WWE NXT Recap: 2013 In Review, William Regal Vs. Antonio Cesaro

This week's episode of NXT is a recap of the past year in NXT wrestling. Renee Young is the host.

The opening of the WWE Performance Center is shown, and clips of Triple H and Stephanie McMahon talking about it are shown as well.

Then, video packages featuring the various wrestlers (the Wyatt Family, the Shield, Fandango, Xavier Woods, Damien Sandow, Antonio Cesaro, Big E. Langston) that came up on the main roster this year are shown.

Big E. Langston is shown. He talks about how much of a whirlwind 2013 was for him. He says he couldn't have done it without the NXT Universe and the maniacal five count chants. He thanks them and says that it's just the beginning.

Antonio Cesaro is shown next. He says that out of the small crop of technical wrestlers he's admired, William Regal is the only one he's respected. His ruthlessness and evil genius was the inspiration for his career. He thanks Regal for helping him get a job in WWE, but there's only room for one of them.

Back from commercial and Renee Young talks about the two new titles that were introduced into NXT this year. Then, a recap of the finals of the WWE NXT Tag Team Tournament between the Wyatt Family and Adrian Neville and Oliver Grey is shown. Next, a recap of the finals of the NXT Women's Championship Tournament is shown between Paige and Emma.

Then, Devin Taylor is shown. Paige walks up and Taylor asks her what her thoughts were on winning the Women's Championship. She says that she respects Emma because she knows how to go in the ring. She says Emma gave her a hard fought victory. She says that the title means she's the best NXT women's wrestler (with lots of emphasis on wrestler). She says she wants more, and says this is a message to all the divas, even AJ. Sooner rather than later she will be the most dominant anti diva to walk through the WWE. She will make history as a wrestler.

Paige walks off and Bo Dallas walks up. He says he knows Devin wants to hear about all the hardships he faced with beating Big E. Langston and becoming the champion, but instead he has to talk about all of his bolievers and how important it is to bolieve in yourself; more importantly, Bolieveing in him. He talks about the moment that gave everyone a reason to bolieve in him, and then shows a recap of him winning the NXT Championship from Langston.

Back from commercial and a video of Bray Wyatt cutting a promo about his time in NXT is shown. He says they were defined in NXT on the principle of down with the machine, and have taken that principle over to the main roster.

Next, a video package showcasing the future stars of the WWE (Aiden English, Mojo Rawley, Bayley, Tyler Breeze, Alexander Rusev, Sasha Banks, Corey Graves, and Sami Zayn) is shown.

Then, Young talks about how the current stars of the WWE want to see all that the future holds in NXT, and a video that shows the various guest appearances throughout the year by Damien Sandow, Christian, the Bellas, Fandango, Santino Marella, Paul Heyman, Mark Henry, Dolph Ziggler, John Cena, Big Show, Sheamus, Rob Van Dam, Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, AJ Lee, Ric Flair, and HBK is shown.

William Regal is shown, and he says he is in the late autumn of his career and questions what his legacy is about. He has been a vicious, spiteful fighter and a unique entertainer, but he never became the World Heavyweight Champion. He says that's his fault, because he has a knack for getting himself in trouble. He says that the people that know know he is a second to none world class technical wrestler. He knows that Antonio Cesaro is a better wrestler than he's ever been, and Cesaro knows that. He says Cesaro has an intense desire to prove it. He knows that the only way he has a chance is with a miracle, but that's not coming to an old villain like him. He's not worried though, and he relishes the thought. He is going to fight with all the venom and vile he has left, and if this is the end he can't think of a more noble way to go than by being beaten by the ultimate competitor.

Back from commercial and Renee Young starts talking about the match that Michael Cole says is the best he's seen in the past five years, and the screen goes all fuzzy and the Shield appear. Ambrose says that the Shield proved to be the most dominant unit in sports entertainment in 2013. He's says they've also proven to be the most destructive unit. Destroying is something they do well, and before they did that they built NXT.

Seth Rollin says that it was the Shield's 2013 that paved the way for the next wrestlers to come up and be their victims, Adrian Neville, Sami Zayn, Bo Dallas, the Ascension, Corey Graves. Roman Reigns says that when and if they get to the big show, remember that they own the yard and they're not giving up anytime soon.

Then, Renee Young is back and a recap of the 2 out of 3 falls match between Sami Zayn and Antonio Cesaro is shown.

