WWE NXT 283 Review // 18th January 2018 // Street Profits vs. Authors of Pain

On 18th January 2018, NXT aired its 283rd episode of NXT, taped at Center Stage, Atlanta, GA on 4th January. Our main event saw former NXT Tag-Team champions Authors of Pain take on rising stars, Street Profits for a title match at TakeOver Philidelphia. We also had in-ring action from Lacey Evans & Aliyah, Roderick Strong & Fabian Aichner and Heavy Machinery against Tino Sabbatelli & Riddick Moss, but was it any good?

Riddick Moss & Tino Sabbatelli def. Otis Dosevic & Tucker Knight // Pinfall

We get some recap footage that once again, this match has been booked because Heavy Machinery were messing with Sab and Moss' jointly owned car, Dosevic and Sab to start, lockup but Dosevic pushes Sab away like a child, dropick by Sab and he throws Otis to the corner but this annoys the thicc lad, Dosevic hits a shoulder barge, run the ropes, leapfrog by Sab is caught for a bodyslam, staggered to the corner and Dosevic hits a big splash and hits a tag to knight who hits a slingshot senton for a 2 before grabbing Sab into a headlock guillotine giant swing, he throws Sab to his corner allowing him to tag in Moss, Knight grabs Moss immediately into another guillotine, throws him to the ropes, Moss fights out with forearms but gets caught in another headlock giant swing, tag to Dosevic, they do a tribute to the Bushwhackers walk and hit a double splash before Dosevic does the worm elbow drop for a cover but Sab breaks the pin, Dosevic picks up Moss in an Argentine carry but Sab grabs his partner by the ankles, pulling him back and off, allowing Moss to hit a chop block and a tag to Sab who works some ground and pound before working some quick tags as they keep Dosevic grounded, Moss gets a rear chinlock on Dosevic, keeping it held for longer than most Lars Sullivan matches, DOsevic eventually powers out with a belly-to-back suplex and crawls back to Knight for a tag, he works a decent hot tag hitting shoulder tackles, hip tosses, corner splashes and a big dropkick sending Sabatelli to the apron, Knight clotheslines Sab off the ring but Moss uses the distraction to roll up Knight, putting his feet on the ropes for leverage he gets a surprise 3 count.

So Dosevic hit the big lad worm which was, as always, delightful and if SabMoss are going to hang around, they needed at least one win. Just one. That's what they got here, beyond the aforementioned worm, the match wasn't much to shout home about with SabMoss' heat section lacking any particular response. I hear they've been doing fun work at house shows but without any evidence of that in their television encounters, I remain uninspired.

Undisputed Era are hanging about backstage again, Cole says TakeOver is their event, it's been about them for a reason, at Philly he goes on-on-one with Black, there are a million ways he can defeat and mangle Black and he is going to break and embaress him, O'Reilly says it doesn't matter which team wins as everyone wants a shot at their titles as this is their era and we're all just invited, Fish says that all other teams are competing for the right to step up and get dropped by the undisputed tag champs.

We get a video package of clips of Cole and Black combined with just straight up clips of insane shit from hardcore matches. No Zandig though.

Roderick Strong def. Fabian Aichner // Submission

Strong is straight in with a headlock but Aichner reverse to a hammerlock with Strong going to a hammerlock of his own, Aichner tries to punch his way out but can't escape, a whip to ropes and Aichner shoulders his way out instead but runs into a leg lariat from Strong for a 2, a knee by Aichner as he takes control and whips Strong to the corner but Strong hits a  back elbow by Strong, he takes the moment to jump off the second rope straight into Aichner's arms who slams him straight into the ad-break, back from the break and Strong escapes an abdominal stretch but is right into a back-press slam for a 2, Aichner works corner chops and stomps, dragging him to the centre of the ring, Aichner goes for a bomb but Roddy escapes, lighting up the Italian with chops, a leaping lariat, more chops, a running forearm and goes for an olympic slam but Aichner turns it into an armdrag but Roddy doesn't give him an inch and hits a backbreaker for a 2, he tries to slam Aichner off the ropes but Aichner holds onto the ropes, sliding out of hold hitting a forearm and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a 2, he goes for a springboard but pauses, giving Roddy the time to regain composure hitting a backbreaker and transitioning to a Liontamer hold forcing Aichner to tap.

Let's put things simply, Aichner is too good to be stuck in just 5 minute matches, taking losses on TV, I'm not saying he's ready for a championship but certainly with a good dose of character work, he's going to be someone we'll all be talking about by the time the year's out. We all obviously know Roddy's great and even in short matches like these, knows how to showcase his opponent as well as if not more than himself. This wasn't the best work of either man but for what it was, it was fun.

After the match, Strong gets a mic. He says that last week someone came out looking for a fight, and his words have been echoing his head as he feels the same, since joining NXT he's run through the competition like this man, when he stepped in the ring with this force it was like nothing else which makes him happy as he wants to destroy it, he's talking about Lars Sullivan. K.

