Welcome to this week’s edition of Ringside Intel’s NXT Recap! Every Thursday I’ll bring you a rundown of what happened on NXT the night before, with a bit of my own insights and commentary thrown in. Without further ado, let’s get into it!
As is usually the case with post-TakeOver episodes of NXT, last night’s episode was mostly a rehashing of the events that occurred at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7nKGw-eUpU]
And, much to my disappointment, that meant there would be no Adam Cole. As fans of NXT already know, episodes are taped weeks in advance – and last night’s episode was actually taped prior to last Saturday’s TakeOver event. In other words, when last night’s episode of NXT was taped, Cole had not yet debuted.
The moment that shook the #NXTUniverse to its core at #NXTTakeOver: Brooklyn III… @AdamColePro@KORcombat@TheBobbyFishpic.twitter.com/iWy3S48p7i
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) August 24, 2017
However, even though last night’s episode was not a normal episode of NXT, there were still some good matches.
Lars Sullivan destroys No Way Jose
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeif-x2HrJY]
Ok, this wasn’t a match. But it was supposed to be before Lars Sullivan completely destroyed No Way Jose.
No Way Jose came out dancing as per usual and invited two conga lines of “fans” – who I’m assuming were actually planted local indy wrestlers – to join him when Sullivan burst down the entrance ramp and attacked No Way Jose from behind. I’m not very familiar with Sullivan, but the way he manhandled someone the size of No Way Jose was nevertheless impressive.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYJ_YwnBph4/
As you can see in the WWE.com exclusive clip below, apparently Sullivan attacked No Way Jose because he doesn’t like his music.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gf8Kqc71MU]
I mean, yeah – I can see that.
Johnny Gargano and Asuka
No, Johnny Gargano and Asuka didn’t wrestle each other – although that would be one hell of a match. What they did do was both give interviews concerning their matches at TakeOver. Which begs the question: if this episode of NXT was filmed before TakeOver, did Gargano and Asuka film their match interviews before they’d wrestled the matches in question?
While that might seem like a dumb thing to wonder, Asuka looks no worse for wear in her interview below. And as we now know, she unfortunately broke her collarbone in her successful title defense against Ember Moon.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ9Z9-6LqeI]
Whatever the case, it just goes to prove that wrestlers need not only be good athletes – they also have to be good actors.