Oh, and the Network is coming next week!
Down in NXT Land, preparations for NXT's "Arrival" on the Network were in full swing. Emma kept her momentum strong going into her match with Paige. Sami Zayn and Cesaro have a tense sit-down interview. And Tyler Breeze looked to try to rearrange Adrian Neville's face.
NXT Stars Making Good
They're doing a decent job building up Alexander Rusev in his hype vignettes, and now they're actually having Lana speaking English, providing translation for Rusev's Bulgarian. Again, however, how well he'll do on the main roster is highly dependent on how his first few matches go. It also depends on whether the (Lack-of-)Creative Team commits to selling him as a fearsome competitor.
With Emma, meanwhile, they appear to be rehashing her feud with Summer Rae on Raw and Smackdown. They had another Emma/Summer dance-off on Smackdown, with Emma doing her same goofy dance moves (like the "Advanced Shopping Trolley") to the annoyance of Summer and Fandango. (And JBL.) Emma's debut on the main roster has been acknowledged on NXT now, and presumably after "Arrival" and a possible NXT Women's Championship reign, Emma might be phased out of NXT, depending on whether they settle down with her on the main shows.
A Word on This Week's Commentary
This week's commentary team was the ever-bland Tom Phillips, the ever-enthusiastic Tensai, and the ever-heelish Byron Saxton. Saxton had been doing a good-to-decent job of slanting heel without being too much of an annoyance about it. This week, however, he seemed to be slipping into "JBL mode," which isn't a good thing. He's doing the same kind of "spinning everything to benefit the heels" while trying to talk over the other two. This was especially noticeable during the women's match, as he questioned Bayley's presence at ringside for Emma, while lauding the support the rest of the BFFs were showing Summer Rae. He in particular mocked Bayley's "support," as she wasn't interfering on Emma's behalf like the BFFs. Tensai noted that she was "minding her own business," to which Saxton just scoffed. "Some friend."
In addition, Saxton is getting hard to distinguish from Phillips on commentary. Their voices sound similar to me, which isn't a good thing. Commentators should be easily distinguishable from one another. No one runs the risk of mistaking Michael Cole for JBL, or Alex Riley from William Regal. Saxton needs to work on developing his own "voice" on commentary, in both a literal and figurative sense. Patterning one's commentary off the greats is a good start, but being derivative forever shows a lack of creativity.
To Saxton's credit, though, he does take a joke well. During the women's match, he tried to get under Tensai's skin after the big man discussed his "self-taught" dancing skill (comparing himself to Emma, who is also "self-taught"). Saxton mocked that dancing skill, "A five-year-old could teach you that," and then added, "How well did that work out for you?" in reference to the break-up of Tons of Funk. Tensai just retorted, "When was the last time you got in the ring, Byron?" Saxton quickly said, "This isn't about me," but did admit, "That was a great comeback, by the way."
Match #1: The Ascension vs These Guys
As one might expect, this was just a serving of squash to remind everyone that the Ascension still exist, are still NXT Tag Team Champions, and are still dominating what remains of the NXT Tag Division. These Guys were Casey Marion and Mike Laboska (no spelling provided, alas), and Marion was the sacrificial lamb, with Laboska not even getting a chance to tag in.
The NXT Crowd have clearly decided that, if the matches themselves aren't all that interesting (because squash matches generally aren't), they'll have some fun with it. The "Yah" chants were in full effect throughout the match, even doing a dueling "Let's Go, Konnor"/"Yah Yah Yah!" chant early in the match. When Viktor was in the ring, the fans wanted to see Konnor instead, chanting "We Want Yah!"
Commentary tried to at least build up the Ascension's dominance by asking the question "Who can beat these two?" Tensai talked about how the Ascension need to be careful not to get complacent. When things come easily to someone, they can get complacent, and slack off, and that can cost them. The Ascension, thus far, haven't shown any signs of it.
Marion ate a big H-Bomb from the Ascension, and then the Fall of Man for the academic pinfall (with the fans "Yah!"-ing along with the count) to give Konnor & Viktor another victory. All these Ascension squashes are just indicative of the fact that there are no tag-teams left on NXT to challenge them. Hopefully NXT remedies this soon, or the NXT Tag Team Championships are just going to get more and more meaningless.
