WWE NXT REPORT (11/27/13) by Nicholas Sebastian
WWE NXT comes to us as always does from the studios at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, with William Regal, Tom Phillips and Renée Young on the commentary team.
We open up the show with a video package giving us an overview of the Beat-the-Clock challenge from last week. Eight competitors faced off in four matches, ending up in a match-time tie between Montreal superstar Sami Zayn and the UK's two-time NXT tag-team champion Adrian Neville.
Continuing with the montage, Interim General Manager of NXT, John "Bradshaw" Layfield, makes a match which will take place tonight between these two competitors. The winner will become the number one contender and take on NXT Champion Bo Dallas for his coveted title next week.
MATCH 1: YOSHI TATSU VS ANTONIO CESARO
NXT opens up with seldom seen superstar Yoshi Tatsu coming down the ramp. Antonio Cesaro, the Swiss Superman, makes his ring entrance alone, holding his "Don't Tread on Me" flag. The crowd in the NXT arena joins him in a rousing chant of "We the People" before he gets into the ring.
Still on the outside, Cesaro throws his flag into the ring. It's picked up by ring announcer Byron Saxton, much to the anger of Cesaro, who immediately comes into the ring to confront him. Cesaro berates him verbally and gets in his face, prompting commentator William Regal to leave the announce booth and go down the entrance ramp and towards the ring.
While on the arena floor, William Regal goes over to the corner where Saxton is almost being physically assaulted. The tough man from Liverpool gets his colleague out of Antonio Cesaro's clutches by pulling him underneath the bottom rope to safety outside the ring. Cesaro and Regal keep staring at each other.
The bell suddenly rings and Yoshi Tatsu rushes Cesaro, attempting a school boy roll up on the distraction. Cesaro kicks out at two, then is hit with a couple of kicks and numerous chops by the Japanese superstar. Tatsu tries running the ropes but is caught during his leap in mid-air, then thrown forcefully onto his back.
Yoshi Tatsu is crawling on his hands and knees as Cesaro grabs him by the hair, throwing him face first into the top turnbuckle. Punches to Tatsu's midsection are followed by a short uppercut. Using almost brute strength, Cesaro throws his adversary off the ropes and into a modified power bomb.
Grabbing both his opponent's legs. Cesaro delivers his Giant Swing to the man from Japan, the crowd counting over twenty revolutions before letting him go flying across the ring. Lots of positive crowd reaction to that particular maneuver of the Swiss Superman.
Yoshi Tatsu is crawing around now, still feeling the effects of the Giant Swing. Cesaro keeps staring towards William Regal in the broadcast booth. He then lifts Tatsu to a standing position, grabs him by the hair and delivers a stiff uppercut to the back of his head.
Rear chin lock on Tatsu and Cesaro has him fading. Tatsu makes no attempt to get out of the hold. Antonio Cesaro then puts him in his Neutralizer finisher, a move that starts with a cradle piledriver position that then transitions into a devastating face forward slam. Antonio Cesaro pins his opponent and picks up the easy victory.
WINNER: ANTONIO CESARO
After the match, Cesaro celebrates his win. The broadcast team discuss William Regal's run-in with Cesaro earlier in the show.
The camera takes us backstage with interviewer Devin Taylor and NXT Champion Bo Dallas. He's asked who will win the title shot tonight between Sami Zayn and Adrian Neville. He says they're all winners because they get to see two youngsters in a great match. He says however, neither one of them have a chance to beat him next week.
Bo Dallas is interrupted during his interview by CJ Parker who comes into the shot with his face up close to the camera, holding a burning stick of incense. Bo Dallas calls CJ Parker "Pauly Shore" and asks him when was the last time he won a match. Not caring for being insulted, Parker challenges the NXT Champion to a match. Bo Dallas laughs it off, then accepts.
We're shown a graphic for tonight's main event: Sami Zayn vs Adrian Neville for the number one contendership to the NXT Championship and the chance to face Bo Dallas next week for the title.
