THE ASCENSION VS. BARON CORBIN & RHYNO

Today we begin with the Dusty Rhodes Classic tournament, the first quarterfinal sees The Ascension take on Rhyno and Baron Corbin. Corey Graves and Rich Brennan are on commentary for this match. As The Ascension make their way to the ring commentary mention their dominant run as NXT tag team champions, in contrast to Baron Corbin and Rhyno being put together for this tournament. Although Graves mentions they could become the new dominant force. Rhyno and Corbin have separate entrances but it makes me realise their theme tunes are similar, it wouldn't be hard to make a mash-up.

THE ASCENSION VS. (Dusty Rhodes Classic quarterfinal)

NXT Episode # 295 (2^nd September 2015)

(C) WWE

Rhyno and Viktor trade wristlocks, so Rhyno switches strategy to a headlock. Viktor pushes him off the ropes, going down to a shoulder tackle. Rhyno brings Viktor back up but he fires back with strikes, backing Rhyno against the ropes. Rhyno is sent across the ring, Viktor rolls forwards into a jumping shoulder tackle and tags out to Konnor. Baron Corbin tags himself in, a lock-up gets a stalemate so Corbin breaks it and hits Konnor with a right hand. Konnor follows Corbin to the ropes and back, knocking him down with a shoulder tackle, The Ascension make another tag and knock Corbin down with a double shoulder tackle, getting Viktor a 1 count. Another tag brings the big man back in, they pull Corbin into another shoulder tackle then post the shoulder. Konnor stomps at Corbin in the corner as the fans chant “yah!” along with him, his battle cry. Konnor gets caught up in the “welcome back” chants giving Corbin a chance to roll out of the ring. Viktor is right there to send him back, rolling into another boot by Konnor. Konnor covers but Baron Corbin immediately kicks out. Viktor gets another tag, sending Corbin off the ropes into a jumping knee strike. Commentary talk about Corbin's match with Samoa Joe at TakeOver: Brooklyn (reviewed here as he sends Viktor overhead to the outside.

Viktor lands on the apron, hitting Corbin with a forearm and cutting off Rhyno with a kick to the gut. Baron Corbin gets a shot in at Viktor and sends him shoulder first into the ringpost and he drops to the floor. Baron Corbin tags Rhyno back in as Konnor and the referee check on Viktor outside. Viktor storms the ring and brawls with Rhyno, backing him into the corner. Rhyno survives the onslaught and reverses an irish whip, charging at Viktor with a shoulder tackle in the corner. Baron Corbin is tagged back in and Rhyno holds Viktor in place for a rib shot. Baron Corbin carries on the attack and sends Viktor into the corner but Viktor gets a boot up. Viktor runs into a swinging slam, Baron Corbin covers for a nearfall. Corbin boots at Viktor and gets a run-up for a right hand. Viktor ducks the second attempt and hits a sweeping STO. They both slowly crawl to their corners for a tag, Konnor gets there first with the right hand, followed by left jabs and he knocks Rhyno down with another right. Baron Corbin enters the ring and gets knocked into the corner with a right hand. Rhyno is on his feet in the corner so he eats a running avalanche, with one for Corbin aswell. Rhyno sets up for the Gore but Konnor sidesteps it so Rhyno stops his momentum, turning around into a flapjack. The Ascension set up for Fall of Man but Baron Corbin distracts Viktor. Konnor turns around into a Gore by Rhyno, giving the makeshift team the win.

WINNER: BARON CORBIN & RHYNO

Baron Corbin and Rhyno were able to work well together, there wasn't as much tension as I expected besides the first blind tag. Although there was the sense of two singles wrestlers against a tag team that there should have been. They were all able to get their stuff in but The Ascension were ruined by the main roster at this point and could have used the win to build up momentum in NXT. Nothing much to the match but enjoyable nonetheless. – WORKRATE: 2.25/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 2.5/5 OVERALL 4.75/10

CHRIS JERICHO VS. NEVILLE

The opening video focuses on the NXT Championship match tonight (which I reviewed (here) and of course, the return of Brock Lesnar since Wrestlemania 31. Michael Cole welcomes us, wishing us a happy 4^th July morning due to timezones. Chris Jericho makes his entrance first, he's really popular in Japan with Michael Cole shouting over the reaction to be heard. Byron Saxton joins him on commentary. Neville makes his entrance with a cape as Cole pays him a compliment through gritted teeth.

CHRIS JERICHO VS. NEVILLE

WWE Beast in the East (4^th July 2015)

Chris Jericho soaks in the Y2J chants before they lock up, he sends Neville back into the corner, the referee counts Neville on the ropes and Jericho breaks it clean. Jericho gets a waistlock as Cole and Saxton talk about his career in Japan. A standing switch by Neville is countered with an arm wringer. Neville is forced down to one knee but he athletically counters as he finally gets some credit, but only to plug the NXT Championship match later. Neville sweeps Jericho's leg but Jericho immediately kicks out. Neville backflips over Jericho's attempt and dropkicks him in the face. Chris Jericho rolls outside and takes a walk. Jericho gets back in the ring in his time and locks up with Neville. Neville is taken down in a waistlock and Jericho wrenches back on his ankles and neck. Jericho modifies it to a surfboard type move but Neville is able to jump free, landing on Jericho for a cover but Jericho immediately kicks out again before they both get to their feet. The fans applaud the wrestlers for their match so far, so they take a breather.

