 The Meta-Four (NXT Heritage Cup Champion Noam Dar and Oro Mensah) def. Von Wagner and Mr. StoneStone has wrestled on NXT TV before, but this was the most competitive he's ever looked. Funnily enough, he was one of the first independent wrestlers I became familiar with when I attended my first indie show in 2009, but he's been a manager in NXT for so long that I often forget what he can do in the ring. This was much better than Wagner vs. Dar from a few weeks ago and I liked how it was booked more like a sprint, but I was not a fan of Meta-Four winning yet again. The group sucks and I don't understand Shawn Michaels' obsession with pushing them so aggressively. Ridge Holland def. Gallus by Disqualification in a Gauntlet MatchThis whole Holland vs. Gallus feud has been fine, but it feels like it would have been better suited for NXT UK when that brand was still around. There just isn't anything interesting about this rivalry. Holland demanded he face everyone in Gallus on his own, but we ended up with a lame non-finish to a middling match. It was well worked and what not, but I couldn't get into it, personally. Lola Vice def. Tatum PaxleyVice took the pinfall loss in the Triple Threat at Vengeance Day and lost to Roxanne Perez last week, so this was a necessary victory for her to establish that her win in the NXT Women's Breakout Tournament wasn't a waste. This was okay and it was wise to keep it on the shorter side. Lyra Valkyria continues to insist that she and Paxley aren't friends, yet she acted pretty concerned at ringside watching Vice inflict punishment on her. Jaida Parker def. Adriana RizzoBoth of these women are still super inexperienced and thus this probably would've been better off on Level Up. I was worried it would be an absolute train wreck, but they exceeded my expectations and pieced everything together nicely. This was another match that thankfully didn't overstay its welcome. Rizzo's Italian accent is ridiculous, but she's playing her role well so far, and Parker has shown signs of potential. Carmelo Hayes def. Joe GacyGacy has gradually gotten the fans behind him with his new crazy character. He's always been able to go in the ring, so unsurprisingly, he and Hayes had a quality contest. Hayes winning was never in doubt now that he's the biggest heel in NXT, but Gacy scored enough offense to look credible in defeat. Dijak attacked Gacy afterward and put him in a straightjacket to further their feud. Maybe the payoff to the program will somehow involve the straightjacket. NXT North American Champion Oba Femi Accepted Lexis King's ChallengeFemi is progressing far more quickly than I anticipated. He still has a ways to go in the ring, but he's held his own in the handful of matches he's had on television. Additionally, his promo ability has been very impressive and he carries himself like a star. It doesn't even feel like King is developing at the same rate. This was a solid segment to set up their NXT North American Championship clash for next week. Kiana James def. Brinley ReeceReece has officially replaced Thea Hail as the most energetic (and annoying) person in NXT. I don't know where her alliance with Edris Enofe and Malik Blade is headed, but I appreciate that she's getting consistent television time. This was on par with the other women's matches on this show in simply being average. James and Izzy Dame are in the process of being built up as a duo, so James winning was logical. Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin def. The Family (Tony D'Angelo and Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo) to Win the NXT Tag Team ChampionshipAs I've said before, Breakker and Corbin (or "The Wolf Dogs" according to Breakker) have been a terrific team through this tournament, but I felt it was a foregone conclusion they were losing here with Breakker being main roster bound. Thus, I was very happy to have been wrong. They were the right duo to dethrone The Family, and even if their reign is short-lived, it's better than them never winning the gold at all. This was an entertaining main event and the crowd was pleased with the title change despite Breakker and Corbin being the heels. Overall ShowSince NXT took its foot off the gas a few months ago, it's felt more like developmental again, but that doesn't mean the shows are subpar. Most of the matches aren't anything special, but the key is that these up-and-comers are getting the experience they need. This was an average edition of NXT with an above-average main event and the title change was obviously notable. There's several storylines that don't intrigue me in the slightest, but at least the bigger ones have me invested.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Categories
All
Archives
May 2025
|
RSS Feed