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NXT once again proves to be the place for professional wrestling, as the card is stacked with some of the best athletes in professional wrestling today. Sami Zayn will take on Adrian Neville for the NXT title, as Sasha Banks goes one on one with the NXT women’s champion, Charlotte. Also, Hideo Itami and Finn Balor team up, while the former Kevin Steen, aka Kevin Owens will make his NXT debut on tonight’s show!
Hello ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Full Sail University for NXT: R Evolution! We have a stacked card tonight with so many amazing matches in store.
Corey Graves officially announced his retirement from professional wrestling. A sad day, as he had a promising career ahead of him.
We get the opening promo for the show, as the fans were pumped up for the show. The show kicked off with Kevin Owens coming down to the ring to a big pop!
Kevin Owens vs. CJ Parker
Kevin started off with clotheslines in the corner and then a running senton! The crowd started a “Fight Owens Fight”, as Owens flew out of the ring with a running flip to the outside! The crowd started a “Holy sh*t” and “Owens’ gonna kill you” chant, as Parker tried to find his way back into the fight, as Owens turned him inside out with a lariat, then drilled him with a modified brainbuster. Owens finished him off with a pop up powerbomb to pick up the victory!
Winner: Kevin Owens
Rating: ** ½
Analysis: Owens was busted open after the match, but that was an amazing way to kick start his career in the WWE. Owens was a little stiff, and he might need to change that aspect of his in – ring work, but he had tears in his eyes before his match, which showed how much this meant to him.
Neville was then shown backstage as the announcers hyped his match.
Lucha Dragons vs. The Vaudevillains for the NXT tag team championships
Good back and forth match between the two teams, as Cara and Gotch started things off. Cara got in some high – risk offense, as he tagged Kalisto in. Kalisto worked over Gotch and tagged in Cara, who got in the Michinoku Driver. More back and forth action, as English pushed Gotch out of the way as the Luchos hit a plancha, and Kalisto hit the Salida Del Sol to pick up the victory, and retain the NXT tag team championships.
Winners and still the WWE NXT tag team champions: Lucha Dragons
Rating: ***
Analysis: We missed most of the match due to live feed issues, so I can’t say much about it. But that was an impressive finish, as the Lucha Dragons seem to get better as we roll on.
Baron Corbin vs. Tye Dillinger
Corbin finished Tye off very easily with the Snake Eyes, followed by the big boot for the squash victory.
Winner: Baron Corbin
Rating: ½ *
Post match, Corbin stared Dempsey down at ringside.
Analysis: Nothing much to say, except for that the WWE is going to give him a monster push.
The Ascension vs. Hideo Itami and Finn Balor
Balor made his way out in his vintage body paint that has made him famous around the world. Itami and Balor kicked Ascension out of the ring before the match even began! The crowd started a “Holy sh*t” chant, followed by “Marking out” chant. Viktor and Balor started things off, as Balor controlled the pace for a one count. Viktor came back with some kicks, but Balor dropped him with a dropkick.
Itami then made his way in, but was planted on his face. More back and forth action as Balor came into the ring once again, but Viktor controlled the pace of the match. Itami came in but was dropped by Viktor. More pinning predicaments by Viktor as the faces tried to find a way back into the match. The crowd was firmly behind Hideo, but Viktor worked on Itami. Viktor missed with a shoulder in the corner, as Hideo sent Viktor and Konnor out of the ring, but Ascension managed to stop Hideo from tagging Balor in.
Konnor came in, but Hideo connected with a huge kick. Balor made the tag in and dropped both Viktor and Konnor. Balor planted Konnor and connected with a top rope moonsault. Balor missed with a double foot stomp, and after good back and forth action, Balor connected with a Pele kick, and Balor and Itami came down with a double foot stomp to pick up the victory.
Winners: Hideo Itami and Finn Balor
Rating: *** ½
Analysis: The match had so many mark – out moments if you’ve followed the careers of KENTA aka Itami and Devitt aka Balor. The fans were absolutely electric throughout the match, which made it even more special. It was a phenomenal bout, and lived up to the expectations!
Roman was shown backstage, as he talked about winning the WWE World Heavyweight championship.
A promo was then aired, hyping the match between Sasha Banks and Charlotte.
Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks for the WWE NXT Women’s championship
Sasha started things off aggressively against Charlotte, but Charlotte turned it around, chopping Sasha in the corner. Sasha turned the tables and worked on Charlotte’s back, as the referee started the 10 count. Sasha brought Charlotte back in the ring and worked on the champion.
Charlotte tried to fight back, but Sasha drilled Charlotte with shoulders in the corner. Sasha drilled Charlotte with double knees to the abdomen for a near fall. The crowd was split between the two, as Charlotte went for the jaw breaker, but Sasha countered it with a backstabber turned into a submission hold! Sasha worked on Charlotte some more, but Charlotte countered it into the electric chair drop!
Charlotte worked on Sasha and dropped her with the code breaker for a near fall! Sasha threw Charlotte out and came down on her with a suicide dive! Back in the ring, both women traded blows, but Charlotte turned her inside out with a huge spear! Sasha played possum and rolled the champ for a near fall. Charlotte threw her and went for a standing senton for a near fall, and went for the crucifix throw, but Sasha countered it by throwing her face first into the turnbuckles.
Charlotte decked Sasha with the Natural Selection from the top rope to pick up the victory!
Winner and still the WWE NXT Women’s champion: Charlotte
Rating: *** ½
Analysis: That was a phenomenal match between the two upcoming women in the company. Sasha held her own in the match, and showed just why she is one of the most promising women’s wrestlers on the roster. Charlotte retaining would extend their rivalry, hopefully leading to yet another match in the near future.
Sami Zayn vs. Adrian Neville for the NXT championship
The crowd was firmly behind Sami before the match even began! They started the “Ole” chant, which ticked Neville off. Both men locked up as Neville took Sami to the ground, as they traded holds and locks. Neville worked on Sami’s arm, as the crowd stood behind Sami. Neville had good ground control, as Sami tried to find a way out of the hold. Sami managed to roll out of it, but Adrian got him back in the same position once again.
Sami stopped Neville with a tilt – a – whirl backbreaker as Neville rolled outside of the ring. Sami caught Adrian with a huge moonsault on the outside. More back and forth action as Neville managed to get on top of Sami once again. Neville continued working on Sami, and slowed the pace of the match with a sleeper hold.
Sami caught Neville with a huge clothesline and a dropkick, as Neville tried to walk away. Neville came back and connected with a leg scissors takedown, but Sami once again connected with the moonsault on the outside as the crowd cheered Sami on. Sami connected with a crossbody from the top rope for yet another near fall, and then drilled Neville with a beautiful spinning powerbomb. Neville kicked out at two, and drilled Sami with a jaw breaker, followed by a clothesline and a beautiful German suplex with a bridge for a near fall!
Neville then planted Sami with a sit down powerbomb for yet another near fall, as Neville looked frustrated. Neville drilled Sami with forearms, which fired Sami up. Both men traded blows, but Neville dropped Sami and went for the Red Arrow, but Sami got his knees up and locked him in a submission hold, but Neville reached the bottom rope to break the hold, as the crowd chanted “This is awesome”! Neville’s head collided with the ref’s, as Sami tried to check on the referee.
Neville took advantage and drilled Sami with a superkick and a reverse hurricanrana for a near fall! Sami connected with two German suplexes and a belly to back throw! Sami then connected with the running DDT on the floor from between the turnbuckles, and went for the running boot, but Neville pulled the referee in between. Sami checked on the referee while Neville brought the NXT championship, but Sami connected with a big boot. Sami had the chance to finish Neville with the title, but he chose not to. Sami sent Neville into the turnbuckles with a belly to back throw, and connected with the big boot in the corner to pick up the victory.
Winner and the new NXT champion: Sami Zayn
Rating: **** ½
Post match, the entire NXT locker room came out and congratulated Sami, and raised him on their shoulders. Sami and Kevin embraced, as they both shed tears of joy.
Neville hugged Sami and raised his hand, as Sami celebrated. Steen then drilled Sami with a clothesline and powerbombed him on the apron to end the show!
Analysis: That was amazing. No words could describe the emotions and the story Neville and Zayn told during the match, but the way Owens turned on Zayn to reignite their infamous rivalry on the independent circuit was amazing to say the least.
Over – all rating of the show: **** ½ (Out of 5 stars)
Now this is how you book a pro wrestling PPV. NXT right now is on a whole different level from the main product! That does it for the review, and we hope (we know) you’ve enjoyed the show.
