NXT – January 30, 2019: Arg Indeed
IMG Credit: WWE
NXT
Date: January 30, 2019
Location: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, Arizona
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson
We’re still in Phoenix for the followup that came before the big show. This should be a much more laid back night with just the dark matches from Saturday’s Takeover, which should be a good bit of fun. The ton of recaps should help speed things up a bit too. Let’s get to it.
Here’s Takeover if you need a recap.
We open with the customary long recap of Takeover. Not everything gets attention here though, including the lack of anything on the Tag Team Titles.
Opening sequence.
Io Shirai/Kairi Sane vs. Marina Shafir/Jessamyn Duke
Mauro dubs the nice team the Sky Pirates, thereby winning the world. Shafir, in what looks like a protective face mask, gets taken down by Shirai to start. It’s off to Kairi (to a BIG reaction) to face the much taller Duke, who wants a test of strength. Things turn into a bit of scrapping with Sane getting the better of it and bringing Shirai back in for a double dropkick to the back of the head. Shafir offers a distraction though and Duke kicks Shirai’s knee out to take over.
The double teaming begins with Shafir flipping Duke over into a kick to the ribs. A butterfly stretch keeps Shirai in trouble and a butterfly suplex gets two. Shafir grabs a guillotine choke so Shirai climbs the ropes into something like Sliced Bread for the break. That’s enough for the hot tag to Sane as the pace picks up in a hurry. The Interceptor cuts Shafir off and the sliding forearm in the corner keeps her in trouble. A pop up elbow hits Shafir and the Insane Elbow is good for the pin at 6:40.
Rating: C+. Duke and Shafir are still very green and need a lot of ring time (totally understandable as they’re still really new) but WOW the Pirates looked awesome here. They work so well together, have a cool name and gimmick, and looked dominant in their win. Push the heck out of these two.
Video on Ricochet vs. Johnny Gargano.
Johnny promised a Match of the Year and a win, both of which he delivered. Winning feels great.
Video on Bianca Belair vs. Shayna Baszler.
Belair says being un-de-fea-ted is a mindset instead of wins and losses. Oh good grief we still have to hear that line? As for Sam Roberts saying Belair didn’t deserve to be in the match, Belair pushed Shayna to the limit.
Video on the War Raiders vs. the Undisputed Era.
The Raiders say the Era earned their respect but the era is over. Their reign starts now.
Video on Matt Riddle vs. Kassius Ohno.
Riddle says the win wasn’t the point here. This was about making a mark by beating Riddle until he gave up. Ohno was broken tonight and that’s going to happen to anyone who tests him.
Video on Tommaso Ciampa vs. Aleister Black, including the pose with Johnny Gargano after the match.
Paul Heyman praised Ciampa on Twitter.
After the show ended, Velveteen Dream, Ricochet and Adam Cole got involved to turn it into a big six man brawl which spread backstage. This set up Halftime Heat’s six man tag.
Video on NXT names in the Royal Rumbles.
Forgotten Sons vs. Street Profits
Cutler and Blake for the Sons here and the Profits have some Harlem Heat inspired gear for a cool touch. Dawkins and Blake start things off but everything breaks down in a hurry with Blake being backdropped onto Cutler on the floor. Back in and Cutler gets flapjacked onto Blake as it’s all Profits so far. Cutler finally grabs a backbreaker on Ford, followed by a belly to back for two. Blake drops a knee to the back and a buckle bomb into raised knees stays on the back.
Another backbreaker draws Dawkins in for the save, allowing Ford to send both of them outside. A missed top rope splash sends Blake into the mat and there’s the hot tag to Dawkins. Everything breaks down as Dawkins cleans house, including Ford hitting a crazy high flip dive onto Blake. Ford gets serious with a sip from the cup, setting up a Doomsday Blockbuster for two as Blake makes a very good save. Jaxson Ryker makes a save of his own so Dawkins stares him down, allowing Blake to hit his own dive. Back in and the Memory Remains (reverse DDT/double stomp) combination finishes Dawkins at 7:18.
Rating: C. I still dig the Street Profits but I’m not sure how much value the Sons have. Granted winning some matches means a lot more down in NXT so just having them win a few matches here and there could do some good. The Raiders are going to need some challengers so the Sons could be fine for a one off. Nice energetic match here, though I could have gone with a different result.
Overall Rating: C. Obviously the wrestling didn’t matter than much here but this isn’t your normal NXT. We’ll get back to the regular kind of shows next week with some of the bigger names coming back and the road to New York beginning. The wrestling here was fine with the Sky Pirates being a great addition, though I’m not sure who they can fight. Anyway nothing show here, but that’s to be expected.
Results
Io Shirai/Kairi Sane b. Marina Shafir/Jessamyn Duke – Insane Elbow to Shafir
Forgotten Sons b. Street Profits – Memory Remains to Dawkins
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