Match #2: Summer Rae (w/ BFFs) vs Emma (w/ Bayley & sign)
Summer was accompanied to the ring by Sasha Banks and Charlotte, and Emma beckoned out Bayley to join her. NXT's 'Doctor of Hugganomics' came out with the "#EMMAlution" sign, but then went back and brought out a different sign, one that read "Summer Teeth, Sumer Yellow, Sumer Green," [sic] much to Summer Rae's fury. Most amusing was Tensai marking out for bubbles on commentary, and then again for hugs. (He also apparently dubbed the Emma/Bayley tandem as "Bubbles & Hugs!")
There was some humor at first as Summer completely failed to tear or break the sign, allowing Emma to catch her for a series of roll-ups for near-falls. Commentary was putting over Emma's momentum going into her title shot at "NXT Arrival," noting that she's beaten Natalya & Alicia Fox (both former Diva's Champions) in recent weeks. Saxton tried to sell Summer's own "story of inspiration," highlighting how she's gone from ring announcer to Fandango's dance partner to wrestler in her own right to being added to the cast of Total Divas. Tensai turned that back around by pointing out Emma has moved across the world to chase her own dream of becoming a women's wrestler.
"Momentum" was the main theme in the match, as well. Commentary were mentioning how Emma has all of the momentum going into "Arrival," although Tom Phillips did try to point out that Paige is "one of the most dominant NXT Women's Champions in history." This falls flat when one considers that Paige is thus far the only NXT Women's Champion in history. It's also hard for Paige to have any momentum when she's been absent from the program for weeks. Emma can't not have momentum when one considers that.
Summer Rae definitely has some solid in-ring skills, which I really wish she'd get more of a chance to show on the main roster. She took control after Emma's initial offense, and kept it for most of the rest of the match. Summer made a good save at one point, when she went for her signature "dancer's stretch" rope-choke, putting her foot across the back of Emma's neck before doing a warm-up style stretch. Her foot slipped off Emma's head, but she immediately grabbed Emma's head and snapped her off the ropes instead. It looked very fluid, to the point where one almost might believe it wasn't a minor botch.
Emma finally took control when she caught Summer in the Dil-Emma, following up with the Emma Sandwich. Summer blocked the Emma Lock, however, kicking her away, and Emma got slapped behind the referee's back by Sasha Banks, allowing Summer to get a close two-count off a roll-up. Sasha got on the apron to argue with the ref, which is where Emma sent Summer crashing into her, wiping out her and Charlotte on the floor. Emma smoothly rolled Summer up and then tied her into the Emma Lock for the tap-out win to maintain her momentum going into "Arrival."
Backstage Interview: Tyler Breeze
Devin Taylor interviewed the Gorgeous One about his upcoming match with Adrian Neville, which we were told earlier that Breeze had requested. "Tyler, tonight you face Adrian Neville. What are your thoughts heading into this match?" "Devin, please don't use 'Adrian Neville' and the f-word in the same sentence, I don't like that. But somehow, that uggo managed to be #1 contender. That would mean if he wins, he'll ... he'll be the f-- he'll be the Face of NXT! I can't have Adrian Neville representing me! That's why tonight, for the first time, Adrian Neville will receive his Beauty Shot."
Breeze continues to go all the way with his character. His inflections, his facial expressions, and his stammering over the prospect of "Adrian Neville: Face of NXT" was all perfect and really helps sell Breeze's self-absorbed vanity.
Sit-down Interview: Antonio Cesaro & Sami Zayn
This interview was meant to get viewers hyped for the next chapter in the Cesaro/Zayn rivalry, not that most regular viewers need much more hype. We all remember the great matches they had last year (and some of us remember the ones they had prior to arriving in WWE), and we're already sold on the match just from the names alone. The two were seated on either side of Renee Young, who brought up their "match of the year," before Zayn congratulated Cesaro on making it into the Elimination Chamber... or started to, because Cesaro interrupted him to talk to Renee, mentioning that many people have congratulated him about it, "and next time you talk to me, you could be talking to the next WWE World Heavyweight Champion."
