neville

Tweet 29: Discount Jeremy Borash having a chat with Adrian Neville there. He's called Greg apparently.

Tweet 30: He should become a sausage roll salesman. That's relatable. At least in Britain.
Tweet 31: Nev's going to do something "unforgettable" to Owens. Oo-er...

Bayley and Becky Lynch speak about losing out on the women's championship

Tweet 32: Bayley and Becky saying words there. Bayley was good to be fair. Becky was... just no.

CJ Parker promo, featuring Solomon Crowe

Tweet 33: CJ Parker. Such a lad. I love this character so much.

Tweet 34: Taking the show hostage. I'm laughing so hard at this.
Tweet 35: This is so early ROH.
Tweet 36: Oh no. It's that static. Who knew that would lead to a wrestler debuting?!

All CJ wants to do is spread love. He's surrounded by negativity.

Tweet 37: CJP's gimmick at this point is that he loses to indy darlings. I'm a fan of that. They could do something with it.
Tweet 38: That debut was less than amazing. And Crowe has been hitting the spray tan hard.

Sasha Banks v Blue Pants

Tweet 39: Sasha Banks. #feelings

Tweet 40: They've done so much with Blue Pants. Blue lighting. Blue name for the entrance. Cass humming the music.
Tweet 41: Why can't they do that for people who are actual contracted performers?
Tweet 42: Just going to put this out there: Sasha ain't ratchet.

Everybody taps.

Tweet 43: Blue Pants got Benoited.
Tweet 44: Sasha sends Greg scurrying to a corner. That just makes me like her even more.
Tweet 45: By baddest she means best. #clarity

Senior ringside doctor Chris Amann discusses Sami Zayn's health

Tweet 46: Is Chris's Amann this guy's shoot name?

Tweet 47: "Terminate" the match.
Tweet 48: Acknowledging that Zayn's gone on the overseas tour is interesting. They've said he'll be back soon but he would've missed the taping.
Tweet 49: So they're lying. That's very uncharacteristic of wrestling promoters.

Kevin Owens v Adrian Neville

Tweet 50: Quick start to this. I'll be amazed if they're not in rest holds within the next five minutes.

Tweet 51: Here we go. A chin lock.
Tweet 52: Come out of the rest hold, go to break. That's textbook WWE logic that is.

Two very good matches in as many nights? Owens has earned that title.

Tweet 53: "He's standing on Adrian Neville's head, how can you call that malicious?" - Jason Tensai
Tweet 54: That was a sexy little DDT from Nev.
Tweet 55: When was the last time a main event happened where guys didn't fight at ringside?
Tweet 56: 450 off the apron? They know this is just a TV taping, right?
Tweet 57: "Look at the strength!" - Rich Brennan on strength
Tweet 58: Reverse hurricanrana. They're doing it all in this match. I approve.
Tweet 59: Owens goes over with the pop-up power bomb. It was okay but I'd have preferred half a dozen again. Just to get over his love of the move.

NXTweet 01.01.15

NXT champ Sami Zayn Skypes in, Curtis Axel wears a dumb T-shirt, and Blue Pants returns. Quite the week on NXT.

Tye Dillinger and Jason Jordan v The Lucha Dragons

Tweet 1: NXTime.

Tweet 2: How will this episode start? Authority promo? nWo takeover? John Morrison match? I'm about to find out...
Tweet 3: Oh. It’s the Lucha Dragons.
Tweet 4: Commentary teams kayfabing like it's New Year's Day. Whatevs.
Tweet 5: Charles Robinson looks puzzled by the Dragons. Good on him. He's doing the facial expression we're all feeling.
Tweet 6: Tye Dillinger and The New Real Double J. This could be good with some time. They probs won't get it though.
Tweet 7: Upside. Manscaping. #commentarywords
Tweet 8: Classic botch from Sin Cara there.
Tweet 9: That match lasted less than five minutes and ended with a wonky sunset bomb. Poor effort.

Excellent T-shirt cutting from Gotch and English.

Tweet 10: #Vaudevillainspop
Tweet 11: Their run-in was better than the match.

Bull Dempsey and CJ Parker chat backstage

Tweet 12: Bull Dempsey and CJ Parker having a little chat. This is what I watch NXT for.

