411’s WWE NXT Report 4.15.15

Hello everyone. Tonight’s episode of NXT marks the return to the ring of Sami Zayn, taking on Rhyno, and the debut of Dana Brooke.

CJ Parker vs. Solomon Crowe

Didn’t CJ Parker just compete in CZW’s Battle of the Best? Commentary talks about how frustrated CJ Parker is, and it shows as he comes out with aggressive shots. Crowe turns things around, causing Parker to regroup outside. Springboard clothesline and suicide dive from Crowe. Parker comes back with a big boot in the ring. It’s funny to hear commentary talk about how Parker’s anger may lead to wins knowing what we know. After a CJ senton, we get dueling chants. Parker works a chinlock before Crowe gets turned inside out on a clothesline. Parker gets two with a scissors kick variation. He tries another senton but Crowe counters by getting his feet up. He hits a forearm, climbs to the top and splashes Parker’s leg. The stretch muffler is applied and Parker taps.

Winner: Solomon Crowe in 5:12

A pretty solid match here. I expected Solomon Crowe to win in short order but they got a solid amount of time. CJ Parker played up frustration well and I wish he stuck around because he can work. He was the MVP of this match. The stretch muffler is a way better finisher than Solomon’s stupid headbutt **1/2

Solmon Crowe cuts a short promo about there being more to come.

Baron Corbin vs Steve Petler?

.I don’t know if he is Petler or Cutler. Baron clotheslines him down and wins with the End of Days.

Winner: Baron Corbin in 0:23

Squash. NO RATING

Sami Zayn is interviewed about his match with Rhyno tonight. Sami says that people seem to want to fast track their way to the top. He won’t let Rhyno do what Kevin Owens did.

Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady w/ Carmella vs. Angelo Dawkins and Sawyer Fulton

Enzo Amore goes all out with his opening promo and it’s glorious. They make another claim for the Tag Team Title. I like seeing Shoot Nation around. “Certified G, Bonafide Stud” chants. Enzo gets one offensive move and celebrate, leading to Fulton taking him down. Enzo escapes the amateur wrestlers, tagging Cass who clubs away on Fulton. Cass then tosses Enzo into Fulton. Enzo slowly climbs up and gets crotched. He falls rather ugly. Blake and Murphy walk out as Enzo gets double teamed. They have roses for Carmella, which she takes because she likes things. Fulton goes to a fucking abdominal stretch like an 80’s worker. I’m not mad about it though. Enzo manages to hit a jawbreaker and we get double tags. Cass cleans house, hitting Dawkins with a sidewalk slam. Corner splash from Cass before he hits a uranage variation. Tag to Enzo, who he slams from the top onto Dawkins and that’s all.

Winners: Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady in 3:47

Decent enough. Enzo and Cass still need help with their ring work but this was fine. **

Alex Riley cuts a promo backstage about how he’s not going away. Unfortunately.

Dana Brooke vs. Blue Pants

Blue pants’ theme music is amazing. Dana does some weird hand movements during her entrance. She just rubs herself and then flexes. It looks odd. Blue Pants charges but gets tossed by Dana Brooke.. She hangs Blue Pants up on the bottom rope and hits some terrible punches. She gets “you can’t wrestle” chants. She gets in some pucnhes before doing a handstand foot chooke. That was innovative. Blue Pants kicks her down a few times to pops from the crowd. Brooke hits her and then does an Attitude Adjustment like move to win.

Winner: Dana Brooke in 2:01

Not a very impressive debut. Dana Brooke has been signed for a while but doesn’t seem to have developed much. Oh well, I guess that’s what NXT is here for right? Not a good start though. *

Next week, we get some good Divas work when Bayley, Charlotte and Becky Lynch go at it for a shot at the Women’s Title. Plus, Alex Riley takes on Kevin Owens.

Rhyno vs. Sami Zayn

Rhyno is in control early on, using his power advantage. My feed gets glitchy so I miss a minute or so. Sami Zayn hits some clotheslines that have almost no effect but a dropkick does. After a commercial, Zayn is fighting out of a chinlock but Rhyno levels him. Sami does hit a cross body from the top for two though. Sami gets in some shots, ducking the bigger blows from Rhyno, but runs into a spinebuster. Rhyno drives his shoulder into Zayn in the corner a few times, ending with a big one that is similar to a gore. Commentary is playing up Sami being the guy that takes a beating but survives, which is a role he plays to perfection. Crazy to think this is his first televised match since Rival. Sami rallies with a flurry of shots that come at rapid fire. He elbows out of a move and actually nails a blue thunder bomb on Rhyno for two. He climbs to the top but his cross body is caught and Rhyno plants him with a TKO for two. Sami slaps Rhyno, leading him to get pummeled in the corner. Rhyno tries to bring Zayn up top, but gets knocked over and out. Sami follows with a gorgeous front flip plancha. Inside though, Rhyno hits a belly to belly suplex and sets for the Gore. Sami dodges and comes in with the Helluva Kick to win.

Winner: Sami Zayn in 11:35

Much better than I expected. Rhyno can still go and Sami Zayn looed as good as ever in his return. They played the power guy vs. resilient guy really well and this was a good encounter. ***1/4