The Architecture of NXT: Episode #127

The Architecture of NXT
Episode #127
July 25th, 2012 | Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida

William Regal and Byron Saxton are on commentary. They plug the main event pitting Drew McIntyre against Seth Rollins.

Bo Dallas and Derrick Bateman vs. Johnny Curtis and Michael McGillicutty
Regal says Curtis and McGillicutty could be one of the greatest teams in WWE history. In under a year, they’d both be singles guys with different names. Curtis gets run over by Bo and instantly tags out. The heels used underhanded tactics to wear down Dallas. Dallas takes a beating and then tags in Bateman, who is an absolute wild man. His hot streak ends after McGillicutty trips him and Curtis DOES THE DEAL, winning with a Falcon Arrow at 4:04. Decent enough start to the show but too short to get anything going. [**]

Jim Ross joins the booth.

Alex Riley vs. Antonio Cesaro w/ Aksana
This stems from Aksana lying and saying Riley was hitting on her last week. The only good thing about Riley is his theme. He does start hot and nails a solid dropkick. Cesaro applies an abdominal stretch that Regal gushes over. Cesaro spends the next few minutes beating down on Riley in fun ways. He goes back to the abdominal stretch but adds his leg over the head for more pressure. Riley gets free and goes into a rally, hitting a spinebuster. Aksana gets on the apron, which distracts Riley enough for Cesaro to slam him. He Neutralizer ends him at 5:11. This was fun if only to see Cesaro beat Riley up. His offense is just great. [**¼]

Briley Pierce interviews Kassius Ohno, who is looking to make an impact in NXT. Ohno says there are athletic guys around but NXT is missing an element of danger, which is what he brings.

After a break, Matt Striker interviews Drew McIntyre. He says people just like to talk but tonight, the talking ends. Okay.

Natalya vs. Sofia Cortez
Nattie is next in a line of main roster people to appear in NXT. Regal discusses Sofia’s MMA and boxing background. The women trade the grapples early on. Sofia takes advantage, causing Natalya to get a rope break. She comes out with the discus clothesline for two. Natalya clearly sees Sofia as a threat and resorts to a rollup attempt. Sofia gets one of her own back. Natalya rolls outside and does an unneeded, horribly delivered “I HATE YOU!” Why? You have no history and have wrestled for three minutes. Natalya just takes the countout at 3:17. That was solid up until the shit finish. [*¼]

Natalya gets back in and jumps Sofia before putting her in the Sharpshooter. We get another “I HATE YOU” and she leaves. Awful.

RAW REBOUND ~ Highlights air from Raw 1000.

The Ascension vs. Dante Dash and Garrett Dylan
Though they’re jobber fodder, Dash and Dylan get an entrance. Konnor brushes past Dash and knocks Dylan off the apron. That shakes Dash to the core. Konnor and Cameron take turns kicking the hell out of Dash in the corner. They nearly decapitate him with Total Elimination at 1:46. I’ll admit I popped for that finish. [NR]

THREE AIN’T ENOUGH ~ Another Big E Langston vignette airs. He debuts next week.

Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rollins
Jim Ross is back for the main event. Seth gets stalled almost instantly by McIntyre’s size and strength. He comes back with dropkicks. McIntyre avoids one but Seth flips and lands on his feet before sending Drew outside. A tope suicida follows before a commercial break. McIntyre is in control after the break thanks to a reverse Alabama Slam. Drew takes to wearing down Seth with a modified abdominal stretch. Seth fires up and hits a forearm in the corner. He drives Drew’s face into the middle turnbuckle but can’t keep Drew down. Drew avoids a Seth splash and hits a big boot. Seth sells the hell out of the Future Shock DDT and that’s all at 7:02. Match of the night. It was short but they told the big man vs. little man story rather well. [**¾]

Commentary hypes a big announcement by Dusty Rhodes next week.

6.0

The final score: review Average

The 411

This was a solid episode. Nothing on the show was blow away by any means but they hit on several key things. The main event was pretty good and I found parts of the opening tag and Riley/Cesaro to be enjoyable. Ohno got an interview and the Ascension got in a squash. I didn’t care for Natalya’s work here but it set up a potential feud.