10/25 Gutteridge's WWE NXT Review: Seth Rollins vs. Heath Slater, Kassius Ohno vs. Trent Barretta, Brodus Clay vs. Camacho, Bronson debuts, Divas tag match

By Darren Gutteridge

WWE NXT on Sky Sports 3
Taped on 9/20 in Winter Park, Florida

[Q1] NXT opened with an 'earlier today' video, wherein Dusty Rhodes was reading something and Heath Slater walked in and introduced himself. Slater asked for a NXT Title match tonight against Seth Rollins. Vickie Guerrero walked in and said she was here to scout new talent, such as Slater (who is not new). Dusty said Slater can have a non-title match against Rollins tonight, and if he wins, he'll get the next title shot. Slater and Vickie left, and the titles rolled. . .

When the titles ended, we were shown Brodus Clay's disco ball above the ring, and the Funkasaurus made his entrance to a big pop. A new commentator, Tony Luftman, welcomed us to the show and introduced William Regal, who welcomed Luftman. Camacho came out without Hunico, and Regal said Hunico wasn't here because of some 'trouble', but didn't reveal the details. He said Hunico wouldn't be around 'for some time'. . .

1. Brodus Clay vs. Camacho. Brodus dominated in a stop/start opening, until he was pulled from the second turnbuckle by Camacho. Camacho kept Clay grounded with a nerve hold, and took Brodus back down when he stood up with a Samoan drop. Brodus kicked out and sent Camacho to the outside, where he attempted to flirt with Cameron and Naomi. Brodus scared him off, and caught him with a headbutt back inside the ring. A sheee-plex and a big splash later, it was all over. . .

Brodus Clay defeated Camacho in 3.54

Brodus began to celebrate as we cut quickly to a Hell in the Cell hype video. . . [C]

Gutt Check: I hope Camacho is repackaged and sent to the main roster without the ball and chain of Hunico, as he has looked solid in the ring whenever he has been given the chance (not that he was given much of one here in an extended squash match). That is no slight on Hunico, but his gimmick is severely dated and stale, and he hasn't excelled on the mic during his entrances. I must also point out how much I miss Clay's running crossbody finisher. The wrestlers more than likely don't, but that thing was devastating.

[Q2] Kassius Ohno was already in the ring when we returned. His opponent was revealed as Trent Barretta, how got a decent reaction as he made his way out. . .

2. Trent Barretta vs. Kassius Ohno. Regal said that Richie Steamboat is currently injured, and he may have bitten off more than he could chew with Ohno. Ohno mocked Richie by shouting 'Steamboat!' before chopping Trent in the corner. Trent managed to get a foothold by sending Ohno outside with a head scissors, and then diving over the ropes onto him.

Ohno regained control by shoving Trent into the apron and grounding him in the ring. Trent once again seemed to get back into the match, but Ohno reversed a tornado DDT and took Barretta back to the mat. When Trent got up again, he managed to hit an enziguri, and set up his springboard corner elbow, but Ohno countered with a forearm. As Ohno looked for more ground and pound, Richie Steamboat walked down the ramp in a suit, and threw a towel in Ohno's face. Barretta took advantage by landing his running knee for the 1-2-3. . .

Trent Barretta defeated Kassius Ohno in 6.47

Trent and Steamboat walked up the ramp together as Ohno started headbutting the mat. . .

Gutt Check: A lively match that worked a nice pace. I thought this was Ohno's for sure, but they continue to push Trent, and you have to believe it's for NXT reasons considering how little of WWE's main audience sees this show. If they intend to have another title, or a heel NXT champ, Trent may be a good choice (having said that, I think another title would be foolish).

After a World Tour update, Paige and Audrey Marie made their entrances as Alicia Fox and Layla waited in the ring. . .

3. Paige and Audrey Marie vs. Layla and Alicia Fox. The main roster Divas took the upper hand when Layla hit Marie with a stiff kick after a series of pins. Alicia tagged in and hit a fisherman DDT to take Marie to the mat. Marie managed to catch a break out of a pinning attempt and tagged Paige.

Layla also tagged in and started quicker, building up to her crossbody for a 2 count. Paige rallied and managed to make Layla accidentally kick Alicia off the apron. Paige attempted her cradle DDT, but Marie tagged herself in. Paige shouted at her, and as Marie tried to pin Layla, Layla reversed and pinned Marie. . .

Layla and Alicia Fox defeated Paige and Audrey Marie in 5.04

Paige and Marie bickered at ringside before we cut to a video package highlighting WWE's recent trip to Egypt. . . [C]

Gutt Check: Well, it was botch free! I wish that wasn't something that needed highlighting, but when Alicia Fox is involved it's a rarity. I guess Marie may be the diva they move Paige on to feud with after Raquel Diaz left.

