Posted on 6/10/126 by Bob Magee
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The show airs live on The CW in the United States and on
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NXT is back on the air in front of live studio audience at a
sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando. Opening
the show is the return of Fraxiom to NXT.
Fraxiom (Nathan Frazier & Axiom) vs. Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno
in a tag team match
Lots of athleticism and action throughout the tag bout.
Fraxiom is known for their flying, but Dar & Moreno did
their fair share of aerial offense. They match goes through
a commercial break.
Moreno got to shine as a newcomer in NXT, with him running
wild and getting a near fall on Axiom. Fraxiom came alive in
some great sequences that led to them getting a near fall.
Trading of near falls continues until Moreno & Dar catch
Fraxiom in stereo ankle locks.
They could have done a cool finish where Fraxiom is tripped
up going for their finisher, and the upstart Moreno traps
the veteran Frazier in a small package. Instead, the
newcomer goes on to drop the fall later in the match.
Another false finish after Axiom accidentally superkicks
Frazier. Moreno & Dar with a double team slam on Frazier,
but he kicks out at two again. Moreno goes for a springboard
to the outside, and he eats a double superkick when he lands
on the floor.
Back in the ring, Dar takes a Spanish Fly from Axiom. Moreno
takes a kick from Axiom to set up a Phoenix Splash from
Frazier. Axiom then covers Moreno for a three count.
Afterwards, there was a show of sportsmanship. Moreno and
Dar also hug each other and celebrate Fraxiom saying nice
things about them. That is a victory of sorts I guess.
Match result: Nathan Frazier & Axiom defeated Noam Dar &
Romeo Moreno when Axiom pinned Frazier.
— Kendal Grey chats with Wren Sinclair in a backstage skit.
Sinclair, who is still on crutches, goes to talk with the GM
about getting cleared to wrestle. Up walks Lola Vice to wish
Grey look later tonight, and Vice insists she did not mean
to kick Grey last week. Grey remarks that once might be
coincidental, but after it happened twice then Grey does not
believe Vice.
Tristan Angels vs. Shiloh Hill in the attire portion of the
Mr. NXT Pageant
This was a pre-taped segment, but apparently there is live
fan voting via a QR code. There is an audience made up of
the NXT roster, and they are forced to endure this silly
skit. Sarh Schreiber is hosting the pageant, and she
introduces the three judge panel. Those three include Evolve
Chamion Aaron Rourke, Kite Wilson from Smackdown, and
comedian Matt Mathews. The offered opinions, but there is
ultimately a fan vote, or so it seems.
Angles had on what I guess is formal attire of some sort wit
a white coat. He took it off to reveal a tee that read
“blink if you want me” and a Union Jack speedo. Shiloh Hill
reveals camo swim trunks and a snorkel. This was a waste of
time. Nobody got over. Angels apparently won the first
portion after split decision by the judges.
Mason Rook vs. Naraku in a number one contender’s match
They have a very physical match. Naraku wins after Cam
Hendrix distracts Rook. Hendrix basically costs Rook the
match, which sets up them for future match. Maybe at The
Great American Bash, which is also where Naraku challenges
for the NXT Championship after becoming number one contender
here.
The match goes through a commercial break. In the closing
moments, Rook has Naraku hoisted up for a finisher when
Hendrix jumps on the apron to distract Rook. Hendrix is
knocked off the apron by Rook, only for Rook to walk into
Naraku’s reverse STO finisher (dubbed “Entering the Abyss”).
Booked into a corner creatively as someone has to lose. Rook
drops the fall, albeit via a distraction. Nevertheless, it
did little to get him over aside from setting up a basic
program with Hendrix.
Match result: Naraku defeated Mason Rook via pinfall to
become number one contender.
— Tate Wilder is the focus of a personality profile where he
basically talks about being an adrenaline junky daredevil.
Kelani Jordan vs. Kendal Grey in a number one contender’s
match
They did well in building the intensity with it gradually
increasing throughout the match. Good but nothing to write
home about before a commercial break. Then they turn it up
after the break, and the intensity really picks up.
