NXTweet 29.07.15

A tag team title match headlined this week's NXT. That it had a shenanigan finish makes it clear that there's a rematch coming at Takeover. Also, The Not-Mechanics get an "upset" win, Charlotte and Dana Brooke fight about a sports T-shirt deal, and Kevin Owens becomes the king of British indies.

Intro

Tweet 1: It's go NXT time yeah, brother!

Tweet 2: I think we're all looking forward to an NXT focusing on Barry Corbin, Solomon Crowe, the Dubstep Cowboys and Alex Riley.

Enzo Amore and Big Cass v Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder

Tweet 3: Kinda miss Carmella getting booed for being a hairdresser or whatever tbh.

Tweet 4: Also missing Scott and Dash being called The Mechanics because Christ that's a lol name for a tag team.
Tweet 5: This absurd mullet on Enzo though.
Tweet 6: The Not-Mechanics grew up together in the Carolinas. Looking forward to the commentary gang talking up them being influenced by OMEGA.
Tweet 7: If this were a computer game Dawson and Wilder would both have Arn Anderson move sets.
Tweet 8: I bet Kevin Nash is disgusted by the amount of running about Big Cass does.

Shatter Machine, bah gawd!!

Tweet 9: Dawson + Wilder + SHATTER MACHINE = No Chance in Hell
Tweet 10: Reminder that Charlotte and Dana Brooke are feuding over an advert there. Very WrestleMania X8...

Chad Gable and Jason Jordan talk backstage

Tweet 11: Chad Gable talking about other tag teams and how he and Jason Jordan are better them there.

Tweet 12: I like this team but I don't really know why.

Video package hyping Charlotte v Dana Brooke

Tweet 13: Video package explaining Dana Brooke and Charlotte's rivalry about being in a Tap Out advert. Yeah. This is actually happening.

Tweet 14: I get why they're doing it and I like the realism twist and all but it's very clearly being done to advertise Tap Out more.

Baron Corbin v Jesse Sorensen

Tweet 15: 'Wolf Shaman' Barry Corbin coming out with his wet T-shirt and wolf powers. Amazing.

Tweet 16: Oh look, it's that lad TNA made resort to food stamps.
Tweet 17: Barry's going to the pay window, daddy!

Tyler Breeze storms into William Regal's office and reiterates that he wants a special opponent at Takeover

Tweet 18: I really want that to be Billy Regal's shoot office.

Jason Jordan and Chad Gable v Elias Samson Levis Valenzuela Jr

Tweet 19: Anyone on commentary going to acknowledge that Chad Gable's outfit matches Dawkins and Fulton's? No? Okay.

Valenzuela Jr putting his hands out exposes the business.

Tweet 20: "You don't have to be best friends to be great tag team partners" - Corey Graves
Tweet 21: That's true. Matt and Jeff HATED each other back in the day.
Tweet 22: Crying shame that nobody talks about popping hips on suplexes anymore.

Dana Brooke talks to Devin Taylor

Tweet 23: Pick a camera and stick with it, Dana.

Tweet 24: Still slow burning this Devin Taylor v Dana Brooke feud. Going to be wrestling's hottest feud when they pull the trigger.

Bull-Fit video

Tweet 25: Just a video package reminding us that Bull Dempsey's a slob. No big.

Tweet 26: I hope this Bull Dempsey thing is leading to the return of Simon Dean.
Tweet 27: They really are sending you a message, Bull mate.

Charlotte v Dana Brooke

Tweet 28: I wish Dana had shown up on RAW and attacked Reigns for being chosen for the Tap Out ads.

Tweet 29: Dana's been put in Chucks to wrestle as a rib on AJ Lee.

This wasn't bad but it could have been better.

Tweet 30: "I don't suck" - Dana Brooke in response to the audience telling her she sucks
Tweet 31: Dana should bring back D'Lo's "Who sucks now?" bit.
Tweet 32: The NXT crowd are defs smart enough to do the "You do!" reply.
Tweet 33: That was not the feature match I expected. Had the result I expected though.

Samoa Joe talks about his match next week

Tweet 34: Earlier today Samoa Joe was hanging around in a corridor talking about people asking what he's doing in NXT. Great stuff. Compelling TV.

