Csonka’s NXT TV Review 1.10.18

Csonka’s NXT TV Review 1.10.18

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Shaynza Baszler defeated Dakota Kai @ 1:37 via referee stoppage [NR]
– Kassius Ohno defeated Raul Mendoza @ 4:34 via pin [**]
– Lars Sullivan defeated Lio Rush @ 1:55 via pin [NR]
– NXT Tag Team Title Match: Champions Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly defeated Roderick Strong & Aleister Black @ 8:50 via pin [***]

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– The Undisputed Era opens the show with a pre-taped promo, vowing to dominate NXT in 2018.

Shaynza Baszler vs. Dakota Kai: Shaynza Baszler made her NXT debut as NXT closed out 2017, attacking Mae Young Classic winner Kairi Sane (who beat Baszler in the finals). Since then, she’s been attacking NXT recruits at the performance center. Dakota Kai is under a developmental deal, and participated in the Mae Young Classic. They lockup to begin, Baszler takes her to the corner and trips her up. Baszler gets a takedown, and starts working the arm. Baszler is toying with Kai, laying in kicks and not taking Kai seriously at all. Baszler stomps the shit out of Kai’s arm, leading to a referee stoppage. Shaynza Baszler defeated Dakota Kai @ 1:37 via referee stoppage [NR] This worked very well as an in ring debut for Baszler, locking her in as a heel that doesn’t give a shit about anyone.

omg her arm pic.twitter.com/gBbPAhyVGp

— r y a n (@ryansflair) January 11, 2018

– As Kai gets medical attention post match, Baszler chokes her out until Ember Moon makes the save.

– The AOP cut a promo with Ellering, they want their tag titles back.

– Baszler gets interviewed backstage, and William Regal arrives. Regal is not pleased with what happened, and he sees through her games, noting that she won’t get a title shot this way. Baszler blows him of and leaves.

Kassius Ohno vs. Raul Mendoza: Mendoza was a former Cruiserweight Classic competitor that got signed by WWE. They shake hands and we’re friends to begin. They lock up, and Mendoza gets a sunset flip for 2. Ohno trips him up but Mendoza heads up top, and hits a RANA and cradle for 2. He follows with kicks, but Ohno cuts him off and cuts him off with a running boot. Ohno follows with chops, and then forearm strikes and covers for 2. Ohno works a reverse Gory special, but Mendoza counters into a victory roll for 2. Ohno slams him to the mat and the senton follows for 2. Mendoza now hits an arm drag, but Ohno cuts him off with chops. Mendoza hits an enziguri and lucha arm drag. The disaster kick follows for 2. Ohno then stuns Mendoza off the ropes, and follows with the running elbow strike for the win. Kassius Ohno defeated Raul Mendoza @ 4:34 via pin [**] This was an ok back and forth match, with Ohno getting a rebound victory. Mendoza got a lot in and looked solid in loss.

– Vega met with the media, putting over Almas. She says Gargano got lucky and that he’s not a fighter, and they already defeated him twice. She says Gargano is a lie, while Almas is the truth. There is no running from the champion.

– Gargano is now interviewed. He is thrilled to be the #1 contender, and Velveteen Dream arrives and wants Gargano to say thank you. Dream says that Gargano got lucky beating Ohno, while Dream could have won in 30-seconds, and not the 20-minutes it took Gargano. Dream then says Gargano will fail to win the title, and says Gargano didn’t earn his spot.

– We get a video of the Street Profits backstage, having fun. They go to meet with Regal, and want a tag title shot. Regal says that he’s been watching and says that next week; they will face the AOP in a #1 contender’s match.

Lars Sullivan vs. Lio Rush: Rush uses his speed early to avoid Lars. Lars chases and Rush hits a rolling kick, but gets cut of and Lars stuns him off the ropes. Lars then starts to destroy him, but misses a charge. Lars is angry now and slams Rush to he corner. Rush moves and Lars charges and posts himself. Lars is even angrier, hits a lariat and freak accident for the win. Lio Rush was 23. Lars Sullivan defeated Lio Rush @ 1:55 via pin [NR] This was a good rebound squash for Lars, and also set up his next program.

