- We kick off the show with William Regal, who addresses Baron Corbin's attack on Austin Aries. Regal says he's not going to suspend Corbin because Aries told him not too, and that he wants to face Baron Corbin at Takeover: Dallas. Regal allows hypes up the #1 Contendership match later tonight.
- Samoa Joe vs Sami Zayn in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the #1 Contendership for the NXT Championship-Very surprised this isn't main eventing the show. Also, quick thing; Adam Jones from Tool is in the crowd with Larry Zybysko and Mauro Ranallo:
That's pretty dope. On a related note, when is Tool going to make a new album, it's been like 10 years now. It's like the metal version of Detox. The match kicks off with both men feeling each other out before the opening lock up. After they lock up, Joe locks in a hammerlock and keeps the hold on when Zayn tries to flip out of it. Joe goes for a quick cover for a one, and they re-lock up. Zayn takes control with a wrist lock, and goes for a cradle for a one. They lock up again, with Joe forcing Zayn into the corner and almost getting a five count. They lock up in the corner again, this time with Zayn forcing Joe into the corner and dragging his elbow across the face, which actually draws some boos. The two lock up again, with Joe taking control with a headlock. Joe tries to muscle Zayn down for a pin, but Zayn kicks out every time. Joe holds onto the headlock despite Zayn's attempt to get out. Joe covers off a shoulder tackle for a two, and goes back to the headlock. Joe continues to work over Zayn, until Zayn escapes and hits an arm drag into an arm bar. Zayn goes for another cradle for a two, and reapplies the arm bar. Joe fights out with forearm strikes and delivers big chops, before Zayn hops over Joe and arm drags him out of the ring. Zayn goes for a tope, but Joe dodges, which prompts Zayn to do an awesome flip off the ropes before the commercial. We come back with Joe taking control with kicks. Joe locks in a arm bar-headlock combo, which Zayn fights out of but gets caught with a back elbow. Joe works over Zayn in the corner, ending with a huge running boot to the face (think the Broski Boot, except it looked powerful) for a two count. Joe beats down Zayn with punches and headbutts, until Zayn fights back with a huge slap. Zayn charges at Joe, who reverses it into a brutal looking belly to belly suplex. Joe continues to work over Zayn until Zayn hits a huge clothesline. Zayn runs wild with more huge clotheslines, but gets caught in a Muscle Buster. Zayn flips out, but Joe avoids the Helluva Kick and hits his corner enziguri, but only gets a two. Joe continues to work over Zayn, hitting a senton for a two count. Joe beats down with slaps until Zayn reverses a strike and almost gets a Koji Clutch locked in. Joe escapes and hits a powerslam for a two as we go to another commercial. We come back with Joe in control, beating down Zayn with punches and slaps. Zayn looks absolutely dead, but he keeps fighting back and never giving up. This guy might be the best babyface in wrestling right now. The two exchange strikes until Joe takes out Sami at the knees with his body. Joe charges at Zayn, but Zayn pulls down the ropes and makes him fall to the outside, which allows Zayn to hit a springboard moonsault from the apron. Zayn hits a top rope crossbody for a two count. Zayn goes for the Blue Thunder Bomb, which Joe runs out of. Zayn holds onto Joe trying to run and goes for the Blue Thunder Bomb, but Joe reverses it in to a cross body for a two. Joe demolishes Zayn with a clothesline for a two. Joe goes for a Muscle Buster, but Zayn reverses it. Zayn goes for a wristlock-spirngboard tornado DDT, but Joe counters it by throwing Zayn away and hits a corner STO on a charging Zayn. Joe hits a Muscle Buster for a three and the first fall over 20 minutes into the match. Jesus, that first fall alone deserves a Match of the Year nomination. We go to commercial again, and come back to start the of the second fall. Joe immedatley rushes Zayn in the corner and goes for another Muscle Buster right off the bat. Joe chops Zayn down to the ring apron and goes back to work. Zayn is literally unable to stand at this point. Joe goes for the Muscle Buster again, but Zayn fights out and hits a drop kick from the second rope. The ref calls off Zayn after Joe gets a cut on his forehead, which allows Joe to regain control with quick strikes. Joe hits a snap suplex for a two, and Joe goes back to the headlock-arm bar combo. Joe continues to work over Zayn until he misses a knee drop and Zayn rolls him up for a two. Joe tosses Zayn out of the ring, but Zayn rolls back in before the 10. Joe kicks him right back out and tosses Zayn into the stairs, rolling back in to win by count out. Zayn makes it back in at 8, so Joe kicks him right back out again. Joe hits an STO on the floor, and rolls back in to win by count out again. Zayn barely makes it back in at 9. Zayn goes legit wild and goes for a suplex, but Joe blocks it. Zayn reverses Joe's suplex and hits one of his own. Joe rolls out of the ring, which allows Zayn to hit a tope to the outside. Joe hits a big chop on a charging Zayn, but gets caught with a Koji Clutch. Joe taps, evening up the match at 1-1 after 30 minutes and we go to commercial break. We come back to the start of the third fall, with the two exchanging strikes. Tom Phillips and Corey Graves both actually make a pretty interesting comment about how other matches that were scheduled for tonight have to be rescheduled. This is actually a pretty smart thing to say. They hyped up American Alpha vs The Vaudevillians for tonight's show, so it makes sense (in kayfabe) that a match going longer than expected might mess up the card a bit. Zayn hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two, but Joe rolls away from a Helluva Kick. Zayn goes to the top rope, but Joe catches him and goes for a superplex. Zayn blocks it and hits a sunset flip powerbomb for another two count. Joe rolls out of the ring, which prompts Zayn to go for his incredible dive through the turnbuckles into a DDT on the floor. Joe barely beats the 10 count and blocks a Helluva Kick, reversing it into a powerbomb for a two. Joe doesn't let go of the legs so when Zayn kicks out, he switches it over to a deep Boston Crab, grabbing the knees instead of the ankles, followed by a crossface. Zayn goes for the ropes, but Joe is able to grab Zayn's free arm and lock in a wristlock while he still has the crossface locked in. Joe starts yelling at Zayn to "think about his career" and just tap out because he's an amazing heel, but Zayn manages to get his foot on the bottom rope. Joe works over Zayn with kicks, leaving him to win by knockout. Zayn gets back up, so Joe goes back to work, ending with an enziguri. Zayn manages to get back up before the 10 count, leading to Joe delivering more stiff kicks. Zayn gets right back up to beat the count, unbelievably dazed, and is able to lock in the Coquina Clutch on Joe. Joe manages to get to the bottom rope with his foot. Joe chops Sami in the corner, but gets caught charging at Zayn, who hits an exploder suplex into the corner. Zayn goes for Helluva Kick, but Joe dodges and locks in the Coquina Clutch. Joe wraps his legs around Zayn's arm, and Zayn passes out before he can get to the ropes, giving Joe the third fall and the win in about 43:19. This is a Match of the Year candidate, plain and simple. Everything about it was great; The psychology, the action, Zayn's never-give up attitude, Joe's ruthlessness, the commentary, everything was perfect. Without a doubt the best match I've seen in a long time.
And that's about it. The match on the card was a Match of the Year candidate, so that's a pretty good show in my book.
Thanks for reading. Be sure to share if you enjoyed.
And that's about it. The match on the card was a Match of the Year candidate, so that's a pretty good show in my book.
Thanks for reading. Be sure to share if you enjoyed.
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