Tweet 13: "It's about the greater good" - Bull Dempsey with a comment that's made me want to see him start a communist gimmick

Carmella v Blue Pants

Tweet 14: Enzo's rooster strut.

Tweet 15: Note the lack of reaction to Carmella. Also worth mentioning is that she doesn't seem able to speak into the microphone.
Tweet 16: Carmella's a heel. Cass and Enzo are faces. Great stuff.
Tweet 17: They should sign Blue Pants. Give her a recording of Cass's humming as entrance music.

Blue Pants: more over than several contracted performers.

Tweet 18: Blue Pants has won. Amusingly Cass's humming was actually played.
Tweet 19: It was Enzo's fault. Carmella's attacking him. Looking forward to their match at the next tapings.

CJ Parker v Baron Corbin

Tweet 20: Idea for CJ: get some trunks with a recycling emblem on the back and tell everyone they're made from recycled material.

Tweet 21: They could go so much further with this gimmick. Weekly skits of CJ doing eco-minded stuff around Florida. None of it should be genuine.

Dempsey watches Corbin and Parker re-enact the "flying" Titanic scene.

Tweet 22: Still not impressed by Baron Corbin. Best thing about him is being able to imagine he's called Baron Von Corbin.
Tweet 23: "Are we gonna do this?" - Baron Von Corbin with the most homoerotic comment of the night
Tweet 24: Bull looks like a disgruntled puppy after that tussle.

William Regal talks to Devin Taylor backstage

Tweet 25: Regal announcing Sami Zayn's return. Curtis Axel rocking up. This is... concerning.

Tweet 26: Curtis wants to "recharge" his career. You want to recharge your inaccurate Better Than Perfect shirt, mate.

Charlotte talks to Devin Taylor in the ring

Tweet 27: Charlotte's wearing wrestling gear and a T-shirt for a promo segment. And she calls herself a Flair...

Tweet 28: "Blue Pants" being chanted at Charlotte. That's lol.

This is not a revolutionary champion.

Tweet 29: Speaking of lol Charlotte's just claimed NXT's revolutionising women's wrestling. It's good, but revolutionising is going a bit far.
Tweet 30: "It's Natalya's music!" - Rich Brennan on Natalya's music
Tweet 31: Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch v Natalya and Charlotte. Team Surname v Team No Surname.

Sami Zayn phone promo

Tweet 32: Sami Zayn recording in portrait on his face because he doesn't understand how television works. You used to be cool, Sami...

Tweet 33: All Sami can think about is the betrayal of Kevin Owens. Because it was such shocking behaviour and has never happened before.

Renee Young v Kevin Owens in an empty arena promo segment

Tweet 34: Renee Young giving Kevin Owens the hard questions. Owens bailing because SHOOT, BRO.

Tweet 35: Ascension. #ROAR

The Ascension v Finn Bálor and Hideo Itami

Tweet 36: "Some say he's as big as Ric Flair in Japan" - Renee Young on Hideo Itami

Tweet 37: Bálor's lack of face paint seems to have deflated the crowd. Did they really not get that it's a special occasion thing?
Tweet 38: This final Ascension v Bálor and Itami match needs to see The Ascension get battered inside of three minutes. Don't think that's happening.
Tweet 39: Alex Riley calling Itami and Bálor kids. Because he's a heel commentator.
Tweet 40: This referee looks like a young Mike Chioda. So I'm a fan.

This was a low point.

Tweet 41: Itami has the best hair in this match.
Tweet 42: "Konnor is one of the most impressive NXT superstars to me because he's such an impressive athlete" - Alex Riley, analysing Konnor
Tweet 43: Why is Riley on commentary when Corey Graves isn't?
Tweet 44: Bálor's been isolated. If Itami doesn't steamroll over everyone when he gets in I'm going to weep.
Tweet 45: Bear hugs are devastating, yo.
Tweet 46: Cena would have beaten The Ascension by now. #justsaying
Tweet 47: "It is crucial he makes this tag" - Renee Young on a tag that wasn't made... so what happens now, Renee?
Tweet 48: Viktor does a mean STO.
Tweet 49: "How d'ya like me now, Riley?" - 'Hardcore' Renee Young
Tweet 50: It went longer than was ideal but that was a fun match. Good show.