Devin Taylor is shown again. Sami Zayn walks up to her and she asks him what it was like to compete against Cesaro. Zayn says that he is a beast. He says that he came to NXT with a lot to prove, and that it is an honor to be associated with that best of the year term. Zayn says that it'll always bother him just a bit that he didn't come out on top, and that's why it will never fully be over between him and Cesaro. However, his focus is still on the NXT Championship and Bo Dallas, but first he has to get over the roadblock of Leo Kruger. Zayn says that all of the talk of 2 out of 3 falls matches has him thinking, and he challenges Kruger to a 2 out of 3 falls match on the first NXT show of the new year.

Things head over to Tensai, Byron Saxton, and Tom Phillips. They are on commentary for the match between William Regal and Antonio Cesaro.

William Regal vs. Antonio Cesaro

They lock up. Cesaro locks in a wrist lock. Regal tries to roll out, but Cesaro keeps it locked in. Cesaro wrenches Regal's wrist and arm behind his back on the mat. Regal gets to his feet and the crowd chants you still got it. Regal locks in a side headlock, with his wrist still locked in by Cesaro, as things go to commercial.

Back from commercial and Cesaro is on Regal's shoulders with both a head scissors and his arm locked in as well. Regal tosses him off and Cesaro goes back to work on Regal's arm. Regal reverses and takes Cesaro to the mat. He keeps Cesaro's arm locked in and gets a couple of pin attempts. They interweave their fingers and Cesaro powers to his feet. Cesaro forces Regal to the mat, and Regal goes into a bridging position. Cesaro forces Regal's shoulders to the mat for three pin attempts. Regal springs up and knees Cesaro in the stomach. He wraps Cesaro's arms around his neck straight jacket style and pushes him to his knees.

Regal puts his feet under Cesaro's ankle and then drops to his back, stretching Cesaro across his knees with his arms still locked in. Cesaro gets off of Regal's knees, and tosses him forward, breaking the arm hold. They both get to their feet and circle each other as the crowd chants this is wrestling. They lock their fingers together and shove each other around. Regal locks in a cravat and takes Cesaro to the mat. Cesaro pushes back to his feet using the mat for leverage and flips Regal over his shoulder to the mat (it starts out like a snap mare, but Regal's body is extended in the air like a vertical Suplex).

Cesaro strikes Regal in the corner. Regal counters out and strikes Cesaro to the mat. He argues with the ref, distracting him, and kicks Cesaro in the chest behind his back as he argues. Cesaro gets to his feet and takes out Regal's knee. Regal writhes around in pain. Cesaro slams Regal's knee on the apron as things go to commercial. Back from commercial and Cesaro is working on Regal's knee. Regal kicks him in the face, but Cesaro drops a pair of elbows across the knee. Cesaro takes off Regal's knee brace. He drops a knee on Regal's knee. He kicks Regal in the thigh. Cesaro drops another elbow, and then locks Regal in an Argentine leg lock.

Cesaro powers Regal up into the air with the lock still in. Regal crawls to the ropes, breaking the hold. Cesaro goes for a takedown, but Regal counters into a pin attempt. Cesaro tries to attack Regal again, but Regal counters into a backslide pin attempt. Regal hits a big forearm to the jaw. He hits Cesaro with a pair of uppercuts, and Cesaro bounds off the ropes and hits a huge European uppercut. Cesaro pulls Regal to his feet and hits 10 uppercuts. Cesaro hits Regal with the Cesaro swing. He crouches down next to Regal and mocks him.

Cesaro pulls Regal to his feet and puts him in position for the Neutralizer. Regal counters out and drops a knee on Cesaro's arm. Cesaro charges him in the corner, but Regal kicks Cesaro's other arm. He hits Cesaro in the gut, causing him to drop to his knees. Regal goes to work on Cesaro's arms. He hits Cesaro with an uppercut and then slams him to the mat. Regal looks like he is going to attempt the knee trembler, but can't finish because of his knee. Cesaro capitalizes with a headbutt. He goes for another headbutt, and Regal hits a kick. Cesaro drops to the mat. Regal locks Cesaro in position for the Regal Bomb, but Cesaro lifts Regal into the air behind him, with his arms still locked in the double underhook position, and drops Regal to the mat for a two count.

Regal rolls Cesaro over when he kicks out and tries to lock in the Regal Stretch. Cesaro gets to the ropes and Regal gets off him. Cesaro hits a dropkick to the head. He bounces off the ropes and hits a double boot stomp to the back of the head. Cesaro stares at Regal with a hesitant look on his face as the ref checks on him. Cesaro pulls Regal to his feet, the same look still plastered across his face, and puts him in the Neutralizer position. Cesaro decides against it, and drops Regal back to the mat. Regal crawls back to his feet Cesaro hits the Neutralizer for the win.

Winner: Antonio Cesaro

After the match, the refs try to help Regal up the ramp. Cesaro stops them and offers his hand to Regal. They shake hands as the show ends.