NXT Review July 25 2018: “Tommaso Ciampa…YOU VILE CREATURE!”

Tonight’s episode is all about one match. Aleister Black vs. Tommaso Ciampa for the NXT Title.

SHOCK THE SYSTEM!

Well, it’s actually about a little bit more than that… because the North American Champion is here to start the show! Adam Cole is facing Cruiserweight Classic alumni Sean Maluta in a non-title match.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t give Maluta much of a chance.

Full-on babyface reaction for Cole who seems amused at the Full Sail love. If he wants to be a true heel, he shouldn’t have such a cool entrance and theme tune. Maluta takes some wicked bumps, including a superkick when jumping off the middle rope. A Last Shot later, and Cole has the quick win. This gives him plenty of time for a promo.

Adam calls himself “buzzworthy.” When you’re as cool as the champ, it’s perfectly fine to invent words. Ricochet quickly has enough of Cole’s chat and interrupts from the stage. Slick Ric is really improving on the mic. He calls Cole a coward and challenges him to put the title on the line at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn IV.

Adam refuses and makes to leave. Finally, he gets booed! Ricochet repeats the coward line. That touched a nerve! Cole advances to the ring and is joined by Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong. This brings out The War Raiders! The Undisputed Era try to find another exit point but are blocked and attacked by Moustache Mountain! Lots of exclamation marks mean this was a good segment!

William Regal is presiding over a TakeOver contract signing ‘earlier today’ between Shayna Baszler and Kairi Sane. The ‘Pirate Princess’ looks glam in a red dress. Shayna’s in her usual threads. This ain’t no fashion show as far as the champ’s concerned! The ‘Queen of Spades’ mocks her challenger (and Candice LeRae, again) and says she’s done nothing since winning the Mae Young Classic. Well, apart from beating Lacey Evans repeatedly and winning a number one contender’s match last week. Sane vows to beat her in Brooklyn. Baszler signs the contract and storms off. Kairi then reiterates to Regal that she can win. She seems fairly certain, I’ll give her that.

Mauro Ranallo is quoting Muhammad Ali as Tommaso Ciampa broods backstage.

Next week it’s EC3 vs. Kona Reeves. By the way, there are a lot of ‘NX3’ signs in the crowd tonight.

• Muhammad Ali
• Sara D'Amato
• sean maluta
• tenilla price
• kona reeves
• Aleister Black
• TakeOver
• bianca belair
• lacey evans
• adam cole
• shayna baszler
• kyle o'reilly
• Roderick Strong
• lucha house party
• nxt takeover brooklyn
• mauro ranallo
• william regal
• Undisputed Era
• candice lerae
• kairi sane
• Moustache Mountain
• war raiders
• Tommaso Ciampa
• ec3
• nxt

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