NXT 9-26-12 Review

Original Airdate: Wednesday, September 26th, 2012
Full Sail University
Winter Park, Florida

Follow me on Twitter: @WorkTheNetwork2

The crowd is chanting "NXT" as the show opens. This may be the first time I can recall them chanting that?

Michael McGillicutty vs. Bo Dallas
The B Team explodes! They go right into a hockey fight, since this match actually has a story. Dallas dominates the opening moments until McGillicutty throws Dallas into the ring post shoulder first. This match is trying to break the record for most punches in a match. You don't need a ton of moves, but you need to know how to sequence them and make them mean something. Dallas gets a sunset flip for a 2 count. Things start to heat up a little until McGillicutty hits the running neckbreaker for the pinfall. This was about as good as it was going to be.

Match Rating: *3/4 (out of 5)

We get a Paige hype video.

Jake Carter vs. Leo Kruger
William Regal says the future is in front of our eyes. It's safe to say he was wrong on that one. Carter got an entrance, but it's very obvious that this is a squash. NXT is the punch and kick show today. Carter gets in a little bit of offense with some clotheslines and then he joins the punch party. He goes for a splash in the corner and Kruger moves out of the way and then hits the Kruger End and that is all.

Match Rating: 1/2*

Ryback vs. Aiden English & Francis Remi Dorian
Oh, joy. English and Dorian double team Ryback, who then of course destroys both of them. They broke Ryback's singlet. That's more than I could have asked for out of this match. Powerbomb to English and then a clothesline to Dorian by Ryback. He then picks both men up and marches around before hitting the Samoan Drop. Ryback pins both of him. I got my Ryback fix for the next 5 years or so.

Match Rating: 1/4*

Kassius Ohno vs. Richie Steamboat
Ohno is probably the most interesting character in the short existence of NXT at this point. I'm still not quite sure how he didn't get called up to the main roster around this time. Steamboat relies a little bit too much on his fathers move set. Ohno dominates after the commercial break, until Steamboat hits some chops and a crossbody. Ohno hits a kick to the face and nearly gets the victory. Steamboat misses a moonsault. Ohno goes for the spinning knockout punch and Steamboat counters it with a small package and gets the victory. After the match, Ohno knocks Steamboat out. Officials come to the ring and are finally able to get Ohno off of Steamboat. Fun TV match to close out the show.

Match Rating: **1/2

Well, two matches got some time and the main event delivered a solid match. Ryback being on the show seems more like a bonus to the live crowd and really nothing that helps out the show. They are still dead set on pushing Leo Kruger for whatever reason. This was a pretty ok show, but I keep waiting for that moment where things really start to click.

Overall Rating: 43%