NXT 289

July 29, 2015 – Winter Park, Florida

Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson def. Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady
It begins! Dash & Dawson got booed like crazy for winning. They also got to showcase some of what will go on to make them my favorites. **¾

Baron Corbin def. Jesse Sorenson
Whatever, even Corbin looks bored by his own shtick. N/A

Tyler Breeze barges into William Regal’s office and says he’ll fight anyone in the world. Regal tells him to be careful what he wishes for.

Jason Jordan & Chad Gable def. Elias Samson & Levis Valenzuela Jr.
Valenzuela will go on to be No Way Jose. He and Samson got to do a bit more than the jobbers typically get to do in matches like these, while Gable & Jordan continue to work out the kinks on their way to becoming American Alpha. **

Bull Dempsey is finally attempting to get Bull-Fit… and it’s just not funny. This is clearly not the end of this angle, so hopefully the clips get more humorous.

Charlotte def. Dana Brooke
There’s some weak-ass side angle here wherein Brooke is mad because Charlotte is WWE’s female representative for the Tapout brand, but they’re workout buddies so it should have been Brooke? Totally unnecessary and half-assed addition to this feud. It also meant more of Brooke on the mic, which is awful. As for this match, Brooke is awful in that too. After a painful few minutes of Brooke in control, Charlotte squashes her. *

Kevin Owens def. Martin Stone
Last week after Owens attacked Regal during his contract signing, he apologized to Regal and claimed it was a mistake. Unrelated: Danny Burch apparently took a year away from NXT and wrestled as Stone on the indies and in TNA. Not sure why he didn’t start using his WWE name again when he came back. At this point, he’s no less a jobber as Stone than he was as Burch. After the match, Owens hits Stone with the apron powerbomb while mocking Finn Balor. N/A

Wesley Blake & Buddy Murphy def. Aiden English & Simon Gotch {NXT Tag Team Championship Match}
I thought this would happen at Takeover, but since there are no babyfaces I guess it’s better to burn it off here. The Vaudevillains are de facto babyfaces, as they play to the crowd and also the crowd hates Blake & Murphy. The pale boys are actually a lot more interested as good guys than baddies. That said, this was pretty average, and ended with a weak finish (after a Bliss distraction) that will clearly lead to a match at Takeover. The Vaudevillains send Blake & Murphy to the floor after the match, leaving Bliss alone in the ring with them. The crowd chants “chivalry,” so the Vaudevillains open the ropes for Bliss. She responds by slapping them and leaving. That was pretty well done, actually. **¼