11/22 Gutteridge's WWE NXT Review: Kassius Ohno vs. Trent Barreta, Big E Langston vs. Camacho, Luke Harper vs. Mike Dalton, Paige vs. Alicia Fox

By Darren Gutteridge
 
NXT on Sky Sports 3
Taped on 10/11 in Winter Park, Florida
 
[Q1] An announcer walked up to Kassius Ohno backstage and asked him how he felt about his match tonight with Trent Barreta being a 'rubber' match between the two. Kassius explained that his loss to Trent happened because Richie Steamboat distracted him, and he had already avenged that loss. He promised to beat Trent and end his career tonight, and in the process let Trent know how cruel and unusual he can be...
 
After the titles aired, Tony Dawson welcomed us to the show, and was joined by JR on commentary. Alicia Fox came out to open the show, followed by Paige, who got a decent reaction...
 
1. Paige vs. Alicia Fox. Tony Dawson sounds like Tony Luftman, who sounds like Tom Hannifan. Differentiate people! Alicia gained control by slamming Paige head first into several turnbuckles before a Northern Light suplex. Alicia applied a nice double arm stretch to wear down Paige, but Paige soon gained some momentum with a crossbody out of a tilt-a-whirl slam. After Alicia got a two count from a sneak roll up, Paige countered an Irish whip with a swinging Fireman’s Carry type move, which Dawson dubbed the 'Paige Turner', for the pinfall...
 
Paige defeated Alicia Fox in 5:12.
 
Paige celebrated as Dawson said that Barreta vs. Ohno will be the main event, and Big E Langston vs. Camacho is up next... [C]
 
Gutt Check: Things still don't look slick from these two, but I shouldn't see that being a problem for Paige's main roster prospects at this point. At least shes over. I don't know why Paige has abandoned her Cradle DDT in favour of the Paige Turner, as it doesn't look like a finisher. It's unique, but looks like a transitional move. I can only remember Jesse (of Jesse and Festus) using it before. Oh yes, not only do I have great knowledge of obscure 00's wrestlers, I also know their moves.
 
[Q2] Camacho came out first without Hunico. A decent pop greeted Big E as he made his way out...
 
2. Big E Langston vs. Camacho. Langston immediately began dominating Camacho, headbutting him before tackling him in the corner several times. Camacho booted him in the face when he tried for another tackle, and slapped Big E. This fired Big E up, as he immediately body checked Camacho and set up the Big Ending. He hit it and the ref counted 3...
 
Big E Langston defeated Camacho in 2:03.
 
Big E got angry that the ref only counted 3, so after 'one more time' chants, he hit Camacho with another Big Ending and counted his own 5 count. He teased leaving before doing the routine over again...
 
Gutt Check: Why, oh why was Roman Reigns selected in front of Big E for the main roster call up. My only guess is they didn't want someone as physically big as Ryback as part of the group, as it would overshadow Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose's physical threat to Ryback. Big E is essentially Ryback 2.0, as they have a similar style, size and mannerisms. He's quickly becoming a highlight of NXT, and that’s partly down to the crowd's response to him.
 
We cut to backstage where Trent Barreta was shown curled up in pain on the floor. Refs checked on him and asked him who did it. The refs sent the camera man away, and as they panned out, they showed Leo Kruger sat crouched out of view, smiling...
 
After a 'Don't Try This' video, the same announcer from the start of the show was speaking to camera, explaining that Trent had not been cleared to compete tonight, and the main event was looking unlikely...
 
Back in the arena, Bronson made his entrance as his opponent Nick Rodgers waited in the ring...
 
3. Bronson vs. Nick Rodgers. Nick Rodgers may have the weirdest looking headshot on the FCW/NXT website. Bronson worked on Rodgers left leg from the get go, and levelled him with an STO. He locked in a modified Figure Four leglock and Rodgers tapped quickly...
 
Bronson defeated Nick Rodgers in 2:00.
 
JR compared Bronson to Ken Shamrock as he held the Figure Four lock for a while after the bell... [C]
 
Gutt Check: That was dull. Bronson was essentially Alberto Del Rio without the flair, working over one body part from bell to bell. An MMA style character has yet to work in wrestling in my opinion, outside of Brock Lesnar. And again, I must point out the stupidity of having Bronson use the brass knuckles as his 'logo', yet not have a punch based finisher. Imagine if Umaga had used a running knee for a finisher instead of the Samoan Spike, despite still taping the thumb.
 
