Welcome to NXT Future Five on Last Word On Sports, where each week we analyze the latest episode of World Wrestling Entertainment Network’s hottest program, NXT and rank the five performers who made the biggest impact.
Show Overview
- Opening Video Package: A well done collection of superstars and legends talking about how great NXT is, transitioning into a compilation of featured matches for the event tonight. A good way to alert viewers that they will be witnessing something special tonight
- Tyler Breeze vs Finn Balor: Both men took advantage of the new set with spectacular entrances that reminded me of the WWE’s bigger events. Breeze turned the ramp into a walk way, while Balor added to his demon persona with a spiked cloak. Sadly, Hideo Itami was not cleared to wrestle because of his torn rotator cuff. Instead we saw a video of Itami laid out in the parking lot. Even still, we got a hard hitting opener from two very talented individuals. These two were out to kick the show off with something memorable, and no moment was more memorable than Balor leaping off of the new set onto Breeze on the outside. Moments later, a Cou De Grace ended the match, making Finn Balor the #1 Contender to the NXT Championship once again. Backstage we saw NXT Champion Kevin Owens watching Balor celebrate. He shook his head in disappointment and walked away. He wasn’t the only cut away seen at the end of the match. Game of Thrones star Hafthor Bjorssen was seen sitting next to Stephanie McMahon. Could it be that WWE is looking to move mountains into NXT?
- Philadelphia and Albany Video Recap: With NXT moving into a regular touring schedule, sharing footage from these house shows is a great way to entice fans to go out and purchase tickets when NXT comes to their town. Seeing that footage is always fun.
- Dana Brooke and Emma vs Charlotte and Bayley: Bayley was incredibly over with the crowd, and I suspect it won’t be long before she is either holding championship gold or called up to the main roster. This was Dana Brooke’s strongest showing yet in NXT and Emma did a great job showing off her new cowardly heel character. There was some great chemistry from all four women in this match, and they kept the crowd excited and engaged the entire time. In the end, Charlotte used her Natural Selection finisher to end the match in favor of her and her partner. It wasn’t anything spectacular, but it didn’t have to be. Sometimes less is more, and in this case much more.
- Sami Zayn Raw Recap/New Signees: We got to see a recap of Sami Zayn’s appearance on RAW where he hurt his shoulder. We then cut backstage to Zayn looking intensely into a mirror. We went back into Full Sail University where the camera panned over the latest NXT signees, all of whom got no reaction until they reached Uhaa Nation. The crowd cheered loudly and started an UHAA chant, which the young man laughed off, obviously flattered.
- Rhyno vs Baron Corbin: The thing I was most interested in going into this match aside from the outcome was the crowd’s reaction to Baron Corbin. Overall, I’d say it was favorable, but it wasn’t nearly as strong as it has been in the past and there were moments where the crowd was firmly behind the Man Beast. If you are a fan of smash mouth wrestling, this was likely the match of the night for you. Both men were extremely physical with one another and it was nice to see Baron show some personality during the match. After a brief comeback from Rhyno, Baron Corbin surprised a lot of folks by hitting End of Days out of nowhere on the almost 300 lbs Man Beast for the pin fall victory.
- Kevin Owens Raw Recap/Backstage Interview: A video recap of Owen’s appearance on RAW attacking United States Champion John Cena. We then cut backstage to Owens talking about the big week that he has had this week, and how he was going to take out Zayn permanently. Despite being one of the most despicable characters on the roster, there is still a very vocal segment of the NXT Universe that cheer for him. That likely has more to do with today’s breed of wrestling fan that the work Owens is doing, which is top notch.
- NXT Tag Team Championship Match – Enzo Amore and Big Cass with Carmella vs Blake and Murphy: While Enzo Amore and Big Cass remain one of NXT’s most popular acts, Blake and Murphy have taken a page out of the Lenny and Lodi school of obnoxiousness and done a great job of getting the NXT Universe to hate them. Following a traditional tag team match formula, this one thrived on the respective love and hate for the men in the ring. Incidently, it would be a woman on the outside of the ring that had the biggest impact, when Alexa Bliss attacked Carmella, offering a distraction to Big Cass, and then knocked Enzo Amore from the top rope, allowing Blake to cover him for the pin fall victory and a successful defense of their tag team championship. This was a smart move because it allowed fans to continue cheering Amore and Cass while they chase the belts. Seated at ringside was Total Divas star Eva Marie as we headed into the NXT Women’s Championship match.
- NXT Women’s Championship Match – Sasha Banks vs Becky Lynch: We were treated to an excellent video package recapping the story of this match, and then we were treated to what I consider the best match of the show. Both Lynch and Sasha were given an extended entrance, following them from backstage to the ring. This was especially effective for Becky who has debuting a brand new Steampunk inspired look and firey red hair. Scientific wrestling was the order of the day early on, with Lynch taking control and attempting her Armbar. Once things moved to the outside and the action switched to a brawl, it was time for Sasha to take over. From there, Banks systematically picked apart Lynch, almost to the point of torture while Becky refused to give up. Eventually Lynch was able to turn the tide and then both ladies kicked things into over drive. The tide continued to turn back and forth between the two until Becky went on a roll hitting Banks with moves we haven’t seen from her before. It would be all for naught however as moments later, Banks would apply the Bank Statement and retain her championship via submission. As tears streamed down the face of Becky Lynch, the crowd gave both ladies a well deserved standing ovation. I hope Stephanie McMahon was watching that match very closely.
