Wednesday Wrestling Minutes - Your Weekly Source for NXT, Lucha Underground, Ring of Honor and Independent Wrestling News

NXT

NXT TV 11/11

Recap of the title match last week between Crews and Balor and all the shenanigans that happened during the match with Baron Corbin and Samoa Joe.

Tye Dillinger heads to the ring first where he takes on Baron Corbin. But before the match can start, Apollo Crews attacks Corbin! He beats him up in the ring and outside. Corbin tries to fight back but Crews is relentless and Corbin runs. This was a great moment for Crews.

He showed fire and intensity for the first time since coming to NXT and that he isn't always just going to be the smiling, happy dude we see on Breaking Ground or we've seen so far in NXT. He can be aggressive and intense and this segment showed that. But commentary is like "Hey, do you think this is all because of Crews eliminating Corbin in the battle royal?" Yeah, no shit.

Later in the episode, Crews cuts a good, intense backstage promo on Baron Corbin, once again showing a side we haven’t seen yet in NXT.

Six man action in the next match, Bayley and the Hype Bros take on Alexa Bliss, Blake and Murphy. Murph and Ryder in first but Alexa tags herself in and wants Bayley. Kinda weird the big singles match in this 6 man is in first instead of teasing it but whatevs. I'll never complain about Alexa Bliss being on my TV.

Bayley takes control and goes for a Belly to Bayley but Alexa gets away and tags Blake. Back from commercial, Rawley is staying hype but when Ryder tags in, Blake and Murphy take over. But once Mojo gets back in he takes it to Blake and Murphy and covers Murph but Alexa breaks it up. Bayley runs to scoop Alexa and rain punches and sends her to the outside.

On the outside, Alexa steals the Womens title and walks out with it. Blake and Murphy try to cheat to pin Mojo but Bayley stops them and Belly to Bayley Murph and runs off to find Alexa. Ryder knocks Blake off the apron and Hyde Ryder to Murph and the faces win.

The Ascension cut a promo about how they are the best tag team in NXT history and that they accept the challenge from Jordan and Gable.

Nia Jax has a match next but before that, Eva Marie stops her backstage and the two start talking. They go through a door away from the camera and talk more so whatever it is, it's important.

Then a short segment about Asuka being on the cover of Japan's biggest pro wrestling magazine, followed by Apollo Crews saying Corbin must be mad he got thrown out in the battle royal by Crews. But now he has Crews attention and more and Crews will break him.

Next, Deonna (Purrazzo) makes her way to the ring, an indy girl from NJ. And the announcers literally don't have one thing to say about her. She's there to get squashed by Nia Jax and her awful theme music. Nia is twice the size of Deonna and just throwing her around with ease. The crowd is basically silent for the whole match, just low murmuring like everyone is talking instead of watching. And commentary puts it over like everyone is in hushed awe at Nia which is just lol. Nia wins with a slam and a leg drop and whatever.

Bayley is backstage, searching for Alexa Bliss and her title. Alexa is taking pictures with it, drops the belt and runs. Bayley picks it up and walks into Nia Jax (how could you miss her, amirite?) but then Alexa blindsides her. Alexa goes to pick up the belt but Nia grabs it first and Alexa backs down. Nia looks at it then tosses back onto Bayley who is still on the ground.

Next, the Vaudevillains defend the NXT tag titles against Dash and Dawson. English and Gotch do work early against D and D but it isn't long before Dash and Dawson take over. They work the knee of English relentlessly, tagging in and out and twisting it in several submissions. Dash tries to slam English's knee on the post but Aiden pulls him into it and finally makes the tag to Gotch. He takes over for a moment but tags in English for the Whirling Dervish, but Gotch is distracted by Dash and Dawson takes out the leg of English, the legal man. Gotch goes after them outside but the numbers game is too much and is thrown into the steps. Dawson holds English's leg and Dash stomps his knee then Dawson applies a submission and makes English tap and Dash and Dawson are the new NXT tag team champs!

Jordan and Gable vs The Ascension next week

Samoa Joe makes his way to the ring to a very mixed reaction. He says people have been asking why he attacked Finn Balor last week. He says people are defined by the choices they make and the actions they put behind them. After Balor came to him to be in the Dusty Classic, Joe carried him through the tournament and then asked for one thing - a title shot. Balor made a choice to say yes but put no action behind it. When Regal announced the battle royal, Balor let him give away the shot he already gave Joe. And he says having to be in a battle royal is insulting - he is Samoa Joe! Since he set foot in NXT he's been entitled to a title shot!

