9/13 Gutteridge's NXT Review: Tyson Kidd vs. Michael McGillicutty in a No. 1 Contenders Match, Jey Uso vs. Kenneth Cameron, Big E Langston and Damien Sandow in singles matches, wrestler's return announced

By Darren Gutteridge
 
WWE NXT on Sky Sports 3
Taped on 8/9 in Winter Park, Florida
 
[Q1] After titles, we were immediately shown The Ascension stood at the top of the ramp in ring gear. WWE production must be credited with at least doing a great job with the lighting and the video work. Byron Saxton and William Regal checked in on commentary as The Usos made their entrance for a single match between Jey Uso and Kenneth Cameron...
 
1. Jey Uso vs. Kenneth Cameron. Jey seemed to gain control after sending Cameron to the outside and then being quicker on the draw when he re-entered, but Cameron leveled him with a big boot out of the corner. He took Jey down and grounded him with a body scissors and headlock combo. When Jey escaped, Cameron countered by arm dragging him into the turnbuckle, getting a two count.
 
Cameron slowed the pace with power moves before Jey rolled out of the way of an elbow drop. Jey started to fire up, but got tripped by Conor O'Brian. Jimmy took out Conor as Cameron hit a suplex neckbreaker for a close two count. As Cameron picked up Jey, Jey pushed him into the ropes and hit him with a flying superkick on the rebound, scoring the pinfall...
 
Jey Uso defeated Kenneth Cameron in 5:28
 
The Usos celebrated in the crowd as we cut to commercial... [C]
 
Gutt Check: A solid match to start us off. Cameron impressed here, as he just wrestled. There was no howling, or prolonged stomp attack, and he was all the better for it. Maybe a scaling back is all this gimmick needs (although a complete retooling would be my suggestion), but it's good to know Cameron has the tools to at least be watchable in the ring. Jey wasn't given a lot of offense, but the final superkick looked great.
 
[Q2] Dusty was shown talking to a short guy with a clipboard in his office when Rick Victor walked in. Victor said he could beat Rollins. Dusty said he should show him what he can do, and Rick said he will prove himself. Rick left, and Dusty told the short guy he thought he was pretty good...
 
Back in the arena, Big E Langston walked into the arena, as his opponent Chad Baxter waited in the ring...
 
2. Big E Langston vs. Chad Baxter. Langston clubbed Baxter down to the mat, and then set to work with shoulder blocks into the corner. He took Baxter to the middle of the ring and delivered three rib breakers. After a body check, Langston took his straps down and hit his Big Finish finisher for the squash win...
 
Big E Langston defeated Chad Baxter in 2:15
 
After the match, Langston delivered another Big Finish, and then counted his own pinfall of five. Langston got on the mic as the crowd chanted 'one more time'. He said a three count was normal, but he isn't. From now on, his opponents will feel the pain and agony of being beaten for a five count. He went to leave, but then re-entered for another Big Finish and another mock five count...
 
Backstage, Kassius Ohno was shown sat backstage wearing his hipster glasses. He said he tried to warn people that he was dangerous. He said no one seemed to get it, so next week, there will be the first ever Ohno sparring session, and afterwards, people would understand how dangerous he was... [C]
 
Gutt Check: The five count gimmick is a cool addition to Langston, and I can't remember it being done in recent years. He wasn't overly convincing on the mic, but not many people are after a match, so I'll give him a pass. I really wish I could give Kassius a pass, but to beat a dead horse, the look doesn't suit the act. Hopefully, his sparring session will help establish his in ring style just a little more.
 
[Q3] A video package showed lots of different superstars and divas asking 'Where's Trent?' a voiceover said that Trent had been missing for 6 months, but will return with a new inspiration. After a graphic saying 'He has been found' showed, Briley Pierce was shown opening a door backstage, where Trent was watching a monitor. He asked him if he wanted to wrestle next week, and Trent said yes...
 
Gutt Check: After six months of appearances on Z True Long Island Story ranging from too weird to hysterical, Trent's back The backstage bit with Pierce was great. I hope he bring his Bill Murray tights. Those things are bitchin.
 
