WWE NXT - August 14, 2014
by Samoa Rowe
-From Orlando, FL. Renee Young, Byron Saxton, and Tom Phillips are calling the action.
#1 Contenders Tournament:
Bull Dempsey and Mojo Rawley vs. The Vaudevillains (Aiden English and Simon Gotch)
Dumpsey and Rawley try to isolate English early on, but English scores some attacks to the arm of Rawley. Gotch tags and does squats while locking the arm with his feet. Dempsey gets a tag and he isn’t in the mood for Gotch’s antics. Dempsey dominates, but Mojo gets back in and quickly suffers a rolling slam from Gotch and slingshot senton from English. It’s all over for Rawley at 3:07. Pleasant little match here.Winners: The Vaudevillains
-True to his word, Dempsey beats up Rawley after their loss. The Impact Zone trolls chant “Thank you, Bull.”
-Sasha Banks confronts Bayley in the locker room. Sasha is offended that Bayley thinks she could possibly be Women’s Champion before her. Bayley (almost cracking up) says it’s not her fault that Sasha got dumped by all her friends. They meet later in a #1 contenders match.
Bayley (with the wacky, waving, inflatable arm, tube men) vs. Sasha Banks
The winner faces Charlotte for the NXT Women’s Championship. Sasha scores a shoulder tackle while the fans chant “Bayley’s gonna hug you.” They trade rapid fire pinning predicaments until Bayley rolls into a headlock. Bayley traps Sasha in a hug and rams her into the turnbuckles. Sasha stalls for time at ringside and trips Bayley on the bottom rope. Cue the commercial! Back from break, and Sasha gets her heat in as she wears her opponent down. Bayley escapes a rough chinlock variation and powers through a comeback. Sasha retaliates with a slap to the face and dumps Bayley off the apron. Bayley returns the slap, but Sasha counters with a backstabber and a CROSSFACE! Bayley rolls Sasha onto her back for the pinfall at 8:13 (shown). I continue to be thoroughly impressed with both of these divas, **½.Winner: Bayley
-NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte appears on the stage and offers Bayley a handshake.
#1 Contenders Tournament:
Sin Cara and Kalisto vs. Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake
Murphy and Blake have a horrible dubstep theme song, so I hope they lose. Blake gets caught by a monkey flip from Sin Cara. Murphy squares off against Kalisto and gets caught with a kick to the head. Kalisto and Sin Cara deliver a double team senton. Murphy finds an opening with a punch to the head, but Sin Cara tags and shows off his bag of high flying tricks. A drop-kick/power bomb combo leaves Murphy vulnerable for a power bomb finisher from Sin Cara at 2:44. Great showcase from the high-fliers here.Winners: Sin Cara and Kalisto
-Marcus Louis and Sylvester Lefort are interviewed backstage. They’re upset that they were not included in the tag team tournament, especially since their enemies, Amore and Cassady, are in the semifinals. They all but promise to interfere in the next tournament match.
NXT Championship:
Adrian Neville © vs. Tyler Breeze
This match had been delayed for so long, I’d figured they would just save it for Takeover 2, but I suppose a screwy finish here could do just that. Neville counters a wristlock WITH AUTHORITY and lights Breeze up with quick kicks. Breeze catches Neville with an enziguri-like kick to the back of the knees to finally gain some momentum. Tyson Kidd shows up behind commentary to watch the match. Cue the commercial! Back from break, Breeze works Neville over for the prescribed period of time. Neville breaks a headlock by launching Breeze into the hair. Neville rallies and nails a standing Shooting Star Press for a near fall. Breeze counters Neville’s springboard attempt with a mid-air drop-kick! Adrian counters Sliced Bread #2 and super kicks the chin for a 2 count. Neville climbs to the top but Breeze cuts him off. Neville blocks a superplex and nails a sunset flip power bomb but Tyler kicks out! Breeze rolls away to avoid the Red Arrow and hits a tornado DDT! Neville barely kicks out, earning the “This is awesome” chant. Neville lands on his feet in a suplex attempt and connects with his own German for another near fall. Suicide dive by Neville connects, but it’s time for Tyson Kidd to finally interfere. Kidd looks over the barricade and gets blasted with a Neville super kick. Neville is about to hit the Red Arrow when Kidd pushes him off the turnbuckle for the DQ at 14:03 (shown). They were having a PPV quality match until the abrupt finish, which I don’t mind because it sets up more goodness to come, ***¼.Winner via DQ: Adrian Neville
-Kidd puts the boots to Neville, but Breeze is upset about the DQ and tackles him. Kidd and Breeze turn their aggression to Neville, but Sami Zayn runs in for the save. Zayn clears the ring and checks on his friend. Looks like we have a fatal four way at Takeover 2 to look forward to.
Final Thoughts: NXT is once again the best weekly wrestling show on TV. Top to bottom fun episode here, go check it out right now. Thumbs up.
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