Also, Daniel Bryan Wyatt made his re-debut and appears to have assimilated fairly well into the hillbilly cult. Which is just terrifying.
But more importantly than that, this week, we got confirmation that the WWE Network is A Thing That Is Actually Happening, and it looks freaking awesome.
Down in NXT Land, Bayley continued to seek retribution on the BFFs, The Authority hasn't forgotten about Xavier Woods, The Artiste continued to press his issue with BIG CASS, and in the main event, The Ascension went to war with Hunico & Camacho in a Tornado Tag Match.
Apologies again for the delays in this blog. Getting sidelined by that stomach bug last week really threw me off my game. I'll do my best to get things back up to speed in the coming weeks.
Before we begin on this week's NXT, a word on the WWE Network. With all of the live-streaming and on-demand options, all for only $9.99 a month (with a six-month commitment), it really is a huge deal. Having every monthly pay-per-view available on the Network, especially Wrestlemania, will be a huge savings to the cash-strapped fan, and unedited/uncensored matches and the other original programming options all appear to be worth taking a look at.
As far as NXT is concerned, it will be available on the Network, and in particular, the February 27 episode will be broadcast LIVE on the Network. Reports are coming out from a recent taping about some of the matches that have been booked for it, and they all sound awesome. I'm definitely going to be plunking down some money to get the Network.
This week, the commentary booth was manned by Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, and Alex Riley, which is probably the weakest of the combinations available. Saxton and Phillips in particular can be hard to distinguish from one another, and that's not a good thing when both are at the booth at the same time. I understand that WWE wants their commentators to be "storytellers" rather than play-by-play announcers, but nevertheless, they need to work on developing their own distinct 'voices' or styles so that they can stand out a little bit more. It will also make them seem a little less interchangeable.
Match #1: Summer Rae (w/ Sasha Banks) vs Bayley (w/ Natalya)
The NXT Women's Division is in a bit of a holding pattern. By some accounts, Paige is being held back from her call-up due to some misbehavior around her 21st birthday. It may be that they're keeping her off NXT TV tapings for the same reason, which leaves the NXT ladies to feud amongst themselves while waiting for their shot at the title.
This means that we get issues like Emma and Natalya feuding over the number-one contendership, and the BFFs basically feuding with everybody. Bayley's issue has been ongoing for a couple of months now, starting when the BFFs made fun of her, and then when they corrupted Bayley's friend Charlotte, who betrayed her and joined the BFFs. Bayley's been trying to get some revenge for weeks now, especially with Charlotte's continued absence from ringside.
The BFFs came out in their usual manner, but this time sporting headbands in Bayley's style in a clear mockery of the ingenue. Summer Rae even mocked Bayley's own headband and called for a hug. Bayley listened to the fan's chants of "No!" and ripped Summer's headband off before going for a sunset flip for a near-fall. After this initial attack, Summer took control and she's clearly got a future on the main roster if her pairing with Fandango ever fizzles out.
Eventually, Bayley rallied back with a stinger splash and some back elbows, then evaded a spin-kick from Summer to deliver the Hugplex (a belly-to-belly slam) for the victory. As the BFFs retreated, Natalya joined Bayley in the ring, and appeared to be wearing Summer's headband as she congratulated Bayley.
Commentary regaled us with a few hug-related puns during the match, saying Bayley's is a "hug life," and calling her the "Doctor of Hugganomics." A bit cringe-worthy, but not unexpected.
Backstage: Xavier Woods
Devin Taylor interviewed Woods, who at this taping was fresh off his debut on Monday Night Raw. In typical Woods fashion, he mistakenly thought it was still NXT 200, but after being corrected, he winced and said, "Missed it! I'll be back at 300!" Then Devin told him that Kane (Director of Operations) is here and wants to speak to him. Woods showed no concern about this, saying he's all for it, because he is (as his shirt says) "Over Nine Thousand!"
Match #2: Colin Cassady vs Aiden English
A few weeks back, BIG CASS and Enzo Amore bumped into 'The Artiste' backstage as he was doing his vocal exercises. After making fun of him, it transpired that Cassady was challenged to a sing-off with English. Last week, that sing-off took place, where to everyone's surprise, Cass showed up English at his own game. Furious, English beat him down for it. Commentary noted during the match that Cassady's vocal talents come from when he was living in New York City, traveling the subways and practicing his singing in the stations as a busker.
