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THE SPECIALISTS
CHIVERTON'S NXT SCOUTING REPORT: Latest Network Era Rankings & Evaluation of the NXT Roster

Jul 25, 2014 - 10:47:13 PM
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WWE NXT Rankings & Evaluation
By George Chiverton, PWTorch NXT specialist


Network Rankings #13

(1) Sami Zayn
(2) Charlotte (NXT Women’s champion)
(3) Adrian Neville (NXT champion)
(4) Tyler Breeze
(5) The Vaudevillians
(6) The Ascension (NXT Tag champions)
(7) Enzo Amore
(8) Kalisto
(9) Alexa Bliss
(10) Sasha Banks
(11) Colin Cassady
(12) Bayley
(13) The Legionnaires
(14) Mojo Rawley

7/17 Episode Evaluation

- Are those the regal tones of William er Regal? Well, what a joy to have him back.

- It's tag action to start with Colin Cassady and Enzo Amore (who was just dominating the Jersey douchebag look) taking on my flavour of the month, The Vaudevillians. Considering the tag team needs rebuilding, it would be good if either neither team lose or one wins fairly decisively to start establishing a ladder.

The match went for a couple of minutes before Big Cass was in the ring with Simon Gotch using his size to stay in control. As he went for some clubbing blows to the back, the Legionnaires’s music played to distract the big man. Gotch took advantage with a schoolboy and (a handful of trunks later) it was good for the win. Sorry to harp on, but Gotch’s schoolboy was something of beauty. It was a proper pin: he didn’t look like he was executing a simulated fighting move with Cassady. Rather, he looked as if he was desperately trying to pin Cassady’s shoulders to the mat. His throwback gimmick, which he used on the indies as Ryan Drago "The Gentleman Bruiser," has accustomed him to wrestle like they did in ye olden days, cutting out the ‘sports entertainment’ elements of wrestling, which can really affect the immersive nature of the product. He wanted to win a wrestling match, not entertain and that’s a damn good thing. Watch this space.

Anyway, so a nothing match but one team has a win while the other lost nothing in defeat. Super de duper.

- Up next was C.J. Parker (who was berated wonderfully by Regal) taking on Xavier Woods following their weirdly booked kefuffle last week. Woods really need some character additions and perhaps his new stable (race issues aside) will provide that. After a fairly back and forth match where Woods showed off some quality offence, they went to the finish where C.J. was meant to sit out of a roll-up attempt and grab the ropes to pick up the win. But, C.J. cocked it up and was too far from the ropes meaning he picked up a clean win over the face. While the booking was sound enough, the execution was flawed. Poor from C.J., but Woods is exciting enough.

- Sami Zayn was backstage with Devin Taylor ahead of a main event against Tyson Kidd. Zayn spoke naturally about how Kidd had turned into a nasty piece of work who was overshadowed by his wife’s achievements. There was a lovely line that a couple of months ago he would be excited about facing Kidd; now he just wants to embarrass him.

- Alexa Bliss was out next to her weird and interesting entrance music. She would be facing Sasha Banks, who was looking to avenge her loss in the Women’s Title tournament. Before the match, there was an inset promo from Bliss hyping her last victory as a fluke due to her smaller stature (despite being the same height as Banks) before promising lightning would strike twice.

It was Even Steven until Banks stacked Bliss on the second turnbuckle in the corner before jumping down with double knees. After a rest hold, Bliss fought out with some athleticism before Banks caught her with a back stabber before flipping over and locking in a chinlock and leaning right back on it. It drew the submission for the win. BANKS WINS! About time as we need some credible straight heels in the Women’s division.

- Backstage, Natalya was upset that Kidd went for the win rather than helping his wife. Kidd was then elsewhere being interviewed by Taylor. When asked about it Tyson shrugged it off pointing out no one is asking about Sami’s family and people should be talking about his win. He also noted Natalya was a divas champion so she can handle herself. Nice a heelish while speaking enough sense to not seem farfetched.

- "Blue Chipper" Jason Jordan was out next for a match against Adam Rose. The premise of the match is that Jordan ‘just heard’ his tag partner Tye Dillinger is injured and the last place he was seen was partying with the Rosebuds. Funny that as Dillinger has been injured for a while. Seems like your tag partner is one of the first people you’d tell. Anyways, sure.

There were some antics from Rose before Jordan fired up and got angry. Rose eventually made a comeback to no reaction at all before picking up the win. When I argued a couple of months ago that moving Rose’s unproven gimmick to Raw so quickly was a really bad idea and this little of a reaction for a returning NXT alum. Hmm. Well. You know what I’m saying.

- Kalisto was backstage giving an interview in a Spanish/English hybrid with Devin Taylor. The Vaudevillians (NOT THE VADEVILLAINS, BYRON SAXTON) then made an entrance as if they were in a silent film. Gotch mimed a fat dude which no one understood, before Aiden English produced a sign asking: ‘Where is your tag team partner?’ Pretty amusing. Kalisto said they’d parted ways but he would find another partner and face them in the near future. That sounds like fun.

- Main event time with Tyson Kidd and Sami Zayn squaring off. Yipee!

Tyson stalled and goaded in the early part of the match, which gave plenty of time to the announcers to recap events. Zayn caught him for a second, but Tyson again managed to get to the outside. Sami, who had kept his discipline up to now, followed him out only to get punted in the face by Kidd on the apron, before a suplex on the steel ramp gave Tyson control.

Back from the break, Tyson was tying up Sami in the corner before a big dropkick was good for two. A resthold brought a comeback from Zayn and sent Kidd to the outside. Sami of course went for a blockbuster move, Arabian pressing all the way from the top rope to the floor. Firing up, Zayn rolled Kidd into the ring and hit a top-rope cross-body. Only two, but Zayn stayed on him and went tried to run up the turnbuckle. Kidd tripped him though allowing him to drop a leg on the back of Zayn’s neck. It was good for a two count.

Zayn tried to reverse an Irish Whip into a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Kidd ducked under twice to german suplex Zayn. Kidd tried to capitalise with an elbow drop, but Sami got knees up before finally hitting his Blue Thunder Bomb. Again there was a two count and again following a counter momentum shifted with Kidd eventually hitting a blockbuster for yet another close fall.

Some more quick fire action and after a beautiful sequence Kidd locked in a Sharpshooter. It got the crowd really fired up as they sung ‘Olés’ in support of Zayn. After getting near to the ropes, Kidd dragged Zayn to the middle of the ring once again and sat out. Zayn showed some trademark heart to stay in it though before finally getting to the ropes. Kidd, frustrated, went for another blockbuster but Zayn caught him and hit a Full Shot DDT before locking in the Koji Clutch. A few seconds later, Kidd tapped out.

A clean win with no shenanigans keeps Zayn at the very top of the card, while Kidd will have an excuse next week without a doubt. Also, the crowd seemed a bit tired so perhaps this was the last match of a taping. Regardless it cost the match a little, with things only really kicking into gear with the sharpshooter. Luckily for us they’ll have another match down the line for sure.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Not a lot else to say here. This was a pretty bread and butter show, but NXT happens to be pretty good at those so it’s all right, I suppose. Banks and Bliss are definitely fighting for position on the rankings and Bank’s win gave some swagger to her character which has been really lacking. No trigger finger from me yet though on that one. The Vaudevillians impress me with every showing and hopefully they will be the ones to over throw the Ascension.

Oh and for the one person who asked, I’ll do my full take on Kevin Steen’s move to WWE once everything is officially official with a stamp on top. I’ll warn you now, he’s my favourite wrestler and although I’ll do my best not to gush, I’m not promising anything.


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