Mitchell’s WWE NXT Report! (7/19/17)

Undefeated records are on the line in order to determine a #1 contender!

Steven Mitchell
Jul 20, 2017 · 13 min read
Scottish Stud or Beast of Belfast, who will face the GLORIOUS One?

All images courtesy of the WWE Network streaming service

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Ruby Riot VS Ember Moon; Ember wins.
  • Oney Lorcan VS Danny Burch; Lorcan wins.
  • No Way Jose VS Cezar Bononi; Jose wins.
  • NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Drew McIntyre VS Killian Dain; McIntyre wins and will face Bobby Roode for the NXT Championship at TakeOver: Brooklyn III.

PLAY BY PLAY

Ruby Riot VS Ember Moon!

Both women have had shots against the undefeated Empress of Tomorrow, but both have failed to dethrone her. Now they battle each other to see who is worthy of one more chance. The fans are fired up, dueling as the two tie up. Ruby gets control of an arm but Ember turns it around. Ruby powers out of a headlock, Ember rolls under but Ruby sits down, sunset flip is propped up, a quick pin exchange, neither one getting more than a one count. Ruby rolls up, TWO Ember rolls up, TWO. The two women stand off and shake hands, the fans applaud the respect. They tie up again, Ruby bucks Ember off but Ember pops up to headscissors, hip toss blocked into a wheelbarrow armdrag. Ruby comes back, rebound monkey flip but Ember lands on her feet. The fans applaud this evenly matched exchange. The fans love “Women’s Wrestling!” Ruby calls for a test of strength, Ember accepts, and they go shoulder to shoulder. They spin around, Ruby turns Ember into a straitjacket, wrings her out for some arm drags but Ember side steps, tilt-o-whirl headscissors throws her, TWO. Ruby locks on a chinlock nice and tight, the fans rally. Ember gets up, throws Ruby off, drop toehold drops her down, Bow ’n’ Arrow stretch!

Ruby endures being bent back, fans rally, Ruby pops out to a cover, TWO. Ember rushes in but takes a stiff back elbow. Ember blocks a mule kick, pops Ruby up, but Ruby draws Ember into the second buckle. Ruby rallies on Ember now, back suplex, TWO. The fans applaud and duel again, Ruby tries to whip but Ember resists. Ember reverses into a mule kick, front kick but misses the roundhouse, a lethal combination to Ruby, TWO. Ember watches Ruby check her face, the fans duel and we go to a break.

We return as Ruby tries but fails to draw Ember in again, Ember puts her to the apron but Ruby shoulders her away. Ruby trips Ember up, too, then climbs to the top rope. Ruby takes aim, back senton! TWO, and Ruby is frustrated. Ruby gets up as the fans keep up the dueling chants. Ruby puts Ember in the corner, backs off to rush in, Ember dodges the kick. Ruby runs out but into a spinning sidewalk slam, TWO! Ember ist he one shocked now. Ember crawls to a corner, the fans rally as she climbs up. Ruby spots her, stops her with a forearm. Ruby positions Ember, chops her then climbs up. Ruby gets up, super steiner!

Ruby makes the cover, TWO! Ruby is shocked. The fans know “This is awesome!” “Women’s Wrestling!” but Ruby doesn’t know how to finish Ember. Ember fights her off so Ruby gives a stiff forearm and a stiff kick. Repeat the forearm and kick but Ember replies with her own discus forearm! Both women are down, slowly getting up as the fans rally. Ruby swings but misses, shotgun dropkick to a side slam! Ember rolls Ruby over to a corner and howls to the moon. Handspring lariat, she snapmares Ruby out of the corner, Ember climbs up. Eclipse!!

Ember wins! A furious fight but the Prophecy of Flame overcomes! Can she accelerate to another Women’s Championship match with Asuka?

NXT media interviews Kassius Ohno on his coming match with Hideo Itami.

Kassius’ second run in NXT is so different from his first because of all the new faces and how NXT has grown. Hideo comes in to interrupt, asking if Ohno asked for a match with him. He did. Hideo tells him something in Japanese, before kicking a garbage can. Sounds like Hideo isn’t happy, but also saying Ohno needs to be careful what he asks for.

The Street Profits are coming to NXT.

Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford are ready to take over Full Sail, is Full Sail ready for them?

Oney Lorcan VS Danny Burch!

A battle of brawlers is about to begin! Will it be the boy from Boston or the man from England that stands tall? The two circle, tie up, Oney is put to a corner, Burch goes for a leg, the ref separates them at 4. They go again, Oney getting a headlock, takeover, headscissor counter and the two stand off, to the crowd’s liking. Burch and Oney tie up again, Oney gets pushed to ropes and back to a corner, but he turns it around. The ref separates them again, stiff right from Burch! Burch keeps on Oney in another corner with stomps, the ref has him back off. Corner to corner whip reversed but Burch boots back, second rope missile dropkick sends Oney rolling to the opposite corner. Burch kip-up and fires up, but runs into Oney’s elbow. Oney hops up, Burch stuns him with a swing kick. Burch repositions Oney, draping stunner!

