*WWE NXT Women’s champion Sasha Banks defeated Charlotte. HUGE reaction when they announced the title bout. Both Charlotte and Banks received monster reactions. Big Woos for all the chops. Charlotte was on offense early and they went to the floor where Charlotte chopped her on every side of the ring. As they re-entered ring, Banks cut her off. They had some nice back and forth near falls. The crowd chanted, “This is wrestling”. Charlotte trapped her in a head scissors and drilled Sasha’s head into the mat. Banks returned the favor by double stomping her as she was in the buckles. Real competitive back and forth bout. The crowd was super loud sigh back and forth chants for each. Banks mocked Charlotte with a Fargo Strut. That was awesome. Banks trapped Charlotte in her straight jacket submission, yanking her back all the way. It looked sick. The crowd clapped and rallied for Charlotte. Charlotte made the big comeback with chops. She sent Sasha over the top but she landed on her feet and drilled Charlotte for a two count. Banks was great at playing to the crowd. Banks locked Charlotte in the head scissors and drilled her into the mat face first before beating her rudely. Banks went for a rana but was caught, elevated and power bombed down with authority. They were both almost counted down on the mat but returned to their feet to fight each other. Banks was sent into the buckles. Charlotte was on fire with offense and scored several two counts. Charlotte’s hair extensions got ripped out which infuriated her. They went back and forth with two counts. The crowd chanted, “This is awesome.” Charlotte locked in the figure four. Banks tried to get out and even turned it but Charlotte turned it back over, Banks made it to the ropes. Charlotte went to the top but Banks pulled her off into the ring. Banks drilled her with two knees to the back and locked her in a submission. They went into a beautiful set of near falls until Banks finally caught her in the Bank Statement submission and Charlotte tapped. FREAKING AWESOME. Charlotte received a standing ovation and the crowd chanted, “Thank you Charlotte.”
They introduced Sami Zayn. He came out and he crowd sang “Ole Ole” for a long time and then chanted his name. It was a huge ovation. He said it’s been a crazy time for him and he’s gone home to clear his head. He said he has some medical issues that aren’t too serious but he’s not cleared to compete tonight. The crowd booed that. Zayn said he knows but he wanted to say how important this show is. He said there used to be a dirty word called developmental. He said that it used to be if they went there they waited and wasted away in obscurity while hoping to be saved by being called up to Raw and Smackdown. He said things have changed. The crowd popped. He said that the word revolution is thrown around a lot but he wanted to talk about his revolution. He said that his started when he wrestled Cesaro in he a best of Three Falls two years ago, he said that they could have waited and kept things the way it used to be or they could kick down the doors and work hard and make this the place to be…and that’s what this is. He said people can think he might be wrong about it being a revolution but he’s standing in front of 5,000 fans who sold this place out in an hour.
Out came NXT champ Kevin Owens on the stage. This is pretty damn surreal to see. He said it’s cute to listen to what Zayn says and how the fans are eating it up, but he knows Zayn knows Zayn better than anyone. He said Zayn uses the we did this but he really means he did is and he believes it’s all about Zayn. The crowd gave Owens the “What?” Chant and Owens told the crowd they were cute and “Let’s all go back to 2002 together, yaaaaay!” Owens said Sami has accomplished nothing since he got here but since Kevin arrived NXT blew up and sold out Ohio and tonight thanks to him. He said he has the title and he beat Sami for it.
Sami ripped Owens saying that Zayn tore the house down and was tearing it up for the last two years as Owens texted him asking how WWE is and watched him in TV. He said that without Sami, there would never have been Owens in WWE. Owens teased fighting Zayn and Zayn said lets go. Owens teased getting into the ring but then said Sami was lucky he had surgery two weeks ago and left. Sami said when Owens gets better, Sami is coming to get his belt. Better than 99% of most Raw opening segments we’ve seen in forever. Finn Balor.
For those who asked there were a few handhelds at ringside shooting the show. I didn’t notice a hard cam or anything like that.
*Finn Balor pinned Adrian Neville. Balor came out in full Demon paint and entrance. The crowd lost it for this and chanted, “Holy sh**” when it was over. Some really nice mat work early. Neville nailed a nice dive to the outside. The crowd chanted, “Better than Mania.” I wonder what Vince is thinking right now. Neville took control and ran Balor into the buckles, then chopped away at him. Balor fought his way to his feet but was thrown into the corner and taken back down. Neville controlled him with stomps and nailed a back suplex for a two count. Balor leapt out of the way of a charge and landed on the apron outside. They went for a move but Neville caught him with a guillotine leg drop through the the ropes. Neville came off the ropes with a sunset flip but Balor rolled through through and scored with a dropkick. They fought back and forth until Balor kicked him off the top rope to the floor. On the floor, Balor scored with a leaping forearm and tossed Neville back in. Neville drilled him with some kicks but Balor wiped him out and nailed a flying double stomp got a two count. The fans chanted, “This is awesome” and to a lesser extent, “Slobber Knocker.” Balor charged but was killed with a superkick for a two count. Neville went to the top but Balor hit the ropes and Neville crashed into the ring. Balor scored several two counts, He went to the top but Neville nailed him. Great competitive bout. Neville scored with a Superplex as both men stood on the top for a two count. He called for the Red Arrow but Balor moved and scored with the top rope stomp for the pin. Great main event.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
