The NXT Recap (7/17/19)

It’s time for our weekly NXT recap.  This week promises to be another loaded show as we are on the road to the next NXT Takeover.

NXT Recap

THE KING OF BROS BATTERS RUAS AND KILLIAN DAIN MAKES A STATEMENT

Former UFC fighter Matt Riddle squared off with Arturo Ruas, (no doubt inspired by Marcos Ruas), in a match the commentators sold more as an MMA fight. While the competitors did decide to focus more on submissions, takedowns and striking than on the usual lock up and rest holds, the most noteworthy moment was the end of the match when Riddle tko’d Ruas with an elbow from the full mount.

It was the post-match assault from Killian Dain that is what will have most people talks. Dain battered “The King of Bros” with a barrage of strikes and a pair of running sentons to the back of Riddle. The lasting image will be of when Dain hit an on his knees prone Riddle with another running senton, sending both competitors through the stage.

The appropriately nicknamed “North Ireland Nightmare” made an emphatic statement in his NXT re-debut staring through Riddle, as the officials tried to keep him from causing any more damage.

BRONSON REED OVERCOMES DEXTER LUMIS TO ADVANCE TO THE SEMI-FINALS

The final first-round match of NXT’s Breakout Tournament took place as Bronson Reed (fka Jonah Rock) faced off with the unnerving Dexter Lumis (fka Sam Shaw). The two competitors changed control often throughout the contest, Reed using his size and power, while Lumis targeted the throat/neck early on and used his athleticism in spurts to gain the edge when needed.

It looked like Lumis was set to advance to the next round, but Reed rolled out of the way of Lumis’ top rope Swanton at the last second. A forceful backdrop followed by a top rope splash scored the victory for Reed, as he advances to face Cameron Grimes.

KUSHIDA TAPS OUT THE RETURNING APOLLO CREWS

The Japanese Sensation Kushida continues to welcome all challengers as he faced off against Smackdown’s Apollo Crews. What a match! While the purpose of this match was to further establish Kudshida, it just reminds you of how underrated Apollo Crews is.

Crews was able to highlight his power game with a stalling suplex, an overhead belly to belly, and an impressive german suplex; but also his surprising agility with a standing shooting star press. Crews looked poised to get the upset as he climbed to the top rope. It was not meant to be as Kushida joined him on the top rope, and Kushida locked in an armbar as the competitors went crashing down to the floor.

Crews tried to fight it off, but Kushida countered into a Hoverboard/Sakuraba Lock for the tap out. This was arguably the closest Kushida has come to losing since his debut, but both men looked incredible.

ADAM COLE RETURNS TO DEFEND…..AND GARGANO RETURNS TO FIGHT!!!

Adam Cole made his return from the “Bay Bay world tour to defend his title against…Twan Tucker. No title match happened though as Tucker brought out Johnny Gargano who furiously attacked Cole chasing him into the crowd.

While it appeared a few time Cole might be able to escape Gargano kept coming back to continue his assault. Gargano rammed Cole through the guardrail barricade by the stage, as officials finally came out to separate the two.

Just as it looked like Adam Cole would escape with his head held high, Gargano came back out diving off the stage onto his rival. The two made their way back to the ring where Gargano nailed Cole with a superkick, quickly followed by him applying the Gargano escape.

Johnny Wrestling released the hold satisfied with the damage he had done. The show ended as Gargano watched officials check on Cole from the ramp, foreshadowing these two are far from finished.

So ends this week’s NXT recap stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.  And make sure to watch NXT every week on the WWE Network