Tower of London!

TWO! Burch can’t believe that, he argues with the ref. The fans rally, Burch drags Oney up but Oney slips out of the slam, rolling blockbuster!

Then a low running European Uppercut, TWO! The fans applaud while Oney grits his teeth. Burch stirs while Oney creeps up behind. The two glare as they get forehead to forehead. EuroUpper from Oney, then another, but Burch keeps coming back to give his own. Knee shot from Burch but then Oney grabs his jaw and just slaps, slaps, SLAPS Burch! Oney gets running, Burch sends him spinning with a lariat! Burch gets Oney up, powerbomb!

TWO! Oney, bloody nose and all, is shocked. The fans are fired up as Burch stands up. He grabs Oney from a corner, lifts him onto the top rope, gives him a forearm and then climbs up. One resists whatever Burch is after, shoving Burch down. Oney repositions, jumps but somersaults through when Burch dodges, Oney turns around to roll Burch into a half-crab! Burch taps, Oney wins! Burch is frustrated with himself, but that was one hell of a fight. And because of that, the two shake hands.

But at the same time, Burch says he wants to go again another time. What does Oney say? The fans want him to say yes. So Oney says yes! When and where will this happen? And who will come out on top?

No Way Jose VS Cezar Bononi!

The Fighting Fiesta is back on NXT TV! But now he’s up against the Brazilian V8, a man who got a surprise win on El Idolo, Andrade Almas. Jose doesn’t seem too intimidated by the very tall Bononi, the fans sing “Jose~ Jose Jose Jose~” for him as he puts Bononi in an arm wrench. Bononi tries to reverse but Jose keeps it on then throws Bononi with arm drags. Jose rushes in but is put to the apron. Bononi swings but misses, Jose throws in a shoulder but Bononi side steps and gives an elbow to the back of Jose’s head. Bononi drags Jose into the ring before putting him into buckles a couple times. Bononi stomps on Jose, throws him to ropes and then delivers a high dropkick! Jose kicks out at one, Bononi stalks him. Stiff muay thai knees, Jose shoves Bononi back and then gives stiff shots to back Bononi down. Jose rallies with double ax handles, hip-toss neckbreaker on top, Jose is fired up. Jose runs in for the forearm and then a biel! Jose runs Bononi over with another clothesline, then he takes off the arm band to wind up the pitch. Flapjack Fastball!

Jose wins with that strikeout pitch! The fans get right back to paryting with him!

However, activities don’t end in the ring, as that mystery woman has fired Andrade to attack Bononi!

Jose doesn’t get it, but Almas wants him to come in for his. Only for Almas and his senorita to get out of the ring. Jose wants them to get back and do this, Almas and his lady friend say adios. When will El Idolo actually get serious about the fight? And will he regret bringing the fight to Jose’s fiesta?

NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Match

Drew McIntyre VS Killian Dain!

The Scottish Stud and the Beast of Belfast have been on undefeated tears through NXT since debuting, this battle was inevitable. Only one man moves on towards Brooklyn with ZERO L’s. The bell rings, and the two tie up. Neither budges so they break and go again. They go around the ring at the ropes and break again. Big Damo shoves McIntyre, McIntyre shaves back, the two stare down. Damo swings but McIntyre blocks and swings back three times. Damo shoves McIntyre to a corner, rushes in but misses, McIntyre gives forearms. McIntyre rushes in and gives a running forearm, slipping to the apron in the same motion. Damo staggers out as McIntyre goes up, flying ax handle drops Damo down. McIntyre glares as Damo gets up, Damo resists the fireman’s carry and shoves McIntyre away. McIntyre rebounds off ropes but into Damo’s body check!

Damo glares at McIntyre, we go to break.

Damo is stomping away on McIntyre as we the return, but backs off at the ref’s count. McIntyre leans on a bottom rope, so Damo kicks it to tweak McIntyre’s arm. Damo stalks McIntyre to another corner, whips him across hard, McIntyre bouncing off to the mat. Damo dares McIntyre to get back up. He snaps the fingers, then throws a heavy right. McIntyre is in the corner again as Damo throws more heavy rights. The ref backs him down, but he still blocks McIntyre’s boot to drag him out and pummel him with heavy elbow after heavy elbow. Damo backs off as the fans jeer him and rally for McIntyre. Running elbow drop from Damo squashes McIntyre! McIntyre makes it to the ropes, Damo drags him up and clubs him down. TWO, Damo tries again, TWO again. A third time, McIntyre gets out sooner and is frustrated with himself. Damo hammers away with crossface punches and an elbow to the top of McIntyre’s head, saying “he’s nothing!” The fans slowly build to a rally for McIntyre as he tries to fight back, but a stiff knee knocks McIntyre back.