[Q3] Bray Wyatt came out shouting 'where are you little lamb'. He said tonight, he was going to give the little lamb the first bit of meaning he had ever had in his life, and make him famous. He then sat on a rocking chair as Luke Harper emerged...
 
4. Luke Harper vs. Mike Dalton. I guess Dalton is the 'little lamb'. Harper ran into Dalton a few times in the corner before taking him out with a big clothesline. Harper kept looking at Wyatt on the stage, which allowed Dalton to recover and attempt a Tornado DDT, but Harper just hurled Dalton across the ring and hit him with a Black Hole slam for the 1-2-3...
 
Luke Harper defeated Mike Dalton in 2:43.
 
Harper walked up to the top of the ramp, and fell to his knees as Wyatt started talking. It was hard to make out the first two lines, but he finished by saying 'When I decided to start hurting people, there will be none of you left'...
 
Backstage, announcer man was given a name, Tom Phillips, and was shown interviewing Seth Rollins. He said he was going to ask him about the title when Jinder Mahal attacked him from behind. They brawled for a little bit before refs tried to pull them apart. This lead us to the Raw Rebound, featuring the CM Punk celebration and the NXT guys attack on Ryback...
 
Gutt Check: Strange placement of the Raw Rebound. Obviously, these are taped in advance, but they are showing Rollins A) not talking about attacking Ryback (as it had not happened yet) and B) showing him as a face. Odd. That was also an odd off night for Wyatt. His promo didn't click, as he didn't aim it at Dalton, it was just inferred, and it was hard to hear his second promo. On the plus side, Harper is playing his role very well both in and outside the ring.
 
Kassius Ohno entered for the main event, and asked for a microphone inside the ring. He said he has never been more ready to 'tear someone to pieces', but asked where Trent was. Ohno asked the ref to ring the bell, and count out Barreta.
 
Dusty Rhodes' music interrupted him, and JR reminded us that he is the show’s commissioner. He said he knew Ohno manipulated the situation with Barreta backstage. He said Ohno will have to answer to him for that, but he has managed to find a replacement. Richie Steamboat's music played, and he came down to face Ohno...
 
5. Richie Steamboat vs. Kassius Ohno. Steamboat got all of the early going, eventually clotheslining Ohno out of the ring after Ohno skinned the cat. Steamboat went top rope, and leaped onto Ohno at ringside before the commercial break... [C]
 
[Q4] Steamboat had Ohno in an abdominal stretch as we returned. Ohno rolled to the apron, and Steamboat followed. Ohno managed to boot Steamboat into the ring post, and hit a low dropkick back in the ring to take control. Ohno slowed the pace, and kept hitting Steamboat with strikes as well as slams into the turnbuckles. Steamboat stemmed the tide with a few counter pins, and eventually got a foothold with a chop out of a corner to an onrushing Ohno. Steamboat picked the pace back up, and got in a back body drop and a clothesline before Ohno countered a flying axe handle with a headbutt to Steamboat's stomach.
 
The two separated to opposite corners, and Ohno charged into Steamboat with a forearm. Richie managed to turn the follow up bulldog into a pin. Ohno kicked out, and went for the Discus Elbow, but Steamboat ducked it and hit the Slingblade for the surprise win...
 
Richie Steamboat defeated Kassius Ohno in 13:47.
 
JR praised Steamboat's instincts in the finish, and then announced that Team Hell No will be appearing next week on the show. This brought NXT to a close...
 
Gutt Check: It was nice to see Richie get in so much offense in this solid main event, for a change. I guess this was the blow off match for the feud, and hopefully both men can continue to develop in new rivalries. Steamboat has a lot of potential, and could benefit from a spotlighted feud in which he goes over strong at the end. Ohno should reverse in to the shadows for a while, hitting and running to establish his vicious side, and tweaking his character in the progress. I still feel the 'dangerous man' approach isn't the right one, but if they intend to push through with it, having him beat up a lot of people in the back may help him get over, with people wanting a face to give him his comeuppance.
 
A 50/50 week for NXT. A lot of eyes may have been brought to NXT this week, and luckily they saw some of the guys who have worked thus far. Big E got a win over a main roster guy, Ohno and Steamboat worked an OK main event, and Bray Wyatt, while not on fire this week, still showed how unique his act is. However, they also saw Bronson bore Full Sail to tears, a pointless (and somewhat confusing) Rollins segment, a run of the mill Divas match, and a show that never really excited. Could have been better, could of been worse.
 
Thanks for reading. If you had any comments or thoughts on the show or this review, add me on Twitter via @Dazatheg