The show is taped tonight from the Arnold Classic held in Columbus Ohio. This is the first time that NXT has been shown from somewhere other than Full Sail University. The ring setup is different to accommodate the building. The unique entrance way made for a different feel to the show. The crowd was really into the event.
Tyler Breeze and Kalisto open the show. Breeze is fresh off his main event win last week against Itami. It’s pretty clear that they are going to give a big push to Breeze. WWE has always liked to drop losses on someone and then all of the sudden give them the big push. That seems to be the formula they are using with Tyler.
Breeze wins a very good match with the Beauty Shot. Kalisto is a solid singles performer and he and Breeze worked very hard. This was a solid show opener that was not a one sided squash, but Breeze did come out looking very good here. It will be interesting to see where they go with him. Are they gearing him for a title shot or a move to the main roster?
Breeze would be a nice addition to the main roster, but it might be nice for WWE to give him more mic time to really hone his promo skills. His selfie promos are not all that moving and it would be nice to see him be a little less stiff when speaking. His entrance is spot on and his look is money. It might be wise to move him up later this year, but it is important that he’s winning a bulk of his matches if they do, so he comes in strong.
NXT runs a hype video recapping the feud between Riley and Owens. They are really treating this match as something important. That’s nice to see considering how the main roster runs so few promos for undercard matches. This communicates the message that what people are tuned into see tonight is important.
Fans are treated to a behind the scenes look at the Arnold Classic. HHH is featured many times, in a very positive light. This is the same man that fans are asked to hate on the main roster product. Kayfabe is dead because HHH wants to enjoy the best of both worlds, the top heel spot on the main show and all the credit for NXT. Sadly this behavior is not best for business. If HHH wants to be the guy out front of NXT he needs to step away from the main roster product. If he wants to stay on Raw then he needs to stay behind the scenes on NXT. It’s hard to ask fans to like you and hate you within the same company. It usually leads to a lukewarm mixed response.
Blake and Murphy are out next. Blake will take on Big Cass in singles competition. Enzo and Cass are out with Carmella next. This trio has reached their peak with their entrance promo. They have it mastered and the crowd eats it up. Carmella gets booed because she’s pure heel.
Cass dismisses the rumors that NXT is protecting him by working this singles match, which is half way decent affair. The big spot here is when Carmella gets on the apron, but is bumped off to the floor. Cass goes to check on her, but gets rolled up and Blake gets the win.
The 100% right move for this feud is to have Carmella turn on Enzo and Cass during the title match these teams will eventually have. It would help all parties involved and get everyone more over. The pieces for the turn are all in place from previous episodes. Hopefully NXT just doesn’t do a straight title switch. That would really hurt Blake and Murphy.
A promo is run for Dana Brooke. She’s a more muscular version of Bliss. It would appear she will be appearing soon.
Bliss versus Banks is next. This will be non-title. Bliss gets a decent pop, but this is the problem with one week hypes for matches. Bliss re-debuted last week, but this show was taped before that one aired. For fans at the arena it was the first time they had seen Bliss in months. They didn’t get to see her big win last week and get behind her as much this week.
Bliss was the hometown star here, which WWE has always made a big deal of, but they couldn’t get as much traction out of that fact due to the taping and booking schedule. Sasha comes out to a massive pop and it’s just another example that Sasha is better than many realize, but we are not getting the straight baby face versus heel feud because of this. When the lines are blurred too much things are never as good as they could be.
The two have a short, but decent match. Bliss wins by count out and it’s apparent that this was just a setup to qualify Bliss for a title match next week. Bliss actually gets booed after the win. Her theme music is noticeably loud post match to drown out the crowd. WWE is rubbing off on NXT.
NXT wants to have a big show next week with it being Wrestlemania week. So Banks and Bliss is now set for the title. Combine that with Owens and Bálor for the Heavyweight title and you have a really good show.
Owens and Riley are out next. Riley doesn’t get much of a pop for the same reason Bliss doesn’t. No one in the crowd got to see what Riley did last week on the show. To them this is his return match as well. Crowd reactions are critical. NXT has to do a better job of scheduling their shows so that talent can get more mileage out of their TV work.
Riley is in great shape. Owens is out to a big pop. It’s apparent that this is a smart crowd that knows Owens from his indy run. Kill Owens Kill is chanted early on. This is something that NXT has not yet promoted as a gimmick. When they do the Mr. Wrestling chant it’s apparent that this crowd is well traveled.
Owens dominates the early going hitting his move set including his running cannon ball. Then he mocks Riley’s rage gimmick. Owens does a great job giving Riley the bad mouth as he locks in a deep headlock. This is probably one of the most fun headlocks ever as Owens claims he will stay there all night.
Riley lands a big forearm to get back into the match and knocks Owens to the floor outside. Owens recovers and then misses a cannonball and gets caught by a Spin Buster, but kicks out at two. Riley misses a splash and gets hit by two big senton splashes. Owens then slams Riley into the rail on the outside.
Riley walks into a pop up powerbomb and just like that the match is over. Owens continues to assault Riley on the outside until Finn Bálor comes out to make the save. Owens runs away before he gets too roughed up. The stage is set for their battle next week. There was a funny moment where fans were chanting Ole for Sami Zayn. It’s good to see the fans still have Zayn in the back of their minds.
This match was good, but only if your name was Kevin Owens. It was almost completely one sided. Riley gains hardly anything for this, as he was not made to look good at all. The hype was greater than the fight. It’s hard to see where they could be going with Riley from this other than a heel turn.
Owens did gain more momentum and that’s important. Instead of getting a heel that has to cheat to win fans are getting a bully who can win clean. If Owens continues on this path while Zayn is away it will only make their return match bigger. This is smart booking by NXT. Fans know who Zayn is, but these past few weeks they are getting treated to Owens who continues to grow as a super heel.
The twist to the whole situation is that both guys are now reported to be injured. How bad and to what extent is unclear. Owens had some work done on his knee and Zayn has not been on the show for five weeks. Fans may be forced to wait, but in the end it will make their coming together all the more better.
This was a much better show than last week. They advanced three major story lines and continued to push Tyler Breeze. The ring and entrance setup gave the show a unique and more memorable feel. This is something you don’t get on Raw, which feels like the same thing every week and therefore less special.
Next week’s show promises to be good with two major title matches. We may also get the tag match as NXT has had a habit of doing a lot of unannounced stuff as of late, but they could probably hold that off as the two title matches will be more than enough to make that a great show.