COMMERCIAL
MATCH 2: CJ PARKER VS NXT CHAMPION BO DALLAS
NON-TITLE MATCH
CJ Parker comes to the ring in his dreadlocks, acting all spaced out and groovy like his hippie gimmick calls for. Bo Dallas makes his way down the ramp and we're told he's been champ for about six months. Bo Dallas holds up the title of front of CJ Parker before kissing it and putting it away.
The bell sounds and the two men lock up. CJ Parker throws Bo Dallas into the top turnbuckle and attempts a roll up right as the champ backs up out of the corner. Kick out by Bo Dallas and from the mat, delivers a kick to the knee and then a kick to the head of the "Moon Child".
Dallas grabs Parker's arm and delivers three short elbows to the head, all the while looking for crowd approval that isn't there. Still holding the arm, Dallas tackles CJ Parker to the mat and covers. Parker kicks out at two but Dallas tries to cover again but only gets one one the second attempt.
Bo Dallas, still trying to stay on top of Parker, applies a cravate to the back of the neck and jaw of his opponent, wearing him down. Dallas has the hold in place for a bit of time before Parker manages to throw his opponent over to break the rest hold. CJ Parker ducks under a couple of clotheslines, comes off the ropes and delivers a modified lariat of his own off the ropes.
Punch to the head of the champ sends him to the corner. CJ Parker gets a running start and lands with double knees to the chin of Bo Dallas, sending him staggering out of the corner. A high strike with the leg to the champ's shoulder and neck sends him down. Parker goes for a front face lock into a face first slam down into the mat. A hook of the right leg only gets a two count for Parker on the pin attempt.
Bo Dallas is still reeling from the onslaught of offense from his opponent. CJ Parker climbs to the top rope but a dazed champ unwittingly runs into the top rope. A precariously balanced CJ Parker comes down hard onto the turnbuckle and then in obvious pain, tumbles down onto his back in the corner.
Both men shaking the cobwebs out of their heads. CJ Parker is slow to get up. Bo Dallas, seeing a chance, gets his opponent in a headlock, runs up to to the top turnbuckle and delivers a spinning bulldog to Parker. A cover by the champ, a hook both legs and he gets the 1-2-3.
WINNER: BO DALLAS
After the match, we go backstage once again with interviewer Devin Taylor. Emma talks about being attacked in the locker room by Summer Rae and Sasha Banks, the BFF's, but that she'll be back soon to spread the "Emmalution" worldwide.
She's interrupted by the anti-diva and NXT Women's Champion Paige. She brings up the two of them "accidentally" striking each other, and tells Emma she better not use her injuries as an excuse if and when they face each other for the her title.
We're shown a graphic for the next match, "The Gorgeous One" Tyler Breeze will face off against Kassius Ohno in a rematch from last week.
COMMERCIAL
Natalya approaches Paige backstage and asks her what her problem is. According to Natalya, Paige is being rude since she never did anything to her. Paige accuses Natalya of being "Mrs Hollywood" and having a new gang of friends with her success on the "Total Divas" show. Paige says she's surprised Natalya is even at NXT.
Natalya tells Paige she's way off base. She says she cares about being a WWE Diva but Paige believes otherwise. She accuses Natalya of not caring about championships anymore, and demands she prove it by wrestling her for hew own title. Natalya accepts and says to Paige she has a bad attitude, and would be more than happy to take her championship from her.
MATCH 3: TYLER BREEZE VS KASSIUS OHNO
Tyler Breeze, NXT's resident male model comes down the ramp and as usual, takes pictures of himself with his cell phone. Kassius Ohno makes his way to the ring and before he gets all the way there, is knocked down and clobbered from behind by the "Bulgarian Brute" Alexander Rusev.
Rusev stands over a fallen Ohno for a moment, then backs up the ramp and heads to the back. The announcers speculate that Rusev is angry that it was Kassius Ohno who beat Rusev's beat-the-clock time with his win over Tyler Breeze last week.
