NXT Tag Team Championship Match
Rezar forces Ciampa in the corner. Rezar attempts a German suplex, but Ciampa slides between Rezar’s legs and retreats to his corner. Ciampa tags himself in Rezar rushes Ciampa, but Ciampa boots him in the face. Gargano and Ciampa hit a double spear through the ropes. Akam hits the ring, but Ciampa and Gargano land a combo Enziguri/knee strike combo. Ciampa and Gargano clothesline Akam over the top rope. Ciampa tags in and tries to hit a running double knee off the apron. Akam catches Ciampa and powerbombs him into the ring post. Akam and Rezar beat down Ciampa in their corner. Ciampa tries to fight out of the corner, but Akam destroys him with a sidewalk slam. Akam and Rezar continue beating down Ciampa.
After a short break, Ciampa manages to tag in Gargano. Gargano lands multiple running elbows to Akam. Akam picks up Gargano for a slam, but Gargano wiggles off Akam’s shoulder. Akam charges Gargano but Gargano ducks, which causes Akam to trip to the outside of the ring. Akam attempts to get back in the ring but Gargano clocks him with a head kick. As Akam gets his barrings, Gargano leaps off the apron with a running somersault senton which complete wipes out Akam. The big man is in trouble. Slingshot DDT by Gargano for a two count. Gargano tags in Ciampa. #DIY hits Akam with meet in the middle. Ciampa obliterates Akam with a discus clothesline. Ciampa locks in his bridging Fujiwara armbar.
Rezar breaks up Ciampa’s submission attempt.Rezar sends Gargano to the outside. Rezar sets up a superplex, but Ciampa slips under him. Ciampa tries to powerbomb Rezar off the top, but Rezar is latched onto the top rope. Akam tries to make the save, but Gargano superkicks him into oblivion. Ciampa and Gargano double powerbomb Rezar off the to top rope. Rezar somehow manages to kick out at two. #DIY set up their finish, but Akam hooks Ciampa’s leg and pulls him outside of the ring. Akam tosses Ciampa head-first into the ring steps. The AoP set up the supercollider, but Ciampa reversed Rezar’s powerbomb into the Crippler Crossface and Gargano reversed Akam’s into a modified crossface. The Revival hit the ring and attack Gargano and Ciampa causing a disqualification.
The Revival hit the Shatter Machine on Ciampa. Rezar clotheslines both Dawson and Wilder. Rezar and Akam set up the Last Chapter, but Wilder hooks the top rope as Rezar hits it. Rezar falls to the outside. Dawson and Wilder hit the Shatter Machine on Akam.
So, The Revival will not be called up to the main roster in the next few months. They have done everything in NXT in terms of tag team wrestling, including a match of the year candidate TWICE in 2016. With that being said, I am a realist. I realize that WWE does not want to push them on Smackdown because they have The Uso’s and American Alpha in a feud. I acutally like that feud and will be interested to see it on the WrestleMania pre-show card. What I am more interested in is the inevitable Triple Threat Match for the NXT Tag Team Championship at NXT Takeover: Orlando. Why do I want to see this so bad?
The Authors of Pain, #DIY and The Revival are three extremely talented teams that are all extremely different in skill set, personality and points in their careers. All have been champions, but it feels like all teams are still trying to prove their worth and importance in NXT. AoP are young and still hungry. The Revival feel like the veterans of a division that has some depth and they want to prove they still are the best. #DIY are former champions who want it back…badly.
I love it, especially considering all three teams can WORK in the ring. It has been proven time and time again, so what other option do you have than all three battling at their biggest event of the year? With new names coming and going in NXT, these are the solid benchmarks in tag team wrestling. Let them shine in Orlando and let this storyline naturally and organically develop. It was an excellent choice to show vulnerability (For the first time) in The Authors of Pain. Top guys…out.
@JoshIsenberg4 on Twitter. WWE NXT Rating:
