WWE NXT Results
January 18, 2017
Winter Park, Florida (Full Sail University)
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves, Percy Watson
“WWE: Then. Now. Forever.”
Tonight is the contract signing for the NXT Championship at NXT Takeover: San Antonio! With that, the NXT intro brings us into a packed Full Sail University as Nikki Cross and SAnitY make their way to the ring. We go back to last week when Nikkie Cross “saved” Asuka only to attack the Women’s Champion right after. We find out that William Regal has made the Fatal Four Way match official for the NXT Women’s Championship, and the opening match of the night is underway!
Nikki Cross vs. Kennadi Lewis
Nikki goes after Lewis early, throwing her off with a flurry of offense in the corner before pulling her around by the hair. Lewis tries to fight back, but Cross is relentless with a Lou Thez press and pulling at the face of Lewis. Lewis tries once more to fight back, but Nikki hits a spinning neckbreaker for the win!
Winner via pinfall: Nikki Cross
Commentary hypes the NXT Women’s Championship match at Takeover: San Antonio, a Fatal Four Way as Asuka defends against Billie Kay, Peyton Royce, and Nikki Cross before we go to break.
Alex’s Thoughts: Remember what I said last week about short “squash” matches like this in NXT? Still holds true here. As someone fairly new to NXT it’s nice to get a small taste of what Nikki Cross is capable of, as we head toward Takeover: San Antonio!
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We thank NF for the song “Intro 2,” one of the theme songs for Takeover: San Antonio! Backstage, we are with No Way Jose who talks about having a lot of fun in the new year. New year, same me, one hundred percent No Way Jose! This doesn’t go well with Kona Reeves, who calls Jose out for not helping him out when SAnitY attacked. Jose shrugs it off, offering to either dance with or fight Kona in the ring as Kona walks off. Commentary hypes the contract later tonight before we go backstage again, as Revival addresses the fact DIY have their Tag Team Championships. TM61 interrupts to tell Revival they need to fight to earn another title shot…to which Revival respond by making a challenge and promising not to pin or make TM61 submit…tonight they will cripple TM61! Revival walk off as commentary hype Roderick Strong taking on Steve Cutler, up next!
Alex’s Thoughts: Good couple of segments here. I’m still getting used to No Way Jose, but this looks like an interesting feud with Kona Reeves. Great exchange between Revival and TM61, as well.
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Back from the break, Roderick Strong makes his way to the ring for the next match. Steve Cutler comes out next, and this match is underway!
Roderick Strong vs. Steve Cutler
Both men lock up, exchanging holds until Strong gets Cutler down with a wristlock. Strong continues the attack, nailing Cutler with a hard dropkick. Cutler gets some momentum, but Strong gets a leapfrog that changes the pace in his favor. Cutler whips Strong hard into the corner, bringing him down hard. Cutler follows up with some right hands before getting a cover for a nearfall. Cutler working a sleeper until Strong backs him into a corner to break the hold. Strong unleashing on Cutler with elbows and an enziguri, followed by a gourd buster and a running knee. Strong drives Cutler into the mat, following with a Sick Kick for the win!
Winner via pinfall: Roderick Strong
Strong is interviewed after the match, but despite what Almas has to say, Strong says his sights are set on the NXT World Championship. Backstage, Ember Moon is interviewed about her role in the NXT Women’s division, promising she’ll make her presence known before she’s interrupted by Liv Morgan. She challenges Moon to a “scrap” to prove that there is plenty of competition in the division. Moon accepts before walking off, as commentary hypes Tye Dillinger addressing what’s next for him. We thank Memphis Mayfire for “This Light I Hold” featuring Jacoby Shaddix, another official theme song for Takeover: San Antonio, before Tye Dillinger makes his way out to the ring with microphone in hand. Tye thanks the cheering crowd, but says he ended 2016 with a big question mark as the crowd chants “ROYAL RUMBLE” and “NUMBER 10.” Tye says there are only so many times you can let down the same people that have had your back in the ten years he’s been here. He asks if he still belongs in NXT, if he’s still a perfect…Mr. Regal believed in me, you all believe in me, and in the Fatal Four Way I was this close—Tye is interrupted by the music of SAnitY as they make their way out. Eric Young tells Tye he didn’t have it, last year, this year, it doesn’t matter…but you could have it, you just need some guidance, you have to make the right choices. You have to pick the right path. You gotta pick the right friends. He raises a SAnitY jacket, which Wolfe brings over to Tye. Tye looks at it, grabbing it only to throw it out of the ring. Eric has Wolfe come down, and says he gets it. Sometimes the right choice can be unclear. He’s been in that spot before, trying to do it everyone else’s way before deciding to do it his way. Tye can do it their way too. Young offers the jacket again, saying he wants to make sure it’s clear. There’s a lot he’s saying, but he wants to make it clear that he’s NOT asking! Tye lifts the jacket, dropping it to the mat before throwing punches at Young. SAnitY get involved by are stopped by Tye, who takes a big spear by Damo who comes into the ring. He stares at Young before dropping Tye with a big slam. Young offers Damo the jacket, which Damo looks at before slinging it over his shoulder! Commentary hypes the contract signing later tonight, but up next TM61 takes on The Revival!
Alex’s Thoughts: Don’t have much on the match itself, but I really like seeing Roderick Strong in NXT simple as that. If he wants to declare the NXT Championship a World title, who am I to argue? The Moon/Morgan segment helps show the depth of the NXT Women’s Division, and I loved the Tye/SAnitY segment as a way to finally introduce Damo into the group. I also like the idea of Tye feuding with this group for a little bit. (Oh, and Tye’s dreaminess tonight is 10/10! You’re welcome.)
