-Byron Saxton joins JR this week.
-Match 1: Seth Rollins VS Jiro
-Rollins wins a chop exchange, then lands some clotheslines before finishing quickly with the Blackout (jumping stomp to the back, driving opponent's face into the mat) at 1:32.
-Briley Pierce gets some words from Rollins, who promises to "change the world, one heart at a time". Jinder Mahal enters for the next match, and he & Rollins exchange glares.
-Match 2: Jinder Mahal VS Jason Jordan
-Jordan gets an entrance this week, cutting off Mahal's pre-match promo. Mahal gets the early jump and hits a neckbreaker for two. Mahal keeps the pressure on, and hits a butterfly suplex for two. Jordan tries to make a comeback, but Mahal cuts that off with knees, and finishes with the Camel Clutch at 3:03.
-Mahal vows to mold NXT into his vision, and begin a new wave of dominance in WWE.
-Leo Kruger profile video. He likens himself to a lion and says he's treated like a god in Africa.
-RAW MOMENT: Bobby Heenan can't get into the first show.
-Match 3: Leo Kruger VS Aiden English
-Kruger takes one dropkick, but then swats a second away before hitting some mounted punches. Kruger goes to work in the corner, then hits a snap suplex and puff his chest out to celebrate. Kruger finishes with a rear naked choke at 1:20.
-Richie Steamboat profile video.
-Match 4: The Usos VS The Ascension
-William Regal joins the booth. Cameron starts for his team, and learns quick that you can't headbut a Samoan. O'Brien holds the ropes open, and Jey falls through them. The Ascension take turns working Jey over in the corner, and O'Brien gets two. They let Jimmy make the hot tag, and he cleans house, but gets caught with the Downcast, and O'Brien gets the pin at 3:58. OK abbreviated tag formula match. Feels like it should be a bigger deal when someone who hasn't been on a main show beats someone who has.
-Match 5: Richie Steamboat VS Rick Victor
-Back to Saxton on color. Steamboat opens with a side headlock, followed by a couple armdrags. Steamboat works the arm, and hangs on to it after taking a slam. Steamboat hits a sliding clothesline for one, and goes back to the arm. Victor fights out and hits a couple European Uppercuts, but soon falls victim to a chop followed by an armdrag. Steamboat picks up the pace as the crowd chants "Steamboat", and finishes with the Slingblade (JTG's wrapping clothesline finisher) at 4:23. Not bad.
-Same Antonio Cesaro video from last week. He's up next.
-RAW REBOUND: Cena VS Jericho, with Big Show interfering, leading to a beatdown on Cena.
-Match 6: Antonio Cesaro (w/Aksana) VS Dante Dash
-Cesaro has music he never had on the main shows. Cesaro promptly hits the deadlift gutwrench. Cesaro demolishes Dash, finishing with the Neutralizer at 1:45. Not sure what the point of this was, since Cesaro was already on the main shows and this show is already filled to the brim as it is.
-Bray Wyatt hype video. Even better than last week's.
-Match 7: Johnny Curtis VS Derrick Bateman
-Curtis bitch slaps Bateman and hauls ass. Bateman catches up and goes to work, adding a slap for a receipt. Bateman misses a high knee in the corner, and Curtis gets a nice leg takedown to capitalize. Curtis works the knee, and applies a deathlock. Bateman fights out, but Curtis busts out the SPINNING TOE HOLD OF MILD DISCUMFORT. Bateman makes a comeback and gets a nice takedown, but hurts his knee in the process. Curtis goes for another leg takedown, but Bateman counters into a headlock driver for the pin 3:46. This was alright for a midcard match, but doesn't make for much of a main event.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Holy fuck they tried to cram way too much into this show. Seven matches for an hour show means nothing gets any time to mean anything, including the main event. I know Mahal is a big part of this show for at least a little while, but why is Cesaro here? Why not hold off on Ascension VS Usos and make that next week's main event? I'm looking forward to see Kassius Ohno next week, if nothing else.
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