WWE NXT Results
January 16, 2013
Taped at Full Sail University
Report by Justin James, PWTorch contributor

[Q1] NXT kicks off pre-credits with a video package detailing Big E. Langston's victory over Seth Rollins last week for the NXT Championship. It looks like The Shield has been added to the NXT credits, which is a twist I did not expect.

Adrian Neville (formerly PAC) is making his debut to high praise from William Regal. He is facing Sakamoto (Tensai's former assistant), also in his NXT debut. The announcers practically ignore Sakamoto to talk about Neville.

1 - ADRIAN NEVILLE vs. SAKAMOTO

They trade control in technical wrestling as Regal and Dawson compare Neville to Rey Mysterio. They step the tempo up a bit, and Neville gets the worst of it. Neville fights out of a chinlock, and shows off lots of somersaults to dodge Sakamoto's attack. Neville to the top rope and he lands a corkscrew backflip splash for the win.

WINNER: Adrian Neville in 3:20. The match felt really off, like a string of pre-planned spots with filler thrown in to stretch it out. Totally inorganic match. That said, I see why Neville has some hype behind him, he is very agile and athletic, but doesn't have the lack of size that a lot of high-flyers have. I will want to see how Neville meshes with others before I make up my mind on him.

Out next is Leo Kruger, to face the now-released (much to my dismay) Trent Barreta. Kassius Ohno is the guest announcer. Ohno says that he has known William Regal for a long time.

2 - TRENT BARRETA vs. LEO KRUGER

Dawson is tough to take as he tries to banter with Ohno. Barreta has the better of Kruger with a bit more power in his offense than usual. Regal is not even talking, selling discomfort with Ohno's presence. Kruger continues to work Barreta's ribs, following up on the ongoing story.

[Commercial Break]

Ohno is continuing to take Barreta apart. Small package from nowhere gets a two count for Barreta, but Kruger immediately goes back on the attack. Regal says that he has known Ohno for twelve years and would be happy to turn him into a vegetable. Kruger beats himself in the head, but Barreta gets his boots up to block a charge in the corner.

[Q2] Barreta mounts a comeback. Barreta to the top with a big missile dropkick. Kruger clips out of a Dudebuster DDT and transitions to a half Boston Crab. Barreta finally gets to the ropes, and Kruger smashes away at him. Enziguri sends Kruger out of the ring, followed by a flip dive over the top rope. Ohno makes his way through the crowd to attack Barreta behind the ref's back. That allows Kruger to hit his finisher for the win.

WINNER: Leo Kruger in 7:10. This was a bloody horrible match. I have never seen a Trent Barreta match I didn't like before, and I have seen every match he's been in since he debuted in ECW. The Full Sail crowd, who can get very loud, sat on their hands the whole time. It was made even worse by Tony Dawnson in the announcers booth.

Post-match, a referee comes from the back and lets the ring ref know what happened. The ring ref tells Byron Saxton to announce that the decision is reversed, as William Regal helps Trent Barreta to the back. This feels like it is slowly building to an Ohno-Regal match.

Big E. Langston comes out looking very proud of his new championship. Good way to make the title feel like a big deal. He gets the mic and welcomes the audience to the "era of the five." Camacho interrupts him and reminds him that they have a "beef" to settle. He says that now it isn't just about the money now, but the NXT Championship. Camacho says he wants a match tonight. There's no communication at all, and the match starts. That is a bit odd.

3 - BIG E. LANGSTON vs. CAMACHO - NXT Championship match

Camacho with lots of offense in the corner, but Langston shrugs it off then starts a barrage of his own. Langston drops the straps and lands his finisher for the win.

WINNER: Big E. Langston in 1:30. Good to see a champion reinforced as a dominant power.

Post-match, Langston gives the crowd what they want another time. Then a third time. Langston is built up as being so strong, it is unimaginable how they will have someone defeat him any time soon.

[Q3] Damien Sandow makes an entrance to enlighten us. Inexplicably, he is teaming with Antonio Cesaro against Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel.

4 - TYSON KIDD & JUSTIN GABRIEL vs. DAMIEN SANDOW & ANTONIO CESARO - Tag Team match

Kidd's speed and experience let him embarrass Sandow. Now it is Gabriel and Cesaro. Cesaro's size gives him the upper hand. Gabriel turns it around and tags in Kidd.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Kidd is controlling Sandow out of the break. Gabriel retains that control. Sandow is able to get Gabriel into his corner and he brings Cesaro in. Gabriel is able to build momentum until Sandow distracts him. Side Russian Legsweep and the Elbow of Disdain get a two count for Sandow. Cesaro grounds Gabriel as Sandow implores him to quit. Gabriel sends Cesaro to the outside, but that lets Cesaro dump Kidd off the apron before Gabriel can tag out. Gutwrech from Cesaro needs Kidd to break up the pin.

Big jawbreaker lets Gabriel get to Kidd but Sandow comes in too. Kidd fights his way into the ring and clears Cesaro off the apron. Kidds turns it up to eleven. He wants the Dungeon Lock, but Cesaro interferes. Kidd and Sandow trade leverage pins. Kidd tags Gabriel in and immediately takes Cesaro out ringside. Gabriel with a springboard moonsault followed immediately by Kidd with a springboard elbow drop for the win.

WINNERS: Tyson Kidd & Justin Gabriel at 8:20. This was the match you thought it would be. Outstanding wrestling from all involved. Too bad there was zero reason for this match. It is a real shame that Kidd is seriously injured.

Final Reax: Not even a really good match at the end could save this episode from stinking. No follow up from Seth Rollins on losing the title? No Wyatt Family, Paige, Ascension, Shield, or Corey Graves, all of whom are currently engaged in stories? What about Bronson, Xavier Woods, and the rest of the batch of recently introduced folks? Where is Audrey Marie? All of these things could have been dealt with, but instead NXT offered a far-too-long Leo Kruger match and "roster members only" tag match at the end. They could have done Bronson against Corey Graves, for example, and given that five minutes and then a Divas match and the episode would have been much better. This was a real disappointment after the last two episodes.

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