To say I am excited about this one is an understatement. With only four matches on the card, the less is more philosophy of NXT is shining here which potentially gives each match 30 minutes, and the four matches they have put together, each are main event level match ups. This card cannot fail, surely this will be just awesome, I love NXT and I just hope I am not wrong. A quick note about the pre-show, the interaction between Matt Riddle and Kassius Ohno was great.
Curveball to kick the show off, we hear Matt Riddle’s music play so it looks as if we are getting an impromptu match Vs Kassius Ohno, told you the pre-show stuff was good. And it actually took me longer to type that than the “match”, as a segment it was fine, as a match, no stars.
I am surprised this is out now, normally NXT place the women’s match higher up the card. These two are perfect for each other, quite often being in contention for stealing the show this one should be no different, the matches they have put on have told the most wonderful story and the match stipulation is a fantastic way to blow off the feud.
A very quick start from Sane, firing a dropkick into Baszler in the corner then hitting some very fast offence leading to a flying elbow off the apron. Interference very early on from Baszler’s besties Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir, meaning the rear naked choke is on early. 1-0 Shayna. If it carries on at this pace War Games will be over in twenty minutes. Baszler has been battering Sane, hitting some very stiff offence. Sane gets a brief flurry after a two count reversing the rear naked choke into a pin. Sane finally hits a nasty looking DDT, she then avoids the attack from the stogies hitting a beautiful elbow on all three of the nasty bitches. InSane elbow on the inside and it goes to 1-1. The final fall starts with Sane hitting three interceptors, spinning back fist and Sane heads back up top to be caught by Baszler. A brawl on the top finishes when Sane reverses Baszler into a powerbomb, Alabama Slam, Sane backup top, the horsewomen get involved again leading to Dakota Kai and Io Shirai the latter hitting a lovely moonsault on everyone. Inside the ring, Sane goes for the elbow drop again but gets reversed for the three counts. Baszler retains. This was a bit of waste of the stipulation, could have dropped the first two falls and had a one fall finish, however, the pace was good and the crowd were hot and loud for this, and I enjoyed it. Just wasn’t what it could have been. 2.5 Stars
The build for this match has been fantastic. I am really enjoying this side to Gargano, a man so obsessed with one man, that it has broken his psyche and turned him into someone else, something else (sorry not sorry Stephen Amell and Arrow!) Black came back like a man processed and having the now brilliant Nikki Cross (and this is the last time I will admit I was wrong on her) in the mix was a touch of class. Part of me was still expecting Rikishi, doing it for The Rock, or Vince McMahon to be the big reveal, but a wrestling “who dun it” actually worked and has gotten me excited for the fallout. It is strange to hear the crowd not 100% behind Johnny Gargano. A slap from Gargano to get the already constantly annoyed Black fired up, some quick strikes and this match takes the pace of the last and carries it on, if this start is anything to go by then we are in for a corker. Black does his sit down routine and immediately gets kicked in the face. The crowd actually boo Gargano briefly, which is surprising from the normal “smart” NXT crowd. Reversal after reversal, Johnny is on top, slows the pace briefly, somewhat for the middle portion of the match, only a bit mind, Gargano embracing his “dark side” is highly entertaining. This match is moving so fast I am finding it difficult to write and watch, it is an engrossing contest with back and forth, reversals, kicks to the head and men flying everywhere. A topè DDT then a Slingshot DDT from Gargano was beautiful. A spinning back elbow from Black didn’t look worked, as both men then go into kicking each other as hard as they can. Black’s flying knee looks as if it would KO Khabib Nurmagomedov. Still reversal after reversal, Gargano escape is on Black rolls through into a pinning combination. Lawn Dart from Johnny to the second buckle keeps him in control. Black sitting down screaming for Johnnys best shot, he moves for a roll-up, two count, Johnny hits the knee and a kick and gets a long two. We get a striking standoff which Black comes out on top of just. Until Black gets launched over the top, Johnny goes for another topè but another beautiful knee catches Johnny square in the jaw. These two will ache tomorrow. Gargano with a beautiful heel move, begging off, saying sorry, asking to be finished, however reverses the Black Mass into a pin and then another Gargano Escape, screaming I’m the hero, Black escapes and hits yet another knee, followed a step up knee, a Black Mass, Johnny is held up by Blacks body, another Black Mass and it’s over. That was fucking awesome. Two of the best wrestlers anywhere do not disappoint, Gargano does it again. I am exhausted watching that. 5 Stars
