NXT – November 22, 2017: A Sweet End
NXT
Date: November 22, 2017
Location: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson, Mauro Ranallo
We’re finally getting to the end of the Houston tapings with a pair of dark matches from this weekend’s Takeover: WarGames. Therefore, aside from the two matches, expect a lot of recaps from Saturday. That’s not the worst thing in the world though and lets the main stories take a breather. Let’s get to it.
The long recap of Saturday’s show kicks us off.
Opening sequence.
Ruby Riot vs. Sonya DeVille
Before the callups, which are mentioned and even shown during the entrances. Feeling out process to start and they head to the mat with DeVille grabbing a waistlock, only to get thrown off without too much effort. Back up and DeVille slide kicks the bad leg out and we take a break.
We come back with DeVille staying on the leg and grabbing a spinebuster for two. A leglock keeps Riot in trouble until she fights up with some clotheslines and an STO for two. Sonya slaps on a triangle choke and switches into an ankle lock until Riot makes the dive to the rope. Back up and Riot hits a quick Pele kick to the face for the pin at 10:34. It’s as sudden as it sounds.
Rating: C-. It’s kind of a weak way for both of them to go out as neither of them did anything special here. At least they had a match to close out their mini feud though, which is more than some people get at times. DeVille looked good but I could still go for some more development for Riot. You would have thought she was going to be in the Women’s Title hunt picture but this is quite the sudden promotion.
Quick look at Velveteen Dream vs. Aleister Black.
Quick look at Lars Sullivan vs. Kassius Ohno.
Sullivan says he took those kicks like a man and he dominated like he knew he would. If anyone wants to step in his way, they’ll be destroyed too. I really could have gone with him never talking as he doesn’t have the most intimidating voice.
Video on the Women’s Title match.
Ember Moon says this is a dream come true and everything has paid off. She’s going to keep fighting as hard as she can. Remember when Moon used to be nearly supernatural and is now just a woman who fights? That’s quite the drop of a gimmick.
Video on Andrade Cien Almas winning the NXT Title.
McIntyre is banged up and disappointed by the loss. If it is a torn bicep, I’m hoping he doesn’t come back to NXT and just goes up to the main roster. It’s not like he has anything else to prove down there.
Last week, the Street Profits were dancing on a car when Riddick Moss and Tino Sabbatelli came up. An argument broke out and a match was set for next week.
Also next week: Kairi Sane vs. Peyton Royce.
Long video on WarGames, showcasing just how brutal it really was.
Sanity could barely walk after the match.
Undisputed Era bragged about their win.
UK Title: Pete Dunne vs. Johnny Gargano
Dunne is defending and has to spin out of an early wristlock. The technical wrestling goes to Gargano, who sends Dunne outside and follows him out with a cannonball off the apron. Dunne is right back up with an X Plex onto the apron though and we take a break. Back from a break with Dunne cranking on both the arm and the fingers, with Mauro being smart enough to say it helps prevent the Gargano Escape.
Johnny rolls away and hits the rolling kick to the head for a breather. The slingshot spear gets two and a suicide dive into a DDT should have Dunne rather dead. Instead he’s able to block a slingshot DDT into something like a bridging belly to back suplex for a near fall. The Bitter End is countered into a DDT and the Gargano Escape goes on, only to have Dunne bite the fingers for the break.
Dunne’s enziguri staggers Johnny but he takes Dunne’s head off with a clothesline for a double knockdown. Gargano picks up Dunne’s mouthpiece….and superkicks the heck out of Dunne for two. The slingshot spear only hits forearm though and it’s the Bitter End to retain the title at 12:54.
Rating: B. Gargano was a good choice for this as he can wrestle a good match against anyone. Dunne is just on another level though and while some of that is due to being on the show so infrequently, there’s some incredible talent there. The fact that he’s only 24 years old is downright staggering as he could easily have another fifteen years in front of him. Really good match here, as expected.
Overall Rating: C+. I never know how to rate these recap shows as the two matches ranged from good to not bad but the focus was on taking a breather after the big show. Things will pick up again next week as they’re already having to get ready for the build towards Philadelphia. This was more like a week off than anything else, though it was still certainly watchable and set stuff up for next week.
Results
Ruby Riot b. Sonya DeVille – Pele Kick
Pete Dunne b. Johnny Gargano – Bitter End
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