NXT – October 25, 2017: An Undisputed Strong Battle
NXT
Date: October 25, 2017
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson
We’re getting closer to Houston and that means things are about to get a lot more interesting. The card is going to be filled out in the upcoming weeks, starting with the fourth woman being added to the Women’s Title match. There’s also the issue between Andrade Cien Almas and NXT Champion Drew McIntyre. Let’s get to it.
William Regal tells us that Nikki Cross will be in tonight’s battle royal for a spot in the Women’s Title match. On top of that, next week the Authors of Pain will receive their rematch for the Tag Team Titles. Only two members of Sanity will be allowed in the arena.
Opening sequence.
Tino Sabbatelli/Riddick Moss vs. Danny Burch/Oney Lorcan
Riddick offers Lorcan a free chop and skin is almost peeled off. One heck of a running dropkick staggers Moss and it’s off to Burch. Sabbatelli comes in as well and eats a middle rope dropkick, only to cut Burch off with a clothesline. Fans: “YOU STILL SUCK!” Well at least they’re honest about it.
Some running dropkicks in the corner keep Burch in trouble and we hit the chinlock. Back up and a missed clothesline allows the hot tag off to Lorcan so house can be cleaned. Moss actually cuts him off with a fall away slam into the corner before putting Lorcan in a Gory Stretch. Tino adds a running bulldog into a faceplant for the pin on Oney at 4:04.
Rating: D+. Well I wouldn’t have bet on that. Sabbatelli and Moss have the potential to be a nice heel team and that’s a good finisher to make it work even more. I’m also kind of shocked that Burch and Lorcan lost so early in their time as a team. Maybe they won’t last long but it’s still surprising.
Quick look at Taynara Conti costing Nikki Cross a chance to be in the four way.
Battle Royal
Vanessa Bourne, Bianca Belair, Sage Beckett, Mercedes Martinez, Rhea Ripley, Candice LeRae, Taynara Conti, Lacey Evans, Sarah Logan, Dakota Kai, Zeda, Abbey Laith, Santana Garrett, Aaliyah, Reina Gonzalez, Nikki Cross, Billie Kay
I think that’s everyone. Cross goes right after Conti and gets rid of her in less than a minute. Conti pulls her under the ropes though and sends Cross into the barricade though, followed by Peyton Royce sending Nikki into the post. With Nikki still on the floor, various people are nearly eliminated but there’s not much to talk about otherwise. That’s kind of the point of a battle royal though and it’s not the biggest surprise.
Belair picks someone up and swings them into Ripley for an elimination with Zeda being thrown out a few seconds later. Back from a break with Beckett dumping Kai as the ring is starting to clear out a bit. Gonzalez is out as well and Aaliyah has been knocked out off camera. Cross is back up though and dives onto everyone at once before tossing Bourne and Beckett. Garrett and Laith are the fourth and fifth victims for Cross, leaving us with Cross, Kay, Belair, Martinez, Logan, Evans and LeRae.
There goes Logan and we’re down to six. Evans gets sent to the apron and Candice kicks her leg out for another elimination. That’s all of Candice’s good luck as Belair gorilla presses her out to the floor in a very impressive power display. Billie is sent over the top but grabs Belair BY THE HAIR to hold on. Kay gets back in so Belair whips her with the hair as we settle down a bit. Cross chokes Kay out to the floor (no elimination), leaving Martinez to chop away at Belair. They wind up on the apron and it’s Nikki running in for the double elimination. Kay misses a big boot and Nikki wins at 15:20.
Rating: C+. This was a heck of a battle royal where Cross was the favorite but you could buy the idea of a surprise getting in instead. They kept the pace very fast here and that makes for a solid effort. Above all else though, the future of the women’s division is bright. Let these women get some experience and coaching and they could be some major stars.
Post match Ember Moon and Kairi Sane come out for the staredown with Cross and Royce.
Earlier this week, Zelina Vega came up to Drew McIntyre to ask why Andrade Cien Almas never received the contract for a title shot. Drew says if Andrade wants one, come up to him like a man.
Aleister Black comes out for a match but the Velveteen Dream jumps him from behind. Black gets tied in the ropes and Dream demands that Black say his name. Dream loads up a big boot but Black gets up a boot of his own. The threat of Black Mass sends Dream bailing.
Andrade Cien Almas vs. Roderick Strong
Before the match, Vega again complains about the lack of a match with McIntyre. A quick trip to the mat goes nowhere and the first backbreaker gives Strong one. Back up and Almas drops him onto the apron and we take a break. We come back with Almas in control and the fans asking him to take Strong down one more time.
A triangle choke over the ropes has Strong in more trouble and even gets a two count. It’s off to an armbar for a bit until Strong comes back with a running clothesline. A pop up gutbuster drops Almas again and Strong slaps on the Strong Hold around the ropes (think a reverse Tarantula).
The back is banged up even more with a backbreaker on the apron and Almas is in trouble. A tiger driver is countered into a hurricanrana and Almas hits his running knees in the corner for two. Another knees attempt is countered into the Olympic Slam and a clothesline to the floor. Vega is right up with a hurricanrana to send Strong into the apron though, which the fans REALLY seem to like. The hammerlock DDT gives Almas the pin at 12:19.
Rating: B. Good match here and Vega’s involvement was a very nice addition. She’s quite the good choice for a talker and manager and if she can throw in a good hurricanrana at the same time, so be it. Almas is pretty clearly next in line for McIntyre and the NXT Title so a win like this should do him a lot of good.
Post match Vega and Almas say they’ll see McIntyre next week.
Still in the ring, Strong is looking upset but here’s the Undisputed Era. Adam Cole throws him an Undisputed Era armband and says he needs to join the family. Strong takes it and looks at it as the team leaves without him.
Overall Rating: B-. As usual, NXT gets to showcase a lot of people at once with a good main event and a very strong battle royal. They did some good stuff on here and we’re getting ready for Takeover. The NXT Title match is acceptable enough and the Women’s Title needs some personal issues, which they have time to make. Other than that though, the show needs that one big attraction to make it work.
Results
Tino Sabbatelli/Riddick Moss b. Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch – Gory Bomb/Bulldog combination to Lorcan
Nikki Cross won a battle royal last eliminating Billie Kay
Andrade Cien Almas b. Roderick Strong – Hammerlock DDT
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