7/26 Gutteridge's WWE NXT Review: Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre in the main event, Antonio Cesaro vs Alex Riley, Sofia Cortez vs Natalya, and more

By Darren Gutteridge
 
WWE NXT on Sky Sports 3
Taped on 6/14 in Winter Park, Florida
 
[Q1] The show opened with WWE's new opening 'Then. Now. Forever.' stinger before titles...
 
Byron Saxton and William Regal joined on commentary, and said that Dusty Rhodes has booked Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre for the main event. Bo Dallas's music hit, and he came out with Derrick Bateman. They are facing Johnny Curtis and Michael McGillicutty...
 
1. Bo Dallas and Derrick Bateman vs. Johnny Curtis and Michael McGillicutty. Dallas and Bateman got the better of both heels, utilising quick tags until Curtis hit Bo with a baseball slide after McGillicutty distracted him. The heels isolated Dallas and constantly stopped him from tagging Bateman.
 
Dallas managed to escape a double arm stretch and tag in Bateman, who hit the ring hot. A flapjack, followed up a rolling neckbreaker, brought only a two count after McGillicutty broke it up. Dallas took McGillicutty out, but when he returned to his corner, McGillicutty grabbed Bateman's leg, allowing Curtis to recover and hit Bateman with a suplex transitioned into a sit out slam. Dallas was unable to break the pin in time...
 
Johnny Curtis and Michael McGillicutty defeated Bo Dallas and Derrick Bateman in 4:05.
 
The heels celebrated as Regal said they could become a great tag team in the WWE. Dallas was asking Bateman what happened before Saxton cut to teasing Sofia Cortez vs. Natalya for later tonight. Up next is Antonio Cesaro vs. Alex Riley... [C]
 
Gutt Check: The match never really got started. Bateman basically absorbed one offensive maneuver and was out for the count. Hopefully this means something later in the show gets more time, and isn't a sign of a match heavy hour, which does no one any favors.
 
[Q2] JR checked in on commentary, and said Cesaro was the most interesting man in the world. Alex Riley enthusiastically entered the arena next to a decent pop...
 
2. Alex Riley vs. Antonio Cesaro. Cesaro kept Riley grounded early on until Riley landed a dropkick. Cesaro quickly got back on top by landing Riley on the ropes and then apply an abdominal stretch.
 
Riley got cornered and Cesaro worked his body before landing a big boot. Cesaro continued to work the mid section with submissions and a gutwrench slam. Riley managed to escape another submission with a back body drop. He fired up with punches and clotheslines. He delivered a spinebuster and went for the You're Dismissed. Cesaro escaped and Aksana distracted Riley, allowing Cesaro to hit a rugby style tackle, followed by the Neutraliser for the 1-2-3...
 
Antonio Cesaro defeated Alex Riley in 5:12.
 
Gutt Check: I haven't seen much of Antonio's promo skills, but his in ring style is something we don't see often now Regal has semi-retired. It is very European based, combining submissions designed to stretch body parts and rough takedowns. It's a brawler style, only refined and cultured. It made for a solid if forgettable match.
 
Cesaro celebrated with Aksana in the ring as Saxton threw it backstage to Briley Pierce, who was interviewing Kassius Ohno and called him one of the young faces competing on NXT for an opportunity. Kassius said that was all well and good, but something was missing from NXT - an element of danger. He said that’s what he brings, and he will inflict pain on his opponents in a lot of ways. He said he intends to hurt people and enjoy doing it. He signed off with 'My name is Kassius, and I hurt people' ...
 
Gutt Check: Kassius seems an ill fit for his character. His promos have lacked the conviction needed for an 'I hurt people and enjoy it' character, and he seems a little soft spoken to push the aggression needed for this type of character. When Mick Foley spoke quietly when running a similar type gimmick, he backed it up with intensity, whereas Kassius just seems downbeat. I'll give it time, but so far I am not sold.
 
A video package opened with the words 'Storm Alert'. It was a mock newscast, saying an F5 hurricane is coming. It called Brock Lesnar the 'Perfect Storm', and said he is coming to SummerSlam...
 
Backstage, Matt Striker welcomed us and said he was joined by Drew McIntyre. Striker asked what McIntyre thought about people saying Drew's promise is fading, and people look at Rollins as one of the new guys that will carry the company forward instead of him. Drew said everyone has been talking, but tonight, the talking ends...
 