They lock up again with Neville getting an arm wringer but Jericho rolls through as Cole finally mentions Neville's time in Dragon Gate too (although admittedly the fact that they got a mention was progressive for WWE.) Jericho drops Neville down to the mat, he gets to his feet but Jericho locks it in tighter so he goes back to his knees. Neville finally counters, willed on by the crowd and assisted by the top rope but gets sent over to the floor from a clothesline. Neville slides back in the ring as Jericho teases a dive. Neville gets back in the ring, hitting Jericho with a running dropkick and sends him out of the ring. Jericho cuts off Neville's dive and sends him over the top rope. Neville lands on the apron and a triangle dropkick sends him down to the floor. The referee starts counting Neville out but Jericho exits the ring and goes on the attack, sending Neville into the apron. Jericho chops his chest and sends Neville back in the ring. Chris Jericho climbs to the top rope hitting a crossbody for a nearfall.

Jericho locks in a sleeper, Neville tries to get to his feet but is sent back to the mat, Jericho pulls on Neville's hair and keeps him on the mat as the fans aren't sure who to root for. Neville gets to his feet and strikes free. Scratch that as Jericho stops his momentum with a boot to the gut, but Neville rolls through for a nearfall. Chris Jericho hits an enziguri for a nearfall of his own and Neville goes to the corner as Michael Cole talks about twitter. Jericho slaps Neville and drags him to his feet, chopping the chest for “wooo”s from the Japanese crowd. Neville reverses an irish whip but runs into a back elbow. Jericho's cocky step on chest cover gets 1. He snapmares Neville down, kicking the small of the back before going back to a sleeper. Neville tries to mount a comeback but Jericho knees him in the gut. Jericho chops the chest and sends Neville across the ring. Neville baseball slides under Jericho and hits a combination of kicks. A running boot misses and Jericho lands on the apron as Neville tries to send him out of the ring. Neville doesn't notice Jericho on the top rope before he gets hit with an axe handle. Chris Jericho hits a running bulldog and trips Neville but Neville is able to power out of the Walls of Jericho.

Neville knocks Jericho into the corner and kicks at him. Chris Jericho slumps down in the corner, getting sent across the ring as he gets to his feet but he cuts Neville off with a back elbow. Neville kicks Jericho again and leaps to the top rope RVD style but Jericho crotches him. Chris Jericho climbs to the top rope but Neville blocks a superplex and sends Jericho down to the mat. Neville climbs to the top rope but Jericho rolls out of the way of a Red Arrow attempt, Neville lands on his feet and rolls through but Jericho counters a jumping hurricanrana into a Walls of Jericho! It's genuinely the most brutal Walls of Jericho I've seen, Neville's folded in half as he desperately grabs the rope to break it. Jericho stomps on Neville until the referee tells him to back off. Jericho charges as Neville uses the ropes to stand but Neville sidesteps him and dumps him out to the floor. Neville flies out of the ring onto Jericho with a twisting plancha leaving them both down on the floor!

Neville makes it to his feet and brings Jericho back into the ring. Chris Jericho gets up before Neville can get in position for a Red Arrow so he changes tactic to a springboard dropkick. Neville hits a standing shooting star press (well, a couple of steps run-up) for a close nearfall. Neville brings Jericho up to his knees, hitting stiff chops and kicks. Neville picks up some speed into a forearm shot by Jericho, he follows up with some more but Neville reverses an irish whip. Chris Jericho holds on to the ropes and there's no one there for Neville's dropkick leaving him in position for Jericho to hit the lionsault. Chris Jericho covers for another 2. He talks trash to Neville and sends him into the corner but runs into a boot. Neville gets to apron the Neville way and springboards back in the ring into a Codebreaker! Jericho is slow to cover so Neville kicks out at 2 again. Chris Jericho lays in ground and pound before beating Neville around the ring. Neville blocks a german suplex, getting a standing switch to hit one of his own. Neville hits a superkick and the second one to Jericho on his knees. Neville climbs to the top rope and hits the Red Arrow onto Jericho's knees! Chris Jericho locks in a Liontamer and Neville has to tap.

WINNER: CHRIS JERICHO

Chris Jericho gave Neville a lot in this match and tried to get the fans to hate him, but the Japanese fans weren't biting. They did bite on all the nearfalls, really believing that Neville could pick up the upset in this one-off special. If I remember right though Chris Jericho was starting to lose his lustre around this time, almost needing the win more than Neville at this point. They had a fun hard fought match and I wish they could have had a decent program on television. – WORKRATE: 2.75/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 3/5 OVERALL 5.75/10

EMMA & DANA BROOKE VS. CHARLOTTE & BAYLEY

  Getting behind again means I'm just book-ending this week with reviews. The Wordpress Project didn't go to plan, but January's a new month to try it out. Next week I will aim for 3 reviews relating to the attempted project.