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Back from break, commentary confirms that Tye Dillinger takes on Eric Young at Takeover: San Antonio as TM61 make their way to the ring for the next match. Out next is The Revival, and this match is underway!
TM-61 (Shane Thorne and Nick Miller) vs. The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder)
Things start off with a brawl between all four men, before Dash and Nick fall out of the ring leaving Shane and Dawson to start the match proper. Dawson takes out Shane’s knee before throwing a lot of fists against the head. Scoop slam, tag to Dash and a double team for a nearfall. Dash continues the attack before tagging in Dawson, and they keep Shane away from a tag with a double team before Dawson picks right up with a series of stomps. Shane on the ropes as Dawson lays into him with a hard chop. Dawson with another stomp, taunting him as he hits some European uppercuts. Shane turns things around with some chops before getting a backslide for a nearfall. Tag to Dash and tag to Nick but Shane takes a Shatter Machine from Revival! Nick picking up steam until he’s stopped in his tracks with a spinebuster by Dash, who tags in Dawson. Dash tries to get involved but is stopped by Shane, as Nick rolls Dawson up for the win!
Winners via pinfall: TM-61
Revival attack TM61 after the match, none too happy about the surprise win as they take Nick out with a Shatter Machine. Shane gets back in the ring, but gets destroyed for his efforts. The ref breaks things up, and Revival finally leave the ring. Officials come down to check on Shane, whose knee might have been torn apart by that attack by Revival. Commentary transition to talk about the contract signing coming up next!
Alex’s Thoughts: This was a fun, pretty competitive match between these teams and I really enjoyed the shock win and the post-match assault as it sets up a potentially great feud between these teams!
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Back from break, commentary confirm a new match for Takeover: San Antonio as Andrade “Cien” Almas takes on Roderick Strong! We also find out that next week, Ember Moon takes on Liv Morgan!
NXT Championship Contract Signing
Back in the ring, William Regal is standing by for the contract signing as he introduces first the challenger, Bobby Roode!
“GLORIOUS, NO I WON’T GIVE IN, I WON’T GIVE IN TILL I’M VICTORIOUS, AND I WILL DEFEND, I WILL DEFEND”
Bobby Roode stands on a pedestal that spins around to show him off before making his way to the ring, the crowd singing along to his theme. Regal introduces next the NXT Champion, Shinsuke Nakamura! The crowd sings along to his theme as the champ makes his way to the ring. Regal begins to speak but Roode interrupts as the crowd chants “NAKAMURA.” Roode says this contract signing won’t go the way a lot of his other signings have gone, there won’t be any physicality. This match is the biggest money matches in NXT history. Roode’s been watching Nakamura’s career since his days in Japan, but he never really felt he was worth Roode’s time. The ticket Roode gave Nakamura last week was his ticket from NXT Takeover: Dallas, where he sat in the front row to witness the beginning of the Nakamura era. From that moment on he’s made a name for himself, beating Finn Balor and Samoa Joe and becoming a two-time NXT Champion! You call yourself the King of Strong Style, but you have no style: you have half a haircut, you like you’re in the Thriller movie from Michael Jackson, you dance around…who are you? Nakamura responds saying he knew their paths would cross. I like you because you look like a Shiba Inu, which gets a “SHIBA INU” chant from the crowd. Maybe your shoes are too tight, but you won’t change NXT as long as I’m champion. Bobby says everyone fears change, but Nakamura needs to wake up. We’re not in the land of zero talent, you’re standing in the ring with the best wrestler on God’s green earth! I am the It Factor of sports entertainment, and you are a joke! I had an agenda when I came in, and some of the changes are happening. The guys in the back have started trading in their shirts and flip flops for suits and designer shoes. Some of the fans have traded in their pathetic lifestyles to try to be Bobby Roode. The final change is gonna happen in San Antonio, and my agenda will be complete because I will silence your fans around the world and I will take that NXT Championship and put it around my waist! He goes to sign to the contract as we get dueling chants of “NAKAMURA” and “BOBBY ROODE.” Roode says when he wins the NXT Championship, it will finally be GL—Nakamura stops him, putting a hand to his face. Bobby, you look great! You are one of the best in the world. But, at Takeover you are NOT taking my NXT title! The champ signs the contract, before saying he’s going to kick Roode’s head off in San Antonio. They stare each other day as the dueling chants continue, before Nakamura smiles saying it will be…GLORIOUS! They stare each other down to a “YES” chant as Nakamura’s music hits. The crowd sings along to the champ’s music as Roode leaves the ring. The challenger continues to stare down the champ, who raises his title as the show comes to a close.
Alex’s Overall Thoughts: The contract signing was a great way to end this episode. Really enjoyed the back and forth between champ and challenger, and I’m super stoked for that match at Takeover! One thing I was tripping out on during the segment, though…can anyone explain the weird camera angle when they show Nakamura? Have they been doing this the whole time? It vaguely reminds me of the Batman show from the 60s with the weird angles. Not that it’s a bad thing, just…weird. Like I said, though, I’m excited for this match! Great show all around this week, as we get ever closer to Takeover: San Antonio!
Quick Results:
* Nikki Cross def. Kennedy Lewis
* Roderick Strong def. Steve Cutler
* TM61 def. The Revival
That’s it for this week, Wrestleviewniverse! What did you think of NXT? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter @Power2TheSmarks!