NXT – November 23, 2016: Thank You NXT
NXT
Date: November 23, 2016
Location: Air Canada Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves
This is a special episode as we’re past Takeover: Toronto and since there hasn’t been time for a full taping, this show was filmed before Saturday’s show, meaning this is again in a huge arena. Things changed a lot in Toronto as two titles changed hands, including the NXT Title. Let’s get to it.
We open with the long recap of Saturday’s show.
Opening sequence.
Rich Swann vs. Kona Reeves
My goodness Swann gets an amazing reaction, easily stronger than anything the cruiserweights have gotten on Raw so far. Kona is aggressive to start and gets two off a pop up Samoan drop. Swann gets whipped hard into the corner and Reeves stops for a big, evil grin. He’s certainly got the facials down. The offense doesn’t last long though as Rich comes right back with a running kick to the face and the standing 450….but here’s Sanity for the no contest at 4:30, nearly a minute and a half of which was the team’s entrance.
Rating: D+. The match doesn’t matter because this is all about Swann’s entrance. You really can see how much better the cruiserweights are received at a show like this where they might be treated as a featured attraction instead of some people who happen to appear on the show. It gives me some hope for 205 Live, but if they do the show after Smackdown is taped, the show is dead in the water.
Swann fights back but gets taken down by the numbers as a big EY chant breaks out. Eric Young says this generation is going to be remembered because Sanity is going to take. It’s amazing how much easier it is to deal with Young when he doesn’t talk much.
Post break, No Way Jose is out to check on his partner and calls out Young for a fight right now. The rest of the team surrounds the ring and the brawl is on with no referee or bell. A right hand has Young in trouble and the rest of Sanity comes in for the beatdown.
Video on the finals of the Dusty Classic.
The Authors of Pain are ready for Chapter Three, which will be explained in time.
Peyton Royce and Billie Kay recruit Daria Berenato for the six woman tag. They’re ready to make the world prettier when Daria rearranges some faces.
Video on Bobby Roode vs. Tye Dillinger.
Tye says he might have taken a step back with the loss but the people still supported him so he’ll be back.
Long video on DIY vs. Revival. Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura was the clubhouse leader for match of the year but it’s going to be a very, very close race. I’m not sure which is in the lead at the moment but it’s a tossup at worst.
DIY says this win is an answer to every time they’ve been told no.
Video on Asuka vs. Mickie James.
Mickie is in tears over how amazing that was and calls Asuka incredible.
Video on Samoa Joe vs. Shinsuke Nakamura.
Nakamura wants a rematch as soon as possible.
Liv Morgan/Aliyah/Ember Moon vs. Peyton Royce/Billie Kay/Daria Berenato
Aliyah is the hometown girl and Berenato is the tough boxer/fighter. Billie and Liv start things off and an early headscissors takes Kay down. Aliyah comes in and Corey wants to know what’s up with people listing their area code. I’m with Graves for a change. Daria comes in and takes Aliyah down as we take an early break. Back with Aliyah still in trouble until an enziguri gets her out of trouble. Moon comes in off the hot tag and cleans house as everything breaks down. Billie kicks Moon in the face but the Aussies tell Daria to take care of the rest. As soon as Daria turns around, the Eclipse wraps things up at 8:41.
Rating: C-. This was fine and it’s very clear that Morgan is just a way to get the Aussies and Moon over as bigger deals, which is really all you can expect from her. The match was fine enough and that Eclipse is going to be the big weapon to give Asuka a run for her money. This was fine for a filler show main event and that’s all it was.
BREAKING NEWS: Nakamura vs. Joe for the title in two weeks from Osaka, Japan.
Overall Rating: D+. These are always hard to grade as nothing on here mattered but it wasn’t disguised as anything important. This was just a filler show until we get to the next tapings and that’s perfectly fine. I had a good enough time with it and the show flew by with all the recap videos. Joe vs. Nakamura III should be a blast and even if Nakamura doesn’t get the title back there, you can almost guarantee one more match in San Antonio. That’s enough to be thankful for so Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Results
Rich Swann vs. Kona Reeves went to a no contest when Sanity interfered
Liv Morgan/Aliyah/Ember Moon b. Peyton Royce/Billie Kay/Daria Berenato – Eclipse to Berenato
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Man oh man that reaction for swan. Hearing it live was something else. I am now also even more of a fan of ember moon. She is so graceful. Finally it was funny seeing me and my brother on camera looking towards the stage as ember was coming out. I don’t know why but it made me laugh.
Yeah I know the feeling. There was a Raw from 2010 uploaded to the Network today and you can see me all throughout Cena’s opening promo. It’s always cool.
Moon is someone who makes me smile as I watched a Reality of Wrestling show from about a year back and thought she had the talent to make it to WWE. By the time I looked her up, she had already been signed.