Ohno is being checked by referee and the doctor, but goes underneath the bottom rope and into the ring. Ohno says he's good to go so the referee lets him start the match.
The bell rings and Tyler Breeze ducks under the arms of a seemingly dazed Kassius Ohno. Beauty Shot finisher to Ohno, a standing roundhouse kick, and Breeze stacks up the larger man for a pin. Easy victory and revenge for last week within seconds for "The Gorgeous One", Tyler Breeze.
WINNER: TYLER BREEZE
After the match, Tyler Breeze makes his way back up the ramp, still taking photos of himself.
Backstage, we're shown Summer Rae, Sasha Banks and Ric Flair's daughter Charlotte, looking at cell phone pictures. Charlotte is quickly sent away when it's revealed Bayley is looking for her.
Bayley demands to see Charlotte to get an explanation for what happened between them two weeks ago. Summer Rae tells her Charlotte doesn't want to see her and that she's moved up in the world. Bayley demands once again to see Charlotte but is denied by Summer Rae.
Bayley mentions there will be a tag match involving herself, Summer Rae and Sasha Banks. When Summer Rae tells Bailey she has no friends and has no one to tag with, Bayley assures the two divas she has friends.
We're shown another graphic for tonight's main event which is coming up on the show. Sami Zayn will take on Adrian Neville for the number one contendership to the NXT Championship and the chance to face Bo Dallas next week for his prestigious title.
COMMERCIAL
We're backstage once again with Devin Taylor interviewing Sami Zayn and Adrian Neville, our two competitors in the upcoming number one contender's match.
Neville says even though he and Sami Zayn go back a long way, tonight is not about friendship, it's about the NXT Championship. In his eyes, it's the doorway to Raw, Smackdown and even Wrestlemania.
Zayn says he will do what he has to do in the match and tells Adrian Neville he wants the title more than him, due to the fact he's had it closer, almost within his grasp.
MATCH 4: HUNICO & CAMACHO VS NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS THE ASCENSION
NON-TITLE MATCH
The Latino street thugs come down to the ring and await their opponents, the NXT Tag Team Champions, the Ascension. A blue light comes over the arena and Connor O'Brian and Rick Victor, better known as NXT Tag Team Champions the Ascension, make their way to the ring.
Hunico and Camacho get out of the ring and go around on the outside to start the match in the opposite corner. The bell sounds and the bout is underway.
Rick Victor starts with Camacho. The street thug runs at Victor, only to be met with a quick kick to the gut and some swift punches to the face. Another knee to the gut and then Camacho eats a face full of top turnbuckle. More kicks to the midsection by Rick Victor followed by an uppercut to Camacho in the corner.
Irish Whip by Victor into the opposite corner is stopped with sheer power by Camacho. Lots of kicks to Victor's gut and a punch to the head sends the Ascension member reeling into the corner, sitting on the bottom turnbuckle. Huge side suplex by Camacho has Rick Victor groaning in pain and staying down on the canvas.
Standing leg drop by Camacho on Victor, front face lock and the member of the Ascension is now in enemy territory. Quick tag to Hunico, bodyslam by Camacho and an acrobatic swan-dive senton from the ring apron by Hunico, down onto Rick Victor. Kick to the back from Hunico and a quick cover, but just as quick a kick out by Victor.
Punch to the side of the head by Hunico, who then tries throwing Victor off the ropes. Reversal by Rick Victor who misses with a clothesline. Hunico springboards off the second rope and delivers a cross body onto Rick Victor. Pin attempt but Victor kicks out quickly enough.
Short clothesline by Victor, who drags the Latino street thug to the Ascension's corner. Tag to the much larger, almost three hundred pound Connor O'Brian. Punch to the face by O'Brian and then a kick to the gut of Hunico. Elbow to the back, and then Rick Victor is quickly tagged in once again.
On the double team, both men whip Hunico into the ropes and attempt a double hip toss when he comes at them. Each Ascension member catches a leg and then proceed to throw Hunico almost six feet into the air, slamming him back first onto the mat.
