Short's WWE NXT Review: Justin Gabriel vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Jinder Mahal vs. Bo Dallas for the No.1 Contendership, Kassius Ohno vs. Trent Baretta, Big E Langston vs. Memo Montenegro, Bray Wyatt returns

By Josh Short
 
11/8 WWE NXT on Dailymotion
Taped in Winter Park, Fla. At Full Sail University.
 
Before the opening credits a video package hyping tonight’s No. 1 Contender match between Drew McIntyre, Jinder Mahal, Justin Gabriel and Bo Dallas and focusing on how we got there...
 
After the titles Tony Luftman welcomed us to the show. He hyped the main event and a Big E Langston appearance as Kassius Ohno made his entrance to little reaction. Matt Striker is the ring announcer for tonight. They showed a video package of Ohno losing to Trent Baretta two weeks ago, which lead to this rematch. William Regal and Byron Saxton checked in as Baretta made his entrance to a good pop...
 
1. Trent Baretta vs. Kassius Ohno. Baretta mocked Kassius by sarcastically yelling "Ohno!" Baretta attempted a sunset flip on Ohno, who was hanging onto the ropes from the apron. Ohno, however managed to trap Baretta in the apron and stomp on his head. Ohno began to wear down Trent with various strikes and a dragon sleeper. Ohno transitioned into another hold. Baretta managed to escape and hit several running strikes; he then hit a modified Tornado DDT from the corner for a 2 count. Baretta attempted to pick up the pace again, but Ohno struck him with a running knee followed by a big boot.
 
Ohno put Baretta on the top rope, but Baretta managed to throw him off and land a missile dropkick. Baretta attempted his running knee, but Ohno slid out of the ring. Baretta chased Ohno and slid into the ring however he ended up on the receiving end of the discus elbow from Ohno, which lead to the pinfall...
 
Kassius Ohno defeated Trent Baretta in 6:10.
 
Kassius tried to hit the elbow again after the match, but Baretta saw it coming and ducked it. Ohno stumbled to the apron, and Trent dropkicked him off. They had a stare down as Luftman teased the main event...[C]
 
Short’s Synopsis: A good match to start the show. The contrasting styles worked well and I liked the finishing sequence. Myself and Gutteridge discussed Ohno’s elbow this week. Gutteridge just doesn’t like it however I feel that it can be effective when Ohno hits it out of nowhere instead of signalling for it like Big Show or Sheamus. The crowd’s reaction to the elbow, however, suggests that they are with Gutteridge when it comes to the elbow.
 
[C] A Corey Graves vignette aired. He talked about his tattoos and the stories they tell. He concluded by saying "but why waste time telling you about it (the stories), when I could get right in your face and show you."  The package ended with just the name "Graves", no Corey...
 
Back in the arena, Big E Langston made his entrance. The crowd were already chanting "5!." His opponent; Memo Montenegro (Alberto Del Rio’s younger brother) was already in the ring...
 
2. Big E Langston vs. Memo Montenegro. Langston got the audience to start chanting "five." He immediately slammed Memo down, and then absolutely destroyed him with a running body check. Big E took his strap down, and hit Memo with the Big Ending for the win...
 
Big E Langston defeated Memo Montenegro in 1:00
 
After the match the ref didn't count to 5 before lifting Big E's hand. The audience chanted "one more time." Big E acknowledged it and hit the Big Ending again before counting his own 5 count. The audience chanted again for "one more time" however Vickie Guerrero appeared on the tron to distract him. Vickie said after embarrassing her last week, she had now put a $5000 bounty on his head and will give it to anyone who takes him out.
 
Big E turned back to Memo, before being attacked from behind by Chad Baxter. Big E body checked him and hit him with the Big Ending as well, adding another 5 count before leaving...
 
Short’s Synopsis: I prefer heel Big E than babyface Big E however the crowd’s reaction to him have been fantastic so I understand the turn. The bounty on Big E’s head is a fun story and it will only help him get over more. That is something I’m all for.
 
Jason Jordan was introduced in the ring as Bray Wyatt made his entrance to a decent reaction after a hiatus. He made his entrance saying "Can you feel it? Can you feel me?." He told the audience to join him and escape "this rotting mountain." Jordan grabbed a mic and said Wyatt talks too much and that he wasn't here to talk, he wanted to fight. He invited Wyatt down to the ring.
 
Wyatt said he didn't want to hurt Jordan, only to help him. He told Jason he was too good for him and that he was a monster. He finished by saying he is "never alone." At this point, a large homeless looking guy, Luke Harper, made his entrance and ran into the ring...
 
