Justin James, PW Torch Contributor

WWE NXT Results
May 1, 2014
Taped at Full Sail University
Report by Justin James, PWTorch contributor

It seems that five members of the NXT roster were released last week:

* Mason Ryan
* Raquel Diaz (who had not appeared on NXT since she was re-signed last year)
* Oliver Grey
* Danny Burch
* Sarah Backman (who has not appeared on NXT at all)

The release of Grey and Ryan were somewhat telegraphed with a loss to send them out, which explains a couple of the odd booking choices in those matches.

[Q1] This week's NXT went straight to Triple H in the ring with an announcement. He says that NXT is all about "the future," but the line between "the future" and "the present" is getting blurred. He name drops The Shield, The Wyatts, Big E. Langston, Damien Sandow, and Cesaro as products of NXT ending up on the main roster. He then pretends to forget Paige's name. "It's like NXT is taking over the world." He then announces the next NXT live special, "NXT Takeover," on May 29.

[ J.J.'s Reax: NXT's use of authority figures is so effective in contrast to the main roster. They show up for an important announcement, make it, and leave. Every answer I see to questions like "what should GFW do?" in the Ask PWTorch pieces can be summarized as, "be NXT." ]

Credits.

The booth is William Regal, Tom Philips, and Byron Saxton.

Tyson Kidd is out for a match. Inspirational music and shots of the rising sun and soaring birds introduce Bo Dallas. Snow white horses and mountains. That was awesome.

1 - TYSON KIDD vs. BO DALLAS

Dueling "Let's Go Tyson" and "Let's Go Bo!" chants. Dallas puts Kidd in the corner, and gently backs away and gives him a thumbs up. Shoulder block takes Kidd down, and Bo gives him another thumbs up. After they trade holds, a kick to the back sends Dallas walking on his knees to the corner. Kidd to the top, so Dallas leaves the ring, and he cuts off Kidd's follow up. The audience sings "he's got the whole world in his hands" at Dallas. There are a number of fans with Adam Rose shirts.

Dallas slows it down with methodical offense. Dallas holds the ropes after hitting them so Kidd whiffs a dropkick. Kidd flips out of a suplex attempt, then starts a full comeback. Low dropkick, shades of Kidd's wife! Dallas catches Kidd with a surprise belly-to-belly for two. Bulldog off the ropes gets two for Dallas. He's almost out of former finishers. Kidd to the top again, but Dallas trips him. Pele Kick from the apron, top-rope blockbuster, and Dallas is down.

WINNER: Tyson Kidd in 7:24. I really enjoy Bo Dallas as a character, but he just had a dull match with Tyson Kidd which is pretty rare. I guess if his bland in-ring work helps him avoid the Curse of the Cesaro Swing, it isn't the world thing in the world.

Post-match, Dallas gets angry and screams about how his shoulder was up. He demands an instant replay, but gets the "hey hey hey, good-bye" song from the audience instead.

Backstage, Devin Taylor interviews Camacho. He says that he is no party-pooper, and his parties are better than the Exotic Express. Adam Rose comes in and says that wherever he goes, it is party time. On cue, his entourage appears and starts dancing. Camacho walks away. I noted (probably happened when he came back) that Camacho has dropped his fake accent.

[Q2] The NXT Women's Championship bracket has been announced:

Bayley vs. Sasha Banks, Natalya vs. Layla, Emma vs. Charlotte, and Alexa Bliss vs. Alicia Fox. This will be Alexa's NXT debut; previously, she was on WrestleMania Axxess and was one of Triple H's warrior women for his WrestleMania entrance. Summer Rae's disappearance (including the BFFs no longer carrying the picture on a stick) is notable.

Bayley says that the NXT Women's Championship is more important to her than ten hugs from John Cena, five hi-fives from Big E., and a combination of both from Paige.

Sasha Banks says that it is time for The Boss to take charge now that the "princess of pale" has stepped down. How is she "the boss" if she is not in charge?

2 - BAYLEY vs. SASHA BANKS (w/Charlotte) - NXT Women's Championship Tournament First Round match

A super-aggressive Banks declines to lock up and puts a shoulder to the middle to get Bayley into a corner. Bayley slips out of a body slam. Backslide gets two for Bayley. Crucifix pin gets two for Bayley. Hot, hot start to the match to put over what's at stake. Turnaround arm drag from Bayley. Sharp suplex from Bayley for two, but a monster slap lets Banks fire up. The crowd is hot for Bayley.