Emma and Dana Brooke enter first, to Dana Brooke's theme called “Respectful” (they're plugging it on iTunes so why not...) Charlotte enters first, and waits for Bayley at the foot of the ramp, Bayley's massively popular in NXT, and she hugs Charlotte as she gets to her. Charlotte has recently moved up to the main roster apparently.

MATCH 2: EMMA & DANA BROOKE VS. CHARLOTTE & BAYLEY

  The bell rings, and Bayley starts the match with Dana Brooke, who is a former fitness competitor. Dana shoves Bayley to the mat from a collar-elbow tie up as the fans chant “Bayley's gonna hug you” Dana Brooke takes too long celebrating her small victory allowing Bayley to pick her up, Bayley backs into a tag by Charlotte before dropping Dana to the mat. Bayley catapults her into a pieface by Charlotte. Charlotte gets a full-nelson before allowing Bayley to tag back in, holding Dana in place for a chop. Dana scrambles to her corner, tagging in Emma. Bayley looks ready for Emma, and the fans now like Emma because she's the hot new thing in this match. So fickle... Emma goes out to the floor and hides behind Dana Brooke as Bayley follows. Bayley slides through the ring hitting Emma with a dropkick! Dana Brooke goes down too, so Bayley sends Emma back into the ring. Bayley scales the ropes, Brooke gets on the apron but Bayley knocks her back down with a right hand. That allowed Emma the time to bring Bayley down to the mat by her ankle, Bayley's head bounces off the top turnbuckle! That looked brutal.

  Emma waits for the referee to check on Bayley before covering but she only gets 2. Emma goes back on the attack before a second quick cover and nearfall. Emma wrenches at Bayley's neck on the mat as we split off for a replay of what just happened. Charlotte and the crowd will Bayley to her feet but Emma kicks her in the jaw and sends her back down with a clubbing blow to the back. Emma sends Bayley into the corner, tagging out to Dana. They keep Bayley in the corner with a sequence of quick tags and boots to the gut before we end how we started, with Emma and Bayley in the ring. Emma sends Bayley into the top turnbuckle across the ring as a fan throws a water bottle at her. See, who says you can't get heat these days? Emma sends Bayley across the ring, and Bayley drags herself to the corner. Emma hits a running crossbody, Rich calls it the “Emmarmite sandwich” but Corey Graves says she doesn't call it that anymore. Mr Graves is in-the-know! Emma gets a nearfall from it, whatever it's called.

  Emma pulls on Bayley's hair and mocks her as she gets to her feet. Emma's smart, keeping herself between Bayley and Charlotte as Bayley gets up. Emma mockingly hugs Bayley before dropping her with a straight right hand. Charlotte cheers Bayley on from the apron and distracts Emma, causing her to turn around into a T-Bone suplex! Emma crawls to Dana's corner as Bayley tries to make it to Charlotte. They both get the tag! Charlotte sends Dana Brooke down with a chop and another. Brooke misses a clothesline and eats a third Flair chop. Charlotte drops to one knee on a neckbreaker, but Brooke reverses an irish whip. Charlotte barely gets her boot up in time but gets distracted by Emma on the floor. Dana Brooke attacks Charlotte from behind before making the tag. Bayley is nowhere to be seen, she hasn't got to her corner yet. Charlotte is sent across the ring but cartwheels through a double clothesline attempt. Charlotte hits a double DDT! Charlotte covers Emma, but she kicks out at 2. Emma uses the ropes to get to her feet and catches Charlotte with a back elbow. Emma gets to the corner, Charlotte charges, running into a boot. Emma climbs to the top rope and hits a crossbody! Charlotte rolls through and locks in a Figure-Four! Charlotte bridges to add pressure and Graves says that makes it a Figure-Eight because it's twice as good as her dad's. So it must be 1949485 times better than David's, at least.

  Emma shouts for Dana Brooke's assistance but Bayley shows up in the nick of time, she slides under the bridge and sends Dana out of the ring with a Bayley to belly. Charlotte's released the hold but hits a confused Emma with the Natural Selection for the win.

WINNERS: CHARLOTTE & BAYLEY

  This was the perfect match for Charlotte after losing her championship last time around. She got a strong start to the match, was crucial in turning it around with the hot tag and got the pin. Bayley is the perfect face-in-peril and the heat on her didn't seem to last too long, as it can tend to do. Emma and Dana Brooke had a decent showing individually and as a team and the work towards the finish was just awesome. WORKRATE: 2.75/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 3/5 OVERALL: 5.75/10

Charlotte and Bayley celebrate in the ring, including a hug and a Flair strut, before we see footage of Sami Zayn injuring his shoulder on Raw 3 weeks ago answering John Cena's United States Championship open challenge. Zayn's staring into a mirror intensely backstage before Corey Graves thanks, Motionless in White for providing tonight's theme tune, surprisingly called “Unstoppable”. Finally, we see some 2015 signees to the WWE Performance Centre, and the only one I recognise is the man we now know on Smackdown as Appollo Crewes.

