NXT – August 23, 2017: The British Nightcap

It’s another one of those special episodes comprised of the dark matches from Saturday’s Takeover: Brooklyn III. Therefor expect a lot of recaps as we don’t have anything new from Full Sail just yet. What we do have are the British guys in town and that’s almost guaranteed to be awesome. Let’s get to it.

We open with a package on Saturday’s show.

No Way Jose vs. Lars Sullivan

Jose pulls about a dozen fans out of the crowd for a conga line but Sullivan jumps him from behind. Something like a standing Boss Man Slam plants Jose and Sullivan leaves. No match.

Video on Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade Cien Almas with a DIY shirt doing Gargano in.

Gargano says the loss was his own fault and he has no one to blame but himself. That was far from the end for Johnny Wrestling.

Video on Asuka vs. Ember Moon with Asuka retaining the title in a big surprise despite suffering a broken collarbone.

Asuka held a mini press conference after her win and says she was better that night. She was never worried either.

The broken collarbone is acknowledged with a recovery time of 6-8 weeks. The title’s status isn’t mentioned but it can be assumed that it won’t be vacated.

Pete Dunne says the UK Brand started when he won the title and tonight, he’s proving that it’s his division. Wolfgang, his partner tonight, wants a shot after they win tonight. Pete says focus on tonight.

Peyton Royce vs. Sarah Logan

Logan fights out of a headlock to start and trips Peyton into an armbar. Back up and Peyton kicks her down, setting up a very flexible choke in the corner. A German suplex gets Logan out of trouble but Billie Kay grabs the hands to block a second. Rollups are exchanged until Peyton grabs a fisherman’s suplex for the pin at 4:19.

Rating: D+. Billie and Peyton are perfect for their roles as the good looking and annoying women who you want to see get beaten up without being too serious. They’re likely never getting close to the Women’s Title but they’re not the kind of people who need to be. Just let them do their thing a little while longer and then let them do it on the main roster. This was fine for what it was.

Video on Sanity winning the Tag Team Titles.

Video on the NXT Title match with McIntyre winning the title. Adam Cole, Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly’s post match beatdown is included as well.

McIntyre will address the trio’s actions next week.

Roode was livid after his loss and wanted to leave. Roderick Strong showed up, blew him a kiss, and said see you soon.

Roode’s Smackdown debut is shown as well.

Roode says he’ll embarrass Strong one more time and then he’s winning the NXT Title back and walking onto Smackdown as champion.

Video on Hideo Itami vs. Aleister Black.

Black had no comment after his win.

Pete Dunne/Wolfgang vs. Tyler Bate/Trent Seven

Dunne gets a very strong reaction and starts on the mat with Bate. Neither can get anywhere and it’s off to a double nip up for a standoff. Back from a break with Bate scoring with a dropkick and Moustache Mountain taking over on Pete. It’s off to Wolfgang who gets caught in a DDT, only to avoid a charge and bring in Dunne to work on the arm. The shoulder gets sent into the corner and Pete cranks on an armbar while bending the fingers back.

Wolfgang takes him down with a waistlock but a dragon suplex gets Trent out of trouble. The hot tag brings in Bate for a t-bone suplex and a nip up for good measure. That bounce off the ropes into a clothesline sets up the airplane spin (Mauro: “The human fidget spinner Tyler Bate!”). Seven gets dropped off the apron as Dunne gets caught with a capo kick. The Tyler Driver 97 connects but Dunne made a blind tag, allowing Wolfgang to hit the Howling for the pin at 8:17.

Rating: B. Bate and Dunne have some of the best chemistry I’ve seen in years and the fans react to everything they do. Bate is getting better every single time he’s out there, partially because he’s getting older and more physically mature. Dunne has an awesome sneer and looks like someone who could beat the tar out of you despite being only twenty three. Wolfgang and Seven were fine but just outclassed here, which is going to be the case with most of the British talent compared to those two.

Overall Rating: C+. I like these shows more than I used to as they’re a great way to decompress after a very long weekend of wrestling. After everything is so big over the last few days, it’s nice to have something so simple and easy with a good main event. Fun show here, especially with Bate and Dunne around.

Results

Peyton Royce b. Sarah Logan – Fisherman’s suplex

Pete Dunne/Wolfgang b. Tyler Bate/Trent Seven – Howling to Bate

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