WWE NXT Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for June 7

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Hideo Itami vs. Oney Lorcan

Result: Match ends in a no contest.

Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars

Poor Oney. He constantly gets put into matches that you know he won’t win, but still puts in a solid 10-minute performance. This was Tye Dillinger’s role, except the Perfect 10 was more popular in NXT.

An interesting note in the pre-match segment; an interview was shown of Hideo Itami, who said he won’t be going back to Japan. A recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio had Dave Meltzer speculate Itami potentially leaving WWE for Japan this year, when his contract expires. Was that a slight at the report? Or just a coincidence in timing?

Itami heeled it up from the get-go, using sharper-than-usual strikes on Lorcan. However, the former Biff Busick looked more aggressive, too.

Itami took some stiff slaps and chops from Lorcan, who looked like a star for about 30 seconds. This got him chants from the crowd, as he climbed to the top rope and hit a senton.

The Japanese Sensation feigned an injury and began unloading on Lorcan with stiff strikes. If there was any indication needed that he was turning heel, there you go.

But wait, there’s more. Itami hit three consecutive GTS’s and never went for the pin, so that may have been the official turning point. Kassius Ohno made the save to stop Itami, only to get shoved. Itami got shoved down and backed out of the ring, so the referee called for the bell.

I don’t have an issue with Itami turning heel. He never really had a chance at being a full-fledged face, only getting a run from late 2014 to early 2015, before being out with injuries for most of the next two years. If we’re going to get matches like we saw from the former KENTA tonight, then this bad guy-run could be fun.

Drew McIntyre Vignette

A vignette is played for McIntyre. He should be able to get on TakeOver: Brooklyn III, so let’s see what gets presented to him. He’ll also be in action next week.