TYLER BREEZE VS. FINN BALOR

NXT TAKEOVER: UNSTOPPABLE - 20^th May 2015

  The opening video shows legends such as Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair and The Rock putting over NXT, along with multiple other voice overs just mentioning how great NXT is for wrestling. Moving into hype for tonight's main event between NXT Champion Kevin Owens and his former best friend, and the man he beat for the title, Sami Zayn. Zayn injured his shoulder facing John Cena on Raw, but Owens is happy to take the credit and take advantage tonight. It also goes over the NXT Women's championship feud between Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks, with our opener and the NXT Tag Team Championships match also getting a look in.

  Four models come out, and the ramp is lit up like a catwalk, they're taking selfies as we await Tyler Breeze. As Breeze gets to the ring we're officially welcomed by our announce team. Rich Brennan, Corey Graves and Byron Saxton. Rich says, unfortunately, we have to start with the note that Hideo Itami was attacked earlier in the parking lot and won't be able to compete. It was captured by a fan. We see the video and he's welcoming Enzo and Cass... I already don't believe it's legit (talking from a “mark” standpoint.) just from common sense, then we hear someone shout for help and the fan rushes over and records Itami lying in pain for a good 5 seconds before security backs him off. Kevin Owens is seen walking past and is about 2-3 feet away from Itami (and conveniently close to the camera) before calling it a shame. Finn Balor's music hits and the fans chant “Finn” before he's through the curtain. He makes his awesome entrance in full Demon get-up and the commentators respectfully stay quiet. It really is something to witness. If you think I'm over-selling it the fans give it TWO “holy shit” chants, and a “that was awesome” upon completion.

TYLER BREEZE VS. FINN BALOR (#1 Contender NXT Championship)

  Finn Balor got his championship shot that he earned at TakeOver: Rival back on 25^th March (NXT Episode #270 on the WWE Network) and he's getting another chance tonight. The bell rings and Balor gets a headlock, Breeze sends him off the ropes but is tackled down, Balor covers but Breeze immediately kicks out. Breeze backs around the ring avoiding Balor, he backs himself through the ropes and kicks at Balor, so Balor grabs his leg and drags him back into the ring. Finn Balor gets a waistlock but Breeze elbows out, he grabs a headlock and is shoved off the ropes. Breeze knocks Balor down and covers for 1. Tyler Breeze goes back to the headlock with Balor on his knees, but Balor fights to his feet and sends Breeze across the ring. Breeze knocks Balor down but Balor avoids getting covered this time, Breeze avoids the charge grabbing another headlock and takes Balor down to the mat. Balor gets to his feet again and sends Breeze across the ring, Balor goes under and over before helping Breeze with momentum, right into a standing dropkick! Tyler Breeze rolls out of the ring and slides right back in again before Balor has a chance to dive onto him.

I know there's not been a lot to call in this match but Brennan and Graves are more bothered about attire and entrances right now. Balor stops and clubs Breeze across the back and sends him into the corner. Balor chops Breeze across the chest and Breeze takes a walk. Balor re-introduces him to the top turnbuckle but Breeze reverses an irish whip. Balor evades the charge, going to the apron but misses a chop, Tyler Breeze hits a springboard kick off the middle rope, knocking Balor down to the floor. Balor rolls back in after we see a replay and Breeze is right on him with stomps until the referee forces him away. Tyler Breeze brings Balor to his feet and sends him into the corner for more stomps to the midsection. Balor slumps in the corner but fights his way out with right hands. He sends Breeze off the ropes but ducks too early, Breeze hits a neckbreaker for a nearfall. Breeze tells the referee to do his job before going back to kicking Balor, forcing him into the corner. Breeze chokes Balor until the referee backs him off again.

Tyler Breeze hits a standing legdrop and covers, but Balor kicks out at 1, so Breeze goes to a chinlock on the mat. Balor tries to kick his way to the ropes before rolling back to his feet. Breeze pulls the tights to take Balor back down. Finn Balor gets to his feet again and elbows his way free. He sends Breeze off the ropes as the commentators are talking about Kevin Owens taking on Sami Zayn tonight and facing John Cena at Elimination Chamber. Balor rolls through a sunset flip and hits Breeze with a dropkick but can't capitalise. Both men are down, Balor has to drag himself to the corner to get to his feet. Tyler Breeze charges into Balor's boot, and Balor explodes out of the corner with a clothesline. This time it's Breeze getting to his feet in the corner, Balor hits him with a running chop and snapmares him over. Tyler Breeze is sent out of the ring with a dropkick to the skull. Balor vaults over to the apron, hitting Breeze with a double-foot stomp to the back. Breeze is sent in the ring and Balor climbs to the top turnbuckle. Breeze rolls all the way across the ring to avoid the Coup de Grace, forcing Balor to come back down to the mat and giving Breeze some more time.

