411’s WWE NXT Report 8.17.16

It’s the go home show before TakeOver!

Hideo Itami vs. Mustafa Ali

Ali competed in the Cruiserweight Classic. Ali knocks Itami down early and talks some smack. He runs into a kitchen sink and then gets kicked. Ali takes a breather until Itami greets him with a badass baseball slide. Ali comes back with a nice rolling neckbreaker inside for a near fall. Itami hit s a dragon screw and jumping kick in the corner. He follows with a series of strikes and then the hesitation dropkick in the corner. The Busaiku Knee wins it.

Winner: Hideo Itami in 3:20

Pretty much what you expect from an Itami squash. He did his thing and looked good, while Ali got a few moments to shine.

A video package airs to hype Bobby Roode and his upcoming in-ring debut at TakeOver. GLORIOUS!

Now we get a video package for Asuka/Bayley II. It starts by showing Bayley’s reaction to losing to Asuka in Dallas. We see how she came back from injury and, while she was down, Asuka dominated. Bayley returned, William Regal made the match official and it was on. The contract signing last week is chronicled too.

A video package, set to “Relentless” by Of Mice and Men, is shown. It focuses on the “other matches” on the card, as well as talk about New York. Austin Aries/No Way Jose, Bobby Roode/Andrade Almas and the Tag Team Title matches are the target here.

William Regal talks in his office about this TakeOver possibly being the best ever. Billie Kay interrupts, saying it can’t be the best TakeOver without her. She talks about being on Smackdown and her recent wins. Regal puts her on the card to face the debuting Ember Moon.

Alexa Bliss, Daria Berenato and Mandy Rose vs. Carmella, Liv Morgan and Nikki Glencross

Nikki Glencross made a name for herself on the indies as Nikki Storm. Daria competed on Tough Enough. Alexa starts for her team against Nikki. Despite being heel, the crowd is pro-Alexa. She slams Nikki down adn talks smack. Nikki retaliates with a hair whip and some smack talk back. She hops over Alexa and nails a cross body for two. She dropkicks Alexa, causing her to take a powder outside. Daria tags in and removes her fighting gloves. As they get set to lock up, we go to commercial. Returning, Liv is working a headlock on Daria. Daria gets two on a big righ thand and tags Alexa back in. She does her stomping on her opponent’s head spot for a near fall. Mandy enters and Corey Graves’ reactions to everything she does is amazing. “SHE HAS THE BODY OF A GODDESS AND THE FACE OF AN ANGEL”. She hits a snapmare and submission before rolling Liv up for two. Liv continues to take the heat as Daria wears her down with a body scissors. Alexa gets tagged and eats a dropkick. Carmella gets the hot tag as Mandy gets tagged. She hits some clotheslines and an atomic drop. She sends her into the boot and hits a big kick but Alexa breaks up the pin. Alexa goes after NIkki but takes a neckbreaker. Daria takes Nikki down with a tackle. Mandy rolls Carmella up for two, but Carmella kicks out right into her Code of Silence submission for the win.

winners: Carmella, Liv Morgan and Nikki Glencross in 8:20

Fun little tag here. I like that Alexa and Carmella sat back and allowed the newer girls to get their shine. They obviously still need work, but you could see some potential there. **1/2

Another Ember Moon vignette airs. She debuts against Billie Kay this Saturday.

An exclusive sit down interview with Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura is shown. Byron Saxton hosts, while Regal and security hang back. Joe says that he’s excited about TakeOver since last year he had just debuted and now a year later, he’s champion. Nakamura is excited because it’s his first PPV main event and title shot. Joe talks about how Nakamura got a title shot easily granted, while he had to jump through hoops (battle royals, matches with Sami and the Dusty Tag Classic). Joe even brings up that Regal checked with Asuka before giving Bayley her title shot, but couldn’t find the time to talk to him. Nakamura is asked about not taking this seriously. He is serious but says that having fun is part of his style. Joe says that they know each other well and have crossed paths before. He brings up Nakamura training in Joe’s dojo in LA. Nakamura laughs and says he doesn’t remember going to Joe’s dojo. Nakamura gives a big yawn. Joe respects what Shinsuke has done but isn’t sure if he respects him anymore. Nakamura respects Joe and leans in to say it. Joe is confused by his antics. He promises that Nakmaura will respect him come Brooklyn. “I’M GONNA BEAT THE RESPECT INTO YOU”. Joe tosses his chair and security has to step in between them as Joe is pissed about Nakamura’s attitude.