Kevin Owens apologises for hitting William Regal last week

Tweet 35: Surprising sound issues on this Regal-Owens bit. Very unlike WWE.

Tweet 36: Imagine if Owens got the title back at Takeover though.

Eva Marie announces her goals

Tweet 37: If they put they women's title on Eva Marie they could do some pretty interesting stuff. Have her Xavier it. Go full-on undeserving champ.

Kevin Owens v Martin Stone

Tweet 38: Danny Burch is back then.

Tweet 39: I remember when Martin Stone was getting hyped as the future of the British indies.

Notice that Stone always wears the same gear...?

Tweet 40: Owens wins and is now the king of British wrestling.
Tweet 41: Saddened Stone didn't take that pop-up power bomb on his elbows tbh.

Rhyno hype video

Tweet 42: "Let's take a look at Samoa Joe's opponent next week: Rhyno!" *cut to a shot of an actual rhino*

Tweet 43: Rhyno's great. One of the few mid-card acts he's been so consistently good he's forced WWE to protect him.

NXT tag team championship: The Vaudevillains v Blake and Murphy (c)

Tweet 44: Talkies stars versus 90's kids TV presenters. Highlight of the wrestling year right here.

Tweet 45: Loving Blake's Triple H circa 1994 haircut.
Tweet 46: Corey Graves casually making jokes about Byron 'Petulant Child' Saxton being a cuckold. #PGera
Tweet 47: Blake's hair is a political power play.
Tweet 48: I've a feeling Triple H wants Blake and Murphy to be a tag team version of Ric Flair. Really great wrestlers who take shortcuts.
Tweet 49: Trouble is they're not actually great wrestlers.
Tweet 50: I'm mainly basing this on Blake's hair, the fact that they've been champions for a while now, and the way they're booked as a bit cowardly.
Tweet 51: So Gotch and English are getting the tag straps at Takeover: Brooklyn, yeah?

This is the best shot of this match form the WWE website. It's poor.

Tweet 52: Nice ending there. The Vaudevillains had Alexa cornered but held the ropes for her to leave because chivalry. She slapped them.
Tweet 53: Imagine how that would have gone down in the Attitude Era. Bliss would have been piledriven and put through a table.
Tweet 54: Nice to be reminded that progress has been made in wrestling. Not much but a bit.
Tweet 55: Anyway, good show, everyone. Good hustle.

NXTweet 22.07.15

NXT champion Finn Bálor finally makes an appearance on the show with the title belt. He cut a promo, signed a contract and brawled with former champion Kevin Owens. Good stuff, somehow.

Intro

Tweet 1: Watching NXT. Dedicating this to the memory of Hulk Hogan's career.

Tweet 2: "Finn Bálor returned home" - The NXT voiceover guy on Irishman Finn Bálor wrestling in Japan

Finn Bálor promo

Tweet 3: Love Bálor being hyped as a new champ even though he won the belt like a fortnight ago.

Tweet 4: Guy in the audience dressed as Hogan. #awkward

"Let me tell you something, brother!"

Tweet 5: Looking forward to the Full Sail crowd turning on Finn for daring to win the belt anywhere but there.
Tweet 6: A contract signing! YES!
Tweet 7: The gist of that promo was "I'm gonna beat Big Kev again." I reckon he probs will tbf.

Eva Marie talks to Devin Taylor

Tweet 8: Why is Eva Marie wearing one of Ric Flair's robes?

Tweet 9: Eva engaging Humble Babyface Mode here.
Tweet 10: I wouldn't say I'm looking forward to seeing her wrestle here but I am intrigued to see if she's improved.
Tweet 11: I've been predicting for weeks that she'll be way better than she was. It would be nice if she was. But y'know...

Cassie v Eva Marie

Tweet 12: Eva's stolen Nakamura's arm swings. That or she's forgotten how to do an ungimmicked walk.

Tweet 13: Eva Marie. #feelings

Good form.

Tweet 14: Eva doing a suplex and the crowd feeling they need to politely applaud.
Tweet 15: Minus points for mentioning Lance Storm, Byron.
Tweet 16: I hope Eva winning with Sliced Bread leads to Brian Kendrick returning as her on-screen manager-slash-eunuch.

