Overall it was one of the best episodes of NXT so far this year, if not all time. It featured Hideo Itami’s return and Bobby Roode’s introduction to the NXT fans. It also set up Asuka vs Bayley II at TakeOver with the contract signing next week. We also got a glimpse at whats in store for the Tag-Team division and we now know that Ember Moon aka Athena will debut in Brooklyn.
Hideo Itami vs Sean Maluta
This episode of NXT kicked off with Hideo Itami making his much-awaited return since shoulder surgery which has kept him out for more than a year against Cruiserweight Classic competitor Sean Maluta, member of the Anoa’i wrestling family. As the competitors got in the ring, we got a shot of Maluta’s fellow CWC competitors Zack Sabre Jr, Tony Nese and Drew Gulak at ringside.
Itami showed no signs of ring rust from his lengthy absence even though the scars from his shoulder surgery were still visible on his shoulder. Itami dominated most of the match but Maluta showed his fair share of spunk and pulled off a series of impressive moves including beautiful Codebeaker. One of the best parts of the match was the nose-to-nose face off in the middle of the ring between Itami and Maluta.
Maluta fought hard and showed WWE management why he needs to be signed up immediately but in the end he was no match for Itami’s decades of experience. Itami finished the match off with an impressive sequence that began with a running dropkick in the corner before finishing off Maluta with a running knee strike. No Go-To- Sleep yet though. Still have to wait for that one.
Hideo Itami def. Sean Maluta
Mojo Rawley vs Chris Atkins
Mojo Rawley came out for singles action next in what might be his last appearance on NXT television against Australian Chris Atkins. The match was short lives with a rabid Samoa Joe interfering and dispatching both competitors from the ring. Joe then cut an enraged promo calling out William Regal for supposedly disparaging him.
Mojo Rawley came back and attacked Joe from behind before being dragged away and separated by referees. Attacking Joe is never a good idea, especially when Joe is unhinged. Joe came back and attacked Mojo Rawley from behind as he was being led back up the ramp by referees and took him out with a Coquina Clutch on the ramp.
Match ended in no contest
Asuka vs Aliyah
Bayley came out before the match to join Corey Graves and Tom Phillips on commentary. However, after Asuka made her entrance, she went and grabbed a chair and put it on the ring, so that Bayley could come get a closer look. Bayley accepted Asuka’s invitation and came down to ringside.
The match itself was something that Aliyah won’t want to remember. Asuka kicked her from pillar to post and absolutely hammered her, to the point where fans could be heard screaming at the ref to stop the match. Asuka clearly wanted to send a message to Bayley, and he even pulled Aliyah up in the middle of pinning her to inflict further damage. Aliyah was finally put out of her when Asuka finally let her tap out to the Asuka Lock. Yes, I said Asuka let her tap out.
Asuka destroyedAliyah
Bayley entered the ring following the match to check on Aliyah as Asuka started her down, watching Bayley look at her handiwork.
Bobby Roode addresses the fans
Bobby Roode made his much awaited debut appearance on NXT next and he came out to a glorious new new theme song. Roode started off by saluting the NXT fans who he says inspired him to sign when he was in the front row at NXT TakeOver: Dallas.
Roode said what NXT had missing so far was him, Bobby Roode. He said that he would get corporate sponsors for NXT and would take the brand to the next level before doing a 180 and ripping into the fans. He promised to replace their oversized t-shirts and cargo pants with suits and would fill the arena with “Presidents and CEO’s”.
It looks like the initial part of Bobby Roode’s NXT run will be as a heel, and we all know how good a heel Bobby Roode can be. His debut will probably be at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II.
Main Event: The Revival vs TM61
The main event was up next. The Australion duo TM61, Shane Thorne and Nick Miller, taking on The Revival. The two teams were evenly matched at the beginning. Even though TM61 are relatively new to NXT, they went toe to toe with the 2-time NXT Tag-Team Champions and didn’t look a step behind. On a side note, TM62’s stereo dropkicks look beautiful.
Soon enough, The Revival were back to doing what they do best, precision limb-targeting. They had isolated Thorne and were working over his arm for a while, trying to take out some of his offensive capability before Thorne finally managed to tag in his partner. Nick Miller came in like a tornado, suplexing and clotheslining Dash and Dawson, and generally cleaning house. The ending sequence came when Miller was chasing Dash Wilder outside the ring. As Miller followed Wilder into the ring, Dawson caught him in a vicious DDT which led to the pinfall. A good match and a valiant effort from the Australian duo.
The Revival def. TM61
Following the match The Revival cut a promo in the ring saying that they had beaten everyone in the division and saying that there were no challengers left. At this point they were cut off by Gargano and Ciampa’s music. They said they knew one team that The Revival hadn’t beaten – Jonny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa. The duo hilariously hit back verbally at Dash and Dawson, mockingly naming some other teams that they had ‘beaten’ which included The Hollywood Blondes, Kermit & Piggy and Pikachu & Charmander which got a huge pop from the fans who even broke into a Pokémon chant as Gargano & Ciampa entered the ring.
After a little more banter, The Revival lost their patience and attacked their would be challengers who countered and hit back. After clotheslining Dawson out of the ring, they hammered Dash Wilder with a series of kicks and knee strikes before picking up the Tag-Team Championship belts and stood tall.
