NXT NO MERCY REVIEW

Tonight's P.L.E comes to us live from Bakersfield,  CA. 

 

The opening video done to the style of the old No Mercy Video game was really good and probably one of the most unique openings I've seen in a long time.

 

Match 1:

The show gets off to a fast and powerful start with Bron Breakker vs. Baron Corbin. Before the bell even sounded Bron jumped over the top onto Corbin. They continued to brawl through the NXT Universe and after a failed dive onto the announce table finally entered the ring and the match officially started. It was a back and forth affair with both men battling each other with everything they had. After a distraction from Mr. Stone Baron was able to hit the END OF DAYS to get the win! Great opening match. The crowd was super into it and both men looked great. 

Winner by pinfall: Baron Corbin.

 

Match 2:

The North American Title is on the line as Trick Williams challenges Dominik Mysterio with Dragon Lee as guest referee. Just from the crowds pop on the entrance you can see that Trick is an absolute star! Mysterio came out alone, surprisingly! Bookers heel commentary work in regards to Dragon Lee during the match was great. The match was very good. Back and forth athletic competition. Mysterio inadvertently took out Dragon Lee with a thrust kick. A new ref came out but he was accidentally taken out with a shoulder tackle by Dom. While both refs were down Dom attempted to hit Trick with the belt. He ducked the attempt and hit the jumping knee which put the belt into Mysterios face that led to the win. Overall this was a great match, up until bringing the belt in Dominik wrestled a clean and athletic match. Both guys absolutely shined. The finish felt a bit sudden, but still very good match. The crowd was in it the whole time and went nuts when Trick held up the belt!

Winner AND NEW: Trick Williams

 

Match 3:

Fatal 4 way tag match for the NXT Championships.

 

The Creed Brothers, Angel Garza / Humberto Carillo, and Out the Mud challenge The Family.They say styles make fights and wow, these are 4 entirely different tag team styles. Julius and Angel started the match off and it quickly broke down as all 8 superstars entered and it was chaos. (As somebody that was a professional wrestling referee for about a cup of coffee, let me say that I sympathize with the ref that worked this match. Multi person tag matches were always the most chaotic to work.)While holding 2 men it appeared that Tony blew out his knee and medical came out to attend to him, leaving stacks Lorenzo alone among the other 3 teams. Garza and Carillo have some amazing double team maneuvers. OTB took thier time double teaming Stacks until he was able to tag in Brutus. While Brutus had Garza in the ankle lock Julius literally suplexed everyone multiple times. Just as it seemed like things were done for Stacks, The Don emerged from the back and began to brawl. There was an insane 8 man superplex spot! The crowd erupted!! That left the Family and Creed Brothers alone in the ring. The following 90 seconds of action needs to be seen to be believed. In the end the Family hit the BADA BOOM-BADA BING to retain the titles. You could barely breath with the action and pace of this match. Hats off to all 8 men!

The Winners AND STILL: The Family

 

Match 4:

Butch challenges Noam Dar for the Heritage Cup. Tyler Bate accompanied Butch and MetaFour accompanied Noam Dar. (This is not a normal match. Six 3 minute rounds with a 20 second break between, a knockout or DQ ends the contest.) As round 1 expired Dar took a back elbow cheap shot and knocked out Butch. Dar took control through most of round 2 because of the elbow after round 1 expired. After a cheap shot from Mensa, Dar scores a pinfall on Butch to win round 2. Booker T is still undefeated on the heel announce work. Adds so much to the match! Round 3 starts and Butch has a bit of an advantage. Once again MetaFour gets involved. Butch is able to hit THE BITTER END to score the pinfall in round 3. They head to round 4 tied. Great back and forth submission and counter submissions. Butch had Dar in a triangle and Dar passed out but it was right at the bell, so they enter round 5 tied 1 to 1. Dar connects with a perfect back elbow but Butch kicks out at 2 and a half. At the bell for round 5, Butch stomped on Dars finger. We start round 6 all tied up! Mensa once again gets involved and Dar hits the NOVA ROLLER but Butch kicks out!  We are under 2 minutes to go. Tyler Bate attacks Mensa on the outside. As we approach a minute Gallus jumps Tyler Bate, as the ref is distracted Joe Coffey slides in and hits ALL THE BEST FOR THE BELLS on Butch. Dar covers for the win. It essentially took 7 people to beat Butch tonight! What a great match!

Winner AND STILL: Noam Dar

 

Match 5:

NXT Heavyweight Championship match.Ilja Dragunov challenges Carmello Hayes! Even though this was the co-main event it had such a big fight feel. The face off during introductions was intense. Ilja came out the gate with fire and intensity. Mello was able to weather the early storm and came firing back with sustained offense of his own. Dragunov went back on the attack and wore Carmello out for a good bit of the match. It then becomes an absolute strike for strike slugfest. After Hayes hits a springboard bulldog the crowd begins the "This is awesome" chants. Dragunov soon gets the upper hand with strikes, slams, elbows and suplexes. Hayes lands some of the nastiest and aggressive head stomps I have ever seen. Dragunov hits a coast to coast dropkick on Hayes. After some more back and forth offense Ilja is bleeding from the head. Dragunov hits his H BOMB from the top rope but Hayes kicks out! Big move after big move and near fall after near fall!! Loud NXT chant erupts!! Mello hits a cutter from the ring apron onto the floor outside the ring. Dragunov hits another massive H BOMB from the top rope to score the pinfall! Holy crap! This match was amazing! I thought the first one at Great American Bash was great, no... this match surpassed that one! Both men left it all in the ring! After the match Dragunov helped Mello up and they shook hands and embraced.

Winner AND NEW: Ilja Dragunov

 

Match 6 (Main Event): 

Extreme rules match for the NXT Women's Championship. Tiffany Stratton gets her rematch against Becky Lynch. Stratton comes to the ring with brass knuckles as Becky pushes a shopping cart full of weapons and plunder. They begin to brawl up the aisles and through the crowd. Becky hits Stratton with a chain and busts her open near the eye. When they return to ringside Tiffany takes control with a kendo stick shot, then a stairs hit and a Suplex on the outside. They finally get into the ring. Stratton works Becky over with a toolbox, wrenches and a crowbar. Becky gets the upper hand with a BEX PLEX and a top rope dropkick. Becky puts Tiffany in the shopping cart and runs it into the steps. Becky purse out a bag of broken Barbie parts in the ring and slams Tiffany into them. Tiffany introduces a trash can but Becky turns the table. Drapes the can over Tiffany's head and hits a leg drop. Tiffany hits a spine buster on the can! As Tiff sets a table up on the outside Becky slides under the ring and sprays her with an extinguisher. The back and forth battle continues outside the ring and both women crash through the barricade! This elicits a "Holy S**t" chant from the NXT Universe! In spite of Tiffany hitting a Swanton bomb through a table Becky was able to hit 2 MAN HANDLE SLAMS, One on the outside of the ring and the final ontona pile of chairs to get the win. 

Winner AND STILL: Becky Lynch

 

Wrap up: WOW! I saw this card and had high expectations of this show and it shattered even what I thought was possible. Match for match and move for move this was a very entertaining P.L.E. I give it a 4.5 out of 5!! 

              - Keehner Out -