It doesn't help him much as Finn Balor hits a sharp chop in the corner, getting a loud “woo” chant. Balor sends Breeze into another turnbuckle. Breeze reverses an irish whip but Balor counters it also, Breeze lands perched on the top but Balor follows with a jumping knee! Balor covers 1, 2, no! Balor stalks Breeze setting up for an inverted suplex, but Breeze reverses it, taking Balor over. Breeze hits Balor with a forearm as they get to their feet, Breeze picks up speed running into a slingblade! Balor waits for Breeze to get to his feet in the corner but runs into a Supermodel kick! 1, 2, 2.99 no! They stay down so we can see a replay of the close nearfall, and Breeze starts removing a turnbuckle cover, the referee puts a stop to that so Breeze goes after Balor, across the ring, stomping him in the corner. Tyler Breeze is letting all his frustration out, and the referee backs him off before he's disqualified. Finn Balor ducks the Beauty Shot, but Breeze rolls out of the way of a double-foot stomp, rolling Balor up for a close nearfall. The fans now pretty supportive of Tyler Breeze. Balor rolls Breeze up, but he kicks out, sending Balor into the exposed turnbuckle, Balor stumbles into a Beauty Shot! Breeze covers for another close nearfall.

Tyler Breeze slams his hands on the mat in frustration, as Balor's rolled out of the ring to take a breather on the floor. Breeze takes a lot of time in the ring before going after Balor who's nowhere to be seen, until he hits Breeze with a forearm from nowhere! Finn Balor climbs to the top of the entrance, which is deserving of a “please don't die” chant according to the crowd. Balor takes Breeze out with a flying clothesline! The referee comes down to check on Tyler Breeze, Balor brings him to his feet and rolls him back in the ring. Breeze gets to his feet in one corner as Balor stares from across the ring, Shotgun dropkick sends Breeze into the corner! Balor sends him to the mat and climbs to the top rope, Coup de Grace connects! Finn Balor covers and becomes #1 contender!

WINNER: FINN BALOR

This was a hot way to start the show. Tyler Breeze was able to take most of the match on top, with Balor having to bring some big moves to get back into the match. Once Balor got the momentum he wasn't letting go, getting his second shot at Owens' championship. Although I've never been a fan of the big move, kick out, big move, kick out endings, the outside work softened the blow a bit. WORKRATE: 3.25/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 3.25/5 OVERALL: 6.5/10

Finn Balor celebrates in the ring as we see replays from the match. Kevin Owens is watching from a monitor backstage. “The Mountain” from Game of Thrones, however, saw it from the front row. He's sat next to Stephanie McMahon, that's gotta make Triple H feel good. Then we go to see video footage from NXT's first ever live events in Philadelphia and Albany, New York. Including talking figures such as Mick Foley and Joey Styles.

SAMI ZAYN (C) VS. KEVIN OWENS

A hype video plays to advertise Wrestlemania 31 before we look at what brought us to our main event. At NXT TakeOver R: Evolution, Kevin Owens debuted. He went in with a plan that went spectacularly. He was happy for Sami winning the NXT Championship that night, but he isn't waiting for his shot. Until Sami Zayn came to NXT they had parallel careers, and Sami stopped them coming in together. Zayn blames the fact that Owens got married and had a kid. Wow... This feud has gotten pretty intense over the last two months, and Kevin Owens intends on making the gap between his debut and crowning moment two months to the day. Kevin Owens enters the match first and he looks ready for his shot. Sami Zayn looks anxious to be facing his longtime friend but he has to consider this every other championship defence. Sami Zayn takes a second to soak in the crowd chants before getting in the ring for the BIG FIGHT in-ring introductions. “Fight Owens Fight” chants are heard during the challenger's introduction, but “Sami” chants blow the roof off the place for the champ.

MATCH 5: SAMI ZAYN (C) VS. KEVIN OWENS (NXT Championship)

More “Fight Owens Fight” chants break out before an “Ole” chant fends it off. They look like they might lock up but Owens bails out of the ring. Kevin Owens takes his time as Jason Albert compliments Zayn for keeping his cool. Owens breaks the count and drops back to the floor, getting back in the ring at 6. Sami Zayn charges but Owens rolls back out. These guys haven't touched yet and the fans are going crazy. The referee tells Owens to stop fucking about, and Zayn flies over him with a suicide Swanton! OK, now they have. Zayn sends Owens back into the ring and blocks a right hand. Sami hits one of his own sending Owens into the corner. Zayn beats on Kevin Owens in the corner, only stopping momentarily to stop himself getting disqualified. Kevin Owens lifts Zayn and sends him crashing back down on the turnbuckle. Kevin Owens almost takes Zayn's head off in the corner before stomping him on the mat. Owens puts Zayn in the corner again for a second charging clothesline before asking the fans “how's that?”

