Csonka’s NXT Review 8.02.17

Csonka’s NXT Review 8.02.17

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Johnny Gargano defeated Raul Mendoza @ 4:10 via submission [**]
– Sonya Deville defeated Jenna Van Bemel @ 2:00 via submission [NR]
– Aleister Black defeated Kyle O’Reilly @ 12:45 via pin [***½]

---

– Follow all of my reviews at this link.

Johnny Gargano vs. Raul Mendoza: Gargano comes out to the DIY music, and then pauses so that his new music can play. News of Mendoza signing broke in early June; Mendoza lost his first round match against Brian Kendrick during the Cruiserweight Classic, but impressed WWE officials and has been working NXT live events. They work some nice back and forth and then Gargano takes things to the mat and out wrestles Mendoza. Mendoza to his feet, they work into a fast paced series of counters until Gargano cuts off Mendoza with the grounded kick. Gargano then starts to target the arm, but Mendoza battles back and stops Gargano with a running enziguri. He then works over Gargano with chops in the corner; Gargano avoids the springboard and hits the slingshot spear. Gargano then laid in strikes, hits the lariat but Mendoza hits an enziguri. He heads up top, but Gargano catches him on the way down and locks in the Gargano escape for the win. Johnny Gargano defeated Raul Mendoza @ 4:10 via submission [**] This was a nice little match, which Gargano took most of to get his singles run off to a nice start. Mendoza got just enough to look competitive, but didn’t take away from Gargano’s win.

– We get highlights of the AOP & Sanity brawling from last week. They will face off at Takeover: Back to Brooklyn for The Third Time. Ellering promises that they will write a new chapter in their book, but now they will prepare for the battle.

– As promised last week, Asuka makes her return to NXT TV here. Asuka is blunt; she beat Ember Moon once, and she will do it again because Moon isn’t ready for her. Moon arrives, obviously disputing these claims. She knows that she’s ready, the fans know she’s ready and even if Asuka won’t admit it, Asuka knows she’s ready. They have a stand off, and Asuka offers a handshake before pulling it back in the “oh, you’re too slow” style. She slaps Moon, they trade strikes and brawl until Asuka sends Moon to the floor. A confident Asuka celebrates with her title, but Moon sneak up top and hits the eclipse OUTTANOWHERE. I’m pretty sure that translates to ‘who’s ready now, bitch?”

– We get some backstage time with Bobby Roode. When questioned about Roderick Strong, he runs down his “trailer park” life and says he proved he was the better man. He also says that he can’t blame Roddy for playing the Bobby Roode lottery, but he doesn’t belong in NXT. In regards to Drew McIntyre, he wants to have a sit-down conversation next week with him. Roddy then arrived to kick the champ’s ass for running down his life and being an asshole in general. Other wrestlers ten hold Roddy back and Regal arrives to put him in his place. Roddy is upset that Roode has again disrespected he and his family and wants to get his hands on Roode. Regal tells him that he needs to slow his role because his hands are tied with the Takeover: Back to Brooklyn for The Third Time tile match between Roode & McIntyre locked in. Roddy leaves in a bit of a huff.

– The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) debut next week.

Sonya Deville vs. Jenna Van Bemel: They circle a bit, Deville plays with her a bit and puts her hands behind her back and still avoids the attacks of Van Bemel. Deville hits a clothesline, but Van Bemel stuns her off the ropes. Deville then lays in knee strikes and then follows with some strikes but Van Bemel hits a corner clothesline. Deville quickly rolls into a triangle for the win. Sonya Deville defeated Jenna Van Bemel @ 2:00 via submission [NR] A solid and quick win for Deville, who is slowly showing some more personality in the ring. She’s still a project, but has a good look and is slowly gaining confidence.

– Itami is interviewed about attacking Kassius Ohno last week; he says nobody is giving him respect and that he deserves better. Itami takes the mic from the interview and heads to the ring. The ref tries to explain that the scheduled match is about to begin, but Itami gives no fucks. Aleister Black’s music hits and it leads to a faceoff. Itami looks to bail, and then tries to charge back and attack but all he got was a black mass to the head. We’ll see you boys at Takeover.

– No Way Jose faces Andrade Cien Almas next week.

Aleister Black vs. Kyle O’Reilly: We get a respectful fist bump to begin. They both look for strikes to begin, Black stops a takedown and we get a clean break. They both look for strikes again, and go to the mat as Black looks to take control, but O’Reilly works for a triangle. Black escapes, they work to the feet and Black starts to work the arm and grounds O’Reilly. O’Reilly quickly works back to his feet, and lays in strikes and kicks, but Black sweeps the legs and follows with a knee strike. Post break, O’Reilly avoids the double foot stomp, but Black connects with a big kick. They trade forearms and kicks, O’Reilly counters the suplex, and works leg kicks, knees and strikes to take Black down. The forearm in the corner follows, he attacks the arm and then works into a knee bar. They trade strikes and Black uses kicks to escape. O’Reilly then grounds Black, attacking the arm again. O’Reilly works into side control and looks for the arm bar, Black fights and escapes before running into a back elbow strike. O’Reilly now locks in a body scissors as the crowd starts to get more involved. O’Reilly is focused on the arm, grounding Black and delivering elbows and knees. Post break, O’Reilly is still targeting the arm, Black dares O’Reilly to hit him so he does. Black fires back with kicks, hits the snap suplex and knee drop for 2. O’Reilly snaps the arm of the ropes, takes Black down and continues the assault on the arm. Knee strikes by O’Reilly follow, and he grounds Black with a cobra clutch. Black with knee strikes, and then kicks O’Reilly in the face. More kicks follow, and then the moonsault press gets a good near fall. O’Reilly stops black mass, looks to work the leg and then cuts off Black as he looks to spring off the ropes. Ax and Smash connect for 2. O’Reilly looks for a possible brainbuster, Black fights him off and O’Reilly misses a kick, they trade kicks and Black with knees, O’Reilly hits a jumping knee strike and then walks into black mass and O’Reilly is done. Aleister Black defeated Kyle O’Reilly @ 12:45 via pin [***½] This was a very good main event, O’Reilly was given a lot against Black, who has been a dominant force in NXT, and even though he lost I feel this was string debut and a main event worth your time.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

6.7

The final score: review Average

The 411

Tonight’s NXT was a really solid show as Takeover: Brooklyn continues to take shape, Johnny Garagno starts his singles run and Aleister Black & Kyle O’Reilly deliver a quality main event.