But then Balor's music hits and he storms to the ring. Refs come out of nowhere to hold them back and Balor is pissed. He yells and Joe and tells him he has his championship match. Joe makes like he's going to leave and says "Good choices, good choices," then throws a ref at Balor (Drakes head at his balls pretty much) and chokes him out with the kokina clutch. The refs have to revive Balor as the episode ends.

I really liked that segment. Joe's promo was really, really good. He shined on the mic and talked down to Balor while talking himself up then backed it up by choking out the champ.

Ring of Honor

ROH TV 11/11

Cedric Alexander with Veda Scott, followed by ACH. ACH wants a hand shake but Cedric kicks his hand away. Cedric in and out of the ring, avoiding ACH and Veda is being very vocal about ACH wrestling a clean match.

Veda makes her presence known, stepping in front of an apron PK by ACH, allowing Cedric to hit an apron STO. Cedric staying in control since the Veda distraction and hits a series of suplexes and teases more but stops to annoy the crowd. ACH starts to get back into it though then Cedric gets a surprise 2 with a Michinoku Driver. Cedric sets up ACH for a high risk move, high gives Veda Scott first, then slips when he leaps to the top rope and ACH wins with a 450.

Then Veda yells at Nigel McGuinness about the lawsuit she is filing against ROH over unsafe working conditions and that Nigel hasn't done his due diligence and isnt taking this seriously. She screams and yells but we'll have to see what actually comes of her lawsuit.

Next up, Will Ferrara takes on Caprice Coleman. Caprice puts over Ferrara as a great up-and-coming talent out of the ROH Dojo and his recent matches with Kushida and others. And though Caprice mentored Ferrara, he hasn't shown him everything and he's still got some moves left. Seemed like that promo was toeing the line between face and heel a little bit. I wonder if an attitude change is coming for Caprice along his with association with Prince Nana.

Caprice is much more aggressive and violent in the ring than I've seen him. He's methodical but being very vicious with his strikes. Lots of knees and then an STO into the 2nd and bottom buckle followed by a face wash dropkick. Ferrera keeps trying to fight back into it though, quickening the pace and hitting a tornado DDT.

Prince Nana shows up at ringside, taking notes on the match, most likely on Coleman's performance. Ferrara goes for a corner shoulder but misses and hits the post. Caprice acts like he is going to give Ferrara a break but then throws him into the post again. Coleman wrenches that shoulder back in a camel clutch variation he calls Judgment's Seat and Ferrara taps. Coleman shakes his hand afterward and tells him good match but it seems very disingenuous.

As Ferrara walks out, Nana gives him an envelope too, similar to the one he gave to Coleman several weeks ago. Kevin Kelly asks Nana about the envelope. Nana won't tell him straight but says they are on the edge of the enlightenment. He says what was in the envelope were the steps to life, the keys to making it. And he says he is far from done.

You might laugh this off this angle/segment if you’re completely new to ROH TV or just don’t pay attention. Prince Nana is a very successful manager in ROH. His last client in - before Moose that is - was a guy named Tommaso Ciampa. He was the center of The Embassy and from there went on to wrestle in Chikara, TNA, PWG, and now NXT. He’s been able to make wrestling a career because of what he did with Nana in ROH. And that's what ROH is really about - not megastars taking TV time for granted, but regular people working hard, trying to make it big. And that’s what Ferrara is trying to do and you’d realize that if you actually paid attention instead of just criticizing.

In the main event, Briscoes vs ANX. Before that, they show highlights of ANX beating The Briscoes at All Star Extravaganza.

ANX out first followed by the Briscoes. Mark and Kenny start first and start chain wrestling. Kelly talks about the feud between these teams a few years ago, which culminated in a Ladder War. Once Jay tags in ANX stays in control, but it isn't long before the Briscoes turn it around and work over Rhett Titus in their corner.

But once King finally gets back in he starts to turn the tide for his team. King beats down Mark for a while but Jay keeps trying to get involved but ANX works together to keep him out and get a few 2 counts on Mark. Once Jay gets back in they almost his a Doomsday Device but it's blocked.

ANX almost his a One Night Stand but it's blocked and everyone is outside and Jay dives on Titus. Mark Blockbuster King from the apron, Jay Driller to Titus in the ring and a Froggy Bow from Mark for the win.

