WWE NXT Results
January 2, 2013
Taped at Full Sail University
Report by Justin James, PWTorch contributor

Last week was an NXT Year-in-Review show. So, this week should likely be a reboot of NXT, since Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns are tied up in The Shield and Rollins has successfully fended off another title match.

[Q1] In the middle of the credits, it skips to the NXT arena as The Shield is beating up some random tag team. It's a bit odd, because in NXT storylines, Dean Ambrose doesn't exist and Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins have never talked to each other.

Dusty Rhodes appears on the ramp to restore order. Ambrose says that the beat down was just a small demonstration of their power. Rollins says they're taking over NXT, and shows his title belt to make his point. Rhodes gets angry angry at Rollins for turning his back on NXT, and says that he has a title defense tonight to teach him a lesson. Ambrose says that no one tells The Shield what to do, and Rhodes says that he runs NXT. If Rollins doesn't defend it tonight, he'll be stripped of the title, and tells them to leave. Rollins accepts a match with Corey Graves for the title. Line of the week from Reigns: "You say this is your house old man? Right now it looks like you're just paying The Shield's rent." Hot, hot opening to the show, even though the sudden involvement of Rollins in The Shield and the heel turn is really abrupt.

Bo Dallas is in the ring out of a break, to face Epico.

1 - BO DALLAS vs. EPICO (w/Primo)

The crowd is chanting, "We want Rosa." Dallas with power and some technical work to control Epico. Gutbuster turns it around for Epico and he wails away on Dallas. Epico gets frustrated with his inability to put Dallas away. Dallas demands that Epico hit him harder, and he grins like a fool and makes a comeback. Dallas picks his spot and hits a spear for the win.

WINNER: Bo Dallas in 5:00. Dallas's recent change for this "being hit makes me turn into a monster" thing is kind of odd, but the crowd is reacting well to it.

Post-match, Epico and Primo look to make a two-on-one beatdown on Dallas, but Michael McGillicutty makes the save. That was random. I smell a tag team match for next week, with all of the potential for a very good match.

[Q2] It's Sasha Banks coming out for her second match. She's facing Tamina Snuka, who looks rather surly. It looks like they are dropping the "Snuka" from Tamina's branding, which is a shame, as I think last names give the Divas some dignity.

2 - SASHA BANKS vs. TAMINA

Tamina immediately uses her size and strength to dominate the much smaller Banks. William Regal claims that Sasha Banks is related to Snoop Dogg. Banks dodges a corner splash to get some traction. Tamina surprises Banks with a Samoan Drop out of nowhere and takes her time setting up the Superfly Splash for the win.

WINNER: Tamina in 3:00. Odd that they are starting Banks off with a pair of losses in which she shows little offense. It really defines her down. They should be using her against Audrey Marie to help build Marie's heel turn.

3 - TYSON KIDD & JUSTIN GABRIEL vs. KASSIUS OHNO & LEO KRUGER - Tag Team match

Pre-match, Regal informs the viewers that Gabriel and Kruger had an old feud in South Africa.

Kidd and Ohno to start, and they trade control with technical wrestling. Kidd and Gabriel double-team Ohno, then Kruger. Kruger gets isolated as Kidd and Gabriel look like they're having a ball with innovative teamwork. Kruger to the outside to take a break, and Kidd and Gabriel quickly wreck Ohno and Kruger.

[Commercial Break]

Kruger is still taking a two-man beating out of the break. I almost feel bad for Kruger. Kidd spends too much time trying to clear Ohno from the apron, allowing Kruger to hit a spinebuster to shift the momentum. Ohno with hard-hitting offense. Regal calls a spade a spade, and compares his own unimpressive physique to Ohno's. Kidd is stuck in the corner and can't get a tag. Kidd fends off a double-team and manages to tag in Gabriel.

Gabriel takes on Ohno and then Kruger. The action breaks down and then it is just Gabriel and Kruger. Kruger lands his finisher for the win.

WINNERS: Kassius Ohno and Leo Kruger in 8:00. Mark my words, Leo Kruger was involved in a really good match. He has dropped a lot of the silliness from his character and that helps. Ohno shines in longer form matches, and he has stepped up his pacing, too.

[Q3] Corey Graves comes out looking smug. I'm not sure who is more of a heel here or who to cheer for, but I am sure that it will be a good match. Rollins comes out without any music or his usual enthusiastic entrance. Jim Ross says that he was appalled by the start to this show. Ross also points out that being a member of The Shield seems to be more important to Rollins than being NXT champion.

4 - NXT champion SETH ROLLINS vs. COREY GRAVES - NXT Title Match

Hot opening as Rollins and Graves smash each other with fists, and Graves gets the upper hand. Graves tries a number of covers in an attempt to end it early. Graves works the leg hard. Rollins with some offense, but Graves responds in kind. Rollins drops Graves across the ropes and slows the pace down. Meanwhile, Regal and Ross continually praise The Shield for being original and making an impact. Graves with some huge rights. Rollins comes back with an enziguri to put Graves down. Graves manages to slap on the 13th Step, and just as Rollins is about to tap out, Ambrose and Reigns hit the ring to cause the DQ.

WINNER: Corey Graves by DQ in 5:30; Reigns retained NXT Title. That was a predicatable but very disappointing end. This was an incredibly hot match where Corey Graves looked like he desperately wanted that title. The only saving grace is that dirty finishes and DQs are rare in NXT so they still have impact.

After the match, Rhodes summons the locker room and it's pandemonium. The Shield manages to fend off the entire NXT locker room, including a number of WWE veterans. Rhodes looks let down as The Shield delivers the triple powerbomb to Bo Dallas and stands tall in the ring. But, out comes Big E. Langston at the very end. The Shield does not look thrilled to see him, but the crowd is. They back up as he gets on the apron, and the leave the ring as he enters.

Rhodes says that next week, Rollins is defending the title against Big E. Langston. Rollins looks panicked. Reigns wants to fight immediately, but Ambrose talks him down.

Final Reax: That was a fine episode of NXT until the very end, when the intensity was turned to the max by a red-hot main event followed by a great brawl, then the tension between The Shield and Langston at the end. It was one of those rare occasions where everyone got over: The Shield for taking on the locker room and surviving, Langston for scaring them out of the ring, and Graves for obviously nearly beating Rollins for the title. The only mis-step is that logically, Rhodes should have given Graves a second title shot, in a situation where The Shield could not interfere, like in a cage match or a title loss stipulation if The Shield got involved. If NXT can maintain this momentum, I'll be happy.

We suggest these recent related articles...

JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 9/30 - Week 182: Balor & Joe in Dusty tournament, Ciampa and Gargano in singles matches, final "Takeover" card, more; Overall Reax

JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 9/23 - Week 181: Vaudevillians defend NXT Tag Titles, Kana introduded, lots of promos, Takeover build, more; Overall Reax

WWE NXT RESULTS 9/23: Vaudevillains defend NXT Tag Titles, Kana/Asuka formally introduced, Breeze, Eva Marie, more