- NXT Championship Match – Sami Zayn vs Kevin Owens: Another fantastic video package that told the story of the six month story leading to the main event. Kevin Owens came out wearing a John Cena shirt to get more heat for his upcoming match with the United States Champion at Elimination Chamber. We got the usual stall tactics from Owens but it didn’t last long as Zayn went after his former best friend on the outside. Things quickly degenerated into a brawl, with Zayn absolutely dominating Owens. For minutes on end, Sami Zayn punished the NXT Champion relentlessly, and despite Owens catching a knee to the back of Zayn, Sami quickly took control back and further pummeled Kevin until they headed to the outside. Zayn charged at Owens, who launched him into the air and gave him a Pop Up Power Bomb on the ring apron. The same move that injured him months ago. From there, Owens ignored officials and continued to beat on Zayn. Even when NXT General Manager William Regal came out to warn him, Owens answered by head butting Regal and knocking him unconscious. Owens then went for a chair and was looking to beat on Sami some more, when new music came on the speakers and out walked Samoa Joe. The Samoan Submission Machine stared down Kevin Owens, who skulked away with his title in hand to end the show.
This event was a slam dunk from top to bottom. Absolutely no wasted motion here. WWE went out of their way to make this night feel important and special with a new set, elaborate entrances, and big surprises. We had a match of the year candidate and had lots to talk about coming out of it. Let’s hope WWE capitalizes on all the buzz that will be generated from this show. If you missed it live, I suggest you watch it on demand. It is worth your time.
The Future Five
5. Finn Balor (Last Week – Not Ranked): Adding new artwork and gear to his demon persona, Finn Balor kicked off Unstoppable with a hard fought and well earned victory, making him #1 contender to the NXT Championship for the second time. The crowd still loves him and when they are chanting “This is awesome” after just your entrance, you know that you have captured the imaginations of the NXT Universe. His leap from the set was a highlight for the night.
4. Baron Corbin (Last Week – 4): While he didn’t compete for a championship or wrestle in the main event, Baron Corbin had the biggest victory of his career this week, defeating a former Extreme Championship Wrestling World Champion, National Wrestling Alliance World Champion, and WWE superstar Rhyno. This win showed that Corbin could not only hang against the big boys (both figuratively and literally), but showed he could do more than squash jobber in less than a minute. We witnessed the evolution of his character and it appears as though it will serve him well.
3. Samoa Joe (Last Week – Not Ranked): I never expected to be writing about Samoa Joe this week, but that goes to show you how tight lipped WWE kept this secret until the final moments of Unstoppable. NXT has become the new king of the independents without actually being an independent company. Will Samoa Joe end up being the new crown jewel of this kingdom? Only time will tell, but right now one thing is clear: At the end of the night, the only name on everybody’s lips was Samoa Joe. Even following a tremendous show full of action, a man with a towel and an incredible reputation was the talk of the wrestling world last night. That’s how you make an impression!
2. Kevin Owens (Last Week – 2): For the second week in a row, Kevin Owens misses the top spot, but it certainly wasn’t for a lack of trying. It is incredible how your fortune can change in a single moment. Throughout the main event, Kevin Owens was getting his tail handed to himby Sami Zayn. He practically had no offense whatsoever, but with one Pop Up Power Bomb on the ring apron, Kevin Owens saved his skin and his NXT Championship. Owens went into Unstoppable saying he was going to hurt Sami Zayn again and take him out for good. There is no question that he accomplished that first goal, and if it hadn’t been for Samoa Joe, he might very well have accomplished the second goal as well.
1. Sasha Banks & Becky Lynch (Last Week – 5, Last Week – Not Ranked): I realized that I’m cheating by placing two wrestlers in the number one spot, but I honestly believe both these women deserve to be on top this week. They had the best match on a card full of very good matches, and received a standing ovation for their troubles. Sasha Banks might have walked away with her title in tow, adding to her legacy, but Becky Lynch was made a bonafide star during that match. We as an audience saw a passion from her that had been lacking earlier, and Sasha continued to prove that everything she says can be backed up. At the Philadelphia show last weekend, the women of NXT were in the main event. After this match, it isn’t hard to see why.
Final Thoughts:
There was no lack of choices for the Future Five this week, and everyone on the show was quite impressive. In the end it came down to impact. Finn Balor became new #1 contender to the NXT Championship. While some may argue that was a bigger victory than a win over a former WWE guy, I would say that Balor has been in this spot before, whereas Baron Corbin has never had an accomplishment this huge in his career. Samoa Joe may be the popular topic of conversation, which is huge in itself for a guy that didn’t wrestle, his impact will likely be felt further along the line as opposed to right now. Kevin Owens on the other hand, made an impact with one move. One move ended his match, possibly hurt his opponent, and brought out Samoa Joe. That’s impactful. Of course, no match made a bigger impact than that of the NXT Women’s Championship. Sasha created a legacy with this match and Becky made herself into a star. No other match, and no two competitors on the card, can claim to have done that in 20 minutes this week.