Was great to see the Briscoes and the All Night Express renewing the feud but I think this is the last of it between them for now and going forward, we’ll see both teams entering the already crowded ROH tag team title picture. The Kingdom are current champs but hot on their heels are the Young Bucks and reDRagon, as well as the former champions The Addiction, the power houses in War Machine and then you throw in a returning All Night Express and a Briscoe Brother team with a renewed focus on the tag titles? That’s one stacked tag team division.

This week on ROH TV

-Silas Young and Beer City Bruiser vs War Machine

-Nigel McGuiness addresses Steve Corino’s status in ROH

-Michael Elgin is in action

-And The Kingdom defend the ROH tag team titles against The Addiction

Speaking of ROH TV, it’s leaving Destination America

-The final episode on DA will air on Nov. 25

-ROH has found a new home on the national digital cable channel, Comet, beginning on Dec. 2

-Check out www.comettv.com to see if the channel is available in your area. Comet apparently runs mainly old sci-fi movies and TV show and it seems like ROH will be the first original programming on the network.

-For what it’s worth, Comet doesn’t seem to be available in the Philadelphia area. But apparently an independent channel in New Jersey, WCMN, recently began airing ROH TV on Saturday at 11:30 p.m., so if you’re in the same area as me, you’ll still be able to get ROH on your TV even after the deal with Destination America ends.

http://www.rohwrestling.com/news/ring-honor-air-nationally-comet-starting-december-2nd

In other ROH news:

Survival of the Fittest Night 1 results

-Chris Daniels def. Kenny King, Hanson and Mark Briscoe (Hanson had King beat and Daniels stole it)

-Roderick Strong def. Cedric Alexander

-Silas Young def. Dalton Castle and Adam Page (Whitmer kept trying to interfere and Castle stopped but Silas took advantage to pin Castle)

-The Kingdom retained the tag titles against reDRagon thanks to lots of Maria and Adam Cole interference

-Jay Briscoe def. Rhett Titus, Frankie Kazarian, and Ray Rowe

-Michael Elgin def. Moose and Adam Cole (O’Reilly distracted Cole leading to an Elgin Bomb)

-ACH def. Matt Sydal to win the best of 5 series (Shake hands and hug after, Sydal raises ACH’s hand)

-AJ Styles and the Young Bucks def. The House of Truth (Lots of shenanigans from Truth and Bullet Club. Styles pinned Lethal and after the Styles Clash. Lethal cut a promo saying it took three people to beat him and that won’t happen at Final Battle (which me I will be at with Donny from Ring Rust)

Survival of the Fittest Night 2 results

-Cedric Alexander def. Will Ferrara

-Dalton Castle def. Adam Page

-Mark Briscoe def. Frankie Kazarian

-The Kingdom (Adam Cole, Michael Bennett and Matt Taven) def. Moose and War Machine

-The Young Bucks def. All Night Express

-AJ Styles def. Matt Sydal

-reDRagon def. Jay Lethal and Donovan Dijack

-Michel Elgin wins Survival of the Fittest, defeating Jay Briscoe Christopher Daniels, Silas Young, and ACH (Roderick Strong suffered a concussion during Night 1 and wasn’t able to compete)

ROH Title match at WK10?

With Elgin winning the Survival of the Fittest, he’s earned an ROH Title shot and he reportedly said he wants it to be in Japan. With the popularity Elgin gained in Japan during the G1 Climax, it would not surprise me at all if Elgin’s title match comes at WK10, or at a big show around that time (so like, World Tag League or whatever is after it)

New Japan/Japan

World Tag League Day One

Korakuen Hall

-BUSHI (returning from injury) and Mascara Dorada vs Yohei Komatsu and Sho Tanaka

-Tiger Mask IV and Juice Robinson vs The Addiction (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian)

-KUSHIDA, Ryusuke Taguchi and Captain New Japan vs Matt Taven, Michael Bennett and Gedo

(Oh yeah, aren’t The Kingdom sorta affiliated with Chaos?)

-Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi and Jay White vs AJ Styles, Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi, Tama Tonga and Cody Hall

Block A

-Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma vs Toru Yano and Kazushi Sakuraba

-Hiroshi Tanahashi and Michael Elgin vs Kazuchika Okada and YOSHI-HASHI

Block B

-Tetsuya Naito and EVIL vs Bullet Club (Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows)

-Meiyu Tag (Hirooki Goto and Katsuyori Shibata) vs Shinsuke Nakamura and Tomohiro Ishii

English commentary for WK10

(Not on 11/17 RRR)

-Kevin Kelly and Matt Striker will be handling commentary, like they did for King of Pro Wrestling

https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/3t6qba/english_commentary_at_wrestle_kingdom_10/

Pro Wrestling NOAH

Destiny 2015, 12/23

-Matches on Enuhito twitter

GHC Heavyweight title

Minoru Suzuki (c) vs Naomichi Marufuji

GHC Tag titles

KES (c) vs Big in USA

GHC Jr title

Taichi (c) vs Ishimori

GHC Jr tag

TAKA and Desperado (c) vs Harada and Kotoge

Indy

Evolve

-The first ever Evolve Tag Team Champions will be crowned during a three day tournament in January 2016

-The shows will be

Evolve 53 (Jan. 22, Ybor City, FL)

Evolve 54 (Jan. 23, Orlando, FL)

Evolve 55 (Jan. 24, Orlando, FL)

-This is the same weekend as the WWE Royal Rumble, which will also take place in Orlando

-Three teams already confirmed:

Johnny Gargano and Drew Galloway

RPG Vice

The Premier Athlete Brand (Tony Nese and Caleb Konley)

AAW Windy City Classic

-Sat. Nov. 28

-For some reason the matches aren’t listed on their website

-Matches so far:

-Ethan Page (c) vs Eddie Kingston vs Trevor Lee

-Chris Hero vs Pentagon Jr

-The Hooligans vs OI4K

-ACH vs Davey Vega

-Shane Hollister and Markus Crane vs Matt Cage and Tyson Dux

-Gregory Iron vs Christian Faith (aka Ricky Shane Page – I’m not killing kayfabe since he still uses his RSP Twitter account to promote Christian Faith matches)

Also appearing:

Fenix

Alex Shelley

Tommaso Ciampa

House of Hardcore 10

Philadelphia, PA

-Justin Roberts was the ring announcer for the evening

Tajiri and Tommy Dreamer def EC3 and Eric Young

(Great brawl, Tajiri looks as good as he ever did, lots of run ins from Chris Masters, Pepper Parks, The Sandman and Sabu. Young and EC3 played great heels)

Rhyno def Abyss

(Pretty good no dq match. Coulda done with some more weapons used since they didn’t do much with what they had but they built to their few big spots well)

Austin Aries def. Bobby Roode

(Awesome match and not what I expected. Both guys were trying to out-do each other in terms of heel wrestling, since they were the Dirty Heels tag team. I heard people around me complaining it wasn’t as fast-paced as they were expecting but what we got was great storytelling using their history and lots of unique moments)

Chris Hero def Lance Hoyt

(Excellent big man match. Really hard hitting stuff from both guys. Chris Hero is insanely agile for a guy his size. I saw him handspring from over the ropes, land on the apron with his hands then flip down to the floor landing on his feet, not touching the ropes at all, like it’s no thing at all for a 6’4 dude to move like that. Continued the KES/Big in USA feud from NOAH)

Eddie Kingston def Tommaso Ciampa

(Really solid, hard hitting match. Not much crowd heat for this one but it was the best performance I’ve seen from either guy at a HOH show so far)

Tony Nese vs Alex Reynolds vs JT Dunn

(Elimination match - pretty sure it was Reynolds who went out first then Nese won. Incredibly athletic match from all three guys who were working really hard. I’m more familiar with these guys as tag team wrestlers (even though Nese and Dunn have been doing a lot more singles work lately) but they still put on a great showing)

Colt Cabana, Team Tremendous and the FBI (Guido Maritano and Tony Mamaluke) vs Vik Dalishus (dressed like Jesus), three Samoan guys and Mia Yim

Dean Malenko was inducted into the Hardcore Hall of Fame and tried to give a speech (as best he could over drunk yelling idiots) and also it was revealed that Eddie Guerrero would also be inducted since it was the 10 year anniversary of his passing and he had a huge influence on the growth of ECW)

Andrew Everett injury not that bad

-There was concern that Everett had suffered another serious knee injury but it seems it wasn’t as bad as he had feared

-It seems he only has a torn meniscus and will be back in action after a small surgery

ICW

https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/3sxkel/icw_fear_and_lothing_ix_2016_to_be_in_the_glasgow/

-Next ICW Fear and Loathing IX show (Nov. 26, 2016) is being booked in the Glasgow Hydro, which is a 12,000 seat arena

-I don’t follow ICW so it’s hard for me to really discern the importance of most of the results of Fear and Loathing VIII, but I did see that Grado defeated Drew Galloway to become the new ICW World Heavyweight Champion