Kevin Owens launches Sami Zayn into the corner as we see a replay of the corner clothesline again. Owens brings Zayn to his feet for a right hand, Kevin Owens chops Zayn's chest, sending him back down to the mat. Owens covers but only gets 2, so he kicks Zayn out of frustration. Kevin Owens hits Zayn with a forearm, but Zayn bounces back off the ropes with a reply. Owens turns Zayn's legs to jelly with a second forearm shot. Kevin Owens slams Zayn in the middle of the ring and covers, this time only keeping Zayn down for 1. Kevin Owens wrenches back at Zayn's neck on the mat, before driving his knee into Sami's spine. He goes back to the chinlock but Zayn makes it to his feet after what feels like forever. Zayn swings rights and lefts, connecting with Owens' midsection, but Owens shoves him into the ropes putting a stop to any momentum, Zayn runs into a back elbow Owens jaw-jacks with the crowd before covering and Sami kicks out after 1. Owens rubs his forearm in Sami's face on the mat before telling the ref he doesn't care. Sami Zayn fights back to his feet but Owens drapes him ribs first over the top rope, Zayn bounces down to the mat! Owens covers, but Zayn is still able to kick out.

Kevin Owens goes back to a chinlock on the mat as we see a replay of Zayn bouncing off the rope, Owens makes Zayn carry both mens' weights in the hold. Zayn makes it back to his feet in a headlock, a pair of right hands breaks him free but Kevin Owens avoids a third and drops Sami with a back suplex. Kevin Owens covers for another nearfall. Jason Albert says Owens is just doing what he wants with Zayn in this match as Zayn gets dumped outside. A chop by Owens lights up Zayn's chest against the barricade. Owens beats Zayn around ringside but as Brennan reminds us he needs Zayn in the ring to win the title. Zayn desperately swipes at Owens but there isn't much in it, so Owens sends him down with a forearm before breaking the referee's count. A clothesline sends Sami stumbling into the steps with a second dropping him to the mat. Kevin Owens rolls Zayn back in the ring and covers, but Zayn is able to lift his shoulder before 3. Kevin Owens asks the referee if he can count before going back to toy with Zayn. He lifts Zayn onto his shoulders and drops him with a gutbuster, immediately following with a back senton. 1, 2, no! Zayn's started kicking out with more fire again.

Owens goes back to a chinlock as we get an instant replay, Zayn breaks it with a jawbreaker but Owens quickly kicks him in the back. Corey Graves compares this match to Brock Lesnar facing John Cena at Summerslam 2014 as Kevin Owens stands over Zayn. Zayn fights back with a forearm from his knees, but Owens forearms him back down to the mat. Kevin Owens runs across the ring, right back into a clothesline by Zayn! Zayn hits a second even though he can barely stand. A third clothesline sends Kevin Owens over the top to the floor. Sami Zayn follows outside and sends Owens' head into the steel steps. Sami Zayn breaks up the referee's count, giving Owens that second to catch Sami with a forearm shot. Kevin Owens sends Zayn back into the ring so he can shake the cobwebs off, but Zayn rolls all the way back out, clothesline sends Owens down! Sami Zayn sends Owens back in the ring, but Owens is ready with a back elbow. Kevin Owens misses a clothesline Blue Thunder Bomb connects! 1, 2, 2.5 no!

Kevin Owens gets to his feet in one corner, Sami's waiting for him across the ring. Kevin Owens anticipated the Helluva kick and sends Zayn into the corner! Owens hits a running cannonball across the ring! Owens covers but Still Zayn kicks out after two, Kevin Owens brings him back to his feet and drops him neck-first across the knee with a Fisherman's buster! Kevin Owens covers for another nearfall. Owens brings Zayn to his feet to reminisce and shoves him against the ropes setting up for the Pop-up powerbomb but Zayn dropkicks him! Zayn hits a half-dragon suplex and Owens lands on his neck. Kevin Owens rolls out to the apron. Zayn sends Owens' head off the turnbuckle, but can't decide what to do next so Owens helps him by bouncing the champ's jaw off the rope. Kevin Owens climbs to the top rope but Zayn cuts off any ideas with a right hand. Zayn climbs to the middle rope but Owens blocks a superplex with a pair of rights and a headbutt, sending Sami to the mat. Owens dives with a Swanton but SAMI'S KNEES ARE UP!

Jason Albert becomes the pot calling the kettle black on commentary, talking about Owens' weight as Zayn gets to his feet in the corner. Owens is also on his feet across the ring and charges with a lariat, but Zayn catches him with an Xploder suplex into the corner! Sami Zayn sets up for a Helluva Kick but Owens rolls to the outside. Zayn follows and Owens has him up for a powerbomb on the apron, but Zayn is able to grab the ropes and block it. He kicks away at Owens from the apron and hits a sit down springboard moonsault! They both looked to have hit their head, and Sami checks for blood and lets the fans know he's OK, of course getting a cheer. Kevin Owens is sent back in the ring as the fans chant “Ole” Sami Zayn stumbles charging for the Helluva Kick, so has to start again, this hesitation allows Owens to catch him with a Pop-up powerbomb! Kevin Owens covers but Zayn's still able to save his title! Sami Zayn gets back to his feet in the corner, but Owens stays on him with right hands. Zayn fights out of the corner and is sent crumbling to the mat.

