NXT World Champion: Bobby Roode
NXT World Tag Team Champions: The Authors Of Pain
NXT Woman's Champion: Asuka
United Kingdom Champion: Pete Dunne
NXT Episode 254
June 28th, 2017
Full Sail University: Orlando, Florida
Mauro Ranallo has now joined Nigel and Percy on commentary.
The Velveteen Dream vs. Ho Ho Lun
Another good Dream showing, he's continuing to get better and figuring out his gimmick.
Earlier Today, Asuka is being driven to the building and does another one of those in-car interviews, the cameraman asks how she's feeling going into her match tonight. Asuka says she's confident. Suddenly, the driver breaks fast because Nikki Cross hops on the hood of the car and begins banging on the window. She tries to open the door but security holds her back as Asuka stares her down.
FUCK YEAH ONEY/HIDEO REMATCH! TONIGHT!
In the back, Heavy Machinery and AoP are both venting to GM Regal, so he books a tag title match in two weeks. LOL NXT new thing is everything in two weeks. DAT PROMOTING!
Hideo Itami vs. Oney Lorcan
ONEY IS PISSED AND TAKES THE FIGHT TO HIDEO AS SOON AS HE BELL HITS! HE HITS A SICK UPPERCUT BUSTING HIDEO'S NOSE SO THE EMTS CHECK ON HIM. They then call for the bell in fear of a broken nose.
Awesome Roderick "The Turtle" Strongboat video package airs, they really going all out with family man Strong. I forgot how hard they pushed it.
FUCK YEAH! HIDEO IS BACK OUT!
Hideo Itami vs. Oney Lorcan
FUCK YEAH! THIS TIME HIDEO ATTACKS ONEY WHEN HE COMES TO THE RING. And now he's the one that begins kicking the shit out of Oney before he can do it to him. He straight up shoves Oney off the top and he takes that nasty bump onto the apron on his hip, damn no wonder wrestlers can barely walk in their 40s and are all getting hip replacements. Back from a break and it seems they edited out a shit ton of it
cause it comes back right into Oney's big comeback, Hideo fakes an injury again and kicks out his knee but this time Oney counters the GTS so it forces Hideo to back to some of his old moves for near falls. Oney hurts his knee during the striking, Hideo tries to help him up but Oney shoves his hand away so Hideo picks him up and hits the GTS for the win. **3/4
I FUCKING LOVE THESE TWO TOGETHER! TOP 2 FEUD OF THE YEAR.
After the Match; Hideo calls Ohno down to the ring, and he does. BUT SANITY HITS THE RING AND ATTACKS BOTH MEN! Wolfe grabs the mic and says all these force friendships, they have to end all these lies and the best way is with CHAOS!
Last Woman Standing Match for the NXT Women's Championship: Nikki Cross vs. Asuka
Hell of a story here, with Asuka being the best woman's wrestler in the company, and a top 10 in NXT, maybe IDK the roster has improved so much since last year. She's so dominant but she's never faced anyone the likes of Cross. She's not used to Cross' craziness/unorthodox/someone with so much heart, apart from Bayley. So it throws her off her game a whole bunch. This is also more TaylorMade for Cross' brawling, Asuka does a great job leaning on the fly and adding the weapons to what works for her. E.G. Placing a trashcan over Cross' head and kicking it several times before hitting a big dropkick off the top. But, Cross is up at 7. Asuka follows up with some sweet kicks and knee, but she gets too distracted with throwing chairs in the ring which allows Cross to hit an inverted DDT onto the ring apron, but Asuka is up at 5. They both hit a move onto the stack of chairs in the ring, but both get up at 7 as we cut to our 2nd break. Trips really needs to release some of these matches in full, even if it's on a DVD. ASUKA BEGINS KICKING THE CHEST, BUT CROSS EGGS HER ON AND EVEN BEGINS LAUGHING AT HER. Cross comes back with a flying forearm but Asuka now laughs at her, but Cross quickly snaps off her spinning neckbreaker, Asuka gets back up so Cross hits her with 4 in a row. Cross grabs the belt thinking it's over, as Asuka s back up at 9. She comes charging in and Asuka kicks the belt back into her face, she follows up with another buzzsaw kick and again Cross gets back up laughing. NASTY SPOT! WITH CROSS POWERBOMBING ASUKA FROM THE APRON ONTO A 2ND PILE OF CHAIRS ON THE FLOOR, BUT THE WORSE PART WAS THE BACK OF ASUKA'S HEAD HITTING THE SIDE OF THE STEEL RAMP! BUT ASUKA MAKES IT UP AT 9 WITH HELP FROM THE THE RAILS. Cross drags her up the ramp and they battle for position until Asuka knows her off, and follows with the flying ass. They fight the commentary booth, and Asuka hurts her leg when Cross ducks a kick and Asuka kicks 1 of the stage lights. CROSS THEN FOLLOWS UP WITH A SPINNING NECKBREAKER TO THE CONCRETE
Asuka is back up at 9. She hits a desperation backhand for separation, but Cross comes right back with a ladder shot to the gut. She drags a table from the side and places it right in front of the commentary table. She sets up the ladder and begins to climb it, Asuka follows her up and they begin brawling, AND ASUKA HITS A SUPLEX OFF THE LADDER THROUGH THE COMMENTARY TABLE! The ref begins to count, and Asuka makes it her feet at the count of 9 as Cross is dead for the count. I remember liking this when it aired live, just not as much as the male woman marks who tend to ruin everything. So with it now being a year later, I can really appreciate it. Good stuff, best woman's match since 2015. ASUKA DA GOAT! ****
This year so far > Every other year. Mid-Year awards up next.
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