Damo covers, TWO! McIntyre is dazed, Damo is frustrated, he looms over McIntyre again as he wrenches the neck. Fans build to a rally for McIntyre, but Damo just keeps McIntyre down right to the mat, grinding McIntyre’s head into it. The fans rally again, McIntyre fights his way to his feet. Chop from McIntyre, then a jawbreaker, Damo fires back with a lariat. Damo gets McIntyre up, lifts him to the top rope, and climbs up to join him. McIntyre slips down, carries Damo out, falling powerbomb!

McIntyre makes it to the cover, TWO. McIntyre fires up as Damo gets to his feet. They start brawling with heavy haymakers, Damo shoves McIntyre back but McIntyre boots Damo in the face. Damo staggers to a corner, McIntyre fires off right hands that become clubbing hammers, Damo rushes out but McIntyre gets running to match, McIntyre runs Damo over with a clothesline, then kip-up and fires up! McIntyre lifts Damo, Air Raid/Celtic Cross/White Noise!

So many names, but the result is the same

TWO, and McIntyre is getting frustrated. He backs off and tunes up the band. The fans rally, McIntyre runs in but Damo counters the Claymore with a Wasteland slam! Back senton, too, for the Belfast Blitz, then a Vader Bomb to squash McIntyre more! TWO! Damo can’t believe McIntyre survived that, his eyes are wild with frustration. He glares a hole at McIntyre as he calls for the finish. He shoves McIntyre up to his shoulders, McIntyre fights and slips down and gets running. He weaves around with Damo, McIntyre wants Future Shock but Damo powers out into an overhead suplex and pin! TWO, McIntyre keeps the underhook! Damo powers McIntyre to a corner and breaks the hold. Damo grabs McIntyre and lifts him up, powerbomb! Heavy elbow, TWO! McIntyre and Damo are sore and exhausted, but they won’t stop here. The fans rally as they get to their feet. Damo puts McIntyre on the top rope and climbs up, Fisherman Superplex!

Damo crawls to the cover, TWO! Damo and McIntyre get up, Damo rushes in but McIntyre dodges. He kicks back, Future Shock DDT so suddenly! ONE!? The look on McIntyre’s face says it all!

Damo fires himself up as McIntyre keeps his eyes locked on him. He tunes up the band again, Claymore Kick! But Damo isn’t out cold?! The fans know McIntyre needs to do it “One more time!” Even Damo dares him to! McIntyre gets up and takes aim again, a second Claymore!

McIntyre finally wins! Damo has his first loss, and McIntyre has his first shot at the NXT Championship.

McIntyre tells Roode that he’s coming for him and “your bloody title”! Can McIntyre be the one to take NXT back from the GLORIOUS One?

My Thoughts:

Tonight was another great NXT. Everything about NXT has been on point, top to bottom. Ruby and Ember had a high quality opening match, Ember looks to be back in top shape after recovering from her injury, and she wins to move the needle towards her as the next possible contender. The 1v1 rematch of Asuka-Ember would be great for TakeOver: Brooklyn III, whether or not Ember wins simply because of the great story between the two of dominant champion and fiery underdog. Ruby on the other hand is still a great talent, she just has to be patient and wait for Asuka to finally move on to the main roster. Kassius Ohno and Hideo Itami are set up for next week, that’s gonna be a fun match with their stiff shots, just like the stiffest match of the week in Burch-Lorcan. They’re practically cut from the same cloth, those two, and the fact they want to go one more time is incredible. If Burch is going to be a regular of NXT like this, why not have him and Oney be a tag team somewhere? For now, these two are fighting for the non-existent midcard title in my mind, and obviously each of them have a place to move on to should WWE see the need (Burch to the UK Division and Oney to the Cruiserweights), each of these guys could be something if given the chance.

I like the emerging story of Almas-Jose. They’re like two sides of the same coin, both partying but for different reasons. Almas’s mystery lady (Thea Trinidad, her NXT name being Zolita Vega) seems to be doing for him what Maryse and Maria are doing for Miz and Mike, she’ll come into play as Almas and Jose build their feud, which also means Almas is likely to win at least their first encounter. This could be big for both of them, I look forward to their matches. The main event tonight was great, though it seemed the crowd expected more. It was probably more methodical than they expected, but the ending made up for it with how Damo showed his inhuman fortitude. McIntyre wins out and that’s alright, because McIntyre is the Face to Bobby Roode’s GLORIOUS Heel, and with things last week where SAnitY stood in the way of the Authors of Pain, Damo has the tag team division to fall back on, and it’d be quite impressive if he (and either Wolfe or Young) served the Authors’ first loss. There’s a lot going on on the road to TakeOver: Brooklyn III and Summerslam, NXT alone makes the WWE Network worth the $9.99.

My Score: 8/10

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