English did his usual singing entrance, but a minor departure was that, instead of calling "Spotlight, pleeease!" he demanded, "Spotlight, NOW." It's a subtle variance, but one that shows he's still smarting off his vocal drubbing last week. He sang to the tune of "Modern Major General"--
I am the very model of, and the greatest superstar.
I'll be all my opponents, whether they're from near or far.
I know all of the fancy pants and technical maneuvers,
And I know just what to say and sing to all the shakers and the movers.
'Cuz I am Aiden English, see, and better than Colin Cassady,
The greatest thing in W.W.Eeeee!
Cass wasted no time, hitting English with several huge knee lifts, tossing him into the corner, where he delivered some punctuated pounding, while spelling out "S-A-W-F-T," and finishing it up with a big clubberin' blow ("SAWWWWFT!") English ducked a big stinger splash, then took control with a keylock/headlock combination while trash-talking. It's good to see English showing a little more fire and personality in the ring, even if Cass roared back with a back body-drop and a huge high knee.
English picked up the win by getting space by going to the ropes, then cheap-shotting the same knee he clipped last week, allowing him to hook in the Director's Cut for the victory. Although the fans were calling for an encore, he did not sing on his exit.
I've said many times that I'm a huge fan of Enzo & Cass, and think they need to be called up as soon as possible. I'd be happier if they weren't jobbing so frequently, especially not with the talent that Cass has gotten the chance to show while Enzo's been injured. Give them a couple of weeks on Smackdown, and I guarantee we'll be hearing "SAWWWFT!" chants from mainstream WWE crowds.
Backstage: Adrian Neville
Devin Taylor interviewed Neville about his match against Bo Dallas on NXT 200, but before Neville could answer, his phone started ringing. He said it was a wrong number, but then spotted Tyler Breeze-- the very man who cost him the match on NXT 200-- lurking nearby. He demanded to know why Breeze was even in the same room as him, or even calling him on his phone.
Breeze explained, while doing his best to avoid looking at the Jumping Geordie as much as possible, "This way, when I talk to you, I don't have to look at your uggo face. And that way, my beautiful eyeballs won't melt out of my head." He also offered a sarcastic apology about Neville's loss to Bo Dallas. Neville returned fire by saying, "I suppose you had nothing to do with that?" Breeze said, "You started it!" but Neville said he deserved it. They bickered for a bit, before Breeze said "The NXT Universe deserves a champion who is gorgeous. Like me. Not you or anyone else."
Neville asked him if he likes to play games. "No, I don't, I hate games." This appeared to throw Neville a bit (and I wonder if that was an ad lib that Breeze threw in), but he said that he (Neville) does like to play games, and has one in mind. "It's called the 'Waiting Game.'" ("Ugh. The worst one.") Neville says he could beat up Breeze right now, "But I can wait... until next week," saying he'll enjoy watching Breeze squirm.
After Neville left, Breeze rolled his eyes and sneered, "The Man That Gravity Forgot? More like The Man That Mother Nature Forgot To Make Good-Looking."
The whole segment actually flowed pretty well, and we got to see some personality out of Neville, something that he's been somewhat lacking, and Breeze was completely on-point with his character and his reactions. Breeze may not have the kind of character that will make it past mid-card, but I could see some great potential for him on the main roster.
Match #3: Xavier Woods vs
As that strikethrough suggests, this match had been advertised before an ad break as being against a 'mystery opponent' for Xavier Woods. The ring announcer introduced the opponent... and then Kane's music played. Out came 'Corporate Kane,' in his suit and on a microphone. He said he's sure Woods is very happy with his recent successes on Raw, but he addresses the agitations that Woods has been a part of-- in particular mentioning the petition that Woods got started that got Big Show back in WWE. "I can assure you," Kane told him, "that The Authority has not forgotten this fact. The Authority was waiting for the appropriate time to punish you." That time was now. He introduced Woods' opponent, the Bulgarian Brute, Alexander Rusev.
Kane stayed at ringside during the match, as Woods went on the attack early, using his speed to evade Rusev's grappling and attacks, but he eventually ran straight into a big Samoan Drop. From there, Rusev took control with a nerve hold and a series of elbows and headbutts. Woods got another flurry of offense that led into his finisher combination-- "Over Nine Thousand!" into the Honor Roll clothesline, but Rusev countered the Lost in the Woods by throwing him into the ropes and crashing into him straight off the rebound. From there, the Accolade was academic for the tap-out win. Lana called off Rusev after the match, as the brute wouldn't let him go.