The referee keeps backing Owens off, but Zayn's still seemingly wanting to continue. A European uppercut against the ropes slumps Sami's dead body back down. Owens just keeps Beating Zayn up near the ropes as Jason Albert thinks the referee should be thinking about Zayn's condition here. The trainer comes out but doesn't call the match off. Owens drops Sami Zayn with two consecutive powerbombs and covers, 1, 2, Zayn turns his shoulder, that's all he does. He didn't lift it from the mat he just turned it enough to stop the pinfall. The trainers talk to Sami again, and confer with the referee before Owens drops Zayn with a pair of powerbombs I don't even think he feels at this point. The referee's finally seen enough and calls the match to Owens.

WINNER: KEVIN OWENS (NEW NXT CHAMPION – Ref Stoppage)

  This was an awesome showcase match for Kevin Owens, much better than last time. These guys work well together and by no stretch was this even close to their best work, it was a nice taster of what they could do. Kevin Owens looked like a dominant monster, with Zayn getting in enough to keep the fans invested and not make him look like a total loser. The referee having to stop the match was a good finish because it was used well and with two performers people enjoy seeing the work of. Just a shame it was a “best of” moves show with chinlocks thrown in. WORKRATE: 3.75/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 3.75/5 OVERALL 7.5/10

  Kevin Owens celebrates in the ring with tears in his eyes as the trainers and referee see to Zayn and we get highlights of the match. Kevin Owens stands victorious over Sami Zayn to end the show.

  SUMMARY: This was another decent NXT Takeover show. They are consistently easy to watch and seem to naturally segue between the matches and segments, making them incredibly review-able also. Owens and Zayn had a decent showing in front of a hot crowd, and although that story isn't over Kevin Owens already has a number one contender in Finn Balor, ushering in a new era of NXT for the new year. Sasha Banks was able to dethrone Charlotte, even if it was a pretty cheap victory. Baron Corbin and Bull Dempsey disappointed me but you can't have everything on a show. OVERALL RATING: 6/10

This match is available on WWE's release NXT's Greatest Matches Volume 1 available on DVD here or on Blu Ray here

YOUNG BUCKS VS ALL NIGHT EXPRESS VS BRISCOE BROTHERS

  Another fairly recent (under 2 years is close enough for me) with three of Ring of Honor's deep tag team alumni facing off to see which team can regain the gold. All Night Express never truly lost the belts, as Kenny King walked out of the company during their 2011 reign to join TNA.

You can buy this event here.

  My video begins with The Briscoes making their entrance, and their opponents are already in the ring for this 3 way #1 contenders tag team match. Kevin Kelly and “Mr. Wrestling III” Steve Corino are working commentary for tonight's event

MATCH 1: THE YOUNG BUCKS VS. ALL NIGHT EXPRESS VS. THE BRISCOES (TRIPLE THREAT #1 CONTENDERS ROH WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS MATCH)

The winners of this match face either War Machine or The Kingdom at the 14^th Anniversary show. The All Night Express hold the leverage here, they have a recent win over both of their opponents. All 6 men adhere to the Code of Honor and the two younger brothers Mark Briscoe and Nick Jackson of The Young Bucks start us off.

They circle and Mark gets a side headlock. Nick tries to shove Briscoe off but Mark Briscoe drops to one knee. Nick is taken down but escapes with a headscissors. Briscoe misses a wild swing and gets caught with a waistlock. Nick pushes Mark into the ropes but he stops himself before Jackson taunts Mark, then ANX in their corner. Nick Jackson getting too cocky too quick as Mark charges at him with a flying boot before tagging in Jay. Mark holds Nick Jackson for boots to the ribs from his older brother Briscoe. Mark gets out of the ring as Jay hits a headbutt. Jackson tries to make a tag to his brother but Jay catches him. Nick Jackson flips out of a back suplex. Nick Jackson lands in All Night Express' corner, and Rhett Titus gets the tag. Fans didn't like that one bit.

A surprising reaction by the crowd to Rhett coming in, with Briscoes vs. All Night Express being the original match for tonight. Titus gets a side headlock on Briscoe, and Kenny King blind tags his partner as Briscoe shoves him off. We get a nice sequence of reversals as Kenny King picks his spot to come in. Titus hits a scoop slam, and King decides it's time. Springboard legdrop off the bottom rope by King followed by a jumping splash by Rhett Titus gets ANX a nearfall. King hits Jay with a suplex and rolls through for mounted punches before getting a quick tag out to his partner. Titus comes in with a kick to the gut before both members of the All Night Express send him across the ring.

