This is a professional wrestling blog that includes reviews, recaps, some news and any wrestling-related discussions of my choosing. Companies span from WWE to New Japan Pro Wrestling to AAA in Mexico. Don't just read recaps... watch them!
Bayley arrives to start tonight's show. She says that last week was all about respect, and credits Dusty Rhodes as the reason why she and Sasha Banks made it to where they are now. She announces that she and Sasha have started a whole new level in the Divas Revolution, and validated where women's wrestling has headed. Suddenly, Alexa Bliss shows up with Blake and Murphy, and Alexa admits that Bayley deserves to be champ and that the Iron Man match was incredible, and that she's glad to be part of all this. She lifts Bayley's arm, then steals the Women's title in an attempt to mock and degrade her as Blake and Murphy block her path, then Alexa tosses the Women's title back to Bayley before leaving with Blake and Murphy.
Last week, William Regal congratulated Finn Balor and Samoa Joe on winning the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, but Joe reminded Balor that he came here to take the NXT Championship. Balor was willing and able for a title match, but Regal held them up, saying that there was no #1 contender right now. The #1 contender would be decided next week (read: tonight) in a 20-man battle royal.
Tye Dillinger, Apollo Crews and Rhyno are just three men in tonight's battle royal.
The Vaudevillains (Aiden English and Simon Gotch) beat Angelo Dawkins and Sawyer Fulton.
Devin Taylor interviews Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder. They think they should be tag team champions right now, and they want to send a message to Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady.
Nia Jax is up next!
Nia Jax squashes Evie.
Tyler Breeze and Baron Corbin are also in the battle royal.
Eva Marie is in Paris for some "her" time, and says she'll see the NXT Universe soon.
Apollo Crews wins a 20-man battle royal to become #1 contender for the NXT Championship.
Finn Balor shows up for the first time on NXT television since winning the NXT Championship from Kevin Owens. Finn says that all the choices and sacrifices were worth it when he won the title. As for Kevin Owens, he and Owens have a championship rematch at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn that will be made official later tonight in an official contract signing. Balor gives Owens credit where credit is due, but given Owens' accomplishments, Owens still hasn't beaten Finn Balor, and he plans to walk out of TakeOver: Brooklyn as NXT Champion.
Devin Taylor interviews Eva Marie. Eva Marie thanks William Regal for the opportunity, and tells the NXT Universe to open their eyes as they will like what they see.
Eva Marie beats Cassie in her NXT re-debut.
William Regal is on the phone when he notices Tyler Breeze is in his office. Tyler Breeze wants something good for NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn. Regal says he's working on it.
Baron Corbin very quickly beats an unnamed opponent.
Samoa Joe - now with a new theme song - beats Mike Rawliss. During the match, it is revealed that Samoa Joe will take on Rhyno in two weeks' time.
Devin Taylor interviews Emma and Dana Brooke. They mock Bayley, and Emma says she plans to break Bayley's spirit.
Bayley beats Emma in her first match back since Emma injured her right hand after Dana Brooke gets ejected for trying to interfere in the match. After the match, Bayley says she's glad to be back, but she's back for the NXT Women's Championship. She wants a match with Charlotte in her quest to beat the best.
Devin Taylor interviews Charlotte. Charlotte accepts Bayley's challenge, then Dana Brooke shows up, saying she wants to beat her. Charlotte says Bayley can wait a week, and tells Dana she plans to make a statement that she won't forget.
The Vaudevillians (Aiden English and Simon Gotch) beat Sawyer Fulton and Angelo Dawkins.
Blake, Murphy and Alexa Bliss plan to walk out of NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn with the NXT Tag Team Championships.
William Regal is in the ring to oversee the official contract signing of Finn Balor vs. Kevin Owens in a rematch for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn. It doesn't take long before Kevin Owens decides to make his own way into the ring. Regal the introduces Finn Balor. Owens asks Balor how it feels to be champion and still be the underdog at TakeOver: Brooklyn, and talks about what he's done in NXT since he arrived. He then tells Balor that he will prove what happened in Japan was just a fluke when he leaves Brooklyn as NXT Champion. Balor tells Owens he likes to talk, and in Brooklyn, he plans to shove his words down his throat. Balor signs the contract, then Owens and Regal do likewise. Owens then topples the table and goes after Balor, and also attacks William Regal. Balor runs Owens out of the ring, and Owens retreats.
Jason Jordan and Chad Gable beat Steve Cutler and Elias Sampson.
Samoa Joe beats Axel Tischer with the Rear Naked Choke.
We get a closer look at Baron Corbin, and we learn that he is a multi-sport man with four conference championship rings in football and three Golden Gloves titles in boxing.
Eva Marie shows up and announces she's making her official return to an NXT ring next week.
