WWE NXT

Commentators:  Rich Brennan, Byron Saxton, & Corey Graves.

Sami Zayn's music started the show, but it was NXT Champion Kevin Owens who made his entrance(once again wearing a John Cena T-shirt).  He said he would do an open challenge to defend his title, but he's not an insecure person and feels like his challengers should earn their title shots.  He said he's a good person and he allowed the fans to have their moment when Samoa Joe made his big appearance...he would deal with Joe if he showed his face again and he'll deal with Cena at Elimination Chamber.  General Manager S. William Regal confronted Owens...Owens said that Regal put his hands on him first, causing Regal to respond that that was the ONLY reason he still works there.  Owens denied any involvement in Hideo Itami's injury, just in passing.  The segment was interrupted by...Solomon Crowe?  After a few choice words on Crowe's part, Owens decided that Crowe had "earned an opportunity"...and Regal made the non-title match for the show's main event.

Backstage:  Hideo Itami(w/ arm in sling) addressed his injury status.  Someone attacked him from behind and deprived him of his opportunity...he vowed to make a comeback in the near future.

Backstage at last week's Takeover special:  Renee Young interviewed Zack Ryder, but he was interrupted by an overhyped Mojo Rawley.  "And people said *I* was over the top..."

Emma Tayla(w/ Dana Brooke & new music) d. Bayley Rose with the Emma Lock(inverted STF) (4:13).  Dana held Bayley for Emma to slap...Charlotte Flair made the save, but they double-teamed her as well.  Dana held Charlotte for Emma's slap, then dropped Charlotte with the Whiplash.

Backstage at last week's Takeover special:  Renee interviewed Baron Corbin about his win over Rhyno...he said he was the ONLY unstoppable force in NXT.  Rhyno stormed into the interview and said the match was fun...they should do it again sometime.

NXT Tag Team Champions Wesley Blake & Buddy Murphy(w/ Alexa Bliss) d. Elias Samson & Mike Rawlis(non-title); Murphy hit the running suplex on Samson and Blake got the pin after the frog splash (3:15).  Alexa added a Sparkle Splash(corkscrew top-rope splash) on Samson after the bell.

Backstage:  Devin Taylor interviewed Blake, Murphy, & Alexa.  Alexa made it simple; they're all winners and they gravitate toward each other.  Alexa mocked Carmella Van Damme for being the princess of the "garbage dump" known as Staten Island; they'll face each other next week.

Finn Bálor d. Tye Dillinger with the Coup De Grace(top-rope double-stomp) (2:48).

Earlier today:  Greg Hamilton interviewed Jason Jordan at the Performance Center.  He said he'd be just fine without Tye Dillinger and he had found a new tag team partner.  Chad Gable thought it was him...but Jordan turned him down, saying he already had someone else in mind.

NXT Champion Kevin Owens d. Solomon Crowe(non-title) with the pop-up powerbomb (5:41 aired).  Owens set up Crowe for the apron powerbomb, but Samoa Joe made his entrance and Owens backed off to the ring.  Joe went in...and Owens went out.