Oney Lorcan is officially part of the 205 Live roster.
After Lorcan appeared on tonight’s 205 Live episode, WWE uploaded a video where Drake Maverick announced that Lorcan has joined the cruiserweight division and will be wrestling on NXT and 205 Live going forward.
Lorcan was involved in the show-closing angle on this week’s 205 Live. He came out before the bell rang for Cedric Alexander vs. Ariya Daivari and sat at ringside for the match. After Alexander hit a dive to the floor, he accidentally knocked Lorcan’s jacket off of the announce table. Lorcan got mad at Alexander and yelled at him, leading to Daivari rolling up Alexander to win.
Lorcan and Alexander brawled after the match, with Lorcan giving Alexander a cheap shot as officials tried to break it up.
Alexander defeated Lorcan in the semifinals of 205 Live’s number one contender’s tournament. Tony Nese won the tournament and will challenge for Buddy Murphy’s Cruiserweight Championship at WrestleMania 35.
Tony Nese and Cedric Alexander will square off in the finals of the 205 Live #1 contender’s tournament next week.
Nese and Alexander both won semifinal matches tonight to advance to next week’s finals. Alexander and Oney Lorcan had a hard hitting affair to open this week’s show, but Lorcan took too long to finish Alexander. While Lorcan was on offense, Alexander suddenly blocked him and laid him out with the lumbar check for the win.
Nese meanwhile battled Drew Gulak, who had the advantage on him near the end of the match with the Gu-lock. Nese battled through, using the ropes for leverage and managed to hop over Gulak, covering him to advance.
The winner of the match next week will face Buddy Murphy for the Cruiserweight title at WrestleMania 35. Murphy has been absent from the show in the last few weeks, instead sending in videos. This week, he said it didn’t matter who would end up winning the tournament as there’s no stopping the unstoppable.
Both semifinal matches in 205 Live’s number one contender’s tournament are set for next week.
Tony Nese vs. Drew Gulak and Cedric Alexander vs. NXT’s Oney Lorcan will be taking place on next Tuesday’s 205 Live, with the winners advancing to the finals. The winner of the tournament will challenge for Buddy Murphy’s Cruiserweight Championship at WrestleMania 35.
Alexander advanced to the semifinals by defeating Akira Tozawa in the main event of this week’s 205 Live, while Lorcan defeated Humberto Carrillo to advance. This was the second time that Lorcan has wrestled on 205 Live. He previously lost to Rich Swann on the show in April 2017.
Nese defeated Kalisto and Gulak defeated Brian Kendrick in first round matches last week.
At last year’s WrestleMania, Alexander won the Cruiserweight Championship by defeating Mustafa Ali in a tournament final. He held the title until dropping it to Murphy at Super Show-Down in October.
WrestleMania 35 is taking place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on April 7.
– Mansoor Al-Shehail (w/ Shadia Bseiso) defeated Daniel Vidot
Bseiso introduced Mansoor tonight and taught the crowd the word “welcome” in Arabic. Vidot missed a spear in the corner, allowing Mansoor to cradle him for the pin.
– Eric Bugenhagen did an air guitar solo. The fans love this man and he doesn’t even have to wrestle.
Great match — it got a “This is awesome” chant late. Barthel and Aichner worked over Lorcan until he could make a hot tag to Burch, who hit a ripcord stunner and set up the double-team spike DDT to win it.
Taped January 25-27 at Royal Rumble Axxess at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona
Quick rundown —
Jack Gallagher beat Tyler Bate, Grizzled Young Veterans defended their NXT UK tag team titles, beating Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch and WALTER beat Kassius Ohno.
Full results —
The show opened right with out first match, Tyler Bate vs. Jack Gallagher, making his NXT UK debut.
Tyler Bate pinned “Gentleman” Jack Gallagher in 9:46 after a roll-up
They had a great scientific babyface match with lots submissions and mat wrestling.
Bate applied a wrist lock right away but Gallagher managed to escape and took Bate down for a one-count. They went into mat-wrestling with submissions and counters withing the first minute and Gallagher gave Bate some trouble with a leg vice which Bate eventually escaped from. Gallagher showed his submission prowess and training under Billy Robinson with some unique submission attempts that had Bate cringing on the mat.