Natalya was first out for the Divas match, followed by Sofia Cortez...
 
3. Sofia Cortez vs. Natalya. Regal said Sofia came from an MMA background. They engaged in chain wrestling to begin with. Natalya was working as a heel, and began to stretch Sofia on the mat. After they broke it up, the two traded pinning attempts before Natalya feel to the outside. Natalya said she hated Sofia, and got herself counted out...
 
Sofia Cortez defeated Natalya in 3:20 via countout.
 
After the match, Natalya attacked Sofia and applied the Sharpshooter. Both commentators questioned her motives before announcing that the Ascension were up next ... [C]
 
Gutt Check: Outside of 'to be a heel', I too can't think of any reason for Natalya to get herself counted out. Natalya and Beth have the unique distinction in the Divas division of being portrayed as serious wrestlers among the valets, models and comedy acts, so why not have Sofia score an upset win with a roll up to spark the feud, instead of a countout victory followed by a post match attack?
 
[Q3] A Raw 1000 highlight video aired. It was about 2-3 minutes long...
 
The Ascension made their entrance, with its DX style intercutting of entrance video and actual entrance. They are taking on Dante Dash and Garrett Dylan...
 
4. The Ascension vs. Dante Dash and Garrett Dylan. Conor O'Brian shoved Dash out the way and hit Dylan on the apron. Dash seemed overawed by O'Brian before O'Brian attacked. The ascension used quick tags to wear Dash down. They started screaming in a guttural fashion before taking Dash out (who just stood there as Kenneth Cameron grunted at him) with a high/low combo of a spinning wheel kick (Cameron) and a leg sweep (O'Brian)...
 
The Ascension defeated Dante Dash and Garrett Dylan in 1:47.
 
They started screaming like morons again as Regal and Saxton pushed how dominant the team was...
 
A Big E Langston video package aired, which opened with Langston saying he doesn't see an opponent, he sees a victim. He explained that he doesn't train to fight, he trains to beat his victims down, because time is money, and he isn't paid by the hour. The video ended with him saying the world as we know it is about to change, and a graphic saying he will debut next week... [C]
 
Gutt Check: I just can't get into the Ascension act. It's so over the top it's comical, and no matter how much the commentators push them, it's time wasted. They are by far and away my least favourite part of NXT, and I personally think that should this act make it to the main shows, the audience will react with either laughter at how seriously it is taken, or apathy. Can you see them drawing legit heat? Also, I guess the video clears up that Langston is heel, and I am looking forward to his debut.
 
[Q4] Seth Rollins the one man mosh put (I smell a tag team with Heath Slater down the line) was out first, as JR rejoined commentary. He called this match a 'must win' for both men as McIntyre came out...
 
5. Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre. The two were evenly match until Rollins used his agility to gain the upperhand, sending Drew to the outside after a series of dropkicks. He dived at Drew through the ropes, before we cut to quick advert...
 
Back from the break, both men ended up on the mat after a double clothesline. Both kip-upped, and Rollins hit an enziguri to once gain fire up. A big corner forearm turned into a plant into the second turnbuckle. Seth took the time to recover a little and tried for some roll ups, but Drew kicked out at 2 each time. Rollins went top rope, and tried for a corkscrew moonsault, but Drew rolled out the way, and hit a big boot. Drew followed this up with a Future Shock for the win...
 
Drew McIntyre defeated Seth Rollins in 5:54.
 
Drew left up the ramp and the commentators said that next week, Dusty Rhodes would make a huge announcement...
 
Gutt Check: An entertaining match, but I wonder why they took the route of having Rollins lose clean to McIntyre. It may play into the announcement Rhodes will make next week (spoilers are up on the site), but it was still strange to see one of the spotlighted NXT guys lose clean to a main roster glorified jobber this early on. Having said that, it was another solid match, which could have benefited from a longer running time.
 
There were no bad matches, but nothing I could tell people to watch. It was a turn for the better in terms of finding a balance between main roster and FCW guys, but two main roster acts went over new people, and Natalya beat up Sofia. Middle of the road, and will be mainly forgotten by next week.
 
Thanks for reading. If you had any comments or thoughts on the show or this review, add me on Twitter via @Dazatheg