NXT – October 4, 2017: Just What Drew Needed
NXT
Date: October 4, 2017
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Percy Watson, Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness
It’s a big night this week as NXT Champion Drew McIntyre is putting the title on the line against Roderick Strong. There’s a good chance that this is going to be more about the post match issues as you can almost guarantee that the Undisputed Era will be getting involved. Let’s get to it.
We open with a We Stand With Las Vegas graphic.
Quick recap of Strong vs. McIntyre which was just announced by William Regal two weeks ago.
Opening sequence.
Mauro gives a quick voiceover tribute to the late Lance Russell. That’s very classy.
Ruby Riot vs. Billie Kay/Peyton Royce
Nikki Cross was supposed to be Ruby’s partner here but is nowhere to be seen. Ruby sends Billie into the corner to start before working on Peyton’s arm. It’s back to Billie to send Riot into the corner and hammer away before Peyton comes in to do the same. The slow beating continues but here’s Cross through the crowd to stand in the corner.
Peyton grabs a chinlock for a bit before a double faceplant puts both women down. Riot crawls over and makes the reluctant tag to Cross to clean house. A reverse DDT gets two on Billie with Peyton making the save. Peyton bulldogs Nikki onto Billie’s knee but Riot pulls Peyton outside. Ruby comes back in with a double missile dropkick, followed by something like a Pele to end Billie at 7:03.
Rating: C+. Billie and Peyton are much better as a team than on their own but they shouldn’t be beating a pairing like Cross and Riot. You could easily see the two of them in the four way for the Women’s Title and it would be cool to see the two of them as focal points of the division, at least for a short time.
We look back at Lars Sullivan destroying Oney Lorcan until Danny Burch made the save.
Sullivan says everyone should be afraid and warns Burch to not face him next week.
Zelina Vega isn’t worried about Johnny Gargano getting a rematch with Andrade Cien Almas. Gargano’s lifeline is dead.
We look at Adam Cole defeating Eric Young last week with some distractions at the hands of the Undisputed Era. In two weeks, it’s a six man tag.
Lio Rush vs. Aleister Black
This is Rush’s in-ring debut. Hang on a second though as Velveteen Dream comes in and drops Rush before going up top. After a quick hip swivel at Black, Dream drops the Purple Rainmaker on Rush. Black flips into the ring and Dream bails. Dream: “Hey Aleister. WHAT’S MY NAME! ACKNOWLEDGE ME!” No match of course.
Kairi Sane vs. Aaliyah
Sane rolls around to start before blasting Aaliyah in the face for two. Back up and Aaliyah bends Sane over her knee to work on the back, followed by a hard whip into the corner. A hard spear gets Kairi out of trouble and the sliding corner clothesline rocks Aaliyah again. The top rope elbow gives Kairi the pin at 3:12.
Rating: C. Just a squash here and that’s all Sane needed to do. Aaliyah may not be the most successful woman on the roster but she’s a name that people are familiar with, which is all you need in a moment like this. If nothing else that huge elbow is going to get Sane all the attention she needs.
Next week: Liv Morgan vs. Peyton Royce vs. Nikki Cross for a spot in the four way title match.
Also next week: Andrade Cien Almas vs. Johnny Gargano.
NXT Title: Drew McIntyre vs. Roderick Strong
Strong is challenging and headlocks the champ to start. That’s thrown off by raw power and we take a break. Back with McIntyre kicking him in the ribs and LAUNCHING him with an overhead belly to belly. Strong is right back up with a running knee from the apron as they’re trading big shots. He’s not done either as it’s a big backbreaker onto the steps to really stun McIntyre for the first time.
Back in and Strong stays on the back before just hammering away at the head. Another suplex gets Drew out of trouble though and we take a second break. Back again with Drew scoring with a reverse Alabama Slam for two of his own. Strong’s tiger driver is countered with more power and a spinebuster gives Drew another near fall.
Drew puts him on top but has to block a sunset bomb. Instead Strong settles for a corner enziguri and a superplex for the closest two yet. The fans are starting to get into these kickouts too. Now the tiger bomb gives Roderick two more but Drew is right back up. A super Celtic Cross still can’t put Strong away so it’s Claymore time.
That’s blocked by three straight jumping knees to the face, followed by the Sick Kick for a very close two. They head outside with Strong trying a hurricanrana off the apron but getting powerbombed into the post. Strong is done so there’s the Future Shock, followed by the Claymore to retain Drew’s title at 23:44.
Rating: B+. Heck of a performance from both guys here, which is exactly what Drew needs. He’s the guy who has been a bit left behind in this big Undisputed Era vs. Sanity feud so tearing the house down is a great way to remind us that he’s still here. Strong is going to be around as well and would fit in as a fourth member of the Undisputed Era if they want a fourth member.
Strong leaves but runs into the Undisputed Era. They talk to him with Cole patting him on the arm. We couldn’t hear what was said but Strong looks a bit confused.
Overall Rating: A-. Well that worked. Matches made for next week, Sane makes her debut and a heck of a title match to close it out. That’s how you present an hour of wrestling television and I had a great time with the whole thing. I’m also curious to see where they’re going with Houston, which has a lot of options at this point. Great show this week.
Results
Ruby Riot/Nikki Cross b. Billie Kay/Peyton Royce – Pele to Kay
Kairi Sane b. Aaliyah – Top rope elbow
Drew McIntyre b. Roderick Strong – Claymore
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