NXT 5-22-14 Review

Original Airdate: Thursday, May 22nd, 2014
Full Sail University
Winter Park, Florida

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Win Or Go Home Match
Bo Dallas vs. Big E

If Bo Dallas wins, he gets a NXT title shot. If he loses, he leaves NXT. Renee Young lets us know how much she can't stand Tim Tebow, which is very random. Dallas comes out and talks about family or something. Things start off kind of slowly and they even do a rest hold into the commercial break. Bo's offense is so dull here. Big E makes a comeback with some clotheslines and a belly-to-belly suplex. Big E goes for the Big Ending, but Bo counters with an inverted DDT. Dallas gets his knees up on a Big E splash and then hits the double underhook DDT for a 2 count. Big E is able to come back and hit the Big Ending for the victory. This match should have been Bo hamming it up and instead we got a paint by numbers boring match. Bo saves his shenanigans for after the match, but even that is understated from what it could have been.

Match Rating: 1/2*

They show Bo throwing a fit and addressing the crowd, telling them they stink. 

Tyson says being the #1 contender is the reason he laces up the boots. Sami and Tyler Breeze go back and forth, leading to Zayn challenging him. Breeze declines tonight, but says that he'll take him on at TakeOver. 

Tamina vs. Paige

Tamina hits a big clothesline on Paige on the apron. Tamina works on the back of Paige and then puts her on the Torture Rack. Tamina sets Paige up on the top rope in a seated position and then shoves her to the floor. Tamina goes for a top rope splash, but Paige gets her knees up. Paige rolls her up and gets the victory. This was pretty dull and didn't really do a whole lot for Paige. 

Match Rating: 1/2*

Camacho vs. Adam Rose

Rose starts off with his schtick, but then Camacho hits a running Samoan Drop. Rose makes a comeback and Camacho heads out of the ring and gets counted out. Rose celebrates this meaningless victory afterwards.

Match Rating: 1/4*

NXT Women's Championship Tournament Semi-Final Match

Sasha Banks vs. Natalya

Natalya shows off some of her skills, including her favorite move of mine where she runs up the back of Sasha in a seated position. Sasha fights back and hits some knees in the corner. Natalya powers out of Sasha's submission hold and hits a butterfly suplex. Sasha comes back with a bulldog, but she rolls out of the ring in pain. Charlotte throws her back in the ring and distracts Sasha a little bit. Natalya picks her up by her legs and locks in the Sharpshooter for the victory. The match was pretty good, but as always, too short.

Match Rating: *3/4

Curt Hawkins vs. Adrian Neville 

Neville hits a flurry of kicks and then a missile dropkick off the second rope. Neville goes up top and hits the Red Arrow and that's that. They couldn't have just had him face a NXT jobber here? 

Match Rating: 1/4*

Out comes Tyson Kidd and he hits Neville with some facts. Neville says that the only member of his family taking home gold at TakeOver will be his wife. Kidd walks to the back as we go off the air.

This show should have been good on paper, but came off really flat. I am looking forward to revisiting TakeOver, but not really because of this episode. 

Overall Rating: 38%