The show opens with a recap of Hideo Itami and Finn Balor's decimination of the Ascension.
Finn comes out and gets on the mic. He begins to cut a promo but is interrupted by Tyson Kidd. Kidd talks some smack. Justin Gabriel comes out and joins Kidd in berating Finn Balor. They get in the ring and are ready to beat up Balor when Hideo Itami comes out. Kidd and Gabriel run but a ref comes out and announces William Regal has set up a match.
MATCH: Hideo Itami and Finn Balor vs. Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel
Gabriel and Itami lock up. Kidd is tagged in. Itami gains the advantage and tags in Balor. Kidd quickly tags in Gabriel. Balor hits a dropkick on Gabriel. Balor goes to the top but Kidd pulls Kidd out of harms way. Balor hits a front flip over the top rope on both men.
*Commercial Break*
THe show returns with Hideo Itami in control of Gabriel. Gabriel fights back but is stopped with a snapmare for a 2 count. Balor is tagged in and hits a big chop. Gabriel reverses a whip and kicks Balor off the apron. Kidd is tagged in and hits a neckbreaker on the outside. Gabriel is tagged in and beats on Balor. He throws him back in for a 2 count. Gabriel hits a snapmare followed by a kick. Kidd is tagged in and they double team Balor for a 2 count. Balor is driven to the corner and delivers a flurry of forearms. Kidd applies a sleeper hold. Gabriel is tagged in and delivers a suplex followed by an arm submission. Kid is tagged in and get taken out by Balor with a pele kick. Itami is tagged in and hits a dropkick on Kidd for 2. Kidd fights back and tags in Gabriel. Gabriel goes to the top but gets caught with a knee from Itami. Balor is tagged in and they hit they double basement dropkicks on Kidd and Gabriel. Balor hits the diving footstomp on Gabriel for the 3 count.
WINNERS: Hideo Itami and Finn Balor
Sami Zayn is interviewed about his upcoming match against Adrian Neville.
*Commercial Break*
MATCH: Sasha Banks w/ Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss
Banks drives Bliss to the corner and stomps her to the mat. Banks hits a snapmare followed by a slap for the 2 count. Banks applies a submission hold. Bliss reverses for a 2 count. Bliss hits a headscissors followed by a sunset flip powerbomb for 2. Banks fights back with a dropkick and applies the Banks Statement for the submission.
WINNER: Sasha Banks via Submission
Adrian Neville is interviewed about his match tonight with Sami Zayn.
*Commercial Break*
MATCH: Lucha Dragons vs. Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake
Kalisto starts off against Blake. Blake gets behind Kalisto. Blake applies a knuckle lock. Kalisto reverses but Murphy gets the blind tag. Kalisto goes for a crossbody but Murphy catches him and hits a suplex for 2. Blake is tagged back in and hits a clothesline for 2. Blake drops an elbow for another 2. Murphy is tagged in and stomps Kalisto. Murphy hits a snapmare followed by a knee drop. Blake is tagged in and hits Kalisto from the top rope for 2. Blake applies an armbar. Murphy is tagged in and drives Kalisto's head into the mat for 2. Blake is tagged back in and they double teamm Kalisto. Kalisto fights back and tags in Sin Cara. Sin Cara hits a crossbody followed by a headscissors. Sin Cara hits a springboard elbow for a 2 count. Sin Cara counters Blake and hits the diving senton for the 3 count.
WINNERS: Lucha Dragons via Pinfall
The Vaudvillains are interviewed about their championship prospects.
*Commercial Break*
MATCH: Adrian Neville vs. Sami Zayn
The 2 men lock up and exchange hold. Zayn brings Neville to the mat. Neville applies a headlock. Zayn fights out and hits an armdrag. Zayn applies a wristlock. Neville fights out but Zayn goes up and over him. Zayn sidesteps a dropkick and hits one of his own. Neville rolls out of the ring. He goes for a somersault plancha but Neville moves. Zayn catches himself and flips back in the ring. Neville gets back in and hits a series of kicks on Zayn.
*Commercial Break*
The show returns with Neville in control. He applies a rear chinlock. Zayn fights out but eats a European uppercut for 2. Zayn is driven to the corner. Neville delivers a big chop followed by a forearm for 2. Neville applies a rear chinlock. Zayn fights out but is stopped with a roundhouse kick. Zayn gets to the vertical base and gets caught with a forearm. He fights back and clotheslines Neville to the outside. Zayn hits a frontflip over the top rope onto Neville. Back in the ring, Zayn goes to the top. Neville catches him with a knee and hits a standing shooting star press for 2. Neville goes for a powerbomb but Zayn counters. Neville goes for a headscissors but Zayn counters with a powerbomb. Neville fights back with a series of kicks. Zayn ducks a roundhouse and hits several German suplexes for a close 2 count. Zayn goes for the Helluva kick but Neville catches him with a boot. Zayn fights back and goes for the exploder suplex. Neville counters and rolls up Zayn for 2. Neville hits a kick to Zayn's head. Neville goes to the top. He goes for the Red Arrow but Zayn moves. Neville fakes a knee injury and rolls up Zayn when he goes to check on him. Neville gets the 3 count.
WINNER: Adrian Neville via Pinfall
REVIEW:
This was a great episode of NXT. Hideo Itami and Finn Balor appear to be established as a tag-team which is awesome. WWE's tag-team division has been noticeably terrible for a few years now, and they seem to be taking serious steps to remedy the situation in NXT. There are a number of great tag-teams in NXT right now and I look forward to seeing this division really heat up in the coming months.
The main event was a spectacular match. While I am still waiting to see Zayn with the gold around his waist, this slow burn rivalry between Neville and Zayn is nothing short of classic. The way the match ended tonight was a great way to keep the feud going. I'm predicting that we're going to see Zayn win the belt at the next NXT live special.
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