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THE SPECIALISTS
CHIVERTON'S NXT SCOUTING REPORT: Network Era Rankings #6, plus evaluation of NXT Prospects

Apr 17, 2014 - 10:39:46 PM
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NXT Rankings & Evaluation
By George Chiverton, PWTorch NXT specialist


Network Era Rankings #6

(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) Sasha Banks (debut)
(12) Colin Cassidy
(13) Aiden English
(14) C.J. Parker

4/10 NXT Evaluation

- The show opened with Adam Rose’s party making their entrance. The theme music change from his first entrance was even more noticeable here and really wasn’t for the best. However, Full Sail did their best by singing his original theme, perhaps trying to send the message that change in this case was not for the best. He was against brawling Brit Danny Burch, who served as a good contrast to Rose’s partying silliness.

Burch eventually got a good shot in, which caused Rose to hulk up and hit some strikes and a bronco buster. He then came off the second rope with an elbow for the win. Perfectly okay match, but Rose still doesn’t look quite like a main roster candidate, with finishers, music, and style changing week by week. These are all things he should have a solid grasp on so he can move up with full confidence. Just look at Bray Wyatt: he knows his character 100 percent and as a result is flourishing. Rose has been given three televised matches to perfect his gimmick. It’s just not enough time.

- Backstage was referee Shaun Bennet who was in charge of the match between Sami Zayn and Corey Graves last week (and did a great job of it). He explained his decision to award Graves the win. There was then an interview with Graves, who talked in a low whisper which really added to his mystique and presence. He slimily asked Devin Taylor, ‘You’re cute. Where’d they find you,' before going heel on Zayn mocking his concussion and closing on, ‘This is just getting started.' I’ll keep saying it, this guy is gold. Someone put him on Raw and start making money.

- The next match was the very popular Bayley against Sasha ‘No Wins in the’ Bank(s). As you might suspect, Sasha dominated until Bayley made a comeback and then won. It was a perfectly decent match; it just seems a bit pointless writing out another Sasha match that follows the same formula without any consequence. Bayley looked especially good here although her gimmick still needs touching up around the edges.

- Sylvester Lefort was out next for the first time in a long while to face Mojo Rawley, who got a lot of screams and response from the crowd. He does a lot to get the front three rows hyped although the wide shots show that not everyone is just as enthused. During the last sentence, the match started and Mojo won. I’m not the fastest typist in the world but I’m not bad.

With Sylvester laid out, Brodus came out to the ring, hit a standing powerbomb on the Frenchmen, and then his big splash from the second rope. He got the mic and called out NXT champion Adrian Neville, angry that Triple H and John Cena endorsed him at "Arrival" when he’s been about for a number of years. Adrian answered and came down to the ring, mic in hand. Neville said Brodus has had chances, but the difference is Adrian won’t waste his. They went face-to-face and Brodus slunk out of the ring. Adrian looked brave for standing up to the big man, while Brodus looked like he wanted a better chance than this to strike. Everyone’s a winner. Except for Sylvester, he’s both beaten up and French. Poor fella.

- Oliver Grey, with long hair (hmm), made his return in an interview with Devin Taylor backstage. He was asked a question but before Grey could speak Camacho interrupted and established he had beef with Adam Rose. Grey, speaking as if he was an American doing an impression of an English person, challenged Camacho to a match. He was overly pompous and ridiculous and I don’t know who the heel is meant to be here as Grey came off horribly. Having said that, his return has me very excited there’s certainly more to come here.

- Jason Jordan hosted a look at NXT at WrestleMania Access including a clip of Bo Dallas pinning Sami Zayn. Maybe not a huge deal, but why show the pin and one competitor clearly getting the win? It’s an unnecessary oversight which does nothing other than harm Zayn.

- Backstage, The Great Khali was ‘feeling so much good.' Glad the big man is learning some English, although perhaps stick with a manager for now. Bayley gave him a hug before C.J. Parker came in and asked if he recycled. Khali spoke some Punjabi before Bayley hilariously said she’d been taking lessons and was able to translate. She said that Khali would see C.J. in the ring next week. Let’s see how that goes.