William Regal and Tyler Breeze chat in Regal's office

Tweet 17: Teasing something big for Breeze at Takeover. This is where the need to announce special appearances ahead of time spoils things.

Baron Corbin v Jesus de Leon

Tweet 18: Barry Corbin wearing a T-shirt with a wolf on it to remind us all of his status as a Wolf Shaman.

Tweet 19: Arrive. End of Days. Snigger a bit. Leave.

Corbin wins via Wolf Power.

Tweet 20: They're going to force people to cheer Barry by having him go back to his mad-quick squashes aren't they?

Samoa Joe v Mike Rawlis

Tweet 21: This new music for Samoa Joe...

Tweet 22: Mike Rawlis has a touch of the Lucky Cannons about him.
Tweet 23: Random plug for Joe v Rhyno in two weeks. I like that. I wish RAW matches were advertised in advance.
Tweet 24: Hard when a crazy old man demands last minute rewrites though.

Emma and Dana Brooke talk to Devin Taylor

Tweet 25: Darth Emma talking about breaking people's spirits there. Keep it light...

Tweet 26: Looking forward to Devin Taylor slapping on a kimura when Dana pats her on the head one day. It's going to be such a Big Moment.

Emma v Bayley

Tweet 27: How about promoting Dana, Emma and Alexa Bliss to the main roster to join the Queen of Trios feud?

Tweet 28: Bayley and Emma work well together. It's like they're spurred on y the success of their peers. They want to prove they're as good.

The Force is strong in Bayley.

Tweet 29: Emma has only one person to blame for her career faltering: Santino.
Tweet 30: Bayley says she wants the championship and needs to beat the best to do it. Asks for a match with Charlotte. Charlotte's not the champ...
Tweet 31: Bayley v Sasha Banks at Takeover: Brooklyn then? I'd be down with that. Guessing Bayley would win. I'd be down with that too.
Tweet 32: Wanted Banks to have the title for ages but doesn't look like it's happening.

Charlotte talks backstage and gets interrupted by Dana Brooke

Tweet 33: Charlotte welling up at getting the chance to wrestle on proper WWE TV. Sad she doesn't mask it and elbow drop a jacket tbh.

Tweet 34: Who has more buff points: Dana Brooke or Charlotte?
Tweet 35: Charlotte needs to do more elbow drops in her promos, basically.

Sawyer Fulton and Angelo Dawkins v The Vaudevillains

Tweet 36: #Vaudevillainspop

Tweet 37: Immediately missing Sawyer Fulton's headguard thing.

I never wanted to see Fulton's ears. The magic is gone.

Tweet 38: Measurements will definitely get Angelo Dawkins over.

Blake, Murphy and Alexa Bliss talk backstage

Tweet 39: Blake's hair. Good lord.

Tweet 40: Blake 'n' Murphy, very much the T&A to Alexa's Trish.

William Regal hosts a contract signing between Kevin Owens and Finn Bálor

Tweet 41: Mad heat for the Barclays Center. Sign it and push it as the top heel.

Tweet 42: Finn Bálor wearing trainers for a contract signing exposes the business.
Tweet 43: Love Owens' playing up his accomplishments here. It's such an obvious basic thing to do but nobody in WWE ever gets to do it.

Alex Riley run-in at Takeover? Maybe. Nothing to do with this picture though.

Tweet 44: A wrestling contract signing ending in a brawl? WHAT?!
Tweet 45: Enjoyable show, everyone. Enjoyable hustle.

NXTweet 15.07.15

Finn Bálor has been the NXT champion for weeks and hasn't appeared on his show with the belt yet. That's the one negative of recording shows a month in advance. Not that it detracts from the quality of NXT. We got a resolution to the Gable and Jordan story, hype for Barry Corbin and Eva Marie (y'know, just general hype an' that) and a cracking main event between Charlotte and Sasha Banks. Who needs a men's champion?

Intro

Tweet 1: It's do a watch of NXT time.

Tweet 2: "Hey guys if you could chant NXT for us to splice in at convenient points we'd really appreciate it."

