WWE NXT Results
May 16, 2015
Albany, N.Y.
Report by Mike Metzger (@mD0uble), PWTorch contributor

WWE’s NXT brand invaded Albany’s Washington Avenue Armory and put on a great show in front of an estimated 2,800 fans. Not a sell-out, but not bad for a building that would hold a little over 3,000 with that set-up.

1 - WESLEY BLAKE & BUDDY MURPHY vs. ENZO AMORE & COLIN CASSIDY (w/Carmella) - NXT Tag Team Title match

The crowd was rabid for Enzo and “Big Cass.” They did their usual schtick before the match and the sound of the fans chanting along was deafening. Both teams put in a solid effort, about what you’d expect for them. Blake and Murphy got the victory, but after the match Carmella delivered a low blow to both champs. After a quick beatdown, Amore and Cassidy got to pose with the title belts.

WINNERS: Wesley Blake & Buddy Murphy via pinfall to retain the NXT Tag Team Titles. (**1/2)

2 - BULL DEMPSEY vs. SOLOMON CROWE

Bull worked his usual style, which I think is a little too “throwback” for his own good. Crowe got the victory, but the crowd certainly came back down to earth for this one.

WINNER: Crowe via pinfall. (*1/2)

3 - TYE DILLINGER vs. JASON JORDAN

The crowd didn’t seem to know who either guy was, but Dillinger got himself over by carrying a big “10” sign to the ring. One section of the crowd in particular went crazy for it and the “10” chants caught fire, but I think it was more because it was the only distinguishing feature either guy had going for him. Jordan got some “Charlie Haas” chants, but I think he resembles Shelton Benjamin more.

WINNER: Tye Dillinger via pinfall. (**)

4 - NXT Women’s champion SASHA BANKS vs. CHARLOTTE - NXT Women’s Title match

Charlotte received a big star reaction from the crowd. Sasha’s pop wasn’t too shabby, either. Charlotte channeled her father with a face-first flop to the mat which drew a crazy response from the crowd. They did a crazy figure-four spot where Charlotte ended up rolling out of the ring. Banks applied some nasty looking submission holds and eventually made Charlotte tap.

WINNER: Sasha Banks via submission in about 15:00 to retain the NXT Women’s Championship. (***1/2)

[Intermission]

5 — TOMMY DREAMER vs. BARON CORBIN

Dreamer got perhaps the biggest pop of the night at that point. It was a superstar reaction to say the least. Corbin used a lot of plodding offense. The vocal section of the crowd were all over Corbin, just booing the hell out of him the entire match. It actually made sense from a storyline standpoint, but their heckling was just so overdone that people were chanting at them to “shut up.” The former ECW World champion made his signature “Tommy Dreamer comeback,” but it wasn’t enough to take care of Corbin. Corbin hit his finisher for the victory.

WINNER: Baron Corbin via pinfall. (*1/2)

6 - BAYLEY vs. ALEXA BLISS vs. BECKY LYNCH vs. DANA BROOKE - four-way women’s match

Bayley received a star reaction from the crowd. The smart fans were all over Brooke, with several “you can’t wrestle” chants every time she entered the ring. WWE might have a problem when fans expect so much at the developmental level. Bayley won with her Belly-to-Bayley suplex.

WINNER: Bayley via pinfall. (**3/4)

7 - NXT champion KEVIN OWENS vs. FINN BALOR vs. TYLER BREEZE - three-way NXT Title match

The house speaker blew out prior to Balor’s entrance. After an awkward pause, Balor came out to no music but a huge pop from the Albany crowd. His music filled the arena just as he climbed the turnbuckle to do his signature pose. Owens got a huge reaction as well. Owens was the focus early in the match as he did some comedy spots. It was very similar to how he wrestled on an indy show I went to a couple years ago. Quite surreal to see him now main-eventing in front of 2,800.

Owens hit a Five Knuckle Shuffle which drew a huge pop from the crowd. Balor hit a huge flip dive onto Owens and Breeze on the outside, in what was the spot of the night. There was a fun sequence toward the end where Breeze hit the Supermodel Kick, then Balor hit a Pele kick, followed by Owens hitting a huge senton off the top rope! Owens hit a Pop-Up Powerbomb to win the match.

WINNER: Kevin Owens via pinfall to retain the NXT Title. (****)

FINAL REAX: A really fun show to watch live. I heard a lot of great feedback from fans exiting the building. It was an impressive showing for the NXT brand, especially because it was their first full weekend of live touring outside of Florida. I definitely stopped to think of how NXT’s success is really to the detriment of independent promotions out there, especially ROH. NXT is something rebellious to be part of, but all of the money trickles up to WWE in the end and not to a true alternative. Philosophical discussion aside, this show was worth every penny of the $15 I paid for a ticket.

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