NXT JUNE 12TH 2019
Io Shirai and Candice LaRae vs. Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke w/Shayna Baszler
The show was coming from Maryland this week. Shafir and Duke are at the point where, on offence, they look fine, but are still a little awkward when they’re the ones taking the offence. They had the advantage on Candice for a bit, before the hot tag to Shirai. Shirai would give Jessamyn the stomp to the elbow to send a message to Baszler, before Baszler came to the ring to get involved and took a moonsault to the floor from Io. Candice then hit a dive on Marina and Jessamyn, with the match being thrown out as Io continued to go after Baszler. They fought into the crowd while referees came out to pull apart Candice and Marina and Jessamyn.
Recap of Dream and Breeze’s match at Takeover. Dream then cut a short selfie promo, telling anyone who thought they were ready for the next experience to dream on.
We then got a recap of Gulak and KUSHIDA from two weeks ago to hype tonight’s rematch.
Short teaser video for Damian Priest, who debuts next week.
Submission Match
KUSHIDA vs. Drew Gulak
After their first match at Full Sail had a bit of a subdued crowd at points, the second match was an improvement. They didn’t over-do it with just grappling as I’d feared they might and as a result the match didn’t lose any momentum, or lose the crowd. Clearly this match and this mini-feud were there to give KUSHIDA a strong start to life in NXT and while it was an even enough match, KUSHIDA had most of the key submission teases, before winning clean with the Hoverboard Lock, with Gulak tapping pretty much immediately. Gulak shook KUSHIDA’s hand post match too, so job done for him.
Footage from earlier in the day at the Performance Center saw Vanessa and Aliyah complaining about Mia thinking she was next in line for a title shot. Vanessa offered Mia some books to help her with her fashion sense, grasp on the English language and on grammar and told her to study up, because they weren’t going to step in the ring with trash.
Shayna versus Io in a cage match was announced for two weeks time, before Mansoor’s battle royal win at Super Showdown was covered.
Roderick Strong and Kyle O’Reilly vs. Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch
Strong was filling in for Fish due to his injury from Takeover, with Fish with them for their entrance. As you’d expect from these four, this was a strong, fast paced match, that perhaps dipped a little in the middle due to the crowd not being so behind Lorcan and Burch, but picked up again big towards the finish. The finish would see Jaxson Ryker come to ringside though and as security tried to stop him, he chokeslamming one of them on the floor. Undisputed Era were distracted by this, allowing Burch to push O’Reilly into Strong and roll him up for the pin. Ryker was convinced to leave, with Strong and O’Reilly left fuming in the ring. Interesting that they’re, presumably, continuing something with Undisputed Era and Forgotten Sons. The face/heel dynamic is odd, when it’s Burch stealing a win over O’Reilly, especially when it’s thanks to Ryker. I’m guessing it’s about getting to the match they want though and not any tease for a Burch and Lorcan turn thrown in.
RECOMMENDED VIEWING: Both KUSHIDA versus Gulak and the main event tag were entertaining watches and worth a look.
NXT WEEK: Damian Priest’s debut, an appearance from Adam Cole