By Emerson Witner, WrestlingObserver.com & Wrestling Outsiders Podcast
The Big News:
We got part 2 of THE GREATEST VIDEO PACKAGE EVER and part 2 of the Finn Balor-Rhyno rivalry.
Show recap:
The show began with the entire NXT roster on the stage, including Hideo Itami and Sami Zayn, as Triple H paid tribute to Dusty Rhodes. Most of them were on the verge of breaking down with Kevin Owens heavy breathing and Mr. Regal wiping away tears. Everyone stood for a 10 bell salute.
After the proper open of the show, we are joined by Hideo Itami with his arm in a sling. We get reminded that Kevin Owens just happened to walk by Itami lying on the ground. Greg Hamilton, who is still a better announcer than JoJo, interviewed him. Hideo, who is out 3-4 months, cannot wait to be back. He is just returning from a trip to Japan promoting the NXT Title match July 4. He promises to be there to challenge the winner. Of course this brings out the champ!
Kevin Owens said it is very nice that he will be in Japan to see his wife and kids, but too bad he won’t be competing. Owens said that he will end Balor for good on July 4. Kevin stumbled over his words in trying to say Hideo is delusional, which he then said he sounded like Hideo trying to speak English. However there is no way he is leaving Tokyo without the NXT Title. Owens said he had nothing to do with Itami’s injury and if he did he would be in the hospital next to Sami Zayn. Owens also said he is demanding an apology because Itami called Owens a bad person a few weeks ago.
Itami called him a great champion, but a terrible human being. Owens took offense and went to take him out, so of course Finn Balor ran down to attack him. Balor was about to do a dive off the ramp when Rhyno attacked him! Rhyno threw him off the stage and stood happily over the #1 Contender.
Enzo Amore & Colin Cassidy defeated Jason Jordan & Sylvester Lefort
Justin Henry’s favorite tag team kicks off the in ring action this week as the Long Islanders continue their quest to becoming the NXT Tag Team Champions. Enzo and Sylvester Lefort feuded last year and their Hair vs Hair match led to Marcus Louis getting his head shaved. Plus Sylvester is Jason Jordan’s second potential partner. When will he just take Chad Gable? I wonder how many times Jason slammed the heavy bag on Tough Enough last night? Colin never tagged into the match as the heels beat on Enzo who surprised Jordan with a roll up for the sudden win! I approve of this.
– Last week, Samoa Joe cut a promo saying he still wants to fight Kevin Owens.
Dana Brooke (w/Emma) pinned Cassie
Brooke returns from competing in fitness competitions to grapple with Cassie. Byron Saxton noted that Cassie and Emma are both from Australia, which caused Corey and Rich to make fun of him the entire match for that. Emma looked completely bored by this match while the crowd chanted “Dana sucks” in the same way they would chant “New Day sucks”. Cassie got a fiery comeback, including a running spin kick, but she got beaten with the sit out Death Valley Driver.
– Charlotte cut a promo backstage saying she is going to kick Dana’s ass as soon as she gets the chance.
– We got Part 2 of the GREATEST VIDEO PACKAGE EVER documenting the career of Finn Balor. If you didn’t watch Part 1, not sure what you are waiting for and now go watch both that and this part. He talked about legos and New Japan. We saw Jason Albert talk about him in Japan paying his dues. We got pictures with him and Karl Anderson, Taka Michinoku, Yuji Nagata and Hiroshi Tanahashi. They also showed a little bit of match footage and a bunch of Bullet Club stuff.
Next week is Part 3. July 4 at 5:30am EST, Finn wins the championship from Kevin Owens.
– Bull Dempsey has been ordered to get in better shape. Seriously, whose Cheerios did he piss in? We got a bunch of pictures of Bull eating and being sloth-like.
The Hype Bros defeated Sawyer Fulton and Angelo Dawkins
Mojo Rawley and Zack Ryder now have a team name. Sawyer Fulton and Angelo Dawkins do not have a team name, but they should be teaming with Jason Jordan, since they all wear their amateur singlets.
This team actually works. Who thought that if you take two annoying people and put them in a team together that they would be a good team? They got the heat on Mojo, which seems like the backwards thing to do. Fulton and Dawkins did the Charlie Haas/Shelton Benjamin leap over each other and come down on the back of their foe.
Ryder made the hot tag and a Pier 6 brawl broke out with Ryder eventually pinning Dawkins with the Rough Ryder off the middle rope as Mojo held him up.
– Mr. Regal was texting someone when Eva Marie walked in and asked for a match. Mr. Regal became the biggest heel in the company by giving Eva an opportunity. They didn’t set a match up for her, but sadly it’s coming.
Finn Balor pinned Rhyno
Three weeks ago Finn pinned Rhyno clean, so Rhyno gave him a Gore on the ramp. Then earlier this evening Rhyno threw Finn off the three foot high ramp. The NXT Champion came out before the match and settled himself down at the commentary table. It never fails to be entertaining when Owens goes to the table because Saxton sells it as if Owens was Brock Lesnar and Saxton was Michael Cole.
Owens accused Saxton of calling Kevin a liar since Byron keeps asking him if he had anything to do with attacking Hideo, which Kevin has said time and again he had nothing to do with.
Kevin said he will celebrate Independence Day, calling it a great movie, when he beats Itami in Tokyo. Owens kept going off on Byron for constantly asking him questions instead of talking about the match, where Rhyno beat down the #1 Contender.
Rhyno went for a clothesline, Balor ducked it and hit the Pele Kick. Another head kick later and Owens went to ringside. Rhyno hit a belly to belly suplex off the distraction, but Balor came back with the Slingblade and the Coup de Grace for the win! Owens hit the ring as soon as the match was over and we got a 2-on-1 beat down on Balor. Finally, Samoa Joe ran in to make the save, causing the heels to scurry away.
That does it for this week! Until next week, when it is the go home show for July 4, remember to say your vitamins and take your prayers!