WWE NXT No Mercy Review - September 1, 2024

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Nathan Frazer and Axiom def. Chase U (Andre Chase and Ridge Holland) to Win the NXT Tag Team Championship

While I enjoyed the first two matches in the series between these teams slightly more, this was still a strong opener. Frazer and Axiom have developed fantastic chemistry as partners this year and Chase U are always able to get the crowd behind them. Despite the babyface vs. babyface dynamic, the fans in attendance were into the action. The title change was a surprise because Chase U's tag title reign was also brief. Holland's heel turn has been in the works for a while and it came off well afterward.

TNA X-Division Champion Zachary Wentz def. Wes Lee (Non-Title)

Yes, you read that correctly: A TNA champion beat a WWE talent on an NXT premium live event. I certainly wasn't expecting that. It would've been cool if the TNA X-Division Championship was on the line (Wentz just won it on Friday's Emergence), but maybe that would've made the outcome more obvious. As expected, this was a super fun match and dare I say the show-stealer. The finish was well done with Trey Miguel leveling the playing field for Wentz. The (remaining) Rascalz said later on that they have their sights set on the NXT Tag Team Championship, so they're not done in NXT yet.

NXT Women's North American Champion Kelani Jordan def. Wendy Choo

This was the match that interested me the least on this card, but to the credit, they tried. It wasn't always pretty and the crowd didn't sound too invested, but they had a decent match. Choo's simply not compelling as a character (though it's an improvement over when she was a babyface), but Jordan is at least getting over with the audience. Tatum Paxley attacked Jordan afterward, so that looks to be Choo's next feud.

NXT North American Champion Oba Femi def. Tony D'Angelo

D'Angelo hasn't held every title in NXT (he's only been NXT Tag Team Champion and NXT Heritage Cup Champion), but he's competed for all of them several times over the last three years. My point is, he's overdue for a main roster call-up. I don't know if that's what's next for him, but if it's not, I have no idea where he goes from here. He and Femi had a good match. The title never felt like it was in jeopardy, but D'Angelo looked credible in defeat.

NXT Women's Champion Roxanne Perez def. Jaida Parker

Parker has had an impressive rookie year and rose to the occasion here. Yes, having an opponent as skilled as Perez doesn't hurt, but Parker more than held her own. Although this was hindered by a predictable ending, but Parker gained plenty from this performance. Giulia finally debuting afterward and confronting Perez sets the stage for the long-awaited championship clash between them, presumably on the first edition of NXT on The CW on October 1st.

NXT Champion Ethan Page def. Joe Hendry (Trick Williams Served as Special Guest Referee)

A TNA wrestler headlining an NXT premium live event is surreal to see. He was incredibly over here, the biggest crowd he's ever competed in front of I'm sure. That alone made this match for me. There was nothing special about this from an in-ring standpoint as neither guy is master wrestling technician, but all of the moving parts (including Williams as the special guest referee and the shenanigans down the stretch) made for a quality main event. Hendry was protected in defeat and they build toward Williams vs. Pete Dunne on Tuesday's NXT with Dunne attacking Williams afterward. Williams taking back the belt from Page on the CW premiere of NXT feels like a lock to me.

Overall Show

Heatwave was a stronger show on the whole, but No Mercy was solid and the three hours were entertaining. Plus, the crowd was energetic for most of the night (though I'm not shocked they were quiet for Jordan vs. Choo). Only the NXT Tag Team Championship changed hands, but Giulia's debut was a nice moment and Lee vs. Wentz was the best bout. I was hoping for one more surprise or two, such as The Motor City Machine Guns popping up or another free agent rumored to join WWE soon, but perhaps they're being saved for the CW premiere, which they're making a concerted effort to load up as much as possible.

SEE MORE: NXT Reviews, NXT PLE Reviews