CONTACTABOUTFACEBOOKTWITTERPODCAST IPHONE APPANDROID APPAMAZON APPRSS
Pro Wrestling Torch
Pro Wrestling Torch Reaches The Most Wrestling Fans Every Week: #1 in iTunes • #1 on iPhone and iPad • #1 on Android • #1 on Kindle
GOT THE PWTORCH APP YET?
iPhone & iPad
Android
Amazon Kindle
Windows Phone
PWTorch Phone App
THE SPECIALISTS
CHIVERTON'S NXT SCOUTING REPORT: Network Era Rankings #4, latest evaluation of WWE Developmental

Apr 3, 2014 - 10:16:04 PM
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO BOOKMARK US & VISIT US DAILY


NXTFCWlogo_8.jpg



WWE NXT Rankings & Evaluation
By George Chiverton, PWTorch NXT specialist


Network Era Rankings #4

(1) Sami Zayn
(2) Corey Graves
(3) Adrian Neville
(4) Paige
(5) Bo Dallas
(6) Emma
(7) Tyler Breeze
(8) Charlotte
(9) The Ascension
(10) Mojo Rawley
(11) Colin Cassidy
(12) Aiden English
(13) C.J. Parker

3/27 NXT Evaluation

- There was a video package to start, revisiting the NXT title match from Arrival ahead of the re-match between Bo Dallas and Adrian Neville tonight. I believe the re-match has been very poorly built and I don’t think anyone believes Dallas has even a remote chance.

- Mojo Rawley opened the proceedings at Full Sail with his usual zesty entrance. Jason Albert (Tensai) was hyped on commentary. Rawley was set to face C.J. Parker, who made his psychedelic entrance to a combination of boos and indifference. This re-match from Arrival had no hype again, although it’s fair to say these two are still classified as up-and-comers at NXT rather than the kind of stars who deserve big promotion.

C.J. took control at the start of the match utilizing the turnbuckles to do his damage. There wasn't a lot that was memorable in particular to C.J.'s offense, but then Mojo reversed a corner attack, hit a big couple of splashes, and finished with his seated senton finisher ‘Hyperdrive’ for the win. That’s another win for Mojo and another loss for C.J., who is coming across as a bit of a jobber. C.J. got real mad after the match, perhaps showing something is 'round the corner for him.

- Xavier Woods came down to the ring looking intense and ready for his match against Tyler Breeze. I wish they’d go back to his old music rather than using Brodus Clay’s entrance tune. He feels like a bit of a knock-off at the moment and he has an upside that deserves better than this.

The two locked up to start the match before Xavier backed Breeze into the corner. Breeze took advantage of the referee's interjection before Woods went for a roll-up and took control. This included a big head scissors takedown and a slingshot into the corner. After a brief comeback from Breeze via a reversal in the corner, Woods cracked him in the face with a knee on the ground. He went for the Honor Roll, but Breeze avoided and eventually hit the Beauty Shot out of nowhere. It was good for the win and all a bit anti-climactic. The overarching question here is what next? I’m really not sure where these two are heading.

- Corey Graves was out next looking a million dollars. He was set to face Yoshi Tatsu in a re-match from a couple of weeks ago. Graves utilized strikes early in the match, but Yoshi fired up and hit some chops and kicks of his own. He hit a karate chop off the second rope, which was a tad comical, before Graves caught him in the knee with a straight kick. He then worked over Tatsu’s knees on the floor with a series of bendings and manipulations which looked painful as all heck. After a fantastic chop block from Graves, he won with his Lucky 13 submission finisher. Afterward, Graves got a microphone and told Sami Zayn to stay down. This guy is money, get him on the main roster.

- Charlotte was out next to face Natalya. Natty was being accompanied by no less than Bret Hart who got a very warm response from Full Sail. The two exchanged some smooth chain wrestling to start the match with plenty of impressive kip-ups to showcase both women’s skills. Natalya eventually took control with a dropkick to a seated Charlotte, before a discuss lariat won Natty a two count. She then went for the Sharpshooter, but Charlotte got to the ropes and tied up Natalya, taking control.

