NXT Report

Welcome to another NXT Report!

Carmella vs. Nia Jax

Nia Jax’s theme is so unfitting. Carmella charges but gets knocked back by Nia’s power. Nia traps Carmella in the corner, so she fires out with forearms but runs into a body block. Nia then hits a lame looking tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. She attacks with headbutts while talking smack. She locks Carmella in a bearhug but Carmella manages to counter into a submission of her own. Nia reaches the ropes and then catches Carmella. She looks for a Samoan drop but Carmella slips free and starts hitting some dropkicks. Nia shoves her away but runs into a kick. Carmella tries a head scissors but Nia counters into a spinebuster. A leg drop finishes things.

Winner: Nia Jax in 2:47
Even though Caremlla is an actual name and not a faceless jobber, this was still a relative squash.

Backstage, BAMF is standing by. Alexa says that her hand is fine after slapping Bayley but her ears hurt from hearing about the Ironman match. She claims that she’s “Blissed off”. She mentions that the other Horsewomen left Bayley behind and the Alexa era is going to begin. A referee shows up to inform her that Blake and Murphy are banned from ringside tonight as per William Regal.

The Ascension vs. Chad Gable and Jason Jordan

Chad Gable and Jason Jordan have some new attire. Gable starts with Viktor while Corey Graves plugs the big NXT taping in January in Orlando. Viktor has an advantage and tags Konnor. All four men come in and have a staredown but nothing comes of it. Gable is left with Konnor. Konnor tries to use his power but Gable slips free a few times. Jordan blind tags in as Gable leaves the ring and tries to slam Konnor but can’t. He gets Konnor in the corner and we see quick tags from Gable and Jordan. Gable ends up in trouble, taking stomps in the corner. The crowd is still into the Ascension. Viktor slingshots Konnor into a spinebuster from Konnor before following with a fist drop. The former NXT Tag Team Champions continue to double team Gable and use quick tags to cut him off. Gable finally gets his boot up to take down Konnor and backdrops Viktor outside. Viktor comes in to cut off the tag but Gable slams him over and tags Jordan. He comes in hot with dropkicks and a flapjack. THE STRAPS ARE DOWN! Jordan snaps off an overhead belly to belly suplex but Konnor breaks the pin. He sends Gable out and Jordan clotheslines him out. Jordan charges into a knee from Konnor, who then hits a knee from the second rope. Gable now breaks up the pin. Viktor sends Gable to the apron, but Gable somersaults onto Konnor. Viktor tries to suplex Jordan but he slips free and tags out. The assisted back suplex on Viktor gets the 1-2-3.

Winners: Chad Gable and Jason Jordan in 6:21
A solid little tag team match here. Nothing out of this world, but pretty fun. The chemistry of Gable and Jordan makes anything they do an absolute joy to watch though, adding to this. The Ascension also seemed to up their game, excited to be back in front of the NXT audience. **3/4

Now, we go back to seeing how the Bayley/Alexa Bliss program started. Bayley talked about the history that she and Sasha Banks made before Alexa Bliss interrupted. It does a good job showing how Bayley tries to be a role model and Alexa doesn’t care about things like that.

Tom Phillips is standing by with Bayley. Bayley says that being champion isn’t easy, but if Alexa thinks taking it from her will be easy, she’s got another thing coming. She says that respect is earned but that Alexa is out of her league.

Emma vs. Mary Kate

They lock up as commentary talks about hwo Emma has upped her aggressiveness with Asuka on her radar. Her opponent pulls her tights and right into a right hand. Emma is taken down but uses some kicks to turn it around. She then hits a vicious looking pair of dropkicks. Emma stands on the hair and pulls Mary up. Mary tries to fight back with right hands but Emma slams her face into the turnbuckle. She hits the Emmamite sandwich and then wins with the Emma lock, complete with a vicious stomp.

Winner: Emma in 3:08
Aggressive Emma continues to be a highlight of the show. Her showdown with Asuka should be excellent.

We get recaps of the stuff between Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews. Corbin speaks backstage saying that he doesn’t like Apollo and challenges him to a match at TakeOver: London.