WHO ARE TM61

TM61 are coming back and their bringing with them the closest thing we're going to get to a Best Friends promo in NXT. This turns out to actually be a really lovely segment, covering their meeting in Explosive Pro Wrestling back in their native Australia through to winning the GHC Tag Team Titles over in Pro Wrestling Noah. While the interplay between Shane and Nick is a lot of fun, this lacks so far the same emotional interplay as previous 'Who Is/Are' segments like the Roderick Strong edition but it's still a very fun way of reintroducing the Aussie lads back. Hopefully, they'll get some good stuff to sink their teeth into when they're back properly.

Lacey Evans def. Aliyah // Pinfall

Aliyah is a heel again, I think, but then Evans also seems to be a heel now, I don't know, lockup to begin as Evans gets a wristlock, Alliyah cartwheels into a wristlock of her own but Evans is back on top throwing down her opponent, Aliyah gets back up but Evans grabs her by the ear and forces her down but Aaliyah turns it to a pin for a 2, Evans picks up Aliyah who escapes with a clumsy backslide a bit of a clothesline and something definable as a roll-up for a 2, Evans jumps the ropes and pulls Aliyah along them before hitting a slingshot elbow for a 2, she slams Aliyah to the corner and works over with forearms and kicks before hitting a handstand bronco buster for a 2, Aliyah tries to fire back with forearms and an uppercut, he hits a second rope diving clothesline and a northern lights suplex for a 2 but Evans is back in with a jawbreaker, Aliyah runs into a forearm and is down, Evans takes advantage, covering for the pin.

I don't know what to think, if this was their way of trying to introduce Evans as a threat, well, she did work on top so there's that but Aliyah seems to be constantly one step behind performers of a similar age and level of experience. There's still time and she seems to genuinely want to get better but there comes a point where you wonder, will it ever happen? Then again I said the same thing about Angelo Dawkins and look at him now...

Evans asks how Regal can let low-class trash walk around the locker rooms, it's time a proper sophisticated, powerful women ran the division and she might start by taking out Nikki Cross or Ember Moon or, then Shayna Bazsler turns up and Evans fucks off because she can't be dealing with that, Shayna walks to the ring and locks in the Kirufuna Clutch on Aliyah, refusing to break despite a ref pulling on her, Moon in he ring gear, hits the ring and Bazsler slides out cocky as anything, in a week she's gone from Dunne to Suzuki levels of dickhead, Moon dares Baszler to try bullying her, Moon tells her to get in the ring and they can fight now Baszler tells her she's not got her gear, she'll see her for her title, Moon tells her name her time and place and to bring her gear and she'll kick her ass, Baszler suggests Philidelphia, funnily there's a TakeOver there.

Christy St. Cloud is asking William Regal about what just happened, Regal says it's against his better judgement but if it's what Moon wants, she gets a match with Baszler at Philly, up turns Vega, she tells Christy to stay aswell, everybody knows Gargs has 0 chance of winning, the facts are he was carried by Ciamps and Almas has already beat with twice, he has no chance, Dream had a point, he deserves this shot more than Johnny and if Johnny is confident he should put the title opportunity on the line against him, Regal says he wouldn't advise him to do this, Vega calls him a loser, Vega says before leaving that she and Almas are happy to oblige if Regal wants to watch the most embarrassing NXT title match in history. Clearly she hasn't watched Bo Dallas vs Leo Kruger.

No Way Jose says 2017 had ups and downs like a rollercoaster but it's just good fun and 2018 is going to be the year of NWJ so get on board, the party guy is back soon.

The commentary lads are chatting when Johnny hits the ring and gets a mic. He says that he just watched the conversation backstage, he hears the buzz, he knows what everyone's saying behind his back, Vega and Dream, maybe even Regal, they doubt he can beat Almas, he is done being doubted, he is not broken, he is not a loser, this is not a fluke, this is his time, his opportunity and no one will stop him, the crowd love him, he asks if they can hear the chants, Dream if he wants the opportunity, Gargano puts it on the line next week, he gets his shot because for the first time in forever he knows who he is, Johnny Gargano, Johnny FREAKING WRESTLING, the next NXT champion. 

This was impassioned, motivated, focussed and showed a lot of character development. Babyfaces everywhere, take note, this is how it's done. Almas might need the title more than Gargano but I can't see anyone not wanting Johnny to win it after this.