[Q3] A new wrestler called Bronson made his entrance. He had brass knuckles in his entrance video and on his hoody. Lincoln Brodrick, who looks like Bobby Lashley's hardcore brother, was waiting in the ring. . .

4. Bronson vs. Lincoln Brodrick. Bronson immediately took it to Brodrick, rolling him around the ring in a headlock. Bronson threw Brodrick around the ring, landing a lot of clotheslines and talking trash to him whilst doing it, before eventually locking in a modified figure four leglock, to which Brodrick tapped quickly. . .

Bronson defeated Lincoln Brodrick in 1.15

Bronson held the hold for a while before releasing. He shouted that he could not be stopped before leaving. . .

Gutt Check: While impressive from a domination point of view, that was an uninspiring squash match to say the least. Unlike the pure power of Big E Langston, Bronson was more MMA based, in a similar vein to Sylvester Terkay. And yes, you do get massive 'obscure 00's wrestlers' points for knowing who Sylvester Terkay is. Also, why have the brass knuckles if your finishing move is a leg submission? I suppose there are a lot of punch based finishers (Wade Barrett, Big Show, Ohno) at the moment, but why use the imagery of brass knuckles and then not incorporate them?

Kassius Ohno was shown throwing chairs around backstage, before grunting at the camera and leaving the scene. . .

Back in the arena, Antonio Cesaro entered dressed in a suit, with a man-bag and the US Title. He got in the ring and grabbed a mic. He said as the US Champion, he was the champion of everyone there tonight. He said everything he does elevates the US Championship to heights no American could. He asked everyone to stand up for the national anthem. A few stood before Antonio asked for the Swiss national anthem to play.

Tyson Kidd's music hit and made fun of Antonio, saying 'all of us here can tell you that a man-purse is a big no-no in America'. He got in the ring and said he wanted a US Title shot. Cesaro shot him down in a foreign language, and Tyson said he has something to tell Cesaro that is universal. He slapped Cesaro, and Cesaro rolled to the outside. Antonio teased getting back in the ring, but instead left up the ramp, saying he will decide what happens. . . [C]

Gutt Check: Yes that was proud Canadian Tyson Kidd lecturing a foreigner on the American way of life. That's like 'Captain America's guide to Mexican history'. Seriously, I am all for Kidd vs Cesaro, so hopefully this is a tease for next week. And this is a better way to do it than the random scenarios that happen backstage most weeks.

[Q4] Seth Rollins in all his headbanging glory made his entrance as JR signed in on commentary. I always forget to turn my TV down when Seth enters. Its 2.45 am in England, so loud metal music is not welcome. Heath Slater was already in the ring, talking to Vickie Guerrero, who was stood at ringside. . .

5. Seth Rollins vs. Heath Slater. After getting a good chunk of the opening action, Rollins dropkicked Slater to the outside and hit a dropkick through the ropes. Vickie scalded Slater at ringside as we cut to another Hell in a Cell hype video. . .

Both men took each other out with a crossbody when we returned. They traded punches and Rollins landed a one legged dropkick to regain control. Slater ended up on the outside again, and this time Rollins produced a suicide dive through the ropes. Back in the ring, Rollins hit a springboard flying knee for a two count. Seth went top rope again, but Vickie distracted him long enough for Slater to recover, dodge Rollins attack and hit his finisher, a modified front Russian leg sweep. Seth kicked out at two, and Heath tried to lift Rollins for a powerbomb, but Seth slipped out, hit a jumping roundhouse kick, and nailed a standing Sliced Bread #2 to pick up the win. . .

Seth Rollins defeated Heath Slater in 7.33

Seth went to the top rope and celebrated as Guerrero berated Slater. This closed NXT. . .

Gutt Check: This was the match me and Short alluded to a few weeks ago, where Rollins was allowed to show off his full arsenal and look dominant as a champion. And it made for an entertaining match, with Slater bumping well for him and getting a little slice of offence himself. I don't know why Vickie was there, as she added very little and just seemed out of place.

Well I can say that was far, far better than last week. The main event, coupled with the entertaining Ohno/Barretta match helped cover for the slightly disappointing Bronson debut, and the one sided Clay/Camacho match. The divas match set up an intriguing new story, and we got a solid tease for Cesaro/Kidd next week. Not the best, but certainly not the worse.

Thanks for reading. If you had any comments or thoughts on the show or this review, add me on Twitter via @Dazatheg