Velveteen Dream has to be one of the biggest NXT success stories. Finally getting his shot in a championship match, I don’t think it will be his last. Ciampa has been superb as the biggest heel, not only in NXT but in the company. Both of these men are going to have to work incredibly hard to match that last match. Both are capable and I am excited to see. Dream comes down dressed as Hollywood Hogan, assuming it a follow on from some Twitter work, which if that is the case, shows some continuity. The “main roster” bookers should take note. Velveteen is so over with the crowd, I hope they don’t Asuka him when he hits the main roster, he has such an upside and could be huge. This starts slower than the other two matches, with a more physiological approach, both men taunting each other, with the Hollywood headband and “Goldie”. I think what Ciampa has done with naming the title it a masterstroke for his character. Dreams Hogan’s appreciation act is great. Tomasso hits a big running knee which Nigel McGuinness sells as if Dream has been killed. Ciampa on top, battering Dream all around the ring to the outside and back again. Ciampa continues to play the prick, it is marvellous to watch. A quick Backslide from Dream shifts the momentum to him, a neck breaker puts him firmly in control. Big Boot and three “Leg Drop of Doom” followed by a spinebuster gives Dream a two. The crowd are still red hot and love Dream. Velveteen up top, but Ciampa rolls out of the way before the jump, throws Dream out of the ring. Velveteen attacks the knee of Tommaso, and applies the figure four around the ring post, which gets Ciampa to tap, it won’t count of course illegal manoeuvre Mean Gene! Back in the ring Dream applies a figure four, which leads to reversals and a scrap. A suplex over the top rope from Dream sends both men toppling over the ropes. Ciampa is really selling the knee. The referee catches Ciampa with a handful of tights, which allows Dream to hit a superkick and a rolling death valley driver. The knees are flying around tonight, Ciampa hits a big one on Dream getting a two, Project Ciampa on Dream gets another long two. Tomasso brings in the title, but gets caught, spinning DDT on the belt, Dream covers, one two and Ciampa kicks out. A DDT from Ciampa and another two count. False finish galore in this one. Ciampa goes for a draping DDT on the outside, Dream blocks, both men are down, Ciampa goes for the Ranallo, letting Dream hit his rolling driver on the outside, back in the ring Purple Rain Maker, the crowd are going mental and its another two. Ciampa rolls outside, Dream goes for the Purple Rain Maker on the outside but misses! Ciampa is quick to capitalise, hit a DDT in the middle of the two rings for the three count, so the winner and still champion, the prick we all deserve, Tomasso Ciampa. Another great match. 4.5 Stars
Just take a look at that picture, could any other eight men create such excitement. It is just a perfectly put together match, with exciting feuds leading into to it, Undisputed Era getting cockier and cockier forcing the other’s together, for me storytelling at its absolute best. It also helps that every man in this match is pure money when in the ring. I am expecting nothing less than 5 stars for this one, the expectation is high. Adam Cole starts the match for the Undisputed Era, another massive reaction from the crowd, first in for the team consisting of Ricochet, War Raiders and Pete Dunne is Ricochet. It is going to be a long night for these two gentlemen. All four members of the face team come out with the war paint on, it’s a nice touch. Both men start in separate rings, daring the other into each others ring of course its Ricochet who is baited over. Ricochet is on top for the opening few minutes until Cole hits a big backstabber. Not expecting the big, big moves until all eight men hit the ring, lots of standard punch kick offense expected. Not that mind that. Just as I type that Ricochet hits a springboard