During the latest edition of NXT TV, dutifully reported upon in this NXT Inquest, fans are treated to the debut of Japanese wrestling sensation KUSHIDA. The former IWGP Junior Heavyweight will compete against another man who has won championships outside WWE, Kassius Ohno. That match is certainly the biggest talking point as the show gets underway.
Oney Lorcan, Danny Burch and Humberto Carrillo vs. Forgotten Sons (Wesley Blake, Steve Cutler, and Jaxson Ryder)
On the heels of last week’s attack on Carrillo by Jaxson Ryker, coupled with the animosity felt by Burch and Lorcan towards the Forgotten Sons, this is a grudge match for all involved. Lorcan and Cutler start off, and the former gets the early jump on his opposition. Each of the faces gets their licks in early, causing the Sons to have to retreat and rethink their approach. After an initial attack by Carrillo, Ryker is tagged in and hits him with a spinebuster. The two Sons who compete regularly as a team is creative in their offense while working on Carrillo. A rear chinlock wears him down early, and the mindset to ground the high-flier proves to be effective. Carrillo gets backed into a corner and just when it seems as though he is able to make a comeback the Sons recover.
Eventually, Burch is tagged in and gets his offense in on both Cutler and Blake, and the tough as nails Brit brings the fight to Cutler in particular. But Ryker comes in and stops the attack. Carrillo then goes for a tope suicida but hits Lorcan by accident. Burch is then left alone with all three Sons and tries to take them all on, but the numbers end up being too much. Carrillo is hit with a Polish hammer and then powerbombed onto the double knees of Blake and Cutler. Cutler makes the pin on Burch for the win.
Winners: Forgotten Sons
Cathy Kelly stops Shayna Baszler and asks her if it was a strategy to take out Io Shirai, since ‘The genius of the sky’ pinned her previously. Baszler slaps the microphone out of Kelly’s hand and walks away with Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir.
The hype about KUSHIDA’s debut continues along, with a teaser for an upcoming match involving Mr. Feast Your Eyes, Dominic Dijakovic.
After the break, they show an exchange between Mia Yim and Bianca Belair at the Performance Centre, which will result in a match next week.
Mansoor vs. Dominick Dijakovich
Mansoor may have competed on NXT television before, but not that I recall. Dijackovich poses such an imposing figure as he comes to the ring. He certainly has a presence and comes across as a threat each and every time he steps into the ring. As soon as the bell rings, Mansoor tries to take the fight to Dijakovich. He hits often and uses an array of different strikes until his opponent catches him and whips him over the top rope like he was nothing. Dijakovich brings him back in the ring and tosses him from one end to the other. The big man attempts a pin but only gets a count of two. After a backbreaker and a rear chin lock, he tries again but again only gets two.
The commentary team makes a point of discussing how Dijakovich is pursuing Velveteen Dream and the NXT North American Championship. Finally, Mansoor makes a brief comeback and has Dijakovich reeling. He uses the bended knee of his opponent to hit him with a step up enzuguri. But Dijakovich regains his senses and hits his torture rack into a knee strike, the finisher he calls ‘Feast Your Eyes,’ to knock out the very game Mansoor. He covers him for the three count and the win.
Winner: Dominic Dijakovich
After the match, the Velveteen Dream is rolled out, as he is resting on a sofa suffused in a purple haze, with two ladies accompanying him. He says he has three words for Dominic Dijakovich, and they are red, white and blue. Standing at the top of the ramp, he sings his own remix of the ‘Star Spangled Banner,’ which closes by declaring that this is Dream’s NXT. It was clever, especially the part about Buddy Murphy’s hair. He then says Dream Over and is rolled off the stage as the ladies push the sofa with Dream on it.
Next week will see Matt Riddle and Adam Cole going one on one. Recall that last week Roderick Strong and Johnny Gargano faced each other, and both Matt Riddle and the rest of the Undisputed Era got involved. They showed the miscommunication when Cole kicked Strong by accident. They then show the Undisputed Era sharing that even though Roddy dropped the ball, they would rather focus on the future. There is certainly a tease of tension amongst the group, as Strong walks off after Cole directs a jab at him, even though Cole says it was a joke.
KUSHIDA vs. Kassius Ohno
Ohno makes his way to the ring and the debuting KUSHIDA’s entrance commences. His presentation is still inspired by Marty McFly character from ‘Back to the Future,’ featuring mirrored glasses and an orange puffy vest. He enters to a hero’s welcome from the NXT faithful. They commentary team call this a dream matchup, as both men are skilled. It is likely they crossed paths prior to coming to NXT. KUSHIDA does give up a size to Ohno, who locks him in a side headlock that KUSHIDA reverses. In return, he locks in a side headlock on Ohno and takes him down to the mat. KUSHIDA is able to hit Ohno from every direction. Ohno takes a knee and tries to show KUSHIDA respect by offering a handshake, but everyone is skeptical and are proven right as KJUSHIDA is stomped on and beaten down.
A battered KUSHIDA is seemingly at the mercy of Kassius Ohno, until the Japanese star recovers and hits a springboard tomahawk chop. He is quickly stopped, however, and has his nose bloodied. He recovers and hits a springboard hurricanrana, but only for a count of two. Ohno then hits a forearm to the back of KUSHIDA’s head when he attempts a springboard back elbow. But KUSHIDA comes back with a wind-up punch, followed by the penalty kick, and then locked in his hoverboard lock submission (also known as the Kimura lock or a double wrist lock), and Ohno taps out, giving the NXT newcomers the win.
Winner: KUSHIDA
A much shorter edition of NXT this week leaving fans hungry for more. Anticipate another action-packed week next week.
For the NXT Inquest, I’m Marc Madison.
