Vic Joseph is substituting for Mauro tonight.
OPENING SEGMENT-
Undisputed Era came out and Cole cut a promo saying they were back at 100% and everyone should fear them. Cole started to cut a promo on Ricochet but EC III came out and said Cole didn’t deserve a rematch and cut a promo on Undisputed. Cole did a great job of being believably angry at Ethan’s pretty silly bravado and insults and challenged EC III to wrestle him right now. A referee came out, so we officially got…
EC III vs. ADAM COLE (w/Undisputed Era)- 7/10
Cole worked over Ethan’s head and neck. Ethan was a great babyface here, and did a lot of stuff I don’ think I’ve ever seen him do before (nothing crazy, but just general stuff like a powerbomb that I really like seeing mixed into matches occasionally even if it’s not part of someone’s regular move-set. Ethan overcame UE’s attempts to interfere and rolled Cole up for the win in a great opener.
POST-MATCH SEGMENT- great!
EC III celebrated… but as he left the ring he got blindsided (on both sides) by a high/low combination from Strong & O’Reilly. UE then beat the crap out of him ending with a Running Knee to the back of the head by Cole and Fish grabbing a chair and destroying Ethan’s knee with it.
MIA YIM VIDEO PACKAGE- it was basically the same one from the Mae Young Classic. Mia will is apparently making her NXT debut next. Cool.
NIKKI CROSS BOTHERS THE SECURITY GUARDS- She keeps saying “HE’S COMING!,” jumping up and down excitedly, and then runs away. Vic Joseph figures that she must be talking about Aleister Black, but just the fact that he brought it up makes me think it must be someone else (possibly Aleister’s attacker).
MIA YIM vs. ALIYAH- 5.5/10
This was perfect for what it was. Yim got shined a bit, got to show off her ability to sell during a solid heat, then came back and won. I just wish she’d use a cooler finish than Sole Food/Eat Defeat.
SERIES OF BACKSTAGE REGAL SEGMENT- good
First Bianca Belair demanded a title shot from him because she is un-de-fea-ted. She left, and Regal continued on his way to his office where he was interviewed by Cathy Kelley, asking him if he knew whose name Nikki Cross told Aleister Black last week. Regal said he didn’t know, but knows that Aleister will raise hell when he shows up. Then Undisputed Era showed up and were angry at Regal for… some reason or another. Regal yelled at them for their actions this week and last week, and told Cole & Fish that they would be facing the War Raiders next week.
ROMAN REIGNS VIDEO PACKAGE- The video package version of this feels… exploitive isn’t the right word, exactly, but it just doesn’t sit right with me. It feels like they’re taking Roman’s shoot speech and already turning it into a WWE… storyline isn’t quite the right word, but they put this together like they would any other big story video package, and it just feels wrong to me.
LACEY EVANS VIDEO PACKAGE- Hopefully this is a sign that they have found a way to bring the disparate elements of this character together. Basically, she is doing the “I am an exemplar of what every woman wishes she could be” arrogance, but in a more twenty-first century way, (i.e. not only focusing on looks) mixed with the heel southern belle “I’ll teach you a lesson in manners” gimmick.
SANE-BASZLER HYPE VIDE- great!
JUSTIN XAVIER vs. KASSIUS OHNO- no rating, good segment
Ohno squashed Xavier while yelling at Regal for ‘not giving him what he asked for.” After the match, Nikki Cross came out and told Ohno “I know what you did.
MATT RIDDLE VIDEO PACKAGE- not a good video package at all, bro.
But Riddle will be debuting next week.
REGAL ANNOUNCES THE #1 CONTENDER FOR THE NXT CHAMPIONSHIP AT TAKEOVER: WAR GAMES II-
Ciampa came out, probably uninvited. He chose to do his posing routine directly in front of Regal, just to be a dick. Ciampa was rude to Regal. The Velveteen Dream then came out and insisted that he should be the #1 contender. Lars Sullivan also came out. TVD insulted him for not wearing pants so Lars grabbed him. Meanwhile, Nikki Cross ran into the ring.
Aleister Black showed up and killed some security people, plus a camera. Black hit Lars with Black Mass, then grabbed Regal and shouted “WHERE IS HE!” Then he got superkicked by his attacker, who said “I’m right here!” And that attacker was…
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