Blake and Murphy beat Angelo Dawkins and Sawyer Fulton after Blake takes Fulton out of the equation. Alexa Bliss sics Blake and Murphy on Fulton after the match, and Alexa Bliss hits a Sparkle Splash on Fulton after Blake and Murphy lift her up from the top turnbuckle with their bare hands.
Sami Zayn shows up with his left arm in a sling. He thanks the fans for their support, and says he won't be back by the end of the year. He plans to come back stronger than ever and win the NXT title again, and tells Kevin Owens that Owens' career is linked to his, and that he should watch his ass because he's coming for him.
The rematch between Kevin Owens and Finn Balor for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn on August 22nd, live on the WWE Network.
Sasha Banks retains the NXT Women's Championship against Charlotte with the Banks Statement. Banks and Charlotte hug and show respect after the match.
Hideo Itami shows up for the first time since NXT Takeover: Unstoppable. He'll be out for three or four months, and he'll be at the July 4th event in Tokyo. Kevin Owens shows up and says he's happy for Hideo, but says he's leaving Tokyo with the title as he makes it all about him. He also botches one of his lines, but makes fun of said botch by saying it sounded like Itami trying to speak English. He then wants an apology from Itami for saying he's a bad person, but Itami tells him he's both a great champion and a terrible human being. Owens decides to injure Hideo's other arm, and is about to get in the ring when Finn Balor shows up and stops him. Before Balor can hit the coup de grace on Owens, Rhyno shows up from out of nowhere and attacks Balor.
Finn Balor vs Rhyno is announced as tonight's main event.
Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady beat Jason Jordan and Sylvester Lefort. It becomes obvious as Jordan and Sylvester argue that they won't be teaming up again any time soon.
Samoa Joe makes it clear he plans to make it so that Kevin Owens gets the beating of a lifetime.
Dana Brooke beats Cassie.
Charlotte tells Devin Taylor that she has no idea what Dana Brooke's problem is, but says that the next opportunity she gets, she's kicking Dana's ass.
We see Part 2 of "Who Is Finn Balor?" It involves his time in Japan, which includes his friendship with Jason Albert, intense training, his transition to NXT...and Legos.
Bull Dempsey has been ordered by William Regal to get back into shape...but it appears that isn't going well at all.
Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley (now known as The Hype Bros) beat Angelo Dawkins and Sawyer Fulton.
Eva Marie is still wanting that first NXT match from William Regal.
Kevin Owens guests on commentary for the next match.
Finn Balor beats Rhyno. After the match, Owens attacks Finn Balor, and it becomes a 2-on-1 when Rhyno joins in. Samoa Joe rushes in to save Finn Balor to end the show.
Alex Riley wants a match with Kevin Owens, but William Regal tells him he has to make a choice between being a wrestler and being a commentator, and that he can't be both, citing what happened to him against Cesaro as his reason why.
Tyler Breeze beats Adam Rose.
Enzo Amore, Colin Cassady and Carmella are insulted by how Blake and Murphy spoke to them last week. Enzo and Big Cass plan to become #1 contenders to the tag team titles and beat them at their own game.
Alexa Bliss is hoping to come back soon.
Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy beat Angelo Dawkins and Sawyer Fulton.
Bayley wishes Charlotte luck in her match tonight, then meets Emma, who reminds her of what could have been and tells her that being nice got her back to NXT, calling it "something to think about."
Baron Corbin beats Tony Briggs. Kevin Owens stands behind Alex Riley during the match, and Jason Albert has to hold Riley back.
Alex Riley tells William Regal he wants Kevin Owens as Regal is talking to CJ Parker. Regal tells him he'll have to sign a talent contract, and that he'll give him Owens only when he thinks he's ready. CJ Parker runs his mouth, bragging about how he scarred Owens' nose, and this causes Riley to make Parker his first opponent on NXT next week.
Solomon Crowe beats Bull Dempsey.
Sasha Banks retains the NXT Women's Championship against Charlotte by using the ropes to her advantage after countering a top rope Natural Selection.
The Vaudevillians (Adrian English and Simon Gotch) beat T. Perkins and Matt Sugarmon.
Sami Zayn was not pleased with what happened last week.
CJ Parker shows up with a sign saying "Stop The Big Thaw" and "Every Day Is Earth Day."
Bull Dempsey beats Xavier Woods in his official NXT debut. After the match, Bull Dempsey calls himself "the last in a dying breed" and ushers in "the era of Bull Dempsey."
Becky Lynch beats Summer Rae in her NXT debut.
Colin Cassady beats Sawyer Fulton, then The Legionnaires (Sylvester Lefort and Marcus Louis) show up. Before they can attack Big Cass, Enzo Amore returns to make the save!
Tyler Breeze guests on commentary for the next match.
Adrian Neville beats Rob Van Dam. Both men shake hands after the match.
