Post by Olethros on Apr 30, 2015 19:39:42 GMT
NXT is WWE's developmental program. The wrestlers on the show are supposed to be "rookies" that are trying to learn enough to make it to the main roster and appear on Raw and Smackdown.
However, its hottest talent are wrestlers signed from the indies, who put on amazing matches and show actual characters and character development and sense of continuity that you don't see on Raw and Smackdown.
NXT airs Wednesdays on the WWE Network at 8pm, but can also be viewed free on Hulu a day later. Every three months or so they have a live special, "NXT Takeover," a sort of two-hour PPV-type event.
Who's Who
NXT CHAMPION Kevin Owens - A self-described prizefighter, Owens is in WWE and NXT to earn money to make a better life for his wife and kids. To that end, he will fight anyone and everyone and do whatever it takes to get and hold onto the NXT Championship, because the title means more money. He arrived at "Takeover: R Evolution" and almost immediately went after the then-champion Sami Zayn, manipulating and provoking him into putting his title on the line. Two months to the day after his debut at "Takeover: Rival," Owens won the NXT Championship and has been trying to injure anyone who steps up to challenge him. You might know him better as the former Kevin Steen.
Finisher: "Lights Out" pop-up powerbomb
NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS Blake & Murphy - Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy were more or less randomly paired up as enhancement talent for NXT's struggling tag team division. The Texan Blake had been part of a little-used "cowboy" tag team and the Australian Murphy hadn't been used in any real capacity prior to their teaming together and being given a dubstep entrance theme. Unofficially called the "Dubstep Cowboys" by fans, Blake & Murphy started to slowly climb the tag ranks until they earned a title shot against the then-champions the Lucha Dragons, and to many people's surprise, won the titles. Now they're aiming to prove they deserve to be champions by welcoming all challengers.
Finisher: Suplex + Frog Splash combination
NXT WOMEN'S CHAMPION Sasha Banks - Banks had been a women's wrestler of little renown until Summer Rae convinced her to embrace her inner bitch. Finding that inner aggressive streak and taking control of her career, Banks dubbed herself "The Boss" and made noticeable improvements in the ring. She had been chasing the championship for many months before she finally captured the NXT Women's Championship at "Takeover: Rival" in a fatal 4-way match. Now her ego is larger than ever. The fans are always quick to remind us that "Sasha's Ratchet." (No, she's not!)
Finisher: "Bank Statement" bridging crossface, "Bankrupt" straightjacket neckbreaker
Sami Zayn - An international superstar, the Canadian Zayn has wrestled all over the world and is the eternal fan-favorite. On his debut night in NXT, he pulled out an upset win against Antonio Cesaro, leading to an epic series of matches in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to defeat Cesaro again on NXT, although he earned the Swiss wrestler's respect with his skills and determination. Zayn chased the NXT Championship for quite a while, but he suffered a number of losses in high-profile matches. When then-champion Adrian Neville used duplicitous means to retain the title against Zayn, he put his career on the line in one final shot, which paid dividends as he redeemed himself and finally became NXT Champion at "Takeover: R Evolution." Two months later, however, he lost the title to former best friend Kevin Owens at "Takeover: Rival," and he's aiming to take it back. You might know him better as the masked wrestler El Generico.
Finisher: Helluva Kick, Springboard Tornado DDT
Finn Bálor - The Irish superstar Bálor (pronounced to rhyme with "valor") made an immediate impact upon his debut, coming to aid his friend Hideo Itami in his feud against the Ascension. Bálor is no slouch in the ring, combining striking with agility to punish his opponents. When necessary, however, Bálor will reach deep inside himself and unleash "the demon," coming to the ring wearing fearsome paint to appear like a demon. Thus far, Bálor has not been successful in his attempts to win the NXT Championship, but it may only be a matter of time. You might know him better as the former Prince Devitt.
Finisher: "Coup de Grâce" top-rope double stomp
Hideo Itami - Formerly known as KENTA, Itami signed with NXT amid a great deal of hype and arrived at "Takeover: Fatal 4 Way" where he announced his new ring name, which means "Hero of Pain." At the same event, he became embroiled in a feud with the Ascension, refusing to back down and enduring weeks of two-on-one attacks until he brought in Finn Bálor to even the odds. Since then, Itami has appeared at WrestleMania 31 in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, although he was eliminated by Big Show. Now Itami is fighting his way toward earning a shot at the NXT Championship.