3. Jason Jordan vs. Luke Harper. Harper viciously attacked Jordan from the start; constantly striking him in the corners. He also hit several splashes in the corner. Harper hit a brutal looking clothesline. Jordan dodged a big boot, and tried to make a comeback but Harper caught him with a Black Hole slam for the 1-2-3...
 
Luke Harper defeated Jason Jordan in 2:20
 
Wyatt introduced Luke Harper as the "first son of the Wyatt family" before leaving. The announcers transitioned it to a highlight package of Roman Reign's match from last week.  Saxton stood at the top of the stage after the package and brought out Roman Reigns, who came out in a suit.
 
Reigns motioned for Saxton to walk over to him. Reigns took the mic and told him to leave. He said he feels great and called himself "the man." He said there was nothing he couldn't do. He concluded by saying "Everybody wants to be Roman Reigns.".. [C]
 
Short’s Synopsis: Wyatt’s act is AMAZING. Like Gutteridge I think Wyatt is better in backstage pre-taped segments however he can more than hold his own in front of a live crowd. Wyatt needs to be on the main roster NOW. He’s such a different character that he’ll immediately get attention and he’s fantastic in the ring. Luke Harper really fits in with Wyatt’s act as well as he looks exactly like one of Wyatt’s followers in his videos. Harper will also help add to the cult feel of Wyatt’s act. By the way Harper is certainly a better follower for Wyatt than Eli Cottonwood was. As for Roman Reigns promo; it was dull and was so unbelievably scripted, or at least it felt that way. I think he's a heel but the promo didn’t establish whether or not he is either way. This is the second straight week this has happened now and that isn’t good.
 
[C] Gabriel made his entrance to a decent pop first for the main event. Drew McIntyre received little reaction, so did Jinder Mahal and Bo Dallas.
 
4. Justin Gabriel vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Jinder Mahal vs. Bo Dallas in a No.1 Contender Fatal Four Way Elimination match. Dallas started against Jinder and Gabriel took on McIntyre. The faces knocked both heels to the outside. Dallas hit a baseball slide, and Gabriel then dived on all three men with a flip over the ropes... [C]
 
[C] McIntyre and Mahal stomped on Dallas. Mahal turned on McIntyre, Mahal kicked McIntyre however McIntyre came back with a big boot. Gabriel came back in and gained control by taking out McIntyre with a spinning reverse DDT, before hitting a 450 splash on Mahal. McIntyre threw him off the pin, and turned around into a weak looking spear from Dallas for the first elimination...
 
Drew McIntyre eliminated at 4:35
 
Dallas stood up, and struck a diving Gabriel with another spear in mid-air...
 
Justin Gabriel eliminated at 4:47
 
Seth Rollins was shown sat on a chair at the top of the ramp as we went to the final commercial... [C]
 
[C] Mahal threw Dallas into the steps as JR announced that the winner will face Rollins for the title next week. Mahal began to wear down the back of Dallas and hit his usual knee strikes. He charged a cornered Dallas, but Bo dodged his attack and gained control. He hit a scoop slam, and tried for a spear, but Mahal dodged it and Dallas hit the ropes. Nasty looking spot. Mahal took advantage and locked in the Camel Clutch which resulted in Dallas tapping out...
 
Jinder Mahal eliminated Bo Dallas in 13:25 to become the No.1 Contender for the NXT Championship
 
Mahal locked in the Camel Clutch again, and as Rollins ran down to make the save, Mahal broke the hold and stomped on him when he entered the ring. Mahal grabbed the title, and Rollins pounced on him. They rolled around for a bit before Mahal slid outside and began to retreat. Rollins climbed the turnbuckle and stared down Mahal as NXT came to a close...
 
Short’s Synopsis: A decent match. I didn’t even know it was an elimination style four way until McIntyre was eliminated. I don’t agree with Mahal having another shot. His character is one dimensional and he’s boring in the ring as he repeats so much of his offense. Plus I don’t think people see him or any of those guys in the match as a threat to Seth Rollins’ Championship.
 
This week’s NXT was a lot more newsworthy. Ohno and Baretta continued their feud and had a good match together. Big E cemented his face turn and has a new storyline. Reigns delivered a promo that gave the slightest indication that he’s a heel. Bray Wyatt returned with a follower thus expanding his gimmick. And finally; Seth Rollins has a new contender.

Thanks for taking time out to read my review of this week’s NXT. If you have any questions or just fancy a chat about anything; especially NXT and wrestling in general follow me on twitter @JoshTubeShort. Cheers.