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WWE NXT Report - The Shields Invades NXT

Joseph Bernard / January 4, 2013 - 11:33am

As the show begins the Shield have taken over and are layin' a beatin' on three hapless individuals inside the NXT ring.  Commissioner Dusty Rhodes is on the ramp with something to say about it.  He promises that Seth Rollins will be forced to defend his NXT title or be stripped of it.  All 3 members of the Shield got some mic time here.  I'm glad to see they're finally weaving the Shield and NXT storylines together because up 'til now there's been a real dichotomy with Rollins as the show's top babyface in one reality and something quite different in another.

MATCH ONE
BO DALLAS VS. EPICO

Dallas has shown himself to be quite the potential breakout superstar on this show and Epico's work is quite under-rated so we're almost guaranteed a decent match here.  The 2 combatants do a little chain wrestling which I'm always a big fan of.  Epico drops a springboard elbow from the apron and goes for a cover.  Bodyscissors applied by Epico.  

Strong backbreaker applied by Epico who continues to apply pressure after the initial impact.  Dallas fights back but Epico easily gets his heat back.  Dallas starts to fire up and drops Epico with a series of rights and a powerslam.  

Dallas postures up for the Spear and hits it for the win.


Winner - Bo Dallas

Epico and Primo look to be about to double-team young Dallas but Mike McGillicutty makes the babyface save (hmmm).

MATCH TWO
SASHA BANKS VS. TAMINA SNUKA

A very aggressive Tamina we see here with the no-nonsense old-school methodical punishing attacks.  Tamina hits a scoop slam and an abdominal stretch.  Tamina misses a Stinger Splash and this gives Sasha room to make her comeback before ultimately getting squashed by a well-timed Samoan Drop.  Tamina hits the Superfly Splash for the win (I really like what she's done with her hair).

Winner - Tamina Snuka

MATCH THREE
KASSIUS OHNO & LEO KRUGER VS. TYSON KIDD & JUSTIN GABRIEL

This has potential to be quite the great matchup with the contrasting styles and all.  Kidd starts the match with Ohno and it's all hammerlocks and reversals in the early going.  Kruger and Gabriel tag in and Gabriel hits a Steamboat-worthy armdrag.  The high flyers use a lot of quick tags and pinning combinations.  Kruger goes to the floor to regroup and Gabriel hits Ohno with a tope as we go to the commercial break.  Back from the break and Gabriel has Kruger locked in a rest hold.  Tandem kicks by the babyfaces and another cover by Kidd.  Kruger makes his comeback with a spinebuster.  Standing senton by Ohno leads into a cravate.  Kruger tags in and hits a nice snap suplex leading into a cover.  Ohno punishes Kidd with numerous running knee strikes.  Deep reverse chinlock spot by Kruger.  Ohno and Kruger botch a tandem move and Kidd finally makes the hot tag to Gabriel.  Gabriel hits Kruger with Christopher Daniel's old Angels Wings move (awesome).  In the end Kruger hits the Krugerand for the win.

Winners - Kassius Ohno & Leo Kruger

MAIN EVENT

NXT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
COREY GRAVES VS. SETH ROLLINS

We get Jim Ross on commentary with Steven Regal for this one (yes!).  What a weird situation in that we've had Rollins as the super-over babyface for months now finally revealing his Shield alliance on NXT.  Corey Graves is still a heel so it's definitely a heel vs. heel thing (like I said - weird).  Both men trade rights and Graves comes out on top - even working an inside cradle.  Graves dominates the early minutes of the match - targeting the left leg of Rollins.  

Rollins makes a comeback with a Hot Shot.  Rollins follows up with a running high knee to the sternum.  Rollins applies a headscissors and Graves cleverly rolls back into a pinning combination.  Graves makes his comeback with rights and a leg lariat.  Rollins scores with an enziguri.  Graves locks on a submission and the Shield make the save.

Winner - Corey Graves by DQ

The locker room empties to fight the Shield and they somehow overcome the numbers game.  In the end it's the Shield in there with Bo Dallas who takes the signature triple-powerbomb.  Dusty Rhodes remains on the ramp and out comes Big E. Langston who makes a slow and deliberate approach.  The Shield back off as Ross refers to Big E. as "a one man gang" (clever).  The Shield actually back off and Rhodes announces that next week Rollins will defend his NXT belt against Langston.