Finisher: "Shotgun Kick" running dropkick, Go 2 Sleep
Tyler Breeze - A self-absorbed male model, Breeze is never seen without his phone, taking selfies all day long. Coming to NXT from whatever seasonal residence he currently calls home, Breeze started out in NXT overly protective of his gorgeous face, but since then he has shown a great deal of cunning and a vicious streak a mile wide. Breeze believes himself to be the only one worthy of holding the NXT Championship, since anyone and everyone else is an "uggo" that taints the title by association. Breeze had earned a title shot before "Takeover: Fatal 4 Way," but with one thing and another, he never got a one-on-one title shot. Don't let his vanity fool you, Breeze is not someone to underestimate.
Finisher: "Beauty Shot" spinning heel kick, "Supermodel Kick" superkick
Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady - I could describe the Jersey native and his running buddy from Queens, but I think I'll let them do it for themselves. "My name is Enzo Amore, and I am a certified G and a bona fide stud, and you can't. teach. that! And this right here? This is Big Cass, and he's seven feet tall, and you can't. teach. that! Badda boom, realest guys in da room, HOW YOU DOIN'! And there's only one word to describe our opponents, and I'mma spell it out for you-- S-A-W-F-T, SAWWWWFT!" Enzo never shuts up and he'll gladly remind you how good he thinks he is. Big Cass is no slouch on the mike either, and he can back up Enzo's words when necessary. Despite their popular schtick, Enzo & Cass have struggled in the tag division, but their stock may be on the rise now. They're usually seen in the company of Carmella.
Finisher: Assisted splash; "East River Crossing" wind-up side slam
The Vaudevillains - Aiden English is a former stage actor turned wrestler. He used to sing his way to the ring and get quite incensed when someone would steal "his" spotlight. Now he partners with the former circus strongman Simon Gotch, and the two have become a semi-popular villainous team on NXT's tag scene. Utilizing a very old-school style in the ring (compounded by their fondness of silent movie schtick when mocking their opponents), the Vaudevillains are a perennial threat on the tag team scene.
Finisher: "That's a Wrap" Finlay Roll + Senton bomb combination
Baron Corbin - A lone wolf, Corbin doesn't talk much, preferring to let his actions speak louder than words. Coming to the ring with a grim stoicism, Corbin has run through everyone that's been put in front of him, often in under a minute. He apparently believes himself to be the "Alpha of NXT," and reminds his victims, "You can't fight fate."
Finisher: "End of Days" reverse STO
Bull Dempsey - The self-described "Last of a Dying Breed," the heavyset Dempsey lives in a perpetual bad mood and lives for ruining people's days. Called the "Wrecking Ball," he went on a brief undefeated streak until he ran up against Baron Corbin. Dempsey still hates pretty much everybody since his relevance has started to decline.
Finisher: Diving headbutt, "Bulldozer" side scoop slam
Solomon Crowe - For weeks before his debut, NXT was plagued with hacking attacks, albeit minor ones that merely disrupted the feed and flashed the name "Crowe." After "Takeover: Rival," the warnings were done and Crowe himself debuted, blasting his way through the competition and warning people that he's coming for the NXT Championship. Crowe has a unorthodox look and style that does stand out on NXT. You might know him better as the former Sami Callihan.
Finisher: Stretch Muffler submission, pendulum splash
Charlotte - The daughter of Ric Flair, Charlotte is new to the business, but despite this she has shown that, out of her siblings, she at least inherited her father's talent. Combining a technical style with her gymnastics background, Charlotte is a former NXT Women's Champion for a reason. She has also inherited her father's arrogance, and carries herself like a Queen.
Finisher: "Natural Selection" somersault cutter, "Figure Eight" bridging figure-four submission
Bayley - Originally debuting on NXT as a starstruck, socially-awkward fangirl-turned-wrestler, Bayley quickly became popular for her optimistic, never-say-die attitude and her fondness for hugging everyone in sight. She's grown since then, showing she has the fire to back up her ideals. She has been chasing the NXT Women's Championship for months, but as yet has not been successful in capturing the title. Bayley's sunny disposition has led her to be exploited and betrayed by people she's called her friends, including Charlotte, Becky Lynch, and Emma. Despite this, Bayley refuses to change who she is. You may know her as the former Davina Rose.