Connor O'Brian, seeing Camacho come into the ring to help his partner, runs at the big Latino and clotheslines him over the top rope with both men falling down onto the arena floor.
Rick Victor goes for a cover but Hunico kicks out at one. The Ascension member throws Hunico into the ropes and tries for a sidewalk slam. Hunico uses the momentum to spin around out of the slam maneuver and into a small package pinning combination on his opponent. Rick Victor struggles to free himself out of the predicament but the NXT Tag Team Champion gets pinned for three.
WINNERS: HUNICO & CAMACHO
After the match, Hunico and Camacho celebrate while backing up the ramp while the Ascension seethe and are very angry at their loss.
COMMERCIAL
MATCH 5: ADRIAN NEVILLE VS SAMI ZAYN
NUMBER ONE CONTENDER'S MATCH
At the start of the match, we're told that William Regal has been called to the back away from the broadcast booth to deal with Antonio Cesaro backstage. Taking his place on commentary is NXT Champion Bo Dallas.
Adrian Neville goes down the ramp to the ring and awaits Sami Zayn. Lots of reaction from the crowd as the Syrian-Canadian gets into the ring. The bell sounds and a handshake between the two grapplers starts the match.
Both men stare each other down for a few moments, and Adrian Neville attempts a quick take down of Zayn's leg, only to get nothing but air. Collar and elbow tie up becomes an arm bar on Neville by Zayn. Reversal by Neville, roll through by Zayn to regain control. Successive arm bar reversals, flips and roll throughs by both men culminate in a pin attempt on Sami Zayn, however just a one count is obtained on the Montrealer.
Both men on their feet again, headlock to Zayn, broken up by Sami as he throws Neville to the ropes. A shoulder block sends Zayn down to the mat. Neville runs the ropes going over and under Sami. Three quick arm drag take downs by Zayn puts Neville on the mat and sitting in the corner.
The referee separates both men as they plan strategy. "Olé" chants from the crowd cheer on Sami Zayn making reference to a previous masked identity of his before coming to NXT.
The men slowly circle each other, as Zayn then goes for a single leg take down on Neville. Spinning toe hold on the British superstar, keeping the high flier grounded onto the mat. Neville breaks out of the hold by pushing off with both feet, sending Sami Zayn off the ropes.
Zayn runs the ropes twice, going over then under Neville, and then attempting a back body drop. The acrobatic Neville flips and lands on his feet, ducking under Sami Zayn's clothesline and delivering a flying head scissors that sends his opponent tumbling to the outside.
Sami Zayn comes back in to go at Neville who's coming off the ropes. Elbow to Neville's head sends the UK export scrambling to the outside to catch a breather going up the ramp. Zayn comes off the far ropes, somersaults over the top rope and swan dives onto Neville who's on the outside. The crowd is screaming their approval at the antics as we go to our last commercial break.
COMMERCIAL
Both men are now back in the ring. Sami Zayn seems to have control as he tries to smash Neville's head into the top turnbuckle. Neville blocks him twice by putting his leg on the middle corner. The former NXT tag-team champion comes out of the corner with successive chops to the chest of Zayn, only to be stymied by his opponent's similar offense.
The two men go back and forth, trading blows. A forearm smash to Neville's back leaves him crumpled in the corner. The referee pushes Zayne out of there to allow for Neville's recovery. Zayn goes in, grabs Neville by the hair and arm and delivers a snapmare take down to the British ex-pat.
Rear chin lock by Zayn to a sitting Adrian Neville. Neville makes it to his feet and delivers three strikes in a row to Zayn's midsection. He breaks from the rest hold and runs the ropes, only to run into a spinning backbreaker delivered with authority by Sami Zayn. Quick pin on Neville but it results in a kick out after two and a half.
Neville is still down, arching his back in pain and trying to roll away from his opponent. Zayn backs into the opposite corner of where Neville finds himself. Zayn seems to be measuring his opponent for a possible finisher, his running kick to the head. Sami Zayn takes off across the ring diagonally, but Neville had it well scouted and was able to avoid disaster. Zayn tumbles up and over the turnbuckles and ring ropes, all the way to the outside.