NXT Tag Team Title Number One Contender's // Akam & Rezar def. Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford // Pinfall

AOP ARE IN THEIR TURTLES GEAR, YAY, Ford and Akam start, they lockup as Ford tries to get a headlock but Akam quickly overpowers with a shoulder, a kip-up by Ford but he's hit with another shoulder, thrown to the ropes, Ford runs under a clothesline, jumps but is caught and dropped in the corner, a tag to Akam and they wear down their opponent with strikes for a 2, more strikes and a tag to Rezar who hits yet more strikes and another tag to Akam who applies a full nelson, Ford fades and Akam hits a uranage-esque slam for a 2.5, tag to Rezar and even yet more strikes lead to a grounded full nelson that sends us into the break, back from the break and a cover for a 2, tag to Rezar and a guillotine facelock, this keeps him grounded for quite a while, Ford works back to his feet but Rezar does't break, Ford, unable to break the hold, forces Rezar backwards towards his corner, Rezar releases to knock off Dawkins but Dawkins dodges, Ford rolls under and tags, Dawkins hits both authors getting a dropkick on Akam and double arm strikes on Rezar and a 360 stinger splash, he picks up Rezar and tags Ford hitting a dropkick-spinebuster combo for a pin but Akam breaks it up and levels Dawkins with a clotheslines, he picks up his tag partner and they hit the Supercollider double powerbomb on both and the Last Chapter legsweep-clothesline combo for the pin.

Yeah, this was, it was good enough. It was interesting seeing Street Profits built up so much only to have them work almost completely from below. Authors of Pain are an entertaining act but this lacked a certain amount of excitement. I don't think this is going to hurt Street Profits too badly as basically everyone loses to Authors of Pain but I can't really get too excited about what merely good. Ford continues to be better than what he's given.

On The YouTubes

For reference, here is the Best Friends promo that TM61 may have lovingly 'been inspired' by.

Finally...

If you ever looked up 5/10 in the dictionary...well it wouldn't list this episode because that's normally how dictionaries work but hey, it's an accurate way of describing the episode. Johnny's promo work, the Baszler-Moon encounter and the first part of 'Who are TM61?' were all very well put together, it's just a shame the in-ring action was nothing to shout home about.

Article By Jozef Raczka (@NotJozefRaczka)

NXT #271 Review - Andrade Almas v Roderick Strong

On 26th October 2017, WWE aired its 271st episode of NXT, taped at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida on 4th October. Our Main event was another big TakeOver rematch, this time from back at San Antonio as Andrade 'Cien' Almas took on Roderick Strong. The show also saw the newly formed tag team of Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch take on Tino Sabbatelli & Riddick Moss as well as a 17-Woman Battle Royal for the final spot in the NXT Women's Championship Fatal Four-Way at TakeOver: WarGames. But was it any good?

We get a Regal  cold open as everyone's favourite GM announces that due to Taynara Conti being a complete and utter Conti, Nikki Cross has got a spot in the Battle Royal tonight. Also next week, the Authors of Pain get their rematch for the Tag Team Titles and whichever member of SaNItY isn't competing is banned from ringside. So have SaNItY been competing under Freebird rules this entire time?

Tino Sabbatelli & Riddick Moss def. Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch(4:00)

Lorcan & Moss are in to start and Lorcan says 'fuck this' to lock-ups and goes straight in with fore-hand slaps and strikes till Moss powers his to the top right corner, Moss pulls back for an attack but Lorcan speeds out of the corner with a single leg dropkick, pulling him to the top left, Lorcan tags in Burch who works down the larger Moss with forearms, Moss picks up Burch and carries him to the bottom right, tag to Sabatelli who gets Burch in the middle of the ring, Irish whip to the top right corner, goes for a running clothesline, Burch dodges, goes for an enziguri, Sabbatelli blocks it, dodges underneath, Burch goes to the second rope, hits a raised boot and a front dropkick for a 2, Sabatelli responds with a lariat, tag to Moss as the two hit Burch in the corner with a splash, a leaping forearm, a spear and a dropkick for a 2, they attempt to hit a double team manouevre but Burch escapes, crawls underneath the two of them and tag in Lorcan who goes wild hitting slaps on both, a running uppercut to Tino, a blockbuster to Moss, he psyches himself up, goes for a running crossbody on Moss but is caught into a fallaway slam, Moss knocks Burch off the apron, tag in Sabatelli and they hit a Gory Bomb-Running Bulldog combo for the pin. This was a neat, little sprint that did the job of giving Sabatelli & Moss a win that actually means something, a role that Burch and Lorcan excel in, but also builds up the debutting team who are obviously over because who doesn't love a pair of sprinting shit-kickers? My only complaint would be that Moss & Sabbatelli didn't do enough to sell the other team's offence but that's why they're in developmental.

NXT Women's Championship Qualifier Battle Royal: Nikki Cross wins (11:50)

