NXT 1-28-15 Review

Original Airdate: Wednesday, January 28th, 2015
Full Sail University
Winter Park, Florida

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NXT Tag Team Championship Match
Wesley Blake & Buddy Murphy vs. Lucha Dragons

Cara gets some offense going, but gets hit with a dropkick when he goes for a reverse springboard. Sin Cara makes his comeback and tags in the more exciting Kalisto. He hits a corkscrew crossbody and then a Canadian Destroyer. Things break down and Blake gets a blind tag that allows him to pin Kalisto and we surprisingly have new champions. That was a really quick match, with most of it being a headlock. Blake and Murphy really lack an identity beyond good wrestlers so far and that kind of hurts the reaction to them winning the titles. I say that as someone who has enjoyed their team so far.

Match Rating: *3/4

They show last week with the drama in the women's division. We then go to Bayley and Charlotte and Charlotte isn't happy about what Bayley did last week. Bayley thinks she's been too nice and Charlotte warns her that she may not make it to TakeOver.

Tyler Breeze says that he lost a match, big deal. He's going to watch the rest of the tournament very closely. 

NXT Championship #1 Contender Tournament First Round Match
Adrian Neville vs. Tyson Kidd

After a hot start by Neville, Kidd does some stalling outside the ring. Kidd dominates into the commercial break and when we come back, Neville hits a dive over the top rope to the ramp. Kidd is able to bounce back and hits a suplex onto the top rope. Neville rebounds with a sit down powerbomb that looked a little too close to an injured neck. Neville goes up top and hits the Red Arrow for the victory. This was longer than my recap shows and it was fairly entertaining overall. They're capable of better, but this was a solid match.

Match Rating: **1/2

Sasha Banks says that Becky Lynch is going to do the right thing and help her win the NXT Women's Championship. When Sasha walks away, Becky says that she will do the right thing and win the title.

Blake and Murphy are celebrating their victory and give a generic victory promo.

Bayley & Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks & Becky Lynch

All four women get a little bit in to start and rightfully so. Sasha mocks Bayley a little bit and they are able to isolate her from Charlotte. When she tags in, she's able to get the Figure Eight in, but Becky dropkicks Charlotte to break the hold. Sasha hits a reverse neckbreaker. Bayley breaks up the pin attempt and she sort of hits Charlotte. They start fighting and then Becky and Sasha join in and the bell rings. They brawl, as we get closer to their match at TakeOver. This was fine.

Match Rating: *1/2

Finn Balor says friendships go out the window when titles are involved. Hideo Itami comes in and says he was the one who brought him over here. 

Emma is coming back to NXT. 

NXT Championship #1 Contender Tournament First Round Match
Baron Corbin vs. Bull Dempsey

Why must you keep doing this to me, NXT? Corbin dominates the early going, as they talk about the mystique he possesses. Just wait until he becomes the Olive Garden host. Anyway, he hits End Of Days and that's all. I completely had no idea that Bull was treated like such a jobber during this.

Match Rating: 1/4*

Bull confronts Baron and tells him he got lucky twice. Yeah, okay. 

William Regal is in the ring for the contract signing. He tells both men that this will not be like every other contract signing in WWE. If they lay a hand on each other, their match is canceled. Sami grabs a mic and talks about their history. Owens points out that the contract says non-title match. Owens says he's not signing it until that is added. Sami tells Regal that he knows Owens and that he won't sign it. Sami says he wants it added too and Regal allows it. Owens throws a pen at Sami on his way out and Regal holds Sami back. Owens heads to the back and we go off the air.

This was a pretty good episode, but for whatever reason I just never got sucked in. The tag title change felt a little out of left field within the context of the show and I really don't want to see any more of Baron/Bull. On the plus side, the women's feud is shaping up nicely and you have a hot story at the top of the card in Owens/Zayn.

Overall Rating: 60%