411’s WWE NXT Report 4.20.16

Happy RVD day and welcome to the NXT Report!

Tonight’s main event pits Apollo Crews against Samoa Joe.

Non-Title Match: NXT Tag Team Champions American Alpha vs. Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady

Cass says that they are the longest tenured team in NXT but this will be their first meeting with American Alpha and they’re gonna see if they’re SAWFT. Crowd chants “this is awesome” before they start. Gable takes Enzo down to the mat and rolls around with him. Gable owns that despite Enzo’s best efforts. Corey Graves mentions that AA won the belts in their first shot while Enzo and Cass are 0-life. Jordan comes in and wrenches the arm before tagging back out. He flips Enzo over and Gable drops a knee on the arm for two. They continue with the quick tags to keep control of Enzo. Everything American Alpha does is so crisp. Enzo finally is able to tag Cass and the atmosphere changes. They go to commercial as he stands off with Jordan. Returning, Cass is in control before he and Enzo double team Jordan. Blind tag from Gable leads to him whipping Enzo over and hard. Enzo gets Gable on the apron but takes a right hand. They collide into each other and both fall. Cass gets tagged and has a clear upper hand over the smaller Gable. He wrenches back on Gable’s arm. Cass then throws Enzo into Gable for two. Leg drops from Enzo followed by a chinlock. Gable slips free and nearly tags in Jordan but he gets cut off. Corner splash from Cass and Gable is in real trouble. Gable ends up avoiding a second corner splash and the door is open for the hot tag. It comes and Enzo gets in. Jordan takes him down with right hands and a drop kick. He destroys Enzo with a head and leg suplex. THE STRAPS ARE DOWN! He goes for a corner shoulder thrust, but Cass hops in the way, taking the shot for Enzo. Enzo comes off the top but gets caught in a belly to belly suplex. THE STRAPS ARE BACK UP! AND BACK DOWN AGAIN! Shoudler thrust and they nail their finisher to win.

Winners: American Alpha in 11:05

It came off as a bit dull at times but I thought this was pretty good. The final stretch was really enjoyable and it was a good way for Enzo and Cass to go out. **3/4

Backstage, Apollo Crews says he doesn’t like bullies, so he doesn’t like Joe. He respects his ability but will show him what he’s made of. Welcome to the Age of Apollo.

NO WAY JOSE!

Alexander Wolfe vs. No Way Jose

No Way Jose’s vignette music is his actual theme. He comes out dancing and screams fun. As the bell rings, he starts dancing more. Wolfe is the former Axel Tischer. As Jose gets the upper hand, he dances. He shouts “Jose” as he does a flying snapmare, followed by an airplane spin. He stops to take a breather and goes to another spin. Wolfe ends up taking him to the mat. Commentary says that he has a reputation as the “axe man” and that he doesn’t speak English. Jose fights out and lays in some southpaw jabs. A series of body slams are followed by Polish hammers but with the twist of him acting like he was swinging a baseball bat. He does a facebuster into his knee before winning with a fastball right hand.

Winner: No Way Jose in 3:01

With the current character, I don’t see No Way Jose going far. However, wrestling is supposed to be fun at times and this character can do that. I liked this.

Austin Aries is interviewed about Baron Corbin saying that Austin Aries beat him by luck. Aries says he doesn’t need luck, he has skill. He admits that Baron beat him up but all it took was three seconds. Aries says that he’s not a hard guy to find, to both Baron and the rest of the NXT roster. There is a lot of A level talent in NXT but only one man in A Double level.

Elias Samson is playing his guitar backstage. William Regal sits down next to him and says that Samson seems to want opportunity. Next week, Elias goes one on one with Shinsuke Nakamura. Elias plays some somber tones on his guitar.

Nia Jax vs. Deonna Purrazzo

I feel like we’ve seen this before. Commentary mentions that Deonna is tough but runs into bad luck as Asuka has knocked her out twice. Nia tosses her like a rag doll to start and then splashes her in the corner twice. A soft shoulder breaker by Nia disappoints me. I like that move, make it look like it hurts. Elbows from Nia before she connects on the Samoan Drop. A leg drop ends it.

Winner: Nia Jax in 1:33

Short and to the point. Just what Nia needs to be doing in between her big matches.

Bayley is interviewed about Asuka vs. Eva Marie next week. She faced both so they want to know what to expect. She says that Asuka is obviously tough but admits that Eva Marie is tougher than given credit for. She’ll be watching as long as the NXT Women’s Title is involved.

Apollo Crews vs. Samoa Joe

Feeling out process to start with neither guy looking to make the first mistake. Crews goes to a headlock that Joe breaks by the ropes. They announces that tomorrow in Lowell, Joe gets a third crack at Balor’s title. More headlock work from Crews. Joe breaks it and goes into jabbing Crews a ton. Headbutt by Joe backs Crews into the corner. Crews uses his agility to leap over Joe and strike with a dropkick. Commercial break. Returning, Joe chops and jabs Crews some more. Corner enziguri by Joe takes Crews down. Joe continues to relentlessly lay in the strikes. Crews tries a comeback but Joe lays him out with a vicious back elbow. Joe takes to wearing down Crews but he powers out. Joe stops him with an atomic drop, big boot and running senton for a near fall. Joe clubs away on Crews but he comes back with a suplex. Both men are up at the count of six and trade blows. Crews fights back with some shots and nails a corner splash. Big leaping clothesline hits followed by a high jumping kick. He nails a standing moonsault for two. Apollo off the ropes but Joe catches him with a snap powerslam for two. Bicycle kick comeback from Apollo but he jumps high into an insane STJoe. Seriously one of hte better ones. Knees and strikes from Joe who applies the Coquina Clutch. Crews fights but ends up tapping.

Winner: Samoa Joe

Solid match here. Joe again came off like a beast and Crews got some good babyface fire. I like that Crews being worn down cost him as he couldn’t lift Joe near the end and the clean finish was a nice touch. ***1/4