Vanessa Borne, Bianca BelAir, Sage Beckett & Mercedes Martinez all get entrances but to the old NXT theme tune so it's not like they're a priority,  Abbey Laith, Aliyah, Dakota Kai, Lacey Evans, Reina Gonzalez, Rhea Ripley, Sarah Logan, Sage Beckett, Taynara Conti & Zeda don't get entrances so they won't win, Candice LeRae, Billie Kay & Nikki Cross are the only three to get full entrances and therefore the only ones I would expect to have a chance of winning, Cross goes straight for Conti, who of course cheated her out of victory in her Triple Threat two weeks ago, she eliminates Conti who then pulls her under the ropes and slams her into the barricade before Royce throws Cross into the steps, making it obvious at this point that Cross is going to come back and win this, Battle Royal stuff happens, lots of working over on the ropes and in the corner, Bianca BelAir eliminates Rhea Ripley by using Zeda as a battering ram then eliminates Zeda as well to go to break, back from the break and I think Reina Gonzalez was eliminated because I've lost track of her, Sage Beckett eliminates Dakota Kai (your time will come, Team Kick Captain) & Aliyah, Lacey Evans punches Abbey Laith in the bum, Nikki Cross comes back in with a plancha on basically everyone, she then punches everything in the face before eliminating Vanessa Borne, Sage Beckett, Santana Garret and Abbey Laith (your time will come too, Suplex Princess), Martinez & BelAir team up to eliminate Sarah Logan, LeRae eliminates Lacey Evans when BelAir picks up LeRae and gorilla press slams her out of the ring onto Beckett and Logan which leaves us with our final four, Cross, Kay, BelAir and Martinez, BelAir drops Kay onto the apron but she avoids elimination by using BelAir's braid as a rope to pull herself in, the crowd love it, Bianca doesn't and whips the shit out of Kay, Cross tackles Kay out of the ring, BelAir ties up her hair, she battles Martinez to the ropes, they trade near falls till Cross comes and double clotheslines both of them out, Kay tries to flip Cross out and celebrates till she realises Cross is still in, runs at her and Cross throws her out to win. It did what it meant to do, the people they wanted to look good did, especially BelAir who is going to be a megastar in a few years. While Cross is unarguably the right person to be in the match as she and Moon are responsible for Asuka's best matches, the layout of the match and the storytelling around it didn't do anything to make us not think Cross would win. Also, it was quite long at nearly 12 minutes. It was fun for what it was though.

Peyton Royce hits the ring again as a wild Regal appears holding the title, Ember Moon turns up looking like the final boss of the new Virtua Fighter while Kairi Sane turns up looking like everyone's favourite character in that same game. They have the customary staredown around the title.

Drew McIntyre is outside the PC being interviewed by those disembodied hands they keep attached to a camera there, he's heading out on an NXT media tour when up turns Zelina Vega, she's wondering where the contract for the NXT Championship match is, Drew has made it very clear, all Andrade needs to do is come up to him and look him in the eye, like a a man and ask for the match like Roderick Strong did. Zelina Vega does a girl-bye to the disembodied hands because who deosn't miss Cameron?

Aleister Black is making his entrance when Velveteen Dream rises up behind out of the smoke in cowboy boots and double denim, he attacks and ties Black up in the ropes, telling him to say his name, when Black still says nothing he slaps him, and again, Black escapes with a boot and goes for Black Mass but Dream slides out. The build for this feud has been so well done, I hope the match is as good in that we've yet to see longer than a few minutes in the ring for the Dream.

Zelina Vega has a pre-match promo. She talks about how you don't get the success she's had in 'business' by being patient, she and her client have been waiting for a contract from McIntyre but nothing has come, Vega understands how difficult it must have been for McIntyre to climb the mountain of success and now he's at the top, he must have realised the higher up, the harder it is to breathe. McIntyre has been avoiding Almas and tonight, Almas is going to show McIntyre and Roderick Strong that some people just aren't ready to breathe such rarified air.

Andrade 'Cien' Almas (w/ Zelina Vega) def. Roderick Strong (9:06)

I just wanted to take a moment to tell you all that you should appreciate the effort I go to bringing you play-by-play because this was a fast-paced match, lock-up to begin as the two quickly trade holds, they trade strikes as Almas locks in a side tackle, bounce off the ropes and Almas hits a shoulder tackle, Strong grabs him with a left take-down to a grounded headlock, powering to their feet, Strong tries to transition into a hip toss but Almas blocks, goes for a hip toss of his own, Strong blocks and drops him with a backbreaker before laying into him, on the apron and Almas goes for a suplex, Strong escapes, Almas begins elbowing the back of the neck but Strong gets him in a fireman's carry position, Almas escapes and hits a modified GTR onto the apron and rolls Strong back in, pounding on him into the break, back from the break and Almas hits a corner clothesline and slaps Strong's chest, they trade strikes, Strong whips Almas to the ropes but Almas catches him in a rope-hung triangle armbar, back in the ring and Almas applies further pressure to the arm, despite all this arm work, Strong hits an armdrag to escape and another fling Almas out of the ring, Almas is striaght back in but heads right into a boot and an enziguri, they trade strikes, Roddy wins at striking and hits a running forearm, goes for an olympic slam, Almas escapes but is hit with a pop-up gutbuster,  taking a moment to pause, he runs at Almas who is in the corner but Almas gets a boot up, going up top, Almas gets another rope hung armbar but Strong reverses it into a rope-trap stretcher, on the apron, an enziguri and a backbreaker and Almas is rolled back in for a 2, Strong places Almas up top and the two trade strikes till Almas hits a reverse DDT for a very close 2 count, on their feet, they trade Pokemon cards, just kidding it's strikes, Roddy gets a butterfly float over tries to hit a tiger driver but Almas turns it into a rana and hits a spinning back elbow then a corner double knees for a 2, goes for the El Idolo hammerlock DDT but Roddy escapes only for Almas to hit another back elbow, goes for the corner double knees again but Roddy bursts out with a knee strike, an olympic slam, another knee strike and as Almas falls out of the ring, a wrecking ball dropkick, as he rolls Almas back in the ring, Vega hits Roddy with a hurricanrana into the stairs, Almas gets up, rolls Roddy in, hits El Idolo for the pin. This was very good and just a hint below their TakeOver match earlier this year. It was let down a hint by a lack of time but what they were given they made use of going for an intense sprint feel yet they structured it well to make the offence seem impactful. There were certain elements that seemed off, like Roddy going for an armdrag with ease straight after enduring arm work from Almas but with this and Gargano recently, Almas is on a tear looking he could win at TakeOver. There is a certain problem with TV encounters that they can feel like the finish is almost too telegraphed because of time constraints and even though this was well done with Vega showing whatever they're paying her after this week, double it, I couldn't help but feel this could have got in a few more minutes to really make it excel.

