NXT March 9, 2016
We will FINALLY get a #1 Contender for the NXT Championship tonight and this is incredibly exciting. Will we finally see a true debut for Austin Aries? All this before WWE’s Network special (fancy name for PPV) this Saturday, where NXT talent will compete.
-We begin with Commissioner Regal, who says Aries debut match will be against Baron Corbin at NXT Takeover: Dallas.
-I did not expect the 2/3 falls match to kick off the show but I’m happily surprised. Samoa Joe v. Sami Zayn, who I saw debut in person this past Monday night on RAW (the most electric crowd I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve been to a WrestleMania). Sami is amongst one of the most over guys in the company right now, in talks with AJ Styles, New Day and Dean Ambrose for that top prize. We knew these guys would have a great match but this match couldn’t have been more entertaining. After 30 full minutes of near falls and awesome wrestling, Joe finally puts Zayn down with a Muscle Buster (stupid name, awesome move) to go up 1-0.
-Joe then controls the majority of the match and hits a brutal STO on the outside. Zayn proves his resilience by mounting a comeback and hitting a plancha over the top rope and following that up with a Koji Clutch to tie the falls at 1 a piece.
-Sami hits a beautiful Blue Thunder Bomb (isn’t it always) and the two begin to battle even harder than before, when something hits me. This match is going to go the entire show and we’re not going to have time for the rest of the roster…and I’m okay with that. This match is incredible, a true Match of the Year Candidate come December. Zayn then hits a brutal Through the Ropes DDT (does it have a name?) and Joe just beats the count by a second. Sami locks in Joe’s own Coquina Clutch as the crowd chants “TAP!” but to no avail. Joe shows Sami how it’s really done and Joe picks up the win as Sami passes out.
-Holy hell, that was amazing. An hour long show dedicated to one fantastic match that highlight everything NXT is all about; passion, dedication and wrestling. Triple H has the upmost faith and respect in these men to let them control the entire show, an hour-long match that reeked of awesomeness (sorry Edge & Christian). And while the fan in me wanted to see Sami v. Balor, this is a smart move. Sami has been called up to the main roster and this frees him up to face Kevin Owens at WrestleMania.
