WWE NXT Review: Alex Riley Gets His Hands on Kevin Owens
By Mike Smith
WWE.com
Kevin Owens backstage
Owens said he’s going to make Alex Riley wish he hadn’t quit commentary.
Owens said he gets that Riley has to prove to himself that he can still do it, but he’s going to find out that he can’t.
As for Balor, Owens said that he’s really looking forward to that match, but nobody is taking that title from him and his family.
Alexa Bliss, Sasha Banks and William Regal backstage
Bliss was talking about how she defeated Banks, and how excited she was to do it in her hometown. She said she was gunning for the NXT Women’s Championship, and that’s when Banks interrupted.
Banks pointed that Bliss didn’t even pin her.
Regal walked up and said that there’s only one way to settle this. He made a title match for the two for next week.
Banks wasn’t happy, but I was. Bliss has proven to be a good opponent for Banks, so that should be a nice match that would make Banks’ reign look that much better, assuming she retains because Bliss is not even close to ready to hold the title.
Alex Riley vs. Kevin Owens
These two were going at each other before the bell even rang, but the referee was able to keep them separated.
The match was hot from the beginning, with Owens mostly in control, as he picked Riley apart for most of the match. Riley had some nice flurries of offense, but most of it was all out of desperation. Owens got the win with a pop-up powerbomb.
Owens defeats Riley via pinfall.
After the match, Owens looked to continue taking things out on Riley, as he set him up for a powerbomb on the apron, but Finn Balor’s music hit and he made the save. Balor went to return to the back, and as he did Owens went back, looking for the powerbomb, but Balor came running back and jumped onto Owens from the stage.
Balor got the advantage on Owens, and threw him into the ring, as he looked for a double-foot stomp off the top rope, but Owens rolled out of the way, and ran, throwing a stomp at Riley, as he grabbed his title and got out of dodge.
3.25 out of 5 stars – Riley’s not too good in the ring, but he can sell a good story, and Owens is a very good heel.