Charlotte worked over Natty’s knee before going for the Figure-Four. Charlotte transitioned into a rest hold before trying for the Figure-Four once again. Natty got out though and put Charlotte into the Sharpshooter only to have Banks come in and cause the DQ. Natalya, generally undeterred, whacked Banks into the Sharpshooter before standing tall with Bret. A nice, well-executed story of Hart’s finisher vs. Flair’s finisher. Banks again came off looking very weak.

- Main event time with the big NXT Title Match. Both men looked focused during formal ring introductions. The announcers fell out on whether Adrian Neville winning his title in a ladder match makes him a legit champion. They came to an agreement that this would prove everything tonight. After some back and forth, Neville caught Bo Dallas with a big kick setting up the Red Arrow. Bo rolled to the outside to avoid this, but Neville committed with a moonsault off the top to take out Bo. That’s a risky move if ever there was one.

Neville kept control in the ring until he went for a springboard where Bo caught him and swept his feet causing Adrian to land hard on the outside. Bo met him out there with a big clothesline. After a period of control, NXT apparently cut to break before returning to Adrian in control. I can’t help but feel I may be watching a substantially edited down version of NXT, which isn’t exactly ideal. Anyways, Neville got another kick away to Bo’s head which set up the Red Arrow once again. This time round, though, Bo got his knees up for really painful landing for Neville and a very close two count.

Bo attempted to hook up the DDT, but Neville was utterly lifeless on the floor. That was until he burst up and rammed Bo into the corner. After a Sweet Chin Music-esque kick, he went up to the top, this time with his back to the ring. He then hit the most insane 450 splash I think I’ve ever seen where he jumped backwards while rotating forwards. The technique that demands is unbelievable and that is hugely impressive. It was good for the win.

A clean win for Adrian is the right call and for the parts of the match I saw, it was a good battle between the two. It’s just a little frustrating that the WWE Network isn’t in the U.K. yet, as I feel there is a lot that I missed. It’ll be interesting to see who challenges Adrian yet with not a lot of challengers being apparent. Cesaro would be amazing, but you’ve got to assume he’s going to be busy in WWE. Zayn and Graves are engaged with each other for now, although making this feud for the number one contender spot would be a great idea. The idea of Zayn vs. Neville in WWE has me salivating slightly.

Overall, a decent if not riveting episode of NXT with Neville and Graves being the highlight. Breeze, Rawley, Parker, and Xavier all seem a bit lost at the moment and need direction. A bigger focus on the likes of the Ascension may be a better way to strengthen the undercard for now, and getting some tag teams together would create at least purpose for Breeze, etc.

For now, I'm George Chiverton. Have a lovely day today, tomorrow, and the day after that.


We suggest these recent related articles...
10/5 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Natalya vs. Paige, Owens vs. Cara, Stephanie McMahon, Sasha Banks, Xavier Woods
COLLECTIBLES COLUMN: The History of Foam Hands in Pro Wrestling
9/28 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Kane's Split Personality, Divas Revolution, Heyman & Big Show, Reigns vs. Wyatt
prowrestling.net
CLICK HERE FOR EVEN MORE PW.NET HEADLINES


CLICK TO EMAIL THIS ARTICLE
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN LISTING

NEW! SIGN UP FOR FREE PWTORCH BREAKING NEWS EMAIL ALERTS
BECOME A PWTORCH VIP MEMBER
-FORMER MEMBERS LOGIN HERE TO RENEW
-NEW MEMBERS CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
SELECT BY ARTICLES CATEGORY
SEARCH PWTORCH.COM



CLICK HERE FOR LIST OF UPCOMING PRO WRESTLING EVENTS
MORE HEADLINES AT AFFILIATE SITES
MMATorch
LATEST HEADLINES - CLICK TO READ CLICK HERE FOR MORE MMATORCH HEADLINES


PWTORCH POLL - VOTE NOW!
RAW POLL 10/12: Vote on Monday's show
 
pollcode.com free polls


RAW POLL 10/12: What was the Best Match on Raw?
 