Neville goes out onto the ring apron and while facing the ring, delivers a stiff back kick to chest of Zayn, who had attempted to grab a leg. Zayn is staggering on the outside. Adrian Neville, while still facing the ring, jumps onto the top rope and spectacularly springboards himself backwards onto Sami Zayn. A huge NXT chant from the crowd in reaction to that last acrobatic maneuver.
Neville now grabs Sami Zayn and throws him under the bottom rope and into the ring. Zayn is still dazed and confused inside the ring. Neville gets on the apron near the corner and in a single bound, leaps onto the top rope again to deliver a huge missile drop kick right to the chest of the Canadian superstar. Pin attempt by Adrian Neville gets only a two count as Zayn still has some fight left in him.
Zayn, on the canvas, grabs Neville's foot. Neville, hanging onto the top rope, back kicks Sami Zayn in the chest with his free leg to break free of his grasp. Roundhouse kick by Neville misses, atomic drop attempt by Zayn is blocked, then some shots to Zayn's head and a standing enziguri kick by Neville has Zayn reeling in the corner.
Neville, from the opposite corner, back flips his way over over to Zayn, hoping to deliver a stunning blow with momentum, He unfortunately runs into an incredible spinning power bomb by Zayn that literally has Neville doing a three-sixty in the air. Cover on Neville and he miraculously kicks out at the last possible second, stunning Sami Zayn.
The crowd in attendance is voicing their approval of the match as Sami Zayn grabs Neville in the hopes of delivering more punishment. Zayn attempts a body slam, reversed by Neville who comes around behind and grabs his opponent by the midsection. Reversal by Zayn, and then an elbow to the head by Neville.
Neville runs the ropes, comes back towards Zayn and is picked up and met with a cradle power slam, driving him into the mat very forcefully. Hook of the leg by Zayn and Neville manages to kick out.
Neville drags himself to the corner. Sami Zayn goes to the opposite side and tries to measure him again for his finisher. Zayn takes a run at Neville but the man from the UK is able to get a foot up and catch his opponent flush in the jaw. Sami Zayn has been staggered and Neville is almost lifeless in the corner.
Neville finds some last bits of strength and back fips himself out of the corner and onto Sami Zayn's shoulders, both facing the same way. Neville does a one-eighty on Zayn's shoulders into a hurricanrana, putting Zayn onto the mat and in a pinning predicament with both legs hooked. Zayn kicks out at two and a half, much to Neville's shock.
Neville is pleading with the referee, sure that in his mind, it was three. Both men are still down, trying to make it to their feet. Neville goes to the ring apron, Zayn follows him on his side of the ropes. Huge kick to the head by Neville sends Zayn sprawling near the corner.
Neville climbs the ropes, hoping to hit his Red Arrow finisher. Sami Zayn gets up and stops Neville with a forearm smash. Neville is sitting on the top turnbuckle as Zayn delivers another forearm to his head. Both men are hanging onto the ropes for dear life as Zayn climbs to the second turnbuckle.
Zayn tries to set up Neville for the superplex. Neville has the presence of mind to block it, then delivers a shot to the gut. Another shot and then a huge headbutt sends Sami Zayn down to the canvas with a thud.
Zayn is now sprawling. Neville now gets up to stand on the top turnbuckle. He delivers a beautiful corkscrew shooting star press, his Red Arrow finisher, to Sami Zayn. Hook of the leg and it's enough to get the three count. Huge victory for Adrian Neville, "The Man That Gravity Forgot".
WINNER: ADRIAN NEVILLE
THE NEW NUMBER ONE CONTENDER FOR THE NXT CHAMPIONSHIP
After the match, Neville goes over to an obviously hurt Sami Zayn and offers him a handshake. Zayn kicks away Neville's hand, only to grab him in an embrace. The two men hug it out as NXT fades, Zayn lifting Neville's hand in victory.
END