Gallagher kept working on Bate’s knees and ankles and Bate didn’t really have an answer to being tied into a pretzel at will at that point and even was slightly limping after continued submissions. Bate eventually came back with an arm lever extension and went for an airplane spin, but Gallagher quickly escaped and locked in another submission until Bate managed to reach the ropes. They ended up in round-and-round roll-ups that had both men and the referee dizzy until Bate finally managed to pick up the win with a surprise roll-up.
We saw a training session at the NXT UK Performance Center where Robbie Brookside ran some drills involving a few wrestlers, including Travis Banks. Jordan Devlin suddenly appeared, pulling Banks off the apron and attacked him on the outside until Brookside and the other wrestlers broke it up.
We took a short look at WALTER’s dominance in NXT UK.
A video hyping the “Nina Samuels” show aired.
Eddie Dennis cut a promo at the NXT UK Performance Center and said that people wondered what happened to him after losing to Dave Mastiff at TakeOver. He said when he retuirns, he would take down the roster one by one.
WALTER pinned Kassius Ohno in 8:37 after a power bomb
These two faced off in wXw (at a 16 Carat Gold tournament final no less), PROGRESS and even WWE at WrestleMania weekend last year.
They went for a test of strenght right away and WALTER showed his dominance early. Ohno took a swing but looked concerned right away, He applied a head lock but WALTER easily escaped and started working over Ohno’s arm.Ohno foolishly chopped WALTER who just looked at him, then smashed his big frame into the American, sending him crashing to the mat. He hit a big boot, sending Ohno to ringside. They traded forearms on the outside until WALTER picked him up and smashed him onto the apron.
Ohno went back in the ring and as WALTER tried to pull him back outside, he stomped on the Austrian’s head and hit a senton on his arm. Ohno applied a cravat and forced the big man to his knees, but WALTER eventually body slammed his way out of the hold. They traded forearms, chops and slaps. Ohno managed to weigh WALTER down on a German suplex attempt but caught a chop to the back for his troubles and then got German suplexed like he deserved to be.
Ohno managed to roll through on a sleeper hold for a two-count. Ohno went up for a moonsault but WALTER rolled out of the way. WALTER then hit a Shotgun dropkick and the power bomb for the victory.
Ligero was shown at the NXT UK Performance Center and replied to Joseph Conners comments from last week. A match between the two was announced for next week.
After their brawl that was shown earlier, a Falls Count Anywhere match between Jordan Devlin and Travis Banks also was announced for next week.
Grizzled Young Veterans beat Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch in 13:09 when Dann Burch was pinned after Ticket to Mayhem
Lorcan and Drake started out and Drake worked Lorcan’s arm right away. Oney escaped and made the tag, with Burch taking over until Gibson blind-tagged in and the champs took over, with Gibson first slamming Burch and then slamming his own partner on top of him. Lorcan came back in on a hot tag and ran wild for a bit, until Drake put a thumb into his eye and the heels proceeded to beat Lorcan down on the outside.
Back inside, Gibson applied his kneeling cobra clutch and tagged Drake, who knocked Oney down with a stiff forearm, then applied a nerve hold. The champs quickly tagged in and out and isolated Lorcan for a few minutes, until Oney finally manged to thwart his opponents and make the hot tag to Danny Burch. He ran wild, then hit consecutive German suplexes on both Grizzled Young Veterans, followed by a flying dropkick on Gibson and a power bomb on Drake for a near fall.
Drake managed to escape a cutter attempt off the ropes, allowing the champs to take over. Gibson hit Ticket to Ride on Burch, but the British veteran managed to kick out. Gibson had Burch on his shoulders but he escaped, hit head butts on both opponents and tagged Lorcan. The faces hit a Doomsday Device for another near fall that was broken up, when Gibson back body dropped Lorcan onto Burch. Lorcan and Gibson faced off, with each having an opponent in a submission and started trading strikes. Lorcan ran wild, hitting a crazy somersault plancha on both opponents. Lorcan and Burch hit a double high angle DDT on Drake for a very close near fall.
Drake rolled up Burch with his feet on the ropes and Gibson holding him down from the outside but Burch still managaged to kick out. The Grizzled Young Veterans then finally hit Ticket to Mayhem on Burch for the win and a successful title defense.
Next week:
Jordan Devlin meets Travis Banks in a falls count anywhere match and Ligero faces Joseph Conners in a rematch from a few weeks ago.