Renee then mentioned there are rules to the interview. Sami cannot touch Cesaro, lest he lose all future championship opportunities. Cesaro interrupted Sami's comments to say that he [Sami] will never get another NXT Championship opportunity, and that the other rule is that Cesaro cannot touch Zayn, lest he lose his spot in the Elimination Chamber, adding, "Not that I would put my hands on Sami in front of a beautiful, yet Canadian, woman." (This was a nicely subtle way to dig at Sami's own Canadian heritage as well.)
Renee tried to get back on track by asking Sami if he'd be medically cleared by February 27th. Cesaro immediately interrupted, "He'll never be 100%. You saw the footage. He clearly has an Achilles heel, or an Achilles knee." Sami said the doctors have cleared him, and he'll be ready, while Cesaro ignored him to fool around on his phone, noting, "There's a big difference between 'physically cleared' and 'physically prepared' for a match." Renee brought up the fact that Cesaro will be only four days removed from the Elimination Chamber match when the match with Sami takes place, and asks Sami if he thinks that will give him an edge.
Once again, Cesaro interrupted to answer first, talking about the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, but Sami finally stood up and called him on his frequent interruptions and accused him of trying to make it personal. (At this point, Renee retreated from the scene.) "We're past personal, we did personal," Sami told him, "with the attacks last time, the hatred and the name-calling, we're past that. We're past personal. The only thing that's personal about this time is that it's professional. And I take this profession very personally. Right now, you and this match is the only thing between me and advancing my career. That's where we're at."
Cesaro got in his face and began, "You need to understand--," but this time Sami interrupted. "No, what you need to understand is that you have nothing that I want to hear. And after February 27th, you're going to have nothing left to say at all." And, with nothing to say to that, Cesaro walked away.
This was an excellent segment that really sold Cesaro as an arrogant prick, trying to get under Sami's skin by ignoring him, interrupting him, and probably trying to provoke a physical attack out of it. Sami, however, didn't fall for it, instead calling him on his B.S. and laying out his personality in a nutshell. Sami is a nice guy, but he takes his job very seriously, taking any defeats as a personal failing that he has to overcome. Cesaro's silence at the end-- and the interruption from Sami-- nicely turned things around and it planted that seed of doubt about whether Cesaro-- "the ultimate competitor"-- can beat Sami again.
NXT Backstage Exclusive
Emma was dancing backstage with her sign, and gets congratulated by a cameraman, who asked if it was challenging with the BFFs out there. Emma ignored the question to talk about her sign, then turned things instead to "NXT Arrival," and her upcoming Women's Championship shot. She's got some things to say to Paige, and she'll do it face-to-face next week.
Match #3: Adrian Neville vs Tyler Breeze
This rivalry started back on NXT 200, as Tyler Breeze interfered in a Lumberjack Match to cost Neville a shot at Bo Dallas' NXT Championship. Neville later got a shot at Breeze on the Jan. 15th episode of NXT, where he won after a surprisingly competitive match. Breeze, as mentioned before, asked for this match to try to prove he could beat Neville.
Breeze came out swinging, after the initial clean break from Neville, and slugged away on the 'Jumping Geordie' in the corner, warning the ref "Don't touch me!" when he tried to pull him back. Neville managed a brief bit of agility when he nipped over Breeze and did his handsprings across the ring, but Breeze just charged in behind him and creamed him with a dropkick in the corner. Breeze's new found aggressive streak will go a long way in selling him as a competitor not to be underestimated when he gets called up.
Neville rallied back with a few kicks, even a big high flapjack as he just sent Breeze sailing into the air to belly-flop on the mat. He followed this up with some kneeling kicks, then whipped Breeze into the corner and came in behind him with a charging European uppercut that probably has Cesaro shedding a happy tear somewhere backstage. Breeze managed to buy some time by tossing Neville to the apron, but then he whiffed on a springboard dropkick. We went to an ad-break as Neville wiped out Breeze on the floor with a huge flipping tope con hilo.
As we returned, Breeze recovered from taking a missile dropkick and hit a jawbreaker, then attempted a Frankensteiner. Neville showed that his physique is not just for show, however, as he held on and powered him up for a sit-out powerbomb for a near-fall. Commentary was rightfully impressed by the show of strength. Neville went to the apron, evidently to look for another springboard move, and caught Breeze with a forearm. He went to the top, and then Breeze whiffed on a dropkick, either a case of mistiming on his part, or just a spot meant to sell Breeze as a bit of a high-functioning idiot. (I'm hoping the latter. It was a funny spot.) Neville shot off the ropes to build up speed, but he ran straight into a superkick from Breeze, but only for a two-count.