Vega and Almas hit the announce booth to announce that next week they'll see if Drew is a man of his word, Almas says Drew won't turn turn up because he's scared, he's asustado, which means scared. He's scared basically.

As Roddy's leaving the ring, The Undisputed Era turn up, Adam Cole is telling Roddy he's not a loser as the gang try to get him to join, telling him it will be best for him and his family. Cole offers him an armband, which Roddy takes but doesn't put on, they tell him to take some time and think about it. Bobby Fish continues to have the best facial hair in NXT. That is all we need take away from this.

On The YouTubes:

Mercedez Martinez is disappointed that she's not going to get her shot at the title at TakeOver: WarGames. When she's asked who's going to win, she doesn't know but she knows it's not Ember Moon.

Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch discuss their loss tonight and how they need to find some way to gel more as a team.

Finally, William Regal makes it official, at NXT TakeOver: WarGames, Andrade Almas will get his title shot. Next week, we're getting a contract signing.

This did everything it needed to, it gave us three good to very good matches and every segment felt like it was pushing a story forward. Even though no-one has ever said 'that was a thrilling Battle Royal', it did its job (though I can't help but wish they'd just given us a fatal five way with the last five competitors). The only question that remains is with two title matches, a WarGames match, Dream v Black all but confirmed, and Johnny Gargano v Shawn Michaels In an AB-OFF, what will round out the card? In terms of screen-time priorities, it seems we're heading towards Lars Sullivan v Kassius Ohno. Hope you like big lads.

Article by Jozef Raczka (@NotJozefRaczka)

NXT #266 Review - Kyle O'Reilly & Bobby Fish vs. Trent Seven & Tyler Bate

On 20th September 2017, WWE aired the 266th episode of NXT on the WWE Network, taped at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida on 24th August. The show featured Kyle O'Reilly & Bobby Fish's debut as a tag team against Trent Seven & Tyler Bate, as well as appearances from General Manager William Regal, NXT Champion Drew McIntyre, Roderick Strong, Tag Team Champions SAnitY and Aleister Black. But was it any good? Let's take a look! 

Johnny Gargano def. Tino Sabbatelli (3:48)

A continuation of last week's match between Gargano and Sabbatelli's tag team partner Riddick Moss, playing mostly with the same theme, as Gargano battled from underneath to win. Sabbatelli looks serviceable, yet not particularly impressive in the ring, but he did hit a nice dropkick, in between lots of trash talking, before Gargano picked up the win after a superkick and a lovely transition into the GargaNo Escape (Chickenwing over shoulder crossface) for the submission victory.

Roderick Strong met with General Manager William Regal, asking about a match with Drew McIntyre for the NXT title, with Regal agreeing and booking the match for next week. Awesome. 

A recap of Asuka surrendering the Women's Championship two weeks ago, sad emotional scenes. This was followed up by a promo from Sonya Deville, where she said that she could've defeated Asuka given the opportunity and put forward her case for getting a chance at the now vacant belt.

Bianca BelAir def. Lacey Evans (4:18) 

Similar to a lot of the Mae Young Classic matches, there was a lot of good quality action here, but often a feeling that there was very little linking everything up, leading to a few awkward moments in between the more impressive ones. Both ladies have a tonne of potential and their athletic ability helped to create a number of cool spots, like lovely modified verticle suplex from BelAir and a wicked delayed bronco buster from Evans, yet I feel like BelAir is a step ahead in her character and crowd work, looking much more comfortable with that element of the performance, so it was good to see her get the victory here, even if it was with an Alley Oop for some reason.