Jason Jordan and Chad Gable v Elias Sampson and Steve Cutler

Tweet 3: Chad Gable. The new Tye Dillinger.

Tweet 4: I'm immediately enjoying Chad Gable repeatedly tapping Jason Jordan. Hope they go with a mancrush story.

Gable's able.

Tweet 5: Srs point: I've liked the story of Chad convincing 'The New Double J' to tag with him. Simple and easy to follow innit.
Tweet 6: Sampson and Cutler need a team name. How about The Gold Star Rangers?
Tweet 7: Pop-up 2D finish. Just to stick it to them damn Dudleys.

Recap of RAW

Tweet 8: Recap of Lynch, Banks and Charlotte. That makes me think WWE realises there are people who watch NXT but not RAW.

Tweet 9: Those people are sensible.

Samoa Joe v Axel Tischer

Tweet 10: Samoa Joseph's music is all over the place. Starts off as some big epic thing then becomes synth hiphop.

Tweet 11: Axel Tischer's name will get changed at some point surely? Vince will drop Axel and Tischer is too weird to be his only name.
Tweet 12: Really enjoying Tischer's Heidenreich lite look.
Tweet 13: Heidenlite. #stillgotit
Tweet 14: Tischer raking Joe's eyes on the top rope. Absolutely devastating display.

Son of Heidenreich taking a kick to the face there.

Tweet 15: Joe getting the shock win there. Really didn't expect that. Thought that lad I'd never seen or heard of would go over.
Tweet 16: The Eva Marie push continues. It's even happening in Total Divas ads now.

Baron Corbin vignette

Tweet 17: YES! Barry Corbin talking about FOOTBALL and MARTIAL ARTS as he gets a TATTOO.

Tweet 18: Barry is THE READ DEAL, yo! You think you've done something? You've done NOTHING compared to Barry, mate.
Tweet 19: Loving Barry slating people for wrestling in gymnasiums so much. He's above that. He's told Triple H not to book him in gyms.
Tweet 20: And Triple H listened because he respects Barry's Wolf Power.

Eva Marie promo

Tweet 21: Eva Marie appearing to #instantheat here.

Tweet 22: Dem mic skillz.
Tweet 23: In-ring debut next week, Eva? What about all those times I saw you wrestle before? Wouldn't that mean you've already debuted?

What's her name again...?

Tweet 24: I'm genuinely hyped for Eva's REdebut though. So much potential in her as a troll character ruining the women's division.
Tweet 25: Still think she'll surprise us and be relatively good though.

Blake and Murphy v Angelo Dawkins and Sawyer Fulton

Tweet 26: Team name suggestion for Blake 'n' Murphy: The 90s Scarecrows.

Tweet 27: Angelo Dawkins should keep this amateur rassler gimmick but also wear a backpack and wacky glasses. Change it up, brother. Stand out.
Tweet 28: Your partner's channelling Rick Steiner. You need to keep up with that and it won't be easy.
Tweet 29: Soooooo... which one's Blake and which one's Murphy?

Who are we meant to cheer for here?

Tweet 30: Why are we seeing a heel versus heel match? What sense does this make? Is it a test to see if WGTT 2.0 can be cool heels? They can't.
Tweet 31: Nice to see Alexa's career path closely following that of Trish Stratus. Fitness model > Manager of a dodgy team > Greatest Wrestler Ever™
Tweet 32: Blake and Murphy beating up legit shoot fight juggernauts Fulton 'n' 'Dorky' Dawkins. This gets them over as KILLERZ.
Tweet 33: I wish JR was around to call that assisted Sparkle Splash. "Bah gawd! Sparkle Splash! Sparkle Splash! Sparkle Splash! That Jezebel!"

Sasha Banks backstage

Tweet 34: Sasha Banks wandering about in a dimly lit locker room there. Because why not?

Sami Zayn promo

Tweet 35: Sami Zayn there, looking like an injured golfer.

Tweet 36: "Welcome home" chant for Zayn. He's from Canada, ya daft Floridians.
Tweet 37: Waiting for Sami to say he's been "Daniel Bryaned."
Tweet 38: "2014 was probably the best year of my career" - Sami Zayn
Tweet 39: Sami's goals include winning the PGA championship, continuing to wear nice golf shirts, and wrestling The Undertaker at WrestleMania.
Tweet 40: Sami Zayn saying he wants Kevin Owens' ass. Such an Attitude Era sentiment.

