Hey everyone and once again I hope you can all join me for this week’s review of NXT. We are in for a cracking main event that sees Asuka putting up the NXT Women’s Championship against Nikki Cross in a Last Woman Standing Match. That, and much more to come, so let’s get to it.
Following the video to hype up the evening’s main event, we are introduced to the show by Nigel McGuiness, Percy Watson, and, outstandingly, the awesome return of Mauro Ranallo! So so great to have Ranallo back in WWE, long may it continue.
The Velveteen Dream VS HoHo Lun
Velveteen Dream has been impressive and yet to be beaten since debuting his new character, and on the other hand, we have not seen much at all of HoHo Lun since last year’s great Cruiserweight Classic so he will be looking to get back on track. There was a good bit of hold trading to get started, but unfortunately for Lun, he was caught very early on with a boot to the face, in which Velveteen Dream followed with the Top Rope Elbow Drop, and that was it, match over, and Velveteen Dream’s roll continues.
Velveteen Dream Beat HoHo Lun By Pinfall – Top Rope Elbow Drop
We were then shown some highlights: First of, we were shown a clip from earlier today where NXT Women’s Champion Asuka was travelling to the venue, only for the car to be stopped and attacked by Nikki Cross. There is no holding these two women back tonight and it is going to be great to watch. Next up was a reminder of what happened three weeks ago between Hideo Itami and Oney Lorcan, in which Itami laid a beatdown on a fallen Lorcan straight out of sheer anger. Tonight is the rematch.
Following so we are taken to NXT GM William Regal’s office where both Heavy Machinery and The Authors Of Pain are present. Regal has stated that Heavy Machinery have deemed themselves worthy and have earned their spot, therefore in two weeks, they get The AOP for the NXT Tag Team Championships. That I can’t wait for!
Hideo Itami VS Oney Lorcan
Oney Lorcan was not happy at all based on what happened weeks ago, and he sure showed it with a straight firing attack on Hideo Itami, no time wasted. The match was paused and actually stopped completely withing seconds after Itami potentially suffered a broken nose as soon as Lorcan landed his very first attack. That was very unfortunate, and Itami was not happy at all with that. This is not over between both men. I hope Itami is okay and recovers very quickly.
We have treated once again to highlights from the brilliant Roderick Strong story that have been displayed on NXT, and the packages have been great and emotional to witness. Strong is absolutely proud to be here. This was also to hype up next week’s NXT Championship match between himself and champion Bobby Roode, due to the fact that, as we have seen in recent weeks, there have been personal issues between both men. Next week will be fantastic!
Hideo Itami VS Oney Lorcan Continued
Just when we thought it was over, back out came Itami demanding the match went on, which Lorcan obliged to. This time, Itami started with the fierce attack to get the ball rolling. Things are so heated between these guys now. Lorcan took over with some more brutal Running Uppercuts and was in control. Not for long as Itami turned things around and put some focus on the knee of Lorcan, which stopped Lorcan in his tracks. Itami quickly capitalised and landed the GTS for the win
Hideo Itami Beat Oney Lorcan By Pinfall – GTS
I’m not too sure that things are yet over between these guys. Following the match, Itami called out Kassius Ohno to the ring, as they have had some confrontations since Itami lost against Bobby Roode at Takeover Chicago. However, before Itami and Ohno could talk, Ohno and Itami were laid out by Killian Dain and Alexander Wolfe of Sanity. Very interesting. So, it will be very intriguing to see where things go from here, but it all turned into a very heated and personal situation. We just have to wait and see it all unfold. Alexander Wolfe got on the mic to speak about Eric Young and Sanity, saying that chaos is the answer, and one chapter starts tonight with Nikki Cross, which was the segue way toward to the main event.
Asuka (C) VS Nikki Cross-Last Woman Standing Match For The NXT Women’s Championship
A fiery start right away with neither Asuka or Nikki Cross holding back here. In regards to who got off to the better start, I would have to say Cross edged it as she managed to take control early on. And it didn’t take long for Cross to break out some steel chairs to add to the fire of what was already and what was going to continue to be a hot contest.
Cross remained in control for the time being and used the steel steps to her advantage. So did Asuka. This was always going to be back and forth and back and forth all evening, no doubt about it. More and more weapons were brought into the fold, which brilliantly prompted an ‘EC-Dub’ chant. So awesome.
Asuka used a trash can expertly to take out Cross, and the momentum was switched, the champion was in command. Both women were spent, especially following collsions with a bunch of steel chairs, but they just kept going and going. The challenger took back over with multiple (4) Swinging Neckbreakers, but Asuka managed to make it onto her feet. On top of that, Asuka was also Powerbombed on top of multiple steel chairs, to which again she beat the count. Amazing stuff here, absolutely amazing.
Both ladies took the brawl to the ramp area and the NXT announce table, where Cross caught Asuka with another Swinging Neckbreaker, and again Asuka amazingly beat the count, and we continued on. Cross even brought a ladder and a table into play looking to use both to her advantage. Both women ended up on top of the ladder, and the ‘Holy S*it’ chant broke out when Asuka suplexed Cross through the announcer’s table from the ladder. Both were down, the referee counted to nine, Asuka got to her feet, Cross didn’t, and it was over. Asuka is still the champion, and her absolutely fantastic streak, roll and title reign go on. Absolutely outstanding match and effort by both champion and challenger, that was awesome.
Asuka Beat Nikki Cross To Retain The NXT Women’s Championship
Overall Thoughts
Wow, what a show. Velveteen Dream’s roll continues with his new character so it will be interesting to see who he crosses paths with in the near future. Hideo Itami and Oney Lorcan took their feud to a new level tonight with hard kicks, uppercuts, broken noses and GTSs. And finally, the main event was amazing, it really was. Asuka and Nikki Cross, those two women put on one hell of a performance, and the champion just always finds a way to maintain her dominance and keep her historic title reign going. We now know that due to what happened this evening, Kassius Ohno and Hideo Itami will team up to take on Alexander Wolfe and Killian Dain. Also next week we head for another cracking main event which sees Roderick Strong challenge Bobby Roode for the NXT Championship, in what has become very personal very quickly. Join me again next week for full coverage of next week’s NXT. Thanks, guys.