pollcode.com free polls
MCNEILL LIVECAST POLL: TNA will have a 32-person tournament to determine a new Hvt. champion - your thoughts?
 
pollcode.com free polls
CENA POLL: If John Cena takes a year-end break, who should win the U.S. Title from Cena?
 
pollcode.com free polls
VOTE IN OR SEE RESULTS OF PREVIOUS POLLS



LATEST HEADLINES - CLICK TO READ CLICK HERE FOR EVEN MORE INC HEADLINES

_
LATEST FREE AUDIO SHOWS - CLICK TO LISTEN VIEW MORE PWTORCH LIVECAST EPISODES
DOWNLOAD PWTORCH LIVECAST APP
SUBSCRIBE TO PWTORCH LIVECAST IN ITUNES


ABOUT US

THE TORCH REACHES MORE COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT FANS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

PWTorch editor Wade Keller has covered pro wrestling full time since 1987 starting with the Pro Wrestling Torch print newsletter. PWTorch.com launched in 1999 and the PWTorch Apps launched in 2008.

He has conducted "Torch Talk" insider interviews with Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Steve Austin, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Eric Bischoff, Jesse Ventura, Lou Thesz, Jerry Lawler, Mick Foley, Jim Ross, Paul Heyman, Bruno Sammartino, Goldberg, more.

He has interviewed big-name players in person incluiding Vince McMahon (at WWE Headquarters), Dana White (in Las Vegas), Eric Bischoff (at the first Nitro at Mall of America), Brock Lesnar (after his first UFC win).

He hosted the weekly Pro Wrestling Focus radio show on KFAN in the early 1990s and hosted the Ultimate Insiders DVD series distributed in retail stories internationally in the mid-2000s including interviews filmed in Los Angeles with Vince Russo & Ed Ferrara and Matt & Jeff Hardy. He currently hosts the most listened to pro wrestling audio show in the world, (the PWTorch Livecast, top ranked in iTunes)


REACHING 1 MILLION+ UNIQUE USERS PER MONTH
500 MILLION CLICKS & LISTENS PER YEAR
MILLIONS OF PWTORCH NEWSLETTERS SOLD
PWTORCH STAFF

EDITORS:
Wade Keller, editor
(kellerwade@gmail.com)

James Caldwell, assistant editor
(pwtorch@gmail.com)

STAFF COLUMNISTS:
Bruce Mitchell (since 1990)
Pat McNeill (since 2001)
Greg Parks (since 2007)
Sean Radican (since 2003)

We also have a great team of
TV Reporters
and Specialists and Artists.

PWTORCH VIP MEMBERSHIP

PWTorch offers a VIP membership for $10 a month (or less with an annual sub). It includes nearly 25 years worth of archives from our coverage of pro wrestling dating back to PWTorch Newsletters from the late-'80s filled with insider secrets from every era that are available to VIPers in digital PDF format and Keller's radio show from the early 1990s.

Also, new exclusive top-shelf content every day including a new VIP-exclusive weekly 16 page digital magazine-style (PC and iPad compatible) PDF newsletter packed with exclusive articles and news.

The following features come with a VIP membership which tens of thousands of fans worldwide have enjoyed for many years...

-New Digital PWTorch Newsletter every week
-3 New Digital PDF Back Issues from 5, 10, 20 years ago
-Over 60 new VIP Audio Shows each week
-Ad-free access to all PWTorch.com free articles
-VIP Forum access with daily interaction with PWTorch staff and well-informed fellow wrestling fans
-Tons of archived audio and text articles
-Decades of Torch Talk insider interviews in transcript and audio formats with big name stars.


**SIGN UP FOR VIP ACCESS HERE**

CONTACTABOUTFACEBOOKTWITTERPODCASTIPHONE APPANDROID APPAMAZON APPRSS
VIP SIGN-UP
VIP LOGIN
THE TORCH: #1 IN COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT COVERAGE | © 1999-2013 TDH Communications Inc. • All rights reserved -- PRIVACY POLICY