[TV Recap] ‘NXT’ 09.19.2012 – Rollins vs. Victor, Ohno’s Sparring Session

COMMENTATORS: Byron Saxton & William Regal

This week on NXT Rick Victor challenges NXT Champion Seth Rollins in a non-title match to prove that he’s worthy of having a real shot at the title. Also on the show Jimmy Uso takes on Conor O’Brian, Kassius Ohno conducts a one-sided sparring session, and much more.

CHAMPION

• NXT CHAMPION: Seth Rollins

LINEUP

• Trent Barreta vs. Johnny Curtis (**)
• Paige vs. Alicia Fox (**)
• Jimmy Uso vs. Conor O’Brian (*3/4)
• Seth Rollins vs. Rick Victor (**1/4)

*****

Trent Barreta vs. Johnny Curtis

Curtis connects with a couple of strikes, Trent strikes back but gets dropped with a shoulderblock. Trent catches a gyrating Curtis off-guard with a dropkick, Curtis trips him up when he tries a top rope move. Curtis immediately goes after Trent’s left arm, the one that kept him out of action for six months, removing the elbow pad so every move he uses adds pressure. Curtis bounces Trent into the ropes and takes him to the mat with a fireman’s carry, yanking the arm on the way down for a two-count. Trent fights off a superplex attempt, turning it into a sunset bomb for the 1…2…Curtis kicks out. Trent lays in forearms and chops followed by an enzuigiri. Trent connects with a Whisper in the Wind for the 1…2…Curtis kicks out. Curtis counters a tornado DDT and sends Trent into the corner with an overhead suplex for the 1…2…Trent kicks out. Curtis tries another cover, Trent still manages to escape. Curtis misses an Alabama Jam, Trent connects with a Busaiku Knee for the 1…2…3!

Trent Barreta defeated Johnny Curtis via pinfall (5:38)

• A successful return for Trent Barreta, shaking off the six months worth of ring rust to put away his creepy opponent. Match was good for what it was, I like pre-Fandango Johnny Curtis a lot. Didn’t know Trent used the running knee before Daniel Bryan. (**)

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Paige vs. Alicia Fox

Fox takes Paige to the mat with a double-arm takedown, Paige responds with a hip toss and they reset. Standing switch into an O’Connor Roll from Paige for a two-count. Fox goes for the legs, Paige counters into a backslide for another two-count. Fox charges, Paige with an inside cradle for the 1…2…no, another roll-up for the 1…2…no! Fox calls for a time out and slaps Paige in the face. Paige slaps back and lays in the forearms, Fox responds with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for the 1…2…Paige kicks out. Paige tries to pick Fox up but her back gives out, Fox connects with a Northern Lights suplex for the 1…2…not yet. Paige escapes a double armbar, Fox flips through a monkey flip but eats some forearms and a clothesline. Paige sends Fox into the corner, Fox with a double leg but Paige rolls through with a cradle DDT for the 1…2…3.

Paige defeated Alicia Fox via pinfall (4:47)

• One day Alicia Fox will get the praise she deserves. Good match ruined by William Regal’s creeper commentary. (**)

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-RAW REBOUND: Fallout from the Night of Champions main event between John Cena and CM Punk (double pin led to a draw). GM AJ Lee makes RAW main event: Punk & Alberto Del Rio vs. Cena & Sheamus. Cena pins Punk, but Punk had his foot on the rope, referee Brad Maddox (WOW) gets an earful of both Cena and Heyman all the way to the back. 

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Jimmy Uso [w/ Jey Uso] vs. Conor O’Brian [w/ Kenneth Cameron]

Jey Uso pinned Kenneth Cameron last week, so Jimmy and Conor do battle to see who’s the better man. Please make it stop, I don’t care. I don’t care at all.

Jimmy connects with a series of chops followed by a leaping headbutt for a one-count. O’Brian sent to the floor, he sweeps the legs of Jimmy and throws him to the floor by the hair. O’Brian repeatedly drives Jimmy’s back into the apron (the softest part of the ring) and rolls him in for some ground & pound. Elbowdrop, lateral press with the leg hooked, Jimmy kicks out. O’Brian rides Jimmy around the ring with a side headlock, wrenching it in each time. Jimmy almost escapes, O’Brian grabs the hair and throws him to the mat, covering for another two-count and settling in with a chancery of sorts. Jimmy catches O’Brian off-guard with a pair of clotheslines and a Samoan drop, Hip Attack in the corner. Jimmy heads to the top, Cameron climbs the apron to distract him but Jey pulls him down. Cameron fights Jey off, then trips Jimmy up, O’Brian blasts Jimmy with a bullet dropkick for the 1…2…3.