uppercut. Kyle O’Reilly is next out for Undisputed Era. Time reduced to three minutes. Ricochet fights both men in the middle of the two rings until a Dragon Screw puts a stop to that shit. Every comeback that Ricochet manages is soon put to bed by the two Undisputed boys. Hanson stops Dunne entering next and hits the ring like a wrecking ball taking out both Cole and O’Reilly. Hits running clotheslines in the corner, about ten of them, a double bronco buster looks better than it sounds. A Shooting Star Press off Hanson, by Ricochet on O’Reilly, is lovely. The next man in for Undisputed Era is Roderick Strong, he hits the ring with big chops, knees and of course back breakers. A triple team on Hanson puts the big man down. Chants for Undisputed Era echo around the arena. Just a quick point, I would love to see Kyle O’Reilly take on Alister Black in a straight kickboxing match. Rowe is next in, both men fighting to get in the ring. The fresh man gets in and continues with the theme of the evening and batters everyone. A powerslam/powerbomb combo on Roddy and O’Reilly by Rowe is wonderful. Adam Cole gets backed up by all three members of the face team I kinda feel sorry for him, facing both War Raiders can’t be nice. Bobby Fish, instead of hitting the ring locks Pete Dunn into his cage, great storytelling, chairs are introduced and business is picking Undisputed Era are absolutely destroying War Raiders and Ricochet. Pete Dunne can’t get out, still, which means the match can’t officially start. Also means it is still 4 on 3- Roddy and Bobby (I loved typing that) hit suplexes off the top on the War Raiders, bolt cutters appear, Fish and O’Reilly holding the door shut, Dunne ain’t taking that shit and grabs a kendo stick. He gets the door open, allowing Ricochet to recover enough to take out The Undisputed Era, he then fills the ring with tables, bins and if it was there, the kitchen sink would have followed. Dunne batters Era with the Kendo Stick. At one point all four of the faces end up with a kendo stick battering people. This is where it may get difficult to follow! Dunne does his joint manipulation on O’Reilly. Rowe slams Hanson into a downed Adam Cole, who is in the corner, in a bin. Dunne does a great job fighting all four of the Undisputed guys, he is on top briefly, until a chain is introduced, Dunne still manages to apply a Kimora. Dunne is locked in an ankle lock while Strong pulls on his head with a chair, it is a lovely spot, Ricochet finally managed to break that up. Dunne is looking like he will be this year’s MVP. Pop up powerslam by the War Raiders on Adam Cole is lovely.Rowe gets speared through a table by Bobby Fish. While Ricochet is trapped in a (decent) triangle by O’Reilly, who is on a table, Hanson climbs up and from the other ring, splashes O’Reilly through the table. Adam Cole and Ricochet head up to the topic the cage, and a brawl ensues, Strong climbs up and tries to push Ricochet off the top. An absolutely mental spot sees Adam Cole, Pete Dunne, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong, and Rowe get slammed off by Hanson while Booby Fish is on his back, leaving Ricochet on the top, you just know something nuts is coming, and fuck me, I am not wrong, with the other seven men on their feet Ricochet hits a fantastic double rotation moonsault, even if he was slightly off target, it doesn’t matter. Both teams regroup in separate rings for a great standoff . A great brawl in-between both rings is a nice spot. Fallout hit on Bobby Fish, Strong breaks up the pin, until Hanson hits a hand spring double back elbow. Cole hits the last shot on Pete Dunne gets a two, he goes for another one but Dunne hits the bitter end, and then Ricochet flys out of nowhere to land on Adam Cole, both Dunne and Ricochet lay a hand over Cole for the three. Well, that was fucking mental. With everything I have typed there, there was another ten things I missed. It was great, with for me anyway, Dunne looking like the star. 4 Stars
Overall, this show met my expectations, if I was tograde it A+, ranking out of 5 stars, 5 stars, the only downside was the segment between Riddle and Ohno, but in all honesty, it didn't matter. The worse match, I don't really count the aforementioned confrontation, was for me the women, but that was still an entertaining affair. The last three matches on this card, well they are as good as you will see anywhere, and if all three don't feature in Marsh's best matches I will be very, very shocked. Watch this PPV, NXT do it again.
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