Aleister Black met The Velveteen Dream

This segment may have been my favourite part of the show as Velveteen Dream interrupted Aleister Black as the Dutchman spoke for the first time in NXT and while it's a slightly off-centre pick for a feud, but the characters are so different that it was fascinating to see them interact. Dream shone in his role as antagonist, leading to great moment after Black knocked the microphone out his hand with Black Mass as Dream joined Black on the mat in his signature cross-legged pose, crawled up into his face, to a massive reaction, before slinking away, leave Black bemused and me excited to see where these two go from here.

A recap of the feud between No Way Jose and Lars Sullivan, beginning with Sullivan's attack in Brooklyn and concluding with their confrontation two weeks ago. 

Dakota Kai put forward her case as a potential NXT Women's Champion, letting us know she's willing to kick people's heads in to make the title hers. 

Lars Sullivan def. No Way Jose (3:10)

This was a massive victory for Sullivan as Jose had only previously lost to big names like Austin Aries, Bobby Roode and Eric Young, so seeing Sullivan plough through him really got over the idea that Sullivan is a forced to reckon with on the show. The match kept things simple with Jose trying anything he could to take down Sullivan, only for nothing to work and Sullivan to pick up the win with a diving headbutt and a waist-lift sideslam to conclude the extended squash to win his first televised singles match.

Kyle O'Reilly & Bobby Fish def. Trent Seven & Tyler Bate (8:55)

A strong main event, that felt like a taster package for what these two teams could do together, under different circumstances. The bout was built nicely around a stint as the Super Don in peril for Trent Seven, as Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish did some naughty distraction to take and keep control. Seven works well when fighting from underneath, he's got a scrappy style that suits that role and has a move-set that means he can shift gears and look for the tag at any given moment. The contest built nicely from that point with a Bate hot tag sequence coming together nicely with uppercuts, a cute german sequence, exploder suplex, kip-up and standing shooting star press with the foursome changing gear as they began to work a series of nice reversal and submission sequences and momentum shifts. The last third of the match saw some great wrestling, with a well-done near fall off Chasing the Dragon where Bate got his foot on the ropes and a crisp and physical exchange between Seven and O'Reilly, that concluded with Trent transitioning an arm bar into a single-leg Boston crab. Adam Cole superkicking the fuck out of Bate on the outside was a disappointing, yet understandable way to signal the end was nigh as Seven succumbed to a pair of roundhouse kicks and Total Elimination as O'Reilly and Fish picked up the win. With the chains off and without the need to push Cole, O'Reilly and Fish as a dominant bad guy unit, then you know this match would've been at least two levels above what we got here, but this still a good to very good television main event where the five men involved made the most of what they had to work with and showed flashes of brilliance.

After the match, NXT Champion Drew McIntyre headed to the ring with Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish legging it through the crowd, only to be met by Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe and Killian Dain of Tag Team Champions SAnitY, leading a brawl to close the show with McIntyre and SAnitY standing tall at the end.

An enjoyable hour of NXT television this week, with O'Reilly/Fish v Seven/Bate providing a nice cap on a fun evening's entertainment. Whilst I consider the main and the Black and Dream segment to be the only things here that are really worth going out of your way for, the rest of the show had it's merit as well with the continuation of Johnny Gargano's current storyline and the impressive performance from Lars Sullivan providing watchable content that will hopefully begin to pay off over the coming week heading towards Takeover: Houston. The brand really seems to be finding it's footing again recently as a hour-long weekly show with a deep cast of characters to pull from a number of well-developed storylines across the card.

Review by James Marston 

NXT #265 Review - Pete Dunne vs. Wolfgang

On 14th September 2017, WWE aired its 265th episode of NXT, taped at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida on 23rd August. The show's main event match would see the WWE United Kingdom Championship on the line as 'The Bruiserweight' Pete Dunne would take on 'The Last King of Scotland' Wolfgang. With an undercard formed of the team of Street Profits taking on the Ealy Brothers, Johnny Gargano fighting Riddick Moss & Ruby Riot and her mystery partner against the Iconic Duo of Peyton Royce and Billie Kay, it had a lot of potential as an hour of television but as always, was it any good?

Ruby Riot & Nikki Cross def. The Iconic Duo 

For this tag match, Riot comes out alone, it's not clear whether she couldn't find a partner or doesn't want one. Kay starts for the Icons, Riot immediately goes in with a single leg takedown before grounding and pounding away, Royce comes in but is hit with a dropkick, Kay uses the distraction to hit Riot with a rolling forearm, tag to Royce who clubs the back and taunts Riot screaming 'where's your partner?', drives Riot to her corner and tags in Kay who begins working over Riot. As she does, SaNItY's Nikki Cross enters through the crowd, tag to Royce, Riot and Royce trade strikes, Riot runs the ropes, on the apron, goes for a slingshot shoulder barge but Royce catches her in the ropes with a kick before holding a modified tarantula for a 4 count. Tag to Kay and they hit a double-team slam for a 1 count, which pisses of Kay to no end. Tag in Royce who repeatedly kicks Riot in the gut, tag in Kay, Royce holds Riot still for Kay to hit a forearm but Riot ducks resulting in Kay taking out Royce, Riot rests in the corner for a second and Cross climbs up on the apron and tags herself in which is legal I guess. Cross runs Riot (which I know is Ruby's job but I can't keep making that joke) taking both of them out with big wild strikes, flattens Royce with a running crossbody and hitting her Swinging Fishermans Neckbreaker finish on Kay, she tags back in a confused Riot who hits a top rope senton for the pin. This was a short, but effective match. It's nowt to shout home about in terms of what happens but is worth it for the potential storyline build considering we never got a proper finish to Riot v Cross but also the thunderous reaction to Cross' hot tag. Once again, I must ask, what are the plans for the Iconic Duo because they don't seem to have any sustained momentum or real positioning for the vacant Women's title nor do they actually have a proper storyline running at the moment. Hopefully good things are coming soon for all four competitors as they're all too good to waste.