Oney Lorcan is making his return to 205 Live next week, taking part in a tournament to decide Buddy Murphy’s next challenger.
Lorcan will face Humberto Carrillo in the third first round match. Akira Tozawa and Cedric Alexander in a battle of former Cruiserweight champions will take place next week as well, rounding out the tournament.
This isn’t the first time Lorcan has appeared on 205 Live. He appeared on the April 4, 2017 episode of the program, the day after WrestleMania 33, losing to Rich Swann. He’s mostly been wrestling on NXT, teaming with Danny Burch.
Drew Gulak and Tony Nese advanced tonight to make it to the second round of the tournament. Nese defeated Kalisto with a running knee to advance, while Gulak made Brian Kendrick pass out after he applied the Gu-lock.
The winner of the tournament will face Buddy Murphy for the Cruiserweight title at WrestleMania 35.
Mendoza ran wild on both Barthel and Aichner after a hot tag before winning with a driver.
– Punishment Martinez defeated Rick Boog
The South of Heaven chokeslam got Martinez the win.
– Mia Yim defeated Jessamyn Duke
Yim won with a low angle Seoul Food.
– Aleister Black defeated Jaxson Ryker by DQ
Johnny Gargano caused the disqualification. Black recovered and hit the Black Mass on Ryker.
– Matt Riddle defeated Kassius Ohno
Great action here, with a roll-up finish to leave more out there for the future. Riddle hit a delayed German suplex during the match, Ohno used a cyclone kick, and they had strike exchanges. These two are great together.
– Lacey Lane defeated Reina Gonzalez
Lane hit a flatliner to win a hard-fought match.
– Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Bobby Fish & Roderick Strong) defeated Otis Dozovic, Tucker Knight, Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan
There was comedy early with Heavy Machinery having their way with Undisputed. An airplane spin with jump rope action was a sight to see.
Undisputed scored the win and continued their beatdown before being run off so the good guys could celebrate with the crowd to close the show.
– The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) defeated The Forgotten Sons (Jaxson Ryker & Wesley Blake)
– Candice LeRae defeated Aliyah
LeRae won with the lionsault.
– Lars Sullivan defeated Raul Mendoza
There was a “Lars is gonna kill you” chant from the audience. Mendoza was great on offense, but Sullivan picked up the win. Sullivan came back after the match and dropped Mendoza with two Freak Accidents.
– NXT North American Champion Ricochet defeated Velveteen Dream to retain his title
Good match. Ricochet won with a cross-legged Michinoku driver.
Sane got the pin on Gonzalez after hitting the Insane Elbow.
– NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa defeated Kassius Ohno to retain his title
It was announced that William Regal made this a title match. They had a great match that went about 18 minutes. Ohno is awesome. Ciampa retained with a brutal rope-hung DDT.
– Johnny Gargano, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch defeated The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole & NXT Tag Team Champions Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong)
Gargano submitted Strong to get the win. Cole is so over.
Two months after breaking his right orbital bone, Oney Lorcan returned to the ring at last night’s NXT house show.
Lorcan & Danny Burch lost a tag match to the War Raiders in Lowell, Massachusetts last night. Lorcan is from Massachusetts, and he was also involved in a segment where wrestlers sang “Sweet Caroline” (which is played during every Boston Red Sox home game) at the end of the show in Lowell.
Lorcan had suffered the broken orbital bone while teaming with Burch against Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong at TakeOver: Chicago in June. Lorcan & Burch unsuccessfully challenged for the Undisputed Era’s NXT Tag Team titles in that match.
Elsewhere on last night’s event, Deonna Purrazzo wrestled in her first match for NXT since signing with WWE. She lost to Bianca Belair.
Purrazzo also took part in the Mae Young Classic earlier this month.
NXT will be in Asbury Park, New Jersey tonight for the brand’s final house show before TakeOver: Brooklyn.
The Undisputed Era’s Tag Team Championship challengers have been announced for NXT TakeOver: Chicago.
Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong will be defending their titles against Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch at the special. Alongside Pete Dunne, Lorcan and Burch have been involved in a program with the Undisputed Era heading into TakeOver. The championship match was announced last night after being set up when Burch pinned O’Reilly in a six-man tag on the episode that aired the previous week.
TakeOver: Chicago will be held at the Allstate Arena on June 16th as part of Money in the Bank weekend. It’s just a few days before WWE’s United Kingdom brand shows at Royal Albert Hall on June 18th and 19th, and there will be NXT North American, Women’s, and Tag Team title matches on the second night in London.