- Bo Dallas came out and announced the Bo Movement would be occupying NXT to fight for his right to fight for the title. His delivery was amazing and included an enthused air punch and a lot of smiles. Full Sail, in a hilarious move, stood up and turned away from the ring while chanting "No! No! No!" It may well have been choreographed, but it’s not like anyone actually wants Bo to get another shot. He’s absolutely hated. Bo got more and more frustrated in the ring. He began to break down saying he was their champion and they should support him. He eventually dropped the mic and went outside the ring to shout at people. He’s as good as he’s ever been and has finally found some direction for his character post NXT title.

Back from the break, Bo was still throwing a hissy fit in the ring. There was even a ‘Bo-tista’ chant. JBL’s music hit and out came the Texan. He joked that Bo doesn’t have enough people to occupy a seesaw before introducing Justin Gabriel for a match against Bo. I’ve always liked Gabriel. He’s got the look, the skill although with high flyers like Adrian about, he needs to be more than an occasionally botched 450 splash. He’s the kind of competitor that would benefit from a cruiserweight title being about as he has good size for a high-flyer.

- The match started with some pace from Gabriel leading to brief control. Bo bailed to the outside to reconsider before returning to the ring and snapping on a headlock. Justin chain wrestled his way out before hitting the ropes. Bo awkwardly botched an armdrag leading to the two men just running into each other and slowly falling over. Classic signs of Bo still having that green edge to him, which must be a bit worrying with a main roster call up imminent.

Bo caught Gabriel on the top rope before hanging him up on the top rope. He then slowed down the match and got some sustained offense in including a big vertical suplex and some knee drops. Justin tried to work out of a headlock but was whipped hard into the corner for his troubles. The commentary team did a good job to highlight Bo’s strength and tactical wrestling style. Justin was again whipped into the corner but refused to be whipped across the ring again. He eventually reversed the attempt to send Bo hard into the opposite corner. Gabriel slapped away a punch to begin his comeback. He went for his classic ‘flip off the back of an opponent going for a backdrop,’ which Bo seemed to botch by flicking up too early. Gabriel then hit an aggressive reverse heel kick, which seemed to have a bit of zest on it suggesting the South African was less than happy.

Bo admirably was able to get up, though, to take a punch and a whip into the corner. Justin splashed Bo with a cross-body in the corner and landed on the apron. He hit a springboard cross-body for a two count, before Bo got the better of an exchange to drop Gabriel on his head. Again this was only a two count and was followed by another counter, this time in favor of Justin with a bridging suplex getting a close two. Gabriel tried a top rope Asai Moonsault inside the ring but Bo rolled out of the way allowing him to eventually lock up the double underhook DDT for the win.

In storyline terms this was a good win for Bo, allowing him to be re-established as a threat. Outside of this it was a good match but with the odd glaring error to take the shine off the performance. It may be unfair to place the blame singularly on Bo, but Justin looked pretty ticked off, and when comparing a veteran like Justin to the comparatively inexperienced Bo, Bo certainly looks the guilty party elect. There are still some question marks, let’s leave it at that.

- Overall, NXT has one great thing going for it with Zayn vs. Graves, one good thing in the title picture, and then a lot of nothing in particular. There’s so little direction or planning. Sasha Banks hasn’t won, like, ever? And who has benefitted? Sasha certainly hasn’t and unless you count Charlotte being protected as a benefactor then it’s been completely inconsequential. Plus there’s better ways of going about that rather than sacrificing one divas career and credibility. Then, there’s Mojo who can’t squash people forever and so far we've seen that anything over two minutes isn’t exactly Mojo’s forte so where is he going?

NXT needs a PPV-esque show (like Arrival) to work towards so they have a sense of urgency in creating storylines for more than just Zayn and Neville. I mean, has anyone noticed there’s an empty tag division that needs filling? Seems to me like a good place to start.

Thank you very much for reading everyone and I’ll hopefully see you soon. Although not in real life. That would be awful. Awfully interesting.


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