Trading near falls and big moves down the stretch. Grey
pulls the straps down at one point, which is Southern
wresting trope. Jordan locks in a scorpion calf slicer at
one point, but Grey escapes to fight on. Shades of Grey
finisher, and Grey covers Jordan for a clean pin. In
winning, Grey earns a title shot for the NXT Women’s
Championship at The Great American Bash.
Match result: Kendal Grey defeated Kelani Jordan via pinfall
to become number one contender.
—
Tristan Angels vs. Shiloh Hill in the talent portion of the
Mr. NXT Pageant
— The first portion was bad, and somehow they manage to do
something even worse in this portion. Hill kicks off the
talent portion by solving a Rubik’s Cube in under a minute.
Hill does trick with another gimmick until Angels shoves him
aside. Angels cannot solve the Rubik’s Cube, so throws a
tandem and smashes it on the floor. Angels them juggles
until Hill scoops his heat after riding by on a unicycle
while also juggling three balls. Hill won the talent
portion, which evens the scores in the pageant contest.
Unfortunately, this must continue later in the show.
— Blake Howard interviews NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo, who is
interrupted by Naraku. He presents the champ with a gift and
bows to him.
Jasper Troy vs. Dion Lennox
—
They have a hoss fight. Interference by Darkstate in the
second half of the match after a commercial break. Osiris
Griffin interferes to distract Troy, which saves Lennox from
a Vader splash. Lennox then capitalizes with a powerslam for
the finish. Troy was getting a big push, but now he is
dropping falls to get others over. Make of that what you
will.
Match result: Dion Lennox defeated Jasper Troy via pinfall.
In a post-match angle, Saquon Shugars appears on the
Titantron, and he delivers a verbal message before
personally delivering a physical message moments later. As
his video message plays, it distracts Lennox so Shugars can
jump the barricade and waylay Griffin with a baseball bat.
Shugars targets a leg with repeated shots from the bat.
Lennox rushes over, and Shugars escapes through the crowd.
Shiloh Hill vs. Tristan Angels in the public speaking
portion of the Mr. NXT Pageant
—
They are live in the ring, but that did little to save this
pageant gimmick. There are closing argument nonetheless.
Angels makes his case. Besides that, he is well-dressed
albeit silly. His hair looks like a lion’s mane. He mentions
he tattooed “Mr. NXT” on his leg, so his is all in, brother.
Today is also Angels’ 23rd birthday. Angels makes some valid
points, but he is a heel so he is bad.
Hill has a closing argument about trying to find himself and
NXT is the place for that. The decision goes to the judges
to decide. Comedian Matt Mathews sides with Hill because of
being a fellow hillbilly for the trailer park (or something
like that). Kit Wilson picks Angels, which makes sense given
Angels reminds Wilson of his tag team partner. Evolve
Champion Aaron Rourke is the deciding vote, but he cannot
decide. So he lets the fans decide with the poll conducting
earlier. The live studio audience pop for Hill, and they go
to the online vote where Hill also won among the fan vote.
Shiloh Hill is Mr. NXT, and Tristan Angels is sore loser. He
ambushes Hill and grabs a metal folding chair. Shots from
the chairs by Angels, and he drops a knee that sandwiches
Hill’s head on a chair. Angels poses with the Mr. NXT sash
as the segment ends. They could have just had a brawl and
saved us the stupid skits.
Tatum Paxley vs. Zaria for the NXT Women’s Championship
—
Maybe not the best match on the card, it was still good
nonetheless, especially during the closing minutes. They
trade big moves and near falls in a hard-hitting bout.
Zaria teases an avalanche German suplex, but Paxlet counters
to trap Zaria in a tree of woe. Paxley goes coast-to-coast
with a missile dropkick. Zaria manages to kick out for a
near fall.
They each teaser their finisher, but the other counters.
Zaria briefly hulks up, leading to her giving Paxley a F-5
on the floor. Zaria follows up with a spear in the ring. F-5
in the middle of the ring, and Zaria pins Paxley. And new…
Match result. Zaria defeated NXT Women’s Champion Tatum
Paxley to win the title.