The Big News: Danny Burch pinned Kyle O’Reilly, winning the six-man tag team main event for his team over the Undisputed Era.
The Medium News: Lars Sullivan laid claim to the number one contender status, destroying both Ricochet and Velveteen Dream during their match.
The Little Beaver-sized News: Candice LeRae slapped Tommaso Ciampa, but Ciampa still declared victory in his war on Johnny Gargano.
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The show began with the biggest heel in wrestling, Tommaso Ciampa, coming out to Johnny Gargano’s music. The fans popped for Gargano’s music and went crazy in anger upon seeing the bearded visage of Ciampa.
Ciampa said Gargano may have won the battle, but Ciampa would always win the war — and that’s why Gargano’s sitting at home in a neck brace. Piece by piece, Ciampa has broken him. He’s broken his mind, body, and spirit and now Johnny Wrestling is gone and Ciampa has won.
Candice LeRae walked out, snatched the mic out of Ciampa’s hand, and asked Ciampa who he was. She thought she knew Ciampa but doesn’t recognize what he’s become. He’s obsessed with ruining their lives and she doesn’t know why. LeRae stated that she is done trying to figure him out. He is a monster that LeRae will never forgive. While her husband’s future may be uncertain, Ciampa will know that Johnny Gargano was better than him.
Ciampa said maybe he is better, but that boy is not half the man Ciampa is. That’s why Gargano sent his cute, precious wife out to confront him instead. He said LeRae has always been more of a man than Gargano. Ciampa dared her to “mess him up” and was about to wonder how she could marry such a loser when LeRae slapped the taste out of his mouth.
Ciampa smiled at her and slithered away. As LeRae walked away, Ciampa mouthed “I win.”
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Lacey Evans defeated Brandi Lauren
Lauren is also known by Kayci Quinn and Ava Storie and has wrestled for both Shine and Impact Wrestling. Evans has new theme music and wasn’t very lady-like as she literally stepped over Lauren before hitting a middle rope moonsault. Evans then won with The Lady’s Right, which was literally just her punching Lauren in the face with her right hand.
Kairi Sane appeared out of nowhere (just off stage right) with a forearm to attack Evans as revenge for an Evans sneak attack from a few weeks ago. Sane threw her back in the ring and went up top for the Insane Elbow, but Evans rolled out of the ring and ran for her life.
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Aleister Black was walking around Full Sail University earlier and talked about potentially facing both Ricochet and Velveteen Dream for the NXT Championship. We’re supposed to believe, if this was real, that Black flew all the way from home to walk around an empty college campus before flying home.
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Dakota Kai was doing her weekly interview about being scared of Shayna Baszler. Kai said that Nikki Cross, who was cackling nearby last week, was crazy. She started talking about her strength and conditioning programming when Cross came flying into the picture and demanded to know when Kai was going to challenge Baszler.
Kai was scared of Cross in a different way as Cross ordered her to face her fear.
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Ricochet vs. Velveteen Dream ended in a no contest
An unofficial number one contender’s match if there ever was one. It would have been hard to believe one year ago when this gimmick debuted that Velveteen Dream would be as over as he is.
This match was five minutes of Dream proving he was at Ricochet’s level, as he matched The One and Only move for move and they set up what was promising to be a good match. They collided head-to-head in the corner, but before either man could get up, Lars Sullivan ran in for the attack!
Sullivan squashed both men before laying them out with separate Freak Accidents. Sullivan made motions that he wants the NXT Championship and is the true top contender.
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Kona Reeves defeated Raul Mendoza
Reeves was back to take on Mendoza this week and has now added a necklace with a giant “K” on it. He threatened the ring attendant about what would happen if something were to happen to his jacket. He didn’t care about his alleged 24-karat gold necklace, but the jacket you could buy at almost any store, that was important.
Reeves has been watching his Ted DiBiase tapes as he used both a fist drop and the falling elbow from the middle rope before slapping on the Million Dollar Dream. Mendoza made a hot comeback but did a springboard right into a boot to the face and Reeves won with the Hawaiian Drop.
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Cathy Kelley was trying to get comments from Mr. William Regal when Ricochet and Velveteen Dream both showed up and stated they were both going to ask for a match with Sullivan. They went into Regal’s office together.