Titus follows Jay Briscoe with a back elbow in the corner, then sends him into a spinning kick from Kenny King. Rhett Titus covers and gets another nearfall. “Man Up” chant by the crowd as Kevin Kelly mentions that it's been 2 years since we've seen Rhett Titus in ROH and the All Night Express answered an open challenge by the Briscoes at All Star Extravaganza. Jay Briscoe turns the tide and sends Rhett Titus into the corner, Titus sends him over to the apron, but Briscoe hits a forearm. Briscoe runs into a Matt Jackson superkick on the apron! The Young Bucks drag Briscoe back into the ring and one gets the tag. Mark sees his brother is in trouble but he runs into a superkick from Nick Jackson. Nick waits for Rhett Titus to get back to his feet before hitting a gutbuster, and Matt flips over for a neckbreaker. Matt holds Kenny King in place on the apron as Nick hits a dropkick and the Young Bucks are feeling it!

The Young Bucks pose for the crowd and get a decent reaction, but Mark Briscoe and Rhett Titus send them out of the ring. Mark and Titus trade chops in the ring until Titus sends Mark across the ring, Mark dives through the ropes with a dropkick to hit one of the Young Bucks and catches himself back on the apron! Titus swings wildly but eats a shoulder to the gut, and Mark gets a running Blockbuster off the apron on the other Buck! Those mats don't give as much cushioning as you might think. Jay blindsides Titus and Cactus clotheslines them both over the top rope! Kenny King with a twisting plancha over the top rope onto Mark. The crowd celebrates with King but Jay flies at him with a tope! Rhett Titus follows with a somersault senton! Matt Jackson hits a superkick to Titus and the Young Bucks send him back in the ring. Matt Jackson climbs to the top rope and hits a moonsault to the floor but we can't see who he landed on. Nick just looks at him like “the fuck!?” as if he's not used to it. Nick hits a 450 splash in the ring, and Matt hits a second one. He sprung up from that moonsault. Steve Corino amusingly calls it a “900” and seems to be the Bucks' biggest fan. Kenny King saves Titus from taking the fall.

King takes it to The Young Bucks and holds on to the ropes as they prepare to superkick him. King ducks a double clothesline and kinda hurricanranas both Bucks over, Matt is the only Buck left in the ring, and Kenny King tries a handstand kick but gets caught with a SUPERKICK! To the kidneys. Mark Briscoe slides in the ring and takes it to Nick Jackson, but Jackson reverses an irish whip, Mark lands on his feet off a back body drop attempt That's the ol' Redneck Kung Fu! Mark turns around into another superkick though! Jay tries to roll his brother to safety and hits Nick with a running boot. Matt now in to help his twin, but catches some Jay Briscoe jabs. Headbutt by Briscoe sends Jackson into the ropes and Jay Briscoe hits a neckbreaker. Nick returns with a SUPERKICK! Mr Wrestling III says he's glad Steve Corino gave him the rights to scream superkick every time, but he could lose his voice in the first match. Mark Briscoe and Kenny King tag themselves into the match and the crowd is split between The Young Bucks and The Briscoes. Mark comes in hot, Kenny King reverses an irish whip, giving Jay a chance to grab a quick blind tag. Mark Briscoe ducks a clothesline and drops down into a jawbreaker. Jay runs in with a lariat knocking King down and they drop him with the Redneck Boogie, and Titus has to make the save!

Mark sends Titus back out of the ring and climbs to the top rope. Jay has King on his shoulders, but King ducks the Doomsday! Young Bucks back in the fold and it's SUPERKICKS! For everyone in the ring. Matt climbs back out to the apron and Penalty Kicks Titus under the jaw Meltzer Driver connects on Jay Briscoe! Mark breaks it up at 2 and stomps the hell out of both Young Bucks. Mark drags Jay back to their corner, Jay barely getting his arm up for the tag. Mark runs into a double superkick and gets set up for More Bang for Your Buck, but Rhett Titus was able to get the blind tag. Titus falls back to the floor and Kenny King catches the moonsault, Titus hits a dropkick before King slams one of the Bucks down. Mark Briscoe flies in with a screeching mule kick sending King into the corner. Mark takes it to Titus in the corner, setting him up top. Kenny King kicks Mark in the head momentarily saving his partner. King climbs to the top behind Titus, balancing on the corner post, SUPER ONE NIGHT STAND! 1! 2! 3!

WINNERS: THE ALL NIGHT EXPRESS (NEW #1 Contenders to ROH World Tag Team championships)

A nice quick sprint to start off this edition of Final Battle, all three teams had a sense of urgency about their work, and All Night Express really felt like the Wildcard team in this match against the more well-known and established teams, in contrast to the usual “win on your first night back” trope, and it kept me guessing which team would win. The Briscoes have both had successful singles careers in ROH since they began working here, but when they team it's still something special and as fluid as though they still team together every night. Fantastic paced match with a slight upset victory for the Express, I'll have to see where this lead.