Johnny Wrestling or Johnny Failure? – NXT Review Sep 5 2018

OH NO! We’re straight into the action on this week’s NXT with The Knockout Artist himself.

 

Kassius Ohno vs ‘The Finest’ Kona Reeves

Kona has been shopping. Love the new furry leather jacket! The commentary team are putting over Ohno’s winning streak. “It’s like he’s flicked a switch and become more aggressive,” says Mauro Ranallo. Sure enough, when the bell rings it’s all Kassius. A brief Reeves comeback leads to a Hawaiian Drop attempt but Ohno slips out and hits the roaring elbow for a quick and convincing win. Reeves looks good but he’s all style and little substance at this point. Having said that, The Finest has youth on his side and all the time in the world to learn and improve.

Ohno then speaks to reiterate his change of attitude and warn that NXT newcomers will have to go through HIM. I wonder if a certain Mr Riddle was listening?

 

The Forgotten Sons vs The Street Profits

Finally Steve Cutler and Wesley Blake, accompanied by Jaxon Riker (Gunner from IMPACT) make their debut on NXT TV. Their opponents are those pot-stirring, cup-sipping, freestyling home boys Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford who look dazzling in their white and gold ring gear.

AHH, now I remember him! Wesley Blake used to be Buddy Murphy’s NXT Tag Team Championship partner! I’d completely forgotten. At least he lives the gimmick. He truly is a Forgotten Son.

Blake and Cutler show some tag team continuity but they have all the in-ring charisma of The Mighty. In my opinion they needed some proper build-up vignettes prior to their debut to make us care. I realise there’s some kind of military thing going on but, in uncharacteristic fashion, the writing team hasn’t done the best job of hammering this home. Why are they Forgotten Sons? What makes them so angry and bitter? Without this hook, this is just any old tag team match.

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The finish sees Ford hit a picturesque DDT on Blake but then two masked men interfere. Speak of the devils, it IS The Mighty! Thorn and Miller’s intervention allows Jaxon to lay Ford out with a clothes line at ringside. A bloody Cutler and Blake then finish off Montez with a reverse DDT flying stomp combo. Big win for The Forgotten Sons in an otherwise forgettable bout.

Meanwhile in Mr Regal’s office, Heavy Machinery are being grilled. The GM and his balding friend, who reminds me a little of Dr Shelby, are continuing their investigation into Who Attacked Aleister Black. Otis Dozovic confesses, but only to breaking the Performance Center toilet. Classic! Stealing this segment with his nuttiness, The Dozer is a welcome throwback to when wrestlers were bonkers OTT characters, and I love him dearly.

There is trouble in Ricochet-Pete Dunne paradise as the camera catches them arguing after their tag team loss last week. So we are getting Champion vs Champion in two weeks! My mouth is a-watering at the prospect.

Kairi Sane vs Trish Adora

The Pirate Princess arrives and produces her newly-won NXT Women’s Title from a treasure chest. That’s a fantastic touch! Sane faces eight-year army vet Trish Adora, who Percy Watson informs us trained with The Dudley Boyz. Ref Ronda Rousey is in charge of this one. It doesn’t last long. The champ wins easily with an InSane Elbow.

But then as Kairi is celebrating mid-Yo Ho, the deposed former champ Shayna Baszler comes out and smashes her treasure chest to pieces! The Queen of Spades is angry and wants not only a rematch…but a fight right now! Shayna flattens Sane with a clothes line but this just fires up the Japanese star who fights off the interloper with an Interceptor spear. Kairi stands tall and proves not to be intimidated by the UFC alumni. Good segment and both Sane and Baszler are coming to the fore as two of the best on the entire WWE women’s roster.

 

Tommaso Speaks

Tommaso Ciampa cuts a promo in some dark corner of the arena. In a nutshell, the NXT champion wants the people to ‘Follow his lead’. Strange old speech, this. It seems like the biggest heel in the world is currying favour with the fans. Fascinating but strangely un-nerving at the same time. Where is this going?

Meanwhile Lars Sullivan is the latest to face bad cop Regal and his silent friend. Lars says he wasn’t responsible for the Black attack. “If I’d done it, I’d still be standing over his body and he’d be out for a lot longer than he is…just ask EC3.” As the aforementioned One Per Center isn’t yet medically cleared, the GM makes a match for next week between Sullivan and the man he DID attack seven days ago, Raul Mendoza. I don’t expect that one to last long.

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