411’s WWE NXT Report 2.18.15

Tonight is the fallout episode from the excellent NXT TakeOver: Rival. In that vein, we open with a video package recapping that event. William Regal is in his office to start and he brings up Kevin Owens winning the NXT Title via ref stoppage. He announces that Adrian Neville takes on Owens in a non-title match tonight because Neville deserves a shot at revenge against the man who took him out.

Cutting to the arena, our new NXT Champion walks out with the title draped on his shoulder. A split “Kevin Owens”/”Sami Zayn” chant fills the arena. Owens claims that he won the title because it is better for his family. Who he beats and how he beats them is irrelevant. Sami is the past and Finn Balor is the future. He tells Finn to pick a date and he will be there because nobody will take the belt form him and his family. Solid opening promo that was kept short and got the point across.

Rhyno vs. Elias Sampson

The crowd is pumped for the surprise appearance of Rhyno. He hits a belly to belly suplex as commentary puts over the Gore. The crowd is stoked for it and it happens! GORE!

Winner: Rhyno in 0:31

Quick squash. I’m surprised to see Rhyno around but I just assume he’ll put someone over. Fun for the live crowd though. SQUASH

Backstage, Devin Taylor interviews Finn Balor about Kevin Owens. He says he’ll face Owens anywhere, any place and any time. Rhyno interrupts to a pop before walking off without saying a word.

Enzo Amore and Big Cass w/ Carmella vs. The Vaudevillains

Before the match, Enzo and Cass stake their claim for a future Tag Team Title shot. Enzo is sporting an interesting half blonde beard. He starts with Simon Gotch, leading Aiden “I Can’t Stop Hating” English (Enzo’s words) to get in a cheap shot. The Vaudevillains get two on a double team move while commentary discusses how Enzo gets distracted by Carmella and it costs the team. Mild tag comes to Cass, who cleans house. Side slam on Gotch before a big splash on English. Enzo tags in and is thrown into English. Enzo gets the three after a Cass big boot.

Winners: Enzo Amore and Big Cass in 2:03

Short but to the point. It wasn’t anything special, but was fun for the time it got. *3/4

Blake and Murphy appear on the tron, and seem to be playing the cocky heel roles now. They sarcastically congratulate Enzo and Cass before hitting on Carmella and stealing the “How you doing?” catchphrase. Them is fighting words.

Adrian Neville is interviewed about his match tonight. I missed most of this as my streaming player is having issues. The girls from the Fatal Four Way are shown talking about the match. Bayley says it was the best match of her career but she will be champion soon, while Becky blames Bayley, is happy that it was Sasha if not her and is even happier that Charlotte isn’t champion anymore.

CJ Parker comes out in street clothes and he looks to be in a foul mood. He’s upset that he’s wasn’t on the special and he’s going to end this show now because he hates NXT. His sign says “CJ Parker is taking over the TakeOvers”. He puts Caution tape around the ring before we get a quick hack of sorts into the show. THIS IS NOT A TEST. SOLOMON CROWE IS HERE! He attacks from behind and just beats the hell out of Parker. He gets a microphone while the fans chant “Crowe”. He says that now we return to your regularly scheduled broadcast.

Non-Title Match: NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks vs. Blue Pants

Blue Pants’ theme is just Big Cass singing the Price is Right theme. She’s billed as from the “Clearance Rack.” Sasha gives her the option to leave but Blue Pants kicks her outside. Inside, she gets a quick one count on a rollup before Banks just beats on her. Sasha goes to work on her back but Blue Pants ges two on a backslide. In the corner, Sasha hits her signature knees to the stomach and could have won but lifts her opponent. She then hits the Bank Statement and that’s a wrap.

Winner: NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks in 2:13ish (stopwatch issues)

Another short match tonight but this was fine. The crowd made this much better than expected as they were red hot for Blue Pants. Fun. **

They go to interview Sasha Banks about what it means to be Women’s Champion. She snatches the microphone away and says that everyone has to admit that she’s the baddest diva in NXT.

We cut to footage of what happened after Rival went off the air. William Regal came out to check on Sami Zayn. Chris Amann, the senior ringside physician, is interviewed. They say that he should be ready to go soon. I wonder if they offered him a Z-Pack.

Non-Title Match: NXT Champion Kevin Owens vs. Adrian Neville

As usual, Kevin Owens goes outside at the bell but Adrian Neville greets him with forearms. Inside, Neville hits a kick and hurricanrana before a second kick takes Owens down. He’s quickly up though with a gutbuster and senton. Owens now gets in some shots in the corner. He kills Neville with a clothesline before continuing to pound away. He moves to a chinlock to wear down his high flying opponent. He tosses Neville over and out as we head to commercial. Returning, Owens is still in control. He goes back to the chinlock. Now, I like that in the scheme of the match but it’s something that should normally be saved for the break. Neville fights out, so Owens goes to toss him out again but Neville lands on the apron. He springboards in, but Owens catches him on his shoulder. He goes for a move but Neville counters into a big time DDT. Owens is still up first and I love that commentary points that out. He runs into Adrian’s boot though as starts to get in some shots. Flying forearm and series of kicks from Neville. That knocks Owens outside, so Neville climbs up and hits a pretty moonsault onto him. He didn’t much distance and nearly hit the apron. Back inside, Neville gets in some Daniel Bryan like kicks before an enziguri. Again, my stream messes up so I miss how Owens ends up outside. Neville kicks him and does a FUCKING 450 TO THE FLOOR! Neville nails a rebound German suplex inside and a kick to the back of the head before a ridiculous dead lift German for two. The strength it takes to do that to someone of Owens’ size is crazy. However, Owens is back up and takes him down. He goes for the cannonball in the corner but runs into a huge superkick. Neville spikes him on a reverse rana for a close near fall. He goes up for a shooting star press but Owens moves. Neville tries another rana but eats a STIFF powerbomb to end things.

Winner: NXT Champion Kevin Owens in 11:49ish (again, stopwatch issues)

Damn fine main event. Both guys are among the best in the world and they showed it again here. Similar to the Zayn match from Rival, but different in a good way. Fantastic. ****

8.0

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

This reminded me of Raw during the early years. A bunch of shorter matches before a big main event. As with most of those shows, if the marquee match delivers, the show is good and that's the case here. Kevin Owens and Adrian Neville have a great mach and the other short matches were all fun. Rhyno's appearance was a nice surprise, while Blue Pants, Sasha and Enzo are always enjoyable.