With all the fallout from NXT TakeOver: Phoenix, I’m Scott and I’ll be running through this episode of NXT with you, from the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix Arizona.
The show opened with the obligatory video package from last weekend’s NXT TakeOver: Phoenix PPV, documenting all the winners and losers, as always, top production here from the WWE.
The Sky Pirates (Io Shirai & Kairi Sane) vs Marina Shafir & Jessamyn Duke
Straight off the bat, Kairi Sane was over with this crowd. Unfortunately, history shows that the main shows have not been kind to pirate gimmicks (cough… Paul Burchill… cough). Out next were two of the MMA Four Horsewomen, not to be confused with the pro wrestling Horsewomen (confused yet?), and Shafir wearing the face mask actually gives her a unique look. Shirai started the match with Shafir and got the early offence, hitting a very nice handspring dropkick, before Duke entered the match. The visible difference in height on Duke compared to her Japanese counterparts was very evident here.
Middle of the match was highlighted with a tandem dropkick by the Pirates on Duke before the match was slowed down by the Horsewomen, with Shirai getting beaten down before getting the hot tag to Sane. Sane cleaned the house, eliminating Duke before a seated blockbuster, and a double team flapjack/elbow drop combination on Shafir. Sane then hit the Seven Seas elbow drop for the win. Basic set up but a good match to heat up the crowd.
Winners: The Sky Pirates (Io Shirai & Kairi Sane)
Recaps of all matches from NXT Takeover: Phoenix were aired individually with corresponding post-match promos for all the winners. Apart from Tommaso Ciampa. He put out a tweet. He’s probably the best heel in the company, scratch that, best heel full stop right now.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEegw38Cm-0]
Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) vs The Forgotten Sons (Steve Cutler & Wesley Blake) w/Jaxson Ryker
This match-up was brought on by the attack from the Sons a few weeks ago, the Profits rocking their best Harlem Heat homages with the ring gear (although the Heat was significantly bigger, height and muscle wise), a nice touch regardless. The Sons were out next, making sure all the biker stereotypes were covered (beards… check, leather vests… check, big angry leader… check). The match started quickly with the Profits hitting a double team move with Cutler being flapjacked onto Blake, but action was quickly slowed down by Montez Ford being cut off from partner Angelo Dawkins.
A double backbreaker quickly followed up with a buckle bomb into the knees of the waiting Blake was a clever use of tandem offence from the Sons. Dawson eventually got the hot tag, hitting a running bulldog on Cutler, followed up by Cutler retreating to the outside, only for Ford to hit a crazy over the top rope tope taking them both out of the match. Ryker then interjected, taking out Ford on the outside, which led to Dawkins being distracted. The Sons then hit Memory Remains for the win. The Savages of NXT stood tall
Winners: The Forgotten Sons (Steve Cutler & Wesley Blake)
Overall, your typical post-PPV show, little new action, but some excellent recap videos, as well as some decent promo work. The road to NXT Takeover: New York starts next week!
All pics courtesy of WWE.com