8/11 NXT in San Jose, Calif.: Roode vs. Strong, Asuka vs. Moon, Aleister vs. Itami, Sanity vs. AOP, Gargano vs. Almas

NXT LIVE EVENT REPORT
AUGUST 11, 2017
SAN JOSE, CALIF. AT SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY
REPORT BY JOHN M. OF RIPON, CALIF., PWTORCH CORRESPONDENT

The event was held at San Jose State University at the Events Center. For wrestling events it seats around 2,500 and I would say it was about 80 percent full for this show. The ticket said 7:30 p.m. start time but the first match started a few minutes before 8 p.m.

(1) Johnny Gargano pinned Andre Cien Almas. Very good opener.

(2) Ruby Riot & Sarah Logan (from the Mae Young Classic) defeated Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville when Riot pinned Rose. Not very good.

(3) Lars Sullivan pinned Only Lorcan in about 5:00. Basically a squash.

(4) Aleister Black pinned Hideo Itami after a Black Mass kick. Not as good as I was expecting.

(5) Kassius Ohno & Drew McIntyre defeated Tino Sabbatelli & Riddick Moss when McIntyre pinned Moss. McIntyre was Ohno’s mystery partner.

Intermission

William Regal came out and thanked the fans.

(6) Asuka rpinned Ember Moon while yanking on the tights to retain the NXT Women’s Title. The crowd was more into Asuka than Moon. Not sure they should put the title on Moon unless Asuka is getting called up. An okay match. Takevover will probably be better.

(7) Sanity (Eric Young & Alexander Wolfe) defeated the Authors of Pain by DQ when one of the AOP members pulled the referee out of the ring when he was attempting a three count. No Paul Ellering or Killian Dain, but Nikki Cross was ringside. Decent match. Crowd was for Sanity.

(8) Bobby Roode beat Roderick Strong to retain the NXT Title. A very good match. It ended with a low blow by Roode followed by two “Glorious DDT’s.” Strong had kicked out of the DDT about five minutes earlier in a very believable near fall. Best match of the night. Roode was the biggest star of the night and came off that way. Crowd was more into Roode than Strong no matter how much Roode acted like a heel. It’s too good of an entrance and theme song for people to boo him.

After the match Drew McIntyre confronted Roode and they went face to face. Roode slid out of the ring and walked to the back. Drew cut a very good babyface promo, guaranteeing he would defeat Roode at Takeover. (I expect him to myself.) Drew walked around the ring shaking hands, taking pictures, and signing autographs.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Good show. Lacked star power besides Roode and Asuka but great action. Most shirts in the crowd were Bullet Club and Finn Balor. I saw a few Bayley shirts, but the rest was mixed.

Best reactions
1. Roode
2. Asuka
3. William Regal
4. Johnny Gargano

Biggest Heel reactions
1. Cien Almas
2. Sabbatelli/Moss
3. Roderick Strong (Crowd too into Roode)
4. AOP taking the DQ