Back drop sends Banks halfway across the ring. Sledgehammers keep Banks down. Hugplex, but Banks rolls under the ropes, then hotshots Bayley on the ropes. Banks hits Bankrupt, but Bayley kicks out and Banks is beyond enraged. Bayley wants another Hugplex but Banks reverses into a Backstabber, then slaps on a crossface for a tap-out victory.

WINNER: Sasha Banks in 4:10. Loved this match. High intensity to play up both the importance of the match and the long-running beef between Banks and Bayley. Clean win mid-ring gives Banks the credibility she's been needing, and shows that she has been one trick away from a win for weeks.

Tom Philips announces that the main event is Adrian Neville against Brodus Clay in a No DQ NXT Title match. Wow, that is out of left field.

Video package on Brodus Clay. He talks about how he lost his pride, self-respect, and dignity. Is that because Woods took his dancers and music, or because they had him dancing like a fool?

The Exotic Express heralds Adam Rose in a match.

3 - ADAM ROSE vs. DANNY BURCH

The crowd starts a "We Are Rosebuds" chant. Rose rolls around the ring to stay away from Burch. Boot to the thigh and a right put Rose on his knees, but Rose fires up and comes out of the corner with punches. Bronco Buster and then the "the Party Foul" for the win.

WINNER: Adam Rose in 2:29. Dull match from both.

[Q3] Post-match, Camacho ambushes a member of the Exotic Express, then backs up the ramp. "Don't touch my rose buds!" says Rose.

Backstage, Clay is looking mean. He says he's ready to take things from others like things have been taken away from him. Great work from Clay in a short, intense promo.

Inset promo from Natalya saying that it would be a "dream come true" to be the NXT Women's Champion. Layla is out to Fandango's music. Inset promo from Layla saying that it will be easy for her to win.

4 - NATALYA vs. LAYLA - NXT Women's Championship Tournament First Round match

Layla with an early takedown, and she dances. Back-and-forth action and Layla gets more serious. Regal reminds us of when Layla was his valet. Suplex from Natalya lets her finally make a comeback. Layla kicks away from the Sharpshooter, but Natalya blocks a sunset flip and counters with the Sharpshooter for the win.

WINNER: Natalya in 4:25.

Backstage, Neville says that he's replaced his teeth, but he's going to not lose his teeth, and vows to beat Clay in the middle of the ring.

Oliver Grey comes out with a sour look on his face. I suppose he's a heel. He's facing Mojo Rawley.

5 - MOJO RAWLEY vs. OLIVER GREY

Grey surprises Rawley with a kick to the middle, but Rawley shrugs it off quickly. A pair of Stinger Splashes, Rear View, Hyperdrive for the win.

WINNER: Mojo Rawley in 1:12. That was quick.

Post-match, Aiden English cuts off Rawley's music and says that he refuses to suffer fools any longer, and demands that Rawley get off the Artiste's canvas. Rawley looks to the crowd, so English ambushes him. While wearing a beret and a scarf. Rawley dumps English from the ring.

Neville and Clay are out for their match.

[Q4] As the ref is about the start match, Clay snatches the belt from the ref, which draws Neville into a fight. Neville dumps Clay from the ring, they flies over the ropes to take Clay out. Neville beats Clay into the ring, and the ref rings the bell mid-brawl.

6 - NXT champion ADRIAN NEVILLE vs. BRODUS CLAY - No DQ NXT Heavyweight Championship match

Neville continues to beat Clay. Kick puts Clay down, but Clay rolls out of the way before Clay can land Red Arrow. Dropkick in the corner and Clay is down again. Clay pushes Neville away on a top rope move and Clay is on the attach. Tree of Woe and Clay hits a stinkface. Clay gets a "Koopa Troopa" chant as he slows it down.

Neville with a thumb to the eye to escape a hold, and a low dropkick takes out the knee. Another dropkick to Clay's head. headbutt and a powerbomb flatten Neville. Second rope splash to mid-ring and Neville barely kicks out. Clay heads outside the ring and grabs the championship belt from Eden Stiles. Clay preps a title shot, but Neville kicks it into Clay's face, and heads up top for the Red Arrow.

WINNER: Adrian Neville in 5:21. Fast-paces match, which is the theme for the night. While the match was totally hot-shotted, and could have used another month of build, Neville looks fantastic for beating Clay in a No DQ match.

Final Reax: Lots of fast-paced, high-intensity matches tonight, but the storylines are not clicking for me like they were a few months ago.

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