Non-Title Match: NXT Tag Team Champions Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson vs. Corey Hollis and John Skyler

Commentary tries to make this seem like a threat, saying that Skyler and Hollis have faced the champions before. We are told that the Vaudevillains get their rematch next week. Scott Dawson picks apart Corey Hollis in the corner. Dawson hits a sick looking dragon screw and applies a single crab variation before tagging Dash. He doesn’t do much but tags quickly, showcasing their teamwork. Dawson hits a shinbreaker and tags back out. Dash stomps on Hollis and continues to work the leg. Dawson comes in and hits a clothesline. Another tag leads to an assisted leg drop for two. They pull Hollis to the corner, so his leg is on the steel steps and Dawson stomps on it. They take too long and allow Hollis to kick away and make a mild tag. Skyler walks right into the Shatter Machine for the win.

Winners: Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson in 5:02
This went on a bit too long, but got the point across that the champions are vicious. The finish coming right after the tag was funny.

Tom Phillips interviews Asuka about her mask. She’s wearing it and doesn’t respond. Dana Brooke interrupts and says that Asuka earned her respect. She doesn’t like Asuka patting her on the head though and wants to prove the naysayers wrong, challenging Asuka to a rematch. Asuka says yes and walks away. Dana pats Tom and shoos him away. Emma shows up to say bye to Tom. She asks Dana if Asuka bough it and Dana says that she bough it hook, line and sinker.

We get told that Finn Balor will offiicially defend the NXT Title against Samoa Joe in London. Next week they sign the contract. Earlier today, Samoa Joe says he isn’t there because William Regal has a fear that Finn would retaliate. Joe finds that funny.

NXT Women’s Championship: Bayley (c) vs. Alexa Bliss

We get the dim lighting like Finn Balor and Apollo Crews got two weeks ago. The women lock up and Bayley backs Alexa into the corner but surprisingly doesn’t give a clean break and stomps a mudhole in two corners. Alexa turns it around and just stands on the back of Bayley. Bayley turns it around this time and fires away before slamming Alexa’s face into the top buckle multiple times. Bayley leaps over Alexa and goes for a slam but Alexa slips free. She tries a backslide but Bayley blocks and hits a running clothesline. Bayley avoids a shot in the corner and hits a shoulder thrust before a dropkick. She hits a running bulldog for two. Alexa rolls outside so Bayley looks for her baseball slide spot but Alexa avoids it before sending her into the apron. Back inside, Alexa hits an arm wringer onto the bottom rope. She grinds her foot on Bayley’s head heading into commercial. Returning, Alexa is working an arm submission. The fans chant “hey we want some Bayley” to rally her but Alexa goes with another arm wringer. “Alexa’s ratchet” chants. Alexa gets a near fall and goes back to the arm submission. Bayley finally breaks free and takes Alexa over but sells the arm. She starts to go after the arm, firing up. Bayley hits some double axe handles but Alexa ducks one and slaps Bayley to the mat. She hits the Bliss flip for two. Alexa climbs up but Bayley stops her. Alexa kicks her away but Bayley comes back with a right hand. She powerslams her down for two. Bayley hits a suplex and then some shots in the corner. Alexa dodges one and uses a sunset flip for two. Alexa shouts for Bayley to stay down. She picks Bayley up but gets slapped before the Bayley to Belly puts her down.

Winner and Still NXT Women’s Champion: Bayley in 9:29

Probably the best match of Alexa Bliss’ career. A solid match with some well done arm work and an aggressive Bayley. Fun stuff and helped show that there is certainly potential in Alexa Bliss. **3/4

Bayley’s celebration is cut short by the worst possible thing. Eva Marie. She gets in the ring and has a microphone. “No” chants from the fans. Eva blows the fans a kiss but the fans won’t stop booing. Bayley has to get real close to hear Eva. Eva keeps telling the fans to be quiet but they won’t. Eva says that the inevitable is happening because Bayley will be defending the title against Eva next week. The promo is very awkward even though she only says a few words.