Did you miss NXT this week? Well, I’m here to make it all better. It’s the weekly NXT Report Card, right here at Last Word on Pro Wrestling. Did you miss last week’s report card? Check it out here and catch up on all the action.
So, what happened during Bobby Roode‘s glorious return to the yellow brand? Additionally, who will draw the ire of Eric Young and SAnitY next? Let’s find out, shall we?
NXT Report Card: (5/31/16) – A Bobby Roode Awakening
In-Ring Segment: Tommaso Ciampa’s “Moment”
To open up our show tonight, we laid eyes on the rather odd sight of an injured Tommaso Ciampa. Ciampa hobbled down to the ring to chants of “Why, Ciampa, Why?” and from there, he began his promo. First off, Ciampa…couldn’t say anything because of the booing crowd. Then, he called his former friend Johnny Gargano out to the ring. After a bit of waiting, Ciampa explained that Gargano would not be at the arena tonight. Why? Well, because Tommaso Ciampa threw him into the set at Takeover: Chicago. Finally, Ciampa explained that Gargano (and the NXT crowd) had planned to replace him. That, simply, is why he did what he did to Gargano.
“I am not a damn afterthought,” Ciampa explained to the crowd, simultaneously losing his mind in the process. During the ladder match, he added, he felt something in his knee pop. However, he kept fighting “for you people”, but that’s when he got a new perspective on life. Ciampa, finally, explained that he would replace Johnny Gargano before he could replace him. This promo was chilling, and I wasn’t really sure if Ciampa had it in him here. Looks like I was very wrong.
Segment Grade: A
Match: Pete Dunne vs. Danny Burch
Did Danny Burch have “the stuff” this week on NXT? Let’s take a look. This week he faced the reigning WWE United Kingdom Champion, Pete Dunne. Since coming to the yellow brand, Burch hasn’t really made much of his roster spot. Despite showing out in the United Kingdom Tournament and having a great theme song, Burch has been…meh, in NXT.
Man, Pete Dunne is a menacing dude. Honestly, he does not feel like a cruiserweight, or should I say “bruiserweight.” Anyways, he really came to play this week as once again, Burch couldn’t keep him down. In spite of a pretty good match with a great technical finish, Burch just can’t seem to find his footing. Either way, the technical wrestling on display here was a feast for the eyes. Burch would not stay down, and really gave Dunne nearly all that he could handle. In the end though, Dunne came out on top, just like a proper champion. Perhaps he can be the British wrestler that WWE features on their United Kingdom show. Dunne talked some trash to Tyler Bate after the match, and mentioned that he would love to be the one to carry the UK Brand. At any cost.
Segment Grade: B+
Match: Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Cesar Bononi
Andrade Almas has fallen on hard times for the past couple of matched. Additionally, he was left off of the Takeover: Chicago card. This, though? This was exactly what he needed to get back on- wait a minute, he lost?
That’s right folks. Cesar Bononi, somehow, some way, found a way to beat Andrade Almas. In an upset for the ages, Almas took a roll-up pinfall in a bout that he should have dominated. Alright, so what’s the deal? Is NXT actually planning something for Bononi, or is this just an upset for the sake of one? That was weird, and I was really expecting Almas to show me something this week.
Segment Grade: C+
In-Ring Segment: Bobby Roode’s GLORIOUS Celebration
Oh, wait. We aren’t invited? No, no seriously. They didn’t have Bobby Roode’s segment this week because he chose not to invite the crowd to his celebration. That’s hysterical. However, I personally would have liked to be invited.
Segment Grade: N/A
Match: Eric Young and Killian Dain vs. Kassius Ohno and Roderick Strong
After that let-down of a non-segment, we got our main event. And boy, was this a strong main event. Usually, I’m personally not a fan of these Teddy Long-esque tag team matched. However, this bout was fast, hard-hitting, and damn impressive. Not only did SAnitY look as controlling and menacing as ever, but Kassius Ohno and Roderick Strong worked strikingly well together. Something about their styles really meshed together, and they were able to get some excellent offense in.
Throughout this match, bodies never seemed to stop flying. From Eric Young coming off the top rope, to Ohno’s dive to the outside, everything was a moving part here. Even for a casual lucha libre fan, this style of athleticism could be impressive. By the bout’s end, SAnitY’s numbers game was nearly too much for Ohno and Strong to bear. But this time, No Way Jose came in to help. Just as it seemed SAnitY had it won, Jose came in for the save. It might have taken an extra man, but SAnitY did not pick up the win tonight.
Segment Grade: B
A Hundred Words or Less
For those who said, “Too long; didn’t read”, I offer you this. Tonight’s NXT in one hundred words or less.
Tonight, we saw Tommaso Ciampa finally explain why he ended DIY. Next, Danny Burch still couldn’t get the job done against the champion Pete Dunne. After that, Cesar Bononi pulled an upset on a sputtering Andrade Almas. Additionally, Bobby Roode had a party, but none of us were invited. Finally, No Way Jose saved the day in an effort against SAnitY. Overall, this show was a B+. However, Bobby Roode gets an F.
