SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE NXT Results
July 20, 2016
Taped at Full Sail University
Aired on WWE Network
Report by Justin James, PWTorch contributor
[Q1] A packed episode of NXT tonight is to feature Bayley vs. Nia Jax, Samoa Joe against Rhyno, and American Alpha against The Authors of Pain. Finn Balor, American Alpha, Nia Jax, Alexa Bliss, Mojo Rawley, and Carmella were drafted to the main roster last night. The big surprise is Bayley staying on NXT. Eva Marie was drafted to Smackdown, suggesting that her time at NXT is done. Corey Graves will be sitting at the Raw announce booth.
1 – NXT champion SAMOA JOE vs. RHYNO – non-title match
Rhyno can’t take Joe down with shoulder blocks early on. Joe slaps Rhyno, who looks angry, then takes Joe down with a third shoulder block. Joe controls the match. Back elbow gets him a two count. Whip into the corner and Rhyno clutches his face.
Joe whiffs a running senton on the floor, though, and the ref starts a double count. They reset and trade bombs. Clotheslines take Joe off his feet. Belly to belly sends Joe across the ring. Rhyno looks for the Gore, but runs into a big boot. Rhyno taps out to the Coquina Clutch.
WINNER: Samoa Joe in 6:20.
Backstage Cathey Kelley asks Asuka if she would prefer to face Nia Jax or Bayley for the Women’s Title. She seems to indicate that she is game for a Triple Threat.
Quick rundown of the NXT members heading to the main roster via the Draft. Short soundbytes from each draftee.
American Alpha gets jumped by The Authors of Pain before they even get to the ring for the next match. Referees come out to protect American Alpha. Paul Ellering struts out to survey the scene. Cut to break as we wonder if there will be a match.
NXT GM William Regal takes stock as American Alpha recovers off the ramp, with The Authors of Pain in the ring. American Alpha look like they want to fight. They hit the ring and brawl with The Authors of Pain. American Alpha control the ring. Ellering sends them back in, and the ref calls for the bell.
[Q2] 2. AMERICAN ALPHA (JASON JORDAN & CHAD GABLE) vs. THE AUTHORS OF PAIN (TATTOO and NO TATTOO w/Paul Ellering)
Tattoo starts against Jordan, who immediately sends him into the corner. Hot double team action here. Double suplex, bridging cover from Gable for one. Gable gets isolated. Flapjack into a bearhug then a forearm from behind from AOP. Gable can’t get to the corner to tag Jordan. Gable breaks free, tag, and Jordan tries to take on both Authors of Pain and manages it. Suplex from Jordan sends the tattooed one out of the ring. Another suplex only gets one against no-tattoo.
Gable manages a t-bone suplex for a two count. Jordan prevents a double team, then Gable with an anklelock on the tattooed one, who gets an assist from his partner. Massive dive over the top from Jordan to take him out. Gable looks like he is on his last legs, but is the only one in the ring.
Gable wants a baseball slide, but gets caught and swung into the side of the ring. Chop block from Jordan, but he gets put head-first into the steps. Side Russian Legsweep from one into a clothesline from the other gets the three count on Gable.
WINNERS: The Authors of Pain in 6:34. American Alpha made The Authors of Pain look like a million bucks here, and they did their part too for what it’s worth. The giant dive from Jordan really set the tone of the match here, showing that they were pulling out all the stops to win, but couldn’t come close.
Backstage, Andrea asks The Revival about their successful defense of the Tag Team Championships. Wilder says that The Authors of Pain owe them some gratitude from demoralizing American Alpha. Dawson rolls into his promo. He says no team can beat them. Then, Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano interrupt and remind them that they have a win over The Revival. Ciampa says that having the titles is the only thing left for them. The Revival shake off the intimidation.
Backstage shots of Bayley warming up.
Vignette advertising the return of Hideo Itami in two weeks.
[Q3] Patrick Clark, already in the ring, comes from Tough Enough. He is facing Austin Aries. Will No Way Jose get his revenge for last month’s attack?
3 – PATRICK CLARK vs. AUSTIN ARIES
Austin immediately wrestles circles around Clark. Aries risks a DQ in the corner with a vicious mugging. Last Chancery ends it.
WINNER: Austin Aries in 1:54. Aries looked good here. Quicker pace than we’ve seen, which someone of his size needs on NXT. That “WWE main event” pacing doesn’t cut it on NXT.
Post-match, No Way Jose takes out Austin Aries and beats him halfway up the ramp until refs come out. Jose breaks away from the refs and continues the assault. Aries jumps a barricade and heads out who-knows-where. Jose is looking super serious.
Backstage, Nia Jax is ready for her match.
4 – BAYLEY vs. NIA JAX
The amount of time remaining indicates either some sort of post-match events, or a long match. Bayley eludes Jax while soaking up the crowd’s support. Jax tries a running headlock but Bayley breaks free. Bayley gets thrown into a corner, but gets a side headlock until Jax gets free. Jax showing more wrestling, but Bayley does the Tyson Kidd walk through the ropes routine to escape a wristlock.
Bayley looks for ten punches in the corner, but Jax picks her up and plants her on the turnbuckle. Snake Eyes to Bayley. Jax throws Bayley out of the ring, then trash-talks the crowd. Bayley makes it back in the ring to make more punishment. Jax misses an elbow drop, but plows Bayley into the corner while jawing at her.
Jax is just completely dominating this match. Bayley fires up, forearms and then smashing Jax’s face into the turnbuckle over and over. Jax looks stunned, but she throws Bayley out of the ring again.
[ Break ]
[Q4] Jax has Bayley in a chinlock through the ropes to a four count. Jax is still putting it to Bayley pretty hard. Bayley gets boots up in the corner, then dodges, starts her routine, but gets caught on a cross-body, then takes a backbreaker for two. Bayley is thrown out again. Bayley makes it in at 9.
Bayley surprises Jax, reverses her momentum, and is able to send Jax through the ropes. Flying forearm from the apron plants Jax outside. Knee to the middle from Jax, who charges, but Bayley dodges and Jax eats the steps. Bayley rolls into the ring and the ref starts a ten count.
Jax is back on the apron at 9. Bayley attacks her there. Neckbreaker through the ropes, then a dropkick into the ring. Bayley with the full-fired routine. Jax gets a break, then Bayley dodges a corner spear to wreck Jax. Attack through the ropes puts Jax on the defensive.
Bayley-to-Belly attempt, but a headbutt escapes it. Jax wants a powerbomb, but Bayley sits up and punches her. Victory roll for two. Bayley runs herself into an elbow. Delayed jackhammer gets Jax a nearfall and Jax can’t believe that didn’t win it.
Jax teases the leg drop, then stops. She drags Bayley to the corner for a super leg drop. Bayley meets her there, and super Bayley-to-Belly ends it.
WINNER: Bayley in 13:35. Easily the best match these two have had, and I think the best I have seen from Jax. She has made some minor tweaks to improve her move variety and speed in the ring, and the result was a better match.
Final Reax: I still can’t believe that Bayley was not drafted, but that may be a blessing with the packed women’s roster which doesn’t seem to have enough minutes for everyone on it as it is. Good way to send American Alpha and Nia Jax off with good matches to end feuds, setting up NXT for its next evolution.
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