Conor O’Brian defeated Jimmy Uso via pinfall (3:50)

• Usos and Ascension are 1-1 in singles now, so logic dictates that Jey will face Conor next week to decide which team is actually better when not in a tag team match…or some sh*t. Probably won’t happen like that but that’s how it should go. This happened and was fine but I’m super over it. (*3/4)

The Ascension pummel Jey Uso into a fine paste, finishing him off with Total Elimination. 

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–Briley Pierce is standing by with Bo Dallas, but the interview is quickly interrupted by Michael McGillicutty. McGillicutty tells Dallas to get lost and tries to take over the interview, Dallas attacks him and officials separate the two. 

-DID YOU KNOW?: Night of Champions was the most socially active show on television last Sunday. I hope they got checked after.

-TWO WEEKS AGO: Kassius Ohno’s vicious attack on Richie Steamboat, drawing the ire of his father Ricky.

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IN-RING SEGMENT: KASSIUS OHNO’S SPARRING SESSION

Kassius Ohno makes short work of Oliver Gray, making him tap to a cravat in under a minute. Ohno gets on the mic after and offers Gray another shot, bell rings and Ohno belts him with a KO blow and reapplies the cravat for yet another tap-out. Out comes Richie Steamboat to chase Ohno from the ring and prevent further damage to the youngster. 

• I love watching Kassius Ohno wreck fools so I found this entertaining enough.

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-VIGNETTE: Leo Kruger says everything is about to change and can’t wait to meet all of his new friends. Maniacal laugh, maniacal laugh, ta ta.

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Seth Rollins vs. Rick Victor

I thought Victor had slapped himself into an actual championship match on last week’s show, but apparently I was wrong as this is a non-title affair. Guess he needs to work a little harder instead of smarter, oops. This is Rollins’ first match since winning the NXT Championship last month and he’s coming out HEADBANGING AND SWINGING FISTS. Jim Ross joins Saxton and Regal on commentary for the added gravitas.

Victor plays with Rollins, hiding in the ropes to avoid retaliation in an effort to get some mind games going. Victor ducks a clothesline and takes Rollins to the mat with a side headlock. Rollins tries to escape with an Irish whip, Victor keeps it locked on and brings the champ to one knee. Rollins finally rolls Victor off, Victor dodges a wild kick and bails to the floor. Rollins goes for a tope suicida, Victor belts him with a forearm and follows up with a release overhead belly-to-belly suplex for the 1…2…Rollins kicks out. Victor bites himself in a mini-meltdown then goes to work on Rollins in the corner as the show goes to commercial.

Back live and Victor has a chinlock cinched in. Rollins escapes, Victor catches him with a blow and covers for the 1…2…Rollins kicks out and Victor immediately stomps a mudhole in him. Victor bites himself some more and charges in the corner, meeting nothing but a pair of knees. Rollins fights out of the corner with rights, Victor connects with rights of his own but Rollins brushes them off. Victor slaps Rollins, Rollins makes him regret it with a series of rights and an enzuigiri. Rollins goes BUG-EYED and hits a Stinger Splash followed by a one-foot dropkick. Rollins measures Victor and connects with the Blackout for the 1…2…3.

Seth Rollins defeated Rick Victor via pinfall (7:00 shown)

• Not sure what they were trying to get across with Rick Victor biting himself a bunch but hey you do you, NXT. Solid match and first showing for Rollins as NXT Champion, defeating Victor who I believe was one of the top guys during the FCW days. Poor guy. (**1/4)

Rollins celebrates his win as the show concludes.

*****

FINAL THOUGHTS: Perfectly serviceable week of wrestling, setting up some stuff for next week and continuing feuds I’m both interested in (Steamboat/Ohno) and could care less about (Usos/Ascension). Can’t say a lot of it was memorable though.