It was announced later that Sullivan will face Ricochet & Velveteen Dream in a two-on-one handicap match next week.
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Earlier today, Heavy Machinery talked about taking their mothers out for Mother’s Day when TM61 walked up wanting to go out drinking. Heavy Machinery didn’t want to drink with cheaters. TM61 made a fat joke and a match was made for next week.
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Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch defeated The Undisputed Era
Dunne started the match by angrily stalking Strong, so Strong wisely tagged out as the match got underway. I am sure this will come as a shock to you, but this was as fine of a six-man wrestling match as you will see.
Undisputed Era got the heat on Burch until Strong began openly mocking Dunne, so Burch grabbed him in a waist lock until Dunne could tag in and hit an amazing punch to the face. Dunne had his way with his former temporary tag team partner until Cole and O’Reilly distracted him long enough for Strong to take over.
Lorcan got the second hot tag and lit into the heel trio. Burch tagged in and we had a double team on Strong. Dunne hit Cole and Cole flew into space as this broke into a six-way brawl. Strong threw Lorcan into Dunne, sending those two crumbling to the floor. Burch then had to fight the Undisputed Era three-on-one.
Burch more than held his own and we ended up with a triple submission. That led to Strong booting Lorcan out of his single leg crab, sending Lorcan into the standing crucifix that Dunne had on Cole and they fell onto the crossface that Burch had on O’Reilly. Got all that?
Strong and O’Reilly ended up doing their own miscommunication spot and, almost shockingly, Burch pinned O’Reilly with a wheelbarrow DDT. It was so unexpected that no one reacted until the referee counted three. I honestly think they have won maybe one tag team match in the year they have teamed, so no one recognized their finish.
So, that does it for this week. We are on the road to TakeOver: Chicago and until next week, remember to say your vitamins and take your prayers.
The Big News: Roderick Strong will wrestle Drew McIntyre next week and, if he wins, he gets a match with Bobby Roode after TakeOver.
The Medium News: Eric Young returned to assist SAnitY in once again laying out The Authors of Pain.
The Little Beaver-sized News: Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas was made official for TakeOver.
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As the show began, Nikki Cross was in the ring screeching for The Authors of Pain to come out. Alexander Wolfe and Killian Dain came in through the crowd as Akam and Rezar stormed down the aisle. Suddenly, as Akam got in the ring, Eric Young returned and attacked Rezar in the aisle.
Young zip-tied Rezar to the guardrail and all three male members of SAnitY laid out Akam in the ring. Rezar finally dragged the guardrail into the ring, but he was no match for Wolfe, Dain, and Young.
Wolfe and Young gave Akam a double-team neckbreaker, and for one of the first times ever, someone stood tall over The Authors of Pain. SAnitY posed with the NXT Tag Team titles before walking away.
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You know what we haven’t had in a few months? A contract signing! That will be rectified next week as Asuka and Ember Moon put their signatures on the dotted line to make their match at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III official.
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Earlier today, Billie Kay and Peyton Royce were planning on giving us an iconic makeup tutorial when Ruby Riot randomly showed up in the hallway, ruining the shot. After making fun of Riot, they were in a bad mood and didn’t do their tutorial.
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The Street Profits defeated Chris & JC Metro
This was the long awaited debut of The Street Profits. Angelo Dawkins had spent several years as a TV jobber and this is his first actual push, as he teams with Montez Ford. Dawkins still does that weird, unexplained thing where he wears two headbands.
The Metros were trained by The Dudleys and dress like greasers, but they didn’t even act like greasers and were just dressing the part.
Dawkins lost a headband as him and Ford did a series of moves to Chris Metro, but the dastardly jobbers got the brief advantage with a punch to the stomach. Dawkins ran over Chris with a spear and gave JC a Sky-High, followed by Ford hitting a frog splash for the pin.
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Aleister Black was leaving the arena last week when he was attacked by Hideo Itami. Itami failed and Black seemed to not even be trying to fight as four people dragged Itami away kicking and screaming.
This led to an announcement for Black vs. Itami in 10 days at TakeOver.
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The dapper NXT general manager, Mr. William Regal, was mid-ring after commercial to introduce the combatants in the main event at TakeOver. I did not have my stopwatch out this time, but Roode only took about two minutes to get to the ring with his own personal security. The security was there to stop a raving lunatic like Roderick Strong from running out.