Finisher: Belly-to-Bayley Hugplex
Becky Lynch - The Irish-born rocker quickly turned heads upon arrival in NXT and soon broke her friendship with Bayley to climb the ranks, forging an alliance with Sasha Banks to help Banks get a shot at the NXT Women's Championship, although Lynch soon made it clear that she'd turn on Banks if it meant she'd get a shot at the title too. That alliance has, predictably, fallen apart since Banks became champion, and Lynch is now gunning for her. Lynch is a brown belt in submission wrestling, and has shown a tendency to exploit any opportunity that comes along.
Finisher: Seated Fujiwara armbar submission, "Four-Leg Clover" inverted cloverleaf submission
Emma - The Aussie Emma arrived in NXT with a ... unique style and kooky personality, but don't let the goofy dancing fool you. Underneath that out-there exterior lies a vicious streak a mile wide. Emma came within an eyelash of becoming the first NXT Women's Champion against Paige. Emma's main roster run was troubled, getting stuck in a go-nowhere partnership with Santino Marella and a brief run-in with the law off-camera. Since her return to NXT, Emma has shown a pessimistic attitude and now seeks to convince Bayley that her bubbly personality won't get her anywhere.
Finisher: "Emma Lock" Muta lock submission
Alexa Bliss - The glittery girl in the cheerleader outfit may look like an easy target, but the "sovereign of sparkle" shouldn't be underestimated. She is an agile competitor and is steadily improving in the ring, and may yet become a major contender for the championship.
Finisher: "Sparkle Splash" corkscrew moonsault, "Glitz Flip" moonsault double-knee drop
Carmella - I'll let Enzo Amore describe her to start. "This right here, this is Carmella, and she's hot as hell, and you can't. teach. that. Badda bing, hottest chick in da ring, how you doin'!" A former hairdresser in the Big Apple, Carmella lost her job after Enzo & Big Cass accidentally spilled hair-removal cream on a client's poodle. Forcing them to get her a job with NXT as repayment, Carmella hasn't had much opportunity to showcase her skills against a variety of opponents, since the first few matches she had were all against the local talent known only as Blue Pants. While Enzo's constant chatter and incessant urge to hit on her gets on her nerves, Carmella is loyal to "her boys."
Finisher: Modified headscissors
Dana Brooke - The former fitness model arrived in NXT very recently, and she knows exactly how fit she is and how much better she thinks she is than everybody else. Brooke, sometimes referred to as the "second coming of the Glamazon," has yet to earn a shot at the NXT Women's Championship, but it's undeniable that it is in her sights.
Finisher: Samoan driver
"Blue Pants" - A female local competitor, the woman known only as "Blue Pants" has made a number of appearances on NXT, serving as enhancement talent. She's become a fan favorite due to her X-Men-inspired outfit and Big Cass' rendition of the "Price is Right" theme as her entrance music.
NXT Takeover: Unstoppable
May 20, 2015 - 8pm on WWE Network
NXT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH - Kevin Owens defends vs Sami Zayn
The last time these two men clashed on NXT, Owens steamrolled through Zayn, exploiting his emotional state and lust for revenge and powerbombing him over and over until the referee stopped the match. Zayn was put on the shelf for more than a month thanks to the assault, but now he's back and he wants two things: revenge on Owens, and his NXT Championship back.
Owens had earned his title shot by sneak-attacking Zayn and provoking him into putting the title on the line, refusing to fight without a prize. Zayn has used Owens' own tricks against him, sneak-attacking him and refusing to fight unless Owens put the title on the line.
The two former best friends know what one another can bring to the table, and this could only be the start of an escalating feud, if history is any judge.
NUMBER ONE CONTENDERSHIP TRIPLE THREAT - Tyler Breeze vs Finn Bálor vs Hideo Itami
All three men want the NXT Championship. Bálor wants to prove that his failed attempt against Owens was a one-time fluke. Itami wants to make his journey to America worthwhile by capturing the title. Breeze wants the title more or less out of sheer vanity.
All three men are familiar with one another. Itami and Breeze have been embroiled in a rivalry for weeks. Breeze seems somewhat envious of Bálor's good looks and has tangled with him as of late. Itami and Bálor are no strangers to one another, having both cut their teeth in Japan and being friends.
All three men will do whatever it takes to get the number-one contendership. Breeze will exploit whatever opportunity presents itself. Itami will show that "fighting spirit" and fight through the pain. Bálor will unleash the "demon" to get the advantage.