Back in the ring, Garrett Dylan made his way out, wooing like a moron and throwing up the devil horns. The crowd popped slightly as Damien Sandow came out to face him. He got in the ring and grabbed a mic. He said that instead of competing, he was willing to give Dylan the choice to sit at ringside and listen to lecture he had prepared. Dylan refused, and Sandow disrobed...
 
3. Damien Sandow vs. Garrett Dylan. Sandow cornered Dylan  several times and pounded on him with punches and shoulder blocks. Dylan fought back with a shoulder block of his own and a clothesline. He tried to pick Sandow up, but Sandow hit his rolling Russian leg sweep. Sandow then reeled off his signatures, before putting Dylan away with his cross arm neckbreaker...
 
Damien Sandow defeated Garrett Dylan in 2:38
 
Sandow performed the intellectual cartwheel, and when the fans chanted 'one more time', he teased doing it before refusing and leaving...
 
Backstage, Briley Pierce was stood with Seth Rollins. He asked what Seth's thoughts were on facing either Tyson Kidd or Michael McGuillicutty after their number 1 contenders match later on the show. Rollins said he will take on all challengers, friend or foe.
 
Rick Victor walked in and said it was easy to say you would take on anybody when you're being protected. He asked if Seth knew who he was, and when Seth said no, Victor threw the most deliberate slap in the history of man, hitting Rollins before leaving. Seth looked angry, and said he did know who he was, and he is now on the top of his 'list'...
 
The Raw rebound highlighted CM Punk and John Cena's closing segment...
 
Backstage, Dusty was in his office, and Rollins walked in asking if Dusty had seen what happened. Rollins demanded a match next week with Victor, and Dusty granted it him. Saxton then announced that the main event of Kidd vs McGillicutty was next... [C]
 
Gutt Check:  Sandow is an example of a man just 'getting' his character. Sandow doesn't immediately strike you as a candidate for a smart character, with his fairly large frame and long hair, but he's so devoted to it that it works consistently, and he is my favourite new act to watch by far. Can Kassius convince people he's a KO artist? Of course, who knew Brodus could be so at home playing a jive soul brother. But it's going to be a struggle. Oh, and that slap was awful. Kelly Kelly's rope running is more convincing.
 
[Q4] Kidd made his entrance, flipping into the ring. JR joined on commentary as McGillicutty made his way out...
 
4. Tyson Kidd vs. Michael McGillicutty. Tyson wrestled rings around McGillicutty in the early going, sending him to the outside twice. McGillicutty finally got a foothold after booting Tyson during a test of strength...
 
After a Night of Champions video, McGillicutty threw Tyson powerfully into the corner. Tyson ended up on the apron, and hit McGillicutty with a big kick. He got back in the ring and picked up the pace, building to a running dropkick for a two count. McGillicutty rolled outside, only for Tyson to hit with him a dropkick through the ropes, followed by a running kick. Back in the ring, Tyson tried for a springboard elbow, but McGillicutty countered and hit a Perfectplex for a close two.
 
McGillicutty climbed to the top rope, but Kidd cut him off,  and launched him off with a hurricanrana. McGillicutty kicked out of the following pin, and both men sold the damage they had taken. When they got back up, McGillicutty hit a jawbreaker, which allowed him to eventually hit his Turning Heads neckbreaker for the 1-2-3...
 
Michael McGillicutty defeated Tyson Kidd in 9:30
 
JR said the match was fantastic, and Saxton added that the title picture was becoming really interesting. This brought NXT to a close...
 
Gutt Check: Not their best outing, but close enough. An example of chemistry at it's simplest. While I don't think McGillicutty will have as good a match the newly rejuvenated Kidd could have with Rollins, there is a lot of logic in having him face established guys in his early days as champion. It grows Rollins credit as a champion, and allows time for a NXT guy to be built up to face him.
 
After a few weeks of disappointing NXTs, this was a return to form. It's struck me now that most of the key new guys in development have been showcased, so there won't be new debuts to look forward to every week, but if they produce a good, well rounded (if a little unmemorable) show like this, that won't be a problem. But can we now get a 'Where's Bray?' thing going now we've found Trent?
 
Thanks for reading. If you had any comments or thoughts on the show or this review, add me on Twitter via @Dazatheg