Roode told McIntyre that he (Roode) is entitled. He doesn’t need a second chance like McIntyre. He came in a year ago and has done everything he said he was going to do, from changing NXT to becoming the face of the brand. Whether McIntyre likes it or not, this is Roode’s NXT, stating “this is not we, this is me.”
McIntyre said Roode is a prototype and has had an amazing year, but there is one big problem and that is that he is an ass. McIntyre is starting to pity Roode because he believes the crap coming out of his own mouth. McIntyre vowed to Claymore Roode back down to reality, and in Brooklyn Roode will be staring across the ring at the new NXT Champion.
Strong stormed out onto the stage to announce that he is not done with Roode. Strong said this is not about the NXT title, but about Roode disrespecting Strong’s fiancee, family and Strong as a man. Strong said he wants to fight Roode and asks if he is a man.
Mr. Regal tried multiple times to stop Strong from mouthing off, but Roode snapped and screamed that he’ll give Strong everything he wants. He’ll give him a match with Roode, he’ll give him a title shot — if Strong beats McIntyre next week. Regal put Roode in his place, but McIntyre said he wants the match.
Regal still hesitated, but finally succumbed to the pressure and booked the match for next week.
So, next week it is Drew McIntyre vs. Roderick Strong. If Strong wins then he gets Roode in a match after TakeOver. Also, regardless of whether he wins or loses, McIntyre will still challenge Roode at TakeOver.
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Kayla Braxton interviewed Johnny Gargano. Gargano said he was a little nervous wrestling last week, but he thought back to the Brooklyn crowd last year and how the reaction DIY got from the crowd helped lead to all their successes. Gargano announced that he wants a match at TakeOver: Brooklyn.
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Danny Burch defeated Oney Lorcan
This was a rematch of a hard-hitting bout a few weeks ago where Lorcan defeated Burch. They began with some very intense grappling. The wrestling portion of our evening ended as Burch tripped Lorcan on a leap frog, which I guess for them is fighting words.
They exchanged some hard European uppercuts and Lorcan drove Burch into the turnbuckles harder than you’ve ever seen anyone take that move. Burch got tired of being hit, so he booted Lorcan in the mush and hit a missile dropkick.
Burch hit a hooking lariat, which is allegedly his finish. I don’t believe he’s ever won a match on NXT TV, but he has a finish. Lorcan kicked out of that and the Tower of London. Burch hit a knee to the face and several hard chops, but Lorcan tripped him up and went for a half-crab.
Lorcan kicked at Burch to try to turn him over, but Burch repeatedly booted him in the face over and over again. Lorcan put on the full Boston crab, but Burch rolled through and picked up the shocking win.
If this is not Burch’s first TV win, he’s definitely won less than five. Burch went for the handshake, but Lorcan slapped it away and began walking away. Lorcan then stopped himself, returned to center ring, and shook Burch’s hand. Burch held the ropes open for Lorcan as he left.
It was 8:49 and I was getting ready to sign off and thank you all for reading when they suddenly informed us that Lorcan vs. Burch was not the main event.
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Andrade “Cien” Almas defeated No Way Jose
This was the second week in a row that we got a main event that wasn’t announced during the show. Jose took longer than Bobby Roode to get to the ring as he went into the crowd to fiesta before the match. Why is it okay for him to party immediately before his match, but it’s not okay for Almas to party after his match?
Zelina Vega is Thea Trinidad’s new name and she is there to force Almas to take the match seriously. When Almas did his thing where he just lays in the ropes, Jose kicked him off and then Almas got yelled at for doing that.
I guess that worked because the match didn’t last much longer. Almas hit the running double knees in the corner and picked up the win with the hammerlock DDT. Vega did allow him to preen to the camera after winning, which was nice of her. Vega went to the announcer’s table and yelled at them that Almas now deserves the spotlight for winning.
Vega said Almas is going to accept Gargano’s open challenge for TakeOver. Next week is the go-home show for TakeOver, and until then, remember to say your vitamins and take your prayers!
The Big News: Did you watch NXT TakeOver: Orlando? If you did, skip this show. If you didn’t, go watch it and then skip this show.
The Medium News: Seriously, just watch TakeOver.
The Little Beaver-sized News: I don’t care that El Vagabundo was The Drifter, just watch TakeOver and skip this show.
