411’s WWE NXT Report 12.4.14

Time for the go home episode of NXT before TakeOver: R Evolution! We jump right into a match to kick off the broadcast.

Non-Title Match: NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte vs. Mia Yim

I’m not sure if she’s using the name Mia Yim, but Charlotte’s opponent is independent standout Mia Yim. She doesn’t get an announcement but shows some signs with a nice back kick early on. Charlotte retaliates with a nice neckbreaker and the Natural Selection to win quickly.

Winner: NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte in 0:50

This was way too fast. I would’ve enjoyed this probably if it lasted longer. SQUASH.

Things get interesting as Sasha Banks and her awesome theme music comes to the stage. She says that she’s going to beat Charlotte for the title at the Special. Charlotte wants to do this now, but Sasha doesn’t do what she’s told. Charlotte starts a “ratchet” chant so Banks says that Charlotte is only special because her last name is Flair. I kind of agree. She says that she has more flair in her pinky than Charlotte and her dad combined. “Woo!” Bayley, on a crutch, comes to the stage and tells Sasha to “SHUT HER STUPID RATCHET FACE!” Sasha attacks, Charlotte goes to make the save and the number one contender bolts. She runs back out for a sneak attack but Charlotte catches her and brings her down. Sasha cowers like a great heel, but a Becky Lynch distraction allows her to hit a lungblower and pose with the NXT Women’s Title. This is a very well built Women’s Title match and I hope they continue the trend of great women’s matches on NXT Specials.

Adrian Neville and Sami Zayn will meet face to face tonight!

Much like last week, a Vaudevillains Pictures production airs and it’s once again fantastic. It involves the mini Lucha Dragons and a training montage where Aiden English lifts “500 lbs” and Simon Gotch tames a lion. It’s little things like this that I love that make NXT the best weekly show in the WWE.

Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake vs. The Vaudevillains

Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake have really grown on me in recent weeks. Aiden English starts with Blake and gets powerslammed. He then counters a suplex with a snapmare into the ropes, followed by a headlock takeover into the ropes. That’s some creative shit. Simon Gotch gets the tag and works the leg, including an Indian deathlock type move, mixed with squats. This a guy who gets his character. The Vaudevillains do some quick tags and continue to work Blake’s left knee. Blake does get in a small package but gets his knee taken out again. After a back body drop, he makes the hot tag and Murphy comes in on fire. A nice leg lariat and running double knees get him a near fall. Gotch sends Blake outside and then blind tags in. This stops Murphy’s hot streak as they hit a team up neckbreaker and score the pinfall.

Winners: The Vaudevillains in 4:04

Decent little tag team match. The Vaudevillains wisely worked tag formula, while Blake and Murphy did a good job with their stuff. **1/2

William Regal is backstage with Tyler Breeze, complaining because Marcus Louis can’t be found since last week. Tyson Kidd comes up saying that he wants a rematch against Finn Balor. Regal decides that Balor and Hideo Itami will take on Kidd and Breeze tonight. Hot damn!

A promo airs for TakeOver: R Evolution, mentioning Kevin Owens again. I’m beyond excited for this.

Bull Dempsey vs. Elias Sampson

I don’t expect this to last long. A running body bloFinck and headbutt ends this.

Winner: Bull Dempsey in 0:20

Served it’s purpose but I’m still not sold on Bull or his squashes. SQUASH.

As he stares at the crowd, Baron Corbin’s theme plays and he comes out for his own squash I assume. I guess this is leading to Corbin vs. Dempsey. I see a brighter future for Corbin for sure.

Baron Corbin vs. Jobber

This literally lasts one move.

Winner: Baron Corbin in 0:12.

I get that it is a battle of who can win matches faster but it needs to end with a competitive match between Bull and Baron to be worth it. SQUASH.

We also get news that Corey Graves will be on the R Evolution Pre-Show with a huge announcement regarding his career. Either he is able to make a return or he’s going to officially retire due to concussions.

A Kevin Owens vignette airs in which he says that he teamed with and wrestled against guys like Seth Rollins, Daniel Bryan, Adrian Neville and Sami Zayn but they all got called to the WWE first. The indy mark in me who bought Kevin Steen, Tyler Black and El Generico shirts years back is jumping for joy.

Finn Balor and Hideo Itami vs. Tyler Breeze and Tyson Kidd w/ Natalya

Tyson Kidd and Tyler Breeze instantly disagree about who should start, but Kidd wins out. He works against Hideo Itami to surprising “Here we go Tyson” chants. Itami shoulder blocks him down, so he tags in Breeze. I think its unfortunate that Breeze is not going to be at the next TakeOver. Itami slams Breeze and Balor comes in with a big stomp for a one count. Kidd blind tags in and levels Balor from behind. Returning from break, Breeze and Kidd seem to have isolated Balor. Suplex from Breeze gets two and the same goes for a neckbreaker from Kidd. Balor misses a dropkick and the heels work a wishbone type move. Kidd hits a guillotine leg drop for another near fall. Balor busts out the Pele kick to get Kidd down. Both men make tags, but of course Hideo comes in hot. He kicks Tyson a few times, nails a dropkick and then another in the corner. Kidd runs in but gets a knee to the guy. Another big hesitation corner dropkick gets a near fall. While Tyson grabs Hideo, Balor hits the double stomp onto a prone Breeze. Itami delivers a kick to the head of the stunned Breeze and gets the win.

Winners: Finn Balor and Hideto Itami in 7:56

Another good match as all guys are great workers. It should have gotten a bit more time but it was fun while it lasted. ***

Finn Balor gets on the microphone and says that The Ascension need to bring all they got next week because he’s bringing something they’ve never seen. Owens perhaps?

Adrian Neville is out for the face to face with Sami Zayn. Surprisingly, Talk is Jericho is promoted because Neville and Sami Zayn will be special guests on it tomorrow. Go download it and give it a listen. Neville says that he’s not conflicted about the match with his friend. He does what it takes to keep the title but he’s not proud of those things. He wanted to do things differently but he does what is needed to stay the NXT Champion. He says that Sami is too nice to ever be NXT Champion. This brings out Sami Zayn as Neville says that he will not be responsible for running Zayn out of NXT if that’s what Zayn wants. Sami says that he’s starting to get pissed off by Neville. THE NERVE OF HIM! He says that he’s not Adrian’s baby sister and he’s done pretty well for himself. Neville wants to shake his hand but Sami declines because this is not about respect. He slaps Neville to “YES!” chants. He shouts that Adrian doesn’t get to “end” him and that he is going to end Neville’s story. Great end to the show.

Overall: 7.5/10. NXT continues to pump out quality shows. While this one did have three squash matches, they all meant something. Bull and Baron are on a collision course and Charlotte’s post match stuff built towards TakeOver very well. The main event was damn good and the other tag match was solid. However, the show stealer was the Kevin Owens vignette and the final segment. Sami Zayn and Adrian Neville were both great, but Sami was especially brilliant here. TakeOver R Evolution was hyped great and, with just one week left, the go home show more than did its job.