Breeze followed up by setting up for the Beauty Shot, but Neville ducked it and caught him with an enzuigiri, then another in the corner. This laid Breeze out in perfect position for the Red Arrow, which connected to give Neville the win and to maintain his momentum for "Arrival."
Commentary was playing up Breeze's guts in asking for this match, as well as praising his new aggressive side. Neville's "code of respect" was brought up, and how he takes it seriously and does not try to take shortcuts in his matches, a nice contrast to Bo Dallas, who exhibits an attitude in keeping with a lyric from his entrance music: "I'll do anything it takes to make it." The commentators were also giddy at the prospect of Adrian Neville in a Ladder Match, as careers have been made in that kind of match. They mentioned Shawn Michaels (Wrestlemania X) and especially Jeff Hardy (Wrestlemania 2000), with Tensai pointing out how the Swanton Bomb off the ladder onto Bubba Ray Dudley has been in highlight reels ever since.
Post-match: Promo time
As the match ended, Neville grabbed a microphone and started, "So NXT Arrival is just over one week away--" which is when Bo Dallas' music hit, and the NXT Champion came out in a suit, all smiles. (Sign in crowd: "Bathroom Break Time")
The champion hit the ring with a mic of his own. "Neville, I just wanted to say, I really do think it's quite impressive how far you've come since joining NXT. I mean heck, you're going to be facing me for the NXT Championship! Now that, that is huge! You've really been climbing the ladder of success. (Look what I did there! I didn't even mean to-- Ladder?) But I think you've gone as far as you can, sport. Because I have absolutely no intention of losing at NXT Arrival." Fans were already jeering him, because he's Bo Dallas, but when he called Neville "sport," you could sense them getting angrier.
Neville retorted, "You know, Bo, for the longest time I couldn't figure out what your problem was with me. You know, at first, I thought you hated me." "No, Neville, I don't hate you, I think you're a good kid!" (Another grumbling from the fans at that line.) Neville continued, "Then I realized, Bo, you don't hate me. You're scared of me, Bo. You're scared because on February 27th, I'm gonna beat you up, I'm gonna beat you, I'm gonna climb the ladder, and I'm gonna leave this place the NXT Champion. I can see you smiling, but your eyes, they don't smile. You wanna hit me, don't you, Bo? But guess what, Bo, I'll let you hit me. I'll give you one shot, right now, open season. The choice is yours."
Neville stood back and put his jaw out there for Bo to hit, and the champ stopped smiling. He took his time removing his jacket and the title, then unbuttoning his cuffs and rolling up his sleeves. He took so long, in fact, that the fans got impatient and started chanting, "Hurry up!" Bo seethed, teased leaving, milking it for a while, before leaving the ring with a smile and laughter, trying to project confidence that it's pretty clear isn't there. Neville stared him down from the ring as NXT closes.
This last little go-home moment helped cement Bo Dallas as a chickens**t heel, someone who can talk a decent game, but who clearly lacks the confidence to back up his words. He even manages to maintain his delusional beliefs (or "Bo-liefs?" ...I'm sorry.) in his own stature and champion's aura, since his promos seem to convey a sense that Bo honestly believes that his would-be opponents should be cowering in the face of him. When they don't, one can see some of the confidence faltering. It's very subtle, and I have to give Bo Dallas credit for managing to convey it convincingly.
NXT Arrival Rundown
There will be a kickoff show at 7:30pm Eastern on the Network, featuring a panel of Legends. The graphic showed Kevin Nash, Bret Hart, and Paul Heyman, but as ever, things may change. There are only three matches scheduled to take place, but we may see appearances from the Ascension, and I hope dearly we get an appearance from Enzo Amore & Big Cass.
- Ladder Match for the NXT Championship - Bo Dallas defends vs Adrian Neville
- NXT Women's Championship - Paige defends vs Emma
- One More Time - Antonio Cesaro vs Sami Zayn
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