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WWE NXT - Julu 24, 2014

by Samoa Rowe

-From Orlando, FL. Our hosts are Renee Young, Tom Phillips, and Alex Riley.

NXT Tag Team Champions The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor) vs. Two Local Jobbers

The Ascensions’ competition are referred to as “local gentlemen” so I don’t know who they are, other than one of them has “Vandal” on his trunks. The Ascension dominate the entire match and no-sell anything the JOB Squad throws their way. The Fall of Man finishes the non-Vandal jobber at 2:36. Another successful squash for the seemingly unstoppable Ascension.
Winners: The Ascension

-The marketing for Cena/Lesnar at Summerslam is taking a decidedly more adult approach, almost as if to trick the viewer into thinking it’s going to be an MMA fight. I like it.

Tyler Breeze vs. Mojo Rawley

Breeze is competing despite a “career-threatening” hangnail injury. Don’t make fun, those things HURT! His finger is taped to the point where it could be used as a weapon. Breeze catches Rawley by surprise with the Beauty Shot and gains the victory at 0:33. I guess Breeze doesn’t get paid by the hour. Meanwhile, Rawley’s freefall down the NXT ladder continues.
Winner: Tyler Breeze

NXT Women’s Championship:
Charlotte © vs. Summer Rae

The two former friends exchange shoves. Charlotte slaps the face, prompting a cat fight, which I would think is beneath these two. My cat, Mo, finds the phrase “cat-fight” offensive, but I digress. Charlotte applies the Figure Four Headlock all the way through a commercial break. Summer breaks the hold by dropping Charlotte to the floor and takes control. Summer screams “I made you!” as she locks on a body scissors. Summer applies a half crab and tries to rake the face, but Charlotte bites her finger. The crowd has lost interest and is doing the wave. Charlotte attempts a comeback but runs into a roundhouse kick for 2. Charlotte connects with a combination of strikes and the Bow Down to the Queen for the win at 8:38 (shown). The crowd was downright harsh to both divas, despite a solid effort, **.
Winner and still NXT Women’s Champion: Charlotte

-Hype video highlighting how adorable, quirky, and athletic Alexa Bliss can be.

The Vaudevillians (Aiden English and Simon Gotch) vs. Kalisto and Sin Cara

It’s been a while since I recapped NXT, so I must say I LOVE the Vaudevillians’ entrance, set up to look like a silent film. Kalisto gets to show off against English and tags in Sin Cara for double kicks and an assist with a wheelbarrow senton slam. Sin Cara goes to the springboard well one too many times and English counters with a drop-kick. Sin Cara gets caught in the Vaudevillians’ corner for a while. Sin Cara counters with a power bomb, earning him an already dated “Better than Batista” chant. Hot tag to Kalisto, who overwhelms Gotch with a back handspring kick. Sin Cara dispatches English with a suicide dive to the ramp. Kalisto finishes Gotch with a modified bulldog at 5:55. Good little exhibition match here, **.
Winners: Kalisto and Sin Cara

NXT Champion Adrian Neville vs. Rusev (with Lana)

Lana does her usual “take America to task” routine before the match. I’m tired of this act on the main roster so I’m not all that happy to see it polluting my usually enjoyable NXT experience. At least Rusev is better than Vladimir Kozlov. Bell rings and Neville quickly gets caught in Rusev’s arms for knee thrusts and a fall away slam. Rusev dominates the NXT Champion until Neville connects with some desperate kicks. Rusev catches the leg and but Neville blocks a choke slam. Springboard missile drop-kick by Neville but Lana distracts so Tyler Breeze can run. Neville clocks Breeze off the apron and super kicks the head of Rusev. Neville sets up the Red Arrow but Breeze wrenches him off for the DQ at 3:59! This was fine.

-The match is over but Rusev applies the Accolade anyway. Neville even taps out and everything, so the DQ finish doesn’t really protect him. Lana calls Rusev off and they stand tall.

Final Thoughts: This was a bit of a let-down after several weeks of Tyson Kidd, Sami Zayn, Justin Gabriel, and Adrian Neville tearing it up in exciting matches. It looks like the Orlando crowd is starting to work against them, giving the Full Sail studio an “Impact Zone” vibe. Thumbs in the middle, feel free to skip this one if you haven’t already.

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