– Post match, Lars cuts a promo and says he has taken out his opponents, and now, now he keeps going back to two-weeks ago, and know she dealt with a force he never dealt with. And he wants to destroy that force, and that is Killian Dain. Lars then hits Rush with a freak accident off the second rope.

– Backstage, we see Adam Cole, Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly attack and lay out Sanity ahead of their match tonight.

– The Undisputed Era arrive. Cole says they are missing something, and O’Reilly asks where is Sanity? They joke about them forgetting about the match, but Nikki Cross arrives and has to be held back by refs. She gets taken to the back, and Regal then arrives, and dad isn’t happy! He says there will be a tag title match tonight, and then Roderick Strong arrives and Aleister Black joins him. Business just picked up as we have a new main event.

Champions Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Roderick Strong & Aleister Black: We get a big brawl as Black & Strong run wild, clearing the ring. Black and O’Reilly to begin. Fish tries to get involved, but Black runs wild, fighting both off. O’Reilly bails to the floor but String attacks. Back in and Black rolls up O’Reilly for 2. Black then grounds him, working the arm. Strong tags in, and he and Black work double teams, maintaining control. Strong follows with chops and a back breaker for 2. he and Black work quick tags, O’Reilly takes the ref, allowing Fish to take out black’s leg and they take control. Post break, and the champions have taken the heat on Black. They work quick tags, isolating Black and picking up near falls. O’Reilly lays in strikes, takes Strong to the floor and then he and Fish continue to double team Black, hitting an XPLODER for 2 as Strong makes the save. Black battles back, hitting a sunset flip for 2. He follows with a knee strike, and we get wholesale changes to O’Reilly & Strong. Strong runs wild, working over the champions, hitting back breakers and suplexes. Strong is fired the fuck up, takes Fish to the floor and hits the jumping knee strike on O’Reilly for the double down. Black takes out Fish on the floor, but Cole attacks. Black is pissed and chases Cole into the crowd, leaving Strong alone. The champions hit total elimination and retain. Champions Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly defeated Roderick Strong & Aleister Black @ 8:50 via pin [***] This was a good main event with some nice fire to it, and a match I’d love to see again down the line, possibly on a Takeover, with a hot crowd and more time. I loved the storytelling here. The champions think they’ve gotten out of their rematch with Sanity, which will now take place at a later time. The issues and history with Strong and the Undisputed Era have been played well on TV, while Black beat all three members in singles action, and Cole also cost Black his shot at the NXT title two-weeks ago. So it made sense for String and Black to align for at least one night, and also led to the booking of Cole vs. Black at Takeover.

– Post match, Black and Cole return to the ring and the Undisputed Era beat him down. Cole picks up Black and the champs hit total elimination. They get a chair now, set it up and Cole hits Black with a DVD onto the chair as the Undisputed Era stand tall to close the show.

– Regal arrives and books Cole vs. Black for Takeover: Philly in an extreme rules match. DON’T MAKE DAD MAD!

– End Scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.5

The final score: review Good

The 411

I really enjoyed tonight’s edition of NXT TV. The Center Stage crowd brought some fresh life from the audience, and for the first show of the year, I thought it did a good job getting things up and running from a storyline perspective. While there was nothing blow away in terms of in ring action, Baszler looked good and they started off her run to a match with Moon well. Ohno remains a gatekeeper of sorts, beating guys he should, while also working as a player-coach to younger stars. Lars killing people is awesome, and he and Dain is an official hossweight division fight that should be a ton of fun. The Undisputed Era vs. Sanity is not over, AOP & Street Profits are waiting in the wings, and we have Cole vs. Black locked in for Takeover. This was a good, fun, and strong show overall, especially in the storytelling department.