WWE NXT Review: Adrian Neville Challenges Sami Zayn
By Mike Smith
WWE.com
Sami Zayn vs. Adrian Neville for the NXT Championship
After sizing each other up, the two shook hands before the action got underway.
The match started off slow, with Neville trying to pick up the pace, pulling off a few big moves, including a hurricanrana that forced Zayn into the corner to regroup.
The match considerably slowed down again, and then it once again sped up a bit, with Zayn having the advantage this time.
When they came out of that sequence, Neville shoved Zayn with authority, but quickly apologized. Zayn continued to show the new side of his character by responding to that apology with a forearm to the face. Both men then traded shots, with Neville getting Zayn to the outside and hitting a tope con hilo.
Neville kept up the advantage, staying on Zayn and trying to keep him down, and withstanding a few heavy flurries from Zayn.
Neville hit two frankensteiners, which both looked like they could’ve killed Zayn. The crowd fell quiet, and the referee looked ready to stop the match, but Zayn fought on.
Zayn went for a Koji Clutch, but Neville escaped it before Zayn could lock it in. Zayn went for a Helluva Kick, but Neville rolled out of the ring. Zayn immediately looked for his infamous diving tornado DDT through the bottom rope, but as he was coming through, Neville hit a vicious superkick.
Neville looked to finish Zayn off, but Zayn fought back and went for another Helluva Kick, but Neville countered again and rolled Zayn up for a very believable nearfall that had the crowd on the edge of their seats.
Zayn didn’t waste too much time after that and he connected with a Helluva Kick to retain.
Zayn defeats Neville via pinfall.
After the match, Kevin Owens ran in the ring to throw Zayn into the ropes and hit him with a pop-up powerbomb.
4 out of 5 stars – Not as good as their last one, but not half-bad. They’re an unbelievable pair.