Charlotte backstage

Tweet 41: Earlier today Charlotte did some skipping with a rope. That right there is how you know she's an #athlete

San Diego Comic Con NXT panel recap

Tweet 42: Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens being on the same panel at Comic Con exposes the business. Just ask Jim Ross.

Tweet 43: Finn Bálor is not a confident speaker outside of a wrestling show. Not a surprise tbh.
Tweet 44: Srs point: I like Owens saying New York City is to him what (all of) Japan is to Fergal 'Demon King' Devitt.
Tweet 45: That's how you do a modern wrestling story. Make it about careers and wins and losses and personality clashes.

NXT women's championship: Charlotte v Sasha Banks (c)

Tweet 46: Hello please where is Queen City kthnxbye.

Tweet 47: Charlotte should be announced from Flair Country.
Tweet 48: Charlotte still awkwardly doing her dad's taunts is so cringe. Just let her drop it. She clearly doesn't enjoy doing it.
Tweet 49: Charlotte, the babyface, likes to describe herself as "genetically superior". Y'know, like the Nazis did.
Tweet 50: Hope Charlotte doing the Flair Flop becomes a thing. Want to see her rolling from the ring, walking backstage and doing it in a locker room.
Tweet 51: Banks pressing A and B to steal her opponent's finisher there.
Tweet 52: This match is #wellgood for the record.
Tweet 53: I want to see Charlotte face Luke Harper in a Big Boot Must Be The Finish match.
Tweet 54: Devastating hair extension blows! Whadda match!
Tweet 55: Dat Bank Statement torque.

This hold is incredible.

Tweet 56: Banks winning via tap out with such a crazy-looking hold is part of the reason this division is so good. Everything looks legitimate.
Tweet 57: Banks tearing up after retaining helps too. Shows she cares, innit.
Tweet 58: "This women's division is in great hands" - Corey Graves with a comment notable because it looks like both women are leaving the division
Tweet 59: Great show everyone. Good hustle. Except Byron.

Believe the Hype

So. The Hype Bros. Although they're clearly bit part players in the grand scheme of NXT I think this is an inspired pairing. Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley. A reality show-modelled "broski" and a guy who bangs on about hype. That feels right. That works.

It's nice on several levels. We're seeing 'Long Island Iced Z' finally getting something to do, years after he managed to get himself over and WWE frittered his popularity away to enhance Kane for a feud with Cena (got to keep Kane strong!). Technically, yes, it's a demotion but it's not like Ryder was doing anything on the main roster. It's years since he was involved in any form of noteworthy storyline and months since he lost to Cena in the US open challenge, his last meaningful match.

Dick to the mouth finish there. Strong.

It's nice for Mojo. Because he may actually get over this way. His kids' TV-like ever-hyped demeanour grated on the Full Sail fairly early into his initial singles run last year. Pairing him with the genuinely popular (and relatively likeable) Ryder, smartly positioning him as a guy Ryder's chosen to take under his wing, gets Mojo screen time but keeps him in a role where his hyperactivity can be a strength: Ryder can get worked over and Mojo can rally the crowd.

That they've been made a tag team is good for the doubles scene as a whole. For a while there there were only two teams in NXT: Enzo Amore and Big Cass's New Age Tribute Act and Blake and Murphy's Dubstep Cowboys. The Vaudevillains were excused were excused from TV duties for an extended period and every other team either got main rostered or were split. The Hype Bros give NXT a much needed fresh duo.

The obvious thing to expect is a heel turn from Mojo. I don't think that will be the initial plan though. King of NXT Triple H seems to want Mojo to work out as a face, hence why he was pulled once he started getting booed and has been retooled for his redebut. I suspect a heel turn on Ryder may be a backup plan but we won't see it unless the Hype Bros fail to work out. Which I don't think they will. NXT is the WWE show where they know how to present stories and characters for a modern audience. If they really want Mojo cheered they're going to find out how to make it happen.