This was clearly a vehicle to push Rusev as a wrecking ball and Umaga-style beast. That's fine, but these repetitive squashes are starting to wear on me, and having Kane introduce Rusev made Lana completely unnecessary.
Video: WWE.com Exclusive from Last Week - Kofi Kingston
This video was filmed after last week's match against Rusev. Kofi basically said, "Tough match out there, man. I didn't feel like myself out there. ...I underestimated my opponent." He doesn't want to make excuses, and admits he took his eye off the ball with Lana, and asked for a rematch, saying he won't underestimate Rusev again.
Kofi's in a similarly going-nowhere state in WWE, but I don't know that a blip of a feud with Rusev on NXT is the best way to get him going anywhere.
Match #4: Tyson Kidd vs Baron Corbin
Corbin got a jobber introduction, being already in the ring as Kidd came out. Commentary said that Corbin calls himself "a different breed," and described him as a "lone wolf." He had a slight size advantage on Kidd, and used it in the early going. Kidd fired back with a chop, and Corbin just muscled him into the corner and pummeled him for it. He mowed him down with a shoulder tackle, but Kidd didn't stay down.
Kidd eventually won after a series of offensive flurries, concluding with a slingshot legdrop onto Corbin on the bottom rope, then a top-rope flipping neckbreaker, which Alex Riley said is called "Tyson's Twisting Neck Destroyer."
A bit of a nothing match, to be honest. They're still building Kidd back up as a workhorse, and that's fine, but this match didn't really do much of anything. I don't mind that flipping neckbreaker as a finisher, but it needs a better name.
Match #5: Tornado Match - Hunico & Camacho vs The Ascension
The Ascension continue to spin their wheels in the dregs of the NXT Tag Team Division. It's a bit of a shame that Davey Richards' attitude problems probably shot the 'American Pitbulls' chances of getting signed in the foot, because they could have injected a little bit of life in the tag division. Hunico & Camacho are as good a team as any for the time being. Despite losing in their title shot, the two cholos won't go away and the rivalry has led to this: a Tornado Match, which means no count-out, no disqualification, and all four men are legal at the same time, no tags necessary.
Hunico & Camacho came out on low-rider bikes, blinged out in gold. The Ascension, meanwhile, were finally introduced with their Konnor & Viktor names, not their old 'full name' handles. The match started out with a big brawl, as both teams were evenly matched, with Hunico pairing off with Viktor and Camacho taking on Konnor. The first big move of the match came when Hunico pulled out an impressive power move, a roll-up on Viktor, who was then powered up with one arm for a powerbomb, followed by an immediate second-rope legdrop from Camacho. Konnor broke it up and the Ascension regrouped on the floor as we got our last ad-break.
When we returned, the cholos were in control, and started a dual ten-punch in the corners, but the Ascension cut them off at three punches each by powerbombing them into the ring and taking control. The NXT Crowd is clearly as into Konnor's development as I am, as they started getting behind his offense, and he was clearly feeding off of their reactions. Camacho tried to fire back, but he ran into Konnor's huge flapjack, and from there, the Ascension switched targets, with Viktor delivering a snap suplex on Camacho.
However, Hunico & Camacho fought back, catching the Ascension with a top-rope crossbody from Hunico, then a dual clothesline from Camacho. Shortly thereafter, they hit their finishing combo, a Samoan Drop into the Falling Star swanton bomb on Konnor, but Viktor broke it up. The challengers sent him to the floor, and Hunico spread the ropes for a tope suicida from Camacho-- who ran straight into a vicious European uppercut from Viktor that left him out for the rest of the match.
That left Hunico prey for Konnor's full nelson slam. He roared for Viktor, and then they hit hiim with the Fall of Man for the pin and the victory.
The Tornado Match was a hot mess of chaotic action, not very good until that home stretch. Viktor's uppercut was a thing of beauty that probably has Camacho still looking for his head. The Fall of Man looked a little smoother this week, but I'm still not sold on it as a good finisher for the Ascension. Where they go from here is unclear. If the Real Americans aren't doing anything, that may make for a good feud to go from here.
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