Irish and Japanese grapplers advance into semis of title tournament
Friday 23 January 2015 14:37, UK
Finn Balor and Hideo Itami moved a step closer to the NXT Championship on Wednesday night after advancing in the newly-announced title tournament.
Balor defeated Curtis Axel with a Sling Blade and the double foot stomp he calls Coup de Grace, while Itami bested Tyler Breeze with a tornado DDT into the ropes and then a kick to the face.
The international sensations, who teamed up to defeat The Ascension at NXT TakeOver: R Evolution in December, are now in the semi-finals of the NXT Title tournament, where they will be joined by two of Adrian Neville, Tyson Kidd, Bull Dempsey and Baron Corbin.
Former NXT Champion Neville will tackle Kidd in a first-round match next week, while long-time rivals Dempsey and Corbin will clash on the same night at Full Sail University in Orlando.
Sami Zayn, the reigning NXT Champion, could face the winner of the ongoing tournament but has other things on his mind at the moment: namely friend turned foe Kevin Owens.
Zayn has been powerbombed twice by fellow Canadian Owens since he beat Neville for his belt last month and headed to Wednesday’s edition of NXT in a foul mood.
The Quebecer took out his frustrations on Tye Dillinger before pleading with NXT General Manager William Regal to give him a match with his tormentor Owens at the next TakeOver event on February 11.
Regal agreed but added that because of Owens’ diabolical actions in NXT since debuting – the powerhouse has also victimised Neville – that the bout will not be for Zayn’s cherished championship.
NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte will defend her garland at TakeOver, though, in a Fatal Four-Way scrap involving Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch and Bayley.
Charlotte, the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, successfully retained her strap on Wednesday after her opponent Banks teamed up with Lynch to dish out a beating.
Bayley rushed to the champion’s aid, causing Banks and Lynch to scarper to the back, but then showed her intent to claim the NXT Women’s Title by flooring Charlotte with a Bayley-to-belly suplex.
Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy, however, will not have to wait until February for a chance to win gold as they will tackle NXT Tag Team Champions The Lucha Dragons on next week’s show.
Blake and Murphy conquered The Vaudevillains on Wednesday evening when Blake rolled up Aiden English and the talented twosome quickly challenged Sin Cara and Kalisto to a title match, which the champions swiftly accepted.
Will any NXT Superstars take part in Sunday night’s Royal Rumble match, just as Rusev did last year? Watch the show on Sky Sports Box Office or follow our interactive blog at www.skysports.com/wwe to find out.
WWE Royal Rumble will be shown at 1am on Sunday, January 25 (Mon) on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 743) and on Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 752).
WWE Royal Rumble will be repeated on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 743) BUT NOT Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 752) until 9pm on Saturday, January 31.
Repeats showing will last for three hours, with the final showing BEGINNING at 9pm on Saturday, January 31.
The event is priced at £19.95 for UK customers, €24.95 for customers in the Republic of Ireland.
Viewers can call 08442 410 888 from Tuesday, January 13 to book WWE Royal Rumble. (There may be an additional charge for telephone bookings).
You will be able book WWE Royal Rumble online from Tuesday, January 13 by visiting this link: https://my.sky.com/orderboxoffice/
You can also order WWE Royal Rumble at a later date by pressing the Box Office button on your remote. Select 'sports & events' and follow the on-screen instructions.
Cable customers should contact their local cable operator.