• Re-cap of Johnny Gargano's interaction with Riddick Moss and Tino Sabbatelli last week.

• No Way Jose is interviewed about Lard Sullivan. He's an animal, a monster, a freak, he attacks during a conga line in Brooklyn, he keeps attacking before and after matches, he has a screw loose and needs to be taught that he can't just get away with that shit so Jose is challenging him to a match next week.

Johnny Gargano def. Riddick Moss

The crowd are firmly behind Johnny for this singles encounter. Lock-up to start, Moss uses his size and power advantage to push Johnny into a wristlock, Johnny wrestlings into a headlocks, Moss escapes, whips Gargano into a shoulder tackle, begins ragdolling Gargano as he hits a side angled body slam and a biel throw, Gargano retaliates with strikes, runs the ropes goes for some form of headscissor takedown but is caught by Moss, he gets Johnny in the fireman's carry but Johnny escapes, Moss throws clothesline but Johnny ducks till he can duck no more and is felled by one, picked back up, gut knees and Johnny is thrown straight into the turnbuckle as we head to the ad-break. Back from the back and Johnny is caught in an abdominal stretch, he escapes with palm strikes but is speared to the corner by Moss, strikes, stomps and Irish whips keep Johnny down but not for long as he responds with lariats and slaps to get Moss to the floor and hits him with the seated roundhouse, back on his feet and Moss is knocked out of the ring with a clothesline and off his feet with a baseball dropkick and an apron cannonball. Rolled back in the ring, Gargano about to follow till Sabatelli provides a distraction allowing Moss to pick up Gargano into what looks like a Razor's Edge set-up but Johnny escapes and uses a tilt-a-whirl transition into the GargaNo Escape but Moss crawls to the ropes. Gargano seems out of it, Moss hits a clothesline and a fallaway slam knocking Johnny out of the ring. Sabatelli goes for another distraction and Gargano hits him with a back thrust kick and takes down Moss with a Slingshot Spear for the pin. I get that the story they're trying to tell is of Johnny still missing something in the wake of his attack by Ciampa but the problem with this match is that Moss wasn't compelling enough as the controlling heel which considering he had about 90% of the offence left Moss with an open canvas to display but he did not rise to the occasion. That said, I think there's a lot of potential here to build Gargano while still keeping him with another win under his belt helps build his character's credibility.

• We get a lovely treat in the form of a Street Profits package. They're in action next. Lovely.

Street Profits def. The Ealy Brothers 

Quick Squash m8. It's happened, Dawkins has finally managed to get the crowd to do that 'stir the pudding bowl' dance, or at least the few of the crowd they show but certainly the 'displaying a picture of a red party cup' like frat house Fireflies seems big. Ford and Uriel start off proceedings, Uriel powers Dawkins to the corner, he tries to take his headbands but Dawkins is having none of it, they lock up, Uriel grabs the headband to which the crowd react like some straight fire rhymes have just been dropped. Dawkins responds by dropping Ealy with a straight forearm to take back the headband, tag to Ford, they hit a basement dropkick-standing splash combo before in comes Gabriel who takes a rope-hung leapfrog back buster. Uriel's back in and gets the same treatment, the Profits do a 'cool' squad handshake, Gabriel powers over Ford using his big lad skills, tags in Uriel for an assisted Irish whip-shoulder block combo, whip to the corner for a corner splash but Ford ducks, both teams tag out. Dawkins hits clotheslines, a dropkick a spinning elbow and corner 360 stinger splashes before tagging Ford and hitting the Spinebuster-Frog Splash Combo for the pin. They celebrate in the crowd who clearly love them. Good for them. Now can we see what they can do with a longer than three minute match? Also the Ealy brothers are very much work in progress but the potential is there.

• We get a retrospective on Asuka in NXT with talking heads from everyone from Ember Moon & Bayley to Corey Graves & a cool girl in the crowd with an Asuka mask. It's a really lovely, high-quality package (the kind WWE seem to do better than anyone else. Anyone, even real sports companies. Prove me wrong) that simultaneously makes me so happy I got to see it and terrified that RAW might fuck her up. If you fuck her up, RAW, we fuck you up. It's that simple.

• William Regal is interviewed about what his plans are for the Women's title post-Asuka. He says he has plans. Good interview, 10/10 illuminated.

• Next week: Aleister Black will words.

• Christie St. Clair is backstage with Wolfgang. Wolfie has never been more ready for a match in his life, he pinned Bate three weeks ago and tonight he will make the UK title the crown of the last king of Scotland.

• Christie St. Clair is still backstage, now with Pete Dunne, she asks for his thoughts, he stares at her, puts the belt in his mouth, smiles and his music hits. Belt leather ain't vegan, lad.

WWE United Kingdom Title

Pete Dunne (c) def. Wolfgang

This is only the third time these two have competed in singles action with Wolfgang having victories over Dunne in Cardiff for ICW and Greenock for PBW. They lock-up to begin, Dunne goes straight for the wrist, wrenching the fingers, Wolfie picks him up but Dunne maintains wrist control, powering him into a knee leverage armbar and eventually to the ground where the finger socket manipulation really starts. Dunne drops onto Wolfie and into a crossface cover for a 2 count. Back to standing and back to the wristlock but Wolfie reverses it into a waistlock, into a hammerlock and settling on a cravat hold but Dunne powers to the ropes, sneaking under them, the ref separates the two men giving Dunne an avenue to hit a sneak forearm, grounding Wolfie. Dunne kicks mockingly at his head but Wolfie powers up, he uses waistlock takedowns, a gutwrench slam and a corner splash to take out Dunne, he goes up top but Peter follows him and hits the finger snap and a slingshot apron DDT to head to the break. Back from the break and yes, Dunne is working over the wrists, he gets Wolfie in double wristlock bodyscissors but Wolfie is able to turn it into a suplex, corner splash from Wolfie, running enziguri from Dunne, spear from Wolfie sends Dunne out of the ring, Wolfie powers through his injured arm to hit a beautiful tope con hilo, rolling Dunne back in and he hits a second rope moonsault for a 2 count in what is surprisingly only the second pin attempt of the match. Nige comments on how great the tope was while the replay shows the moonsault, before an X-Plex from Dunne for a 2. Up top and Wolfie follows hitting Dunne with a delayed superplex, back up top for The Howling but Dunne pulls him back down to the mat for an armbreaker, moving into a triangle, Wolfgang powers out Irish whipping to the corner but Dunne hits a Danielson-esque flip over him, forearm by Dunne, a boot by Wolfie, an enziguri by Dunne and he runs into a pop-up powerslam for another 2 count. A release German suplex by Dunne leads into duelling forearms but Dunne comes out on top hitting the Bitter End for the pin. This was a very good, verging on great match but held back by its relatively short time limit at just shy of 8 minutes and a general lack of belief that the title might change hands. Still Dunne, as always, came across as a true star and Wolfgang showed his versatility having played a subtle heel at times during the United Kingdom Championship Tournament, playing a valiant babyface even managing to get the normally terrible Full Sail crowds behind him. I would love to see a rematch between these two with a little more drama to it. What I want to know is with there being no separate UK title show on the horizon, where does the title go from here? Hopefully the UK lads don't go the way of the cruiserweights but with Dunne especially already garnering more reactions than the entirety of 205 Live, I don't think that's going to happen just yet. 

After the match The Undisputed Era (which according to the WWE shop is the team name of Adam Cole, Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly) hit the ring, they surround Pete Dunne who looks to bail, putting his title on the apron but fuck that he takes out O'Reilly with a forearm, the rest of the gang jump in, Wolfie comes in to rescue Peter but the number's game is too much, Peter rolls out and considers leaving before looking back at the pummelled Wolfgang and rushing back to grab his title before bailing. Priorities, like. The team once known as ReDragon hold up Wolfie as Adam Cole hits a shining wizard, they retreat through the crowd as Moustache Mountain hit the ring shouting something about being undisputed.

• In an online exclusive, after the show, Tyler Bate & his mysterious new tag partner Trent Sevenc would hallenge O'Reilley & Fish to a match. I don't know who this Trent Sevenc is but if Bate likes him, he's Ok by me.

• Tino Sabatelli would also set a post-show hallenge, this time to Johnny Gargano for some revenge after Johnny got 'a fluke' win over Riddick Moss.

• Johnny 'Wrestling' Gargano would accept Tino's challenge saying that Tino and Riddick do a lot of talking but he is Johnny Wrestling not Johnny Talking and he's going to show them that lightning does strike twice.

ATPW Scale Rating: 5.2/10

A fun if not entirely essential edition of NXT here with no real complaints about the in-ring action beyond its truncated running times. With the build-up to NXT TakeOver: Houston beginning here, I'd love to see some more energy and intensity injected into proceedings as beyond the UK participants (Nikki Cross included), what what presented felt a tad lackadaisical. Even when NXT is going through some of the motions. it's fun and this was that but still, can't help but feel like this was a case of 'good work, must try harder'.

Article by Jozef Raczka (@NotJozefRaczka)