NXT TV 1/31/2018

This week on NXT, we get the fallout from NXT Takeover from this past Saturday. Plus, Tyler Bate battles Roderick Strong in the main event where the winner becomes the number one contender to the WWE UK Championship.

NXT TV
Date: 1/31/2018
From: Philadelphia, PA

NXT TV this week is taking place from the Wells Fargo Arena and was taped prior to the NXT Takeover special. I should note that I’m not going to highlight the various highlight videos from NXT Takeover: Philadelphia.

Opening Contest: Nikki Cross vs. Lacey Evans: Cross started early with strikes but Evans delivers a kick to the chest. Cross is able to trap Evans in the apron skirt and pummels Lacey with several punches. Evans yanks Cross off the middle rope and manages to get a two count. Evans mounts Cross with several right hands to keep control of the match. Evans springboards in the corner and connects with a bronco buster before playing to the crowd. Evans misses a middle rope moonsault as Cross rolled out of the way. Cross comes out of the corner with a few forearm strikes and a takedown. Cross hits a swinging fisherman neckbreaker for the win. (**. That was a harmless quick women’s match and in the quick sprint of a match they both looked good in there, I thought.) After the match, Evans calls Cross crazy as she heads backstage.

Backstage, Shayna Baszler was interviewed following her match against NXT Women’s Champion Ember Moon. Shayna says that Moon didn’t beat her, but rather that she simply survived. Shayna wants them to interview Ember Moon and then let her know which one of them is acting like a winner.

Backstage, Adam Cole was helped by his partners Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish. O’Reilly and Fish didn’t know what was going on. Adam Cole proclaims that Sanity is going to play for what they did. Next week, Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish will defend the tag titles against Sanity.

Backstage, Roderick Strong is running up and down a flight of stairs to prepare for his match.

Backstage, Velveteen Dream was interviewed regarding his victory at Takeover. Dream is asked if he underestimated Kassius Ohno by claiming to win the match in thirty-seconds, which he didn’t. Dream has the interviewer read his trunks which says “Dream Over” and then walks off.

Second Contest: TM 61 (Nick Miller & Shane Thorn) vs. Ealy Brothers: Thorn takes the Ealy Brothers out with a dive over the top to the floor and that gets the crowd pumped up. The Ealy Brothers do an illegal switch in the ring and have control of the match for a few moments. Thorn gets the hot tag and hits a cannonball splash in the corner. Miller nearly wins the match following a top rope moonsault. Thorn and Miller hit Thunder Valley for the win. (*1/2. I think I could get behind the team of TM 61 if they stay healthy. I like their style.)

Backstage, TM 61 cut a promo saying they are mighty and the mighty don’t kneel.

Backstage, Tommaso Ciampa was approached by reporters as he limped out of the building and dragged his crutch with him.

Backstage, NXT Champion Andrade Almas is interviewed alongside Vega. Vega says this was all part of her plan to show who the real Almas is. Almas says this is only the beginning. They joke about Johnny Gargano watching the Royal Rumble on television.

Next week, Adam Cole will be competing in singles action against Killian Dain.

Main Event: Tyler Bate vs. Roderick Strong in a number one contenders match for the WWE UK Championship: Strong controls Bate with a wristlock, but that doesn’t last long. Bate takes Strong down to the mat and also controls Strong with a wristlock. Bate nails Strong with a dropkick and plays to the crowd. Bate does the airplane spin, but Strong comes back with a backbreaker moments later. They begin to trade chops until Strong drives Bate down to the mat with another backbreaker. Strong continues to deliver chops and a kick to the face. Bate comes off the ropes but is caught by Strong. Strong delivers another backbreaker and tosses Bate into the corner leading to a near fall. We go to a commercial.

Strong stretches Bate out with a bow and arrow looking for a submission. Bate is gets free and delivers a jawbreaker on Strong. Bate drops Strong with a punch on the chin. Bate uppercuts Strong a few times and delivers a big boot. Bate delivers a running uppercut in the corner and follows up with a knee strike off the middle rope. Bate nearly wins with a German suplex. Strong elbows Bate a few times to break free but Bate manages too hit an exploder suplex and a standing shooting star press for a two count. Strong stops Bate on the top rope and goes for a superplex. Bate knocks Strong off the top rope but Strong yanks Bate off the ropes to deliver another backbreaker. Strong attempts a power bomb but Bate counters with a hurricanrana and another kick. Strong attempts another backbreaker but Bate nearly wins with a rollup. Bate comes off the ropes with a lariat for a two count. Bate attempts the Tyler Driver ’97 but Strong is able to avoid it. Bate gets a near fall with a rollup and is met with a knee strike by Strong in the corner. Strong slams Bate down to the mat gut first. Strong goes a vertical suplex and turns it into another backbreaker for the win. (***1/4. I must say, Roderick Strong is so easy to watch and enjoy. I feel like he’s been incredibly underrated for many years. This was a solid main event and they did some fun stuff. It was just a generally good match.)

Final Thoughts:
The episode this week was pretty simple as it touched upon some basic fallout from Takeover, highlighted TM-61 and then had a fun main event match. Can’t go wrong with that, I’d say.

Thanks for reading.