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To help get you ready for the entire episode, we started with a several minute video package recapping the entirety of NXT TakeOver: Orlando.
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Peyton Royce (w/ Billie Kay) defeated Aliyah
Peyton Royce kicked off the in-ring action, going one-on-one with Aliyah, who hasn’t been seen on TV in several months. She had the advantage early. Royce asked Billie Kay for help, so Kay tried pulling Royce to ringside for a breather, but Aliyah stomped on their fingers. Royce gave her one evil look and took over from there.
Aliyah made a brief comeback, but got cut off and pinned with a Perfect Plex.
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We got an extended look at the Asuka vs. Ember Moon match from TakeOver and then Asuka laughed at the idea that anyone is left to face her.
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Up next was the extended look at Aleister Black vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas. Almas may have lost, but he did go clubbing in Orlando and posted photos of it on Instagram afterwards, which is part of his new gimmick.
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Heavy Machinery defeated The Bollywood Boyz
Heavy Machinery already have new theme music, taking out the “truck backing up” beeping. Harv and Gurv Sihra’s combined weight is literally less than Otis Dozovic. This was like a “best of” for Heavy Machinery, which is amazing since they have only had two TV matches. They gave Harv the tossing bear hug. Gurv tried to sneak attack Dozovic, but he got caught and squashed between his much larger foes.
Dozovic and Tucker Knight changed their finish. Dozovic picked Harv up for a body slam, but Knight slammed into Dozovic from behind, which caused Dozovic to drop him with a powerslam. Poor Harv.
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Oney Lorcan was stretching backstage and didn’t seem worried that he was wrestling a mystery opponent tonight. He very woodenly said he was here to compete and to win.
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Next we got the lengthy video package for The Authors of Pain vs. DIY vs. The Revival. If you want to read my thoughts on the questionable booking for this match, check out my live NXT TakeOver: Orlando play-by-play from last Saturday.
This led to a Paul Ellering promo. He said this was vindication and a confirmation for the AOP. The entire WWE is trying to slow down their ascension and stop their destiny, because they will be a dynasty.
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What do you do when you have to fill a 50-minute TV show and have like 15 minutes of footage? You fill it up with an extremely long video package looking at the Bobby Roode vs. Shinsuke Nakamura match.
This whole thing culminated in a really nicely done farewell video to Nakamura, documenting the entire year he was in NXT. It also showed him bowing to the crowd after TakeOver and basically saying goodbye.
Roode then cut a post-show promo saying he did exactly what he told everyone he would do. He asked if we were ready for the continuation of Bobby Roode’s NXT.
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Cameras caught up with Drew McIntyre after TakeOver. He noted that he has won championships all over the world and been a game changer and a brand builder. He is now in NXT to win the NXT title.
It was announced he will be on NXT next week.
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Oney Lorcan defeated El Vagabundo
It was then time for the main event. Oney Lorcan wrestled the newest NXT superstar — El Vagabundo. Vagabundo wore gear remarkably similar to former NXT superstar Elias Samson. However, it is supposedly not The Drifter. You see, El Vagabundo wears a mask. Plus, remember last week? Kassius Ohno broke Samson’s guitar and this guitar is in one piece!
He even cut a promo saying he was El Vagabundo! The fans were more into Vagabundo than they ever were the last guy who came to the ring carrying an acoustic guitar. Well, they liked him until he sang that the fans needed to shut up.
Lorcan claimed that Vagabundo was The Drifter. Vagabundo was so upset that he attacked Lorcan before the bell.
The fans did the Ole chant for the debuting luchador as he used more of a ground based offense to take down Lorcan. Lorcan made his comeback and pulled off Vagabundo’s mask…and oh my god it’s The Drifter! I did not see that coming!
Since this is not Mexico, removing his mask was not an automatic disqualification. Lorcan, with a running blockbuster, pinned Vagabundo. After the match a female cop came down to apprehend Samson and remove him. He tried to ignore her, so she grabbed his hair, put him in a wrist lock, and led him away.
That brought the show to an end. Thank you all for reading, and until next week remember to say your vitamins and take your prayers!
The Ealy twins used “Twin Magic” and switched out to steal the victory. This was also Mada from Tough Enough’s NXT live event debut.
– Dory Funk Jr., who is based out of the area these days, was interviewed in the ring. He was interrupted by Elias Samson, who was then interrupted by Wesley Blake.
