WWE NXT Review - May 9, 2023

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Tiffany Stratton def. Gigi Dolin in an NXT Women's Championship Tournament Semifinal Match

I was bummed this didn't get more time, but it was a nice little sprint while it lased. Dolin is obviously experienced and is the perfect person for Stratton to be sharing the ring with at this point. Stratton remains my frontrunner to win the whole tournament and this win gets her one step closer. I was surprised Dolin didn't lose due to interference or a distraction from Jacy Jane to further that feud (assuming it isn't over yet), but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

NXT Tag Team Champions Gallus (Mark Coffey and Wolfgang) def. The Dyad

The former James Drake (I legitimately can't remember what his name now is) went on social media a week or two ago and said he and the former Zack Gibson intend to leave WWE once their contracts expire in October, so it was safe to say they had no chance of winning here unless that turned out to be a work. They're a really talented team that deserves more than the crap they've been saddled with in NXT. The heel vs. heel dynamic didn't help here, but it was a well-worked match for what it was.

Duke Hudson def. Javier Bernal

Hudson continues to fill in for Andre Chase as the head of Chase U in Chase's absence. We'll see if it leads to Chase and Hudson battling for control of the group once Chase returns or if it's just a temporary thing. Nonetheless, this was a pretty standard showcase for Hudson. Bernal plays his role as the undercard heel really well and I'm glad he resurfaced here after disappearing from NXT TV for several weeks.

Eddy Thorpe def. Damon Kemp

Although it's a bummer nothing was done to capitalize off the excellent work Kemp was doing upon splitting from Diamond Mine late last year, it made sense for him to be the first person of note that Thorpe beat on NXT TV. This was a quality contest but didn't get enough time to stand out at all. The introduction of Thorpe has been well done so far, so we'll see if he's able to catch on with the audience in due time.

Ilja Dragunov def. Dijak by Disqualification

This was exactly the hard-hitting affair I was hoping for from these two. It didn't quite reach the level of Dragon Lee vs. JD McDonagh from last week as it felt like they were holding back a bit, but that's probably because there's a rematch coming (based on the disqualification finish). That's also why it was so short, but again, if the idea is for the feud to continue, I'm content. I liked Dijak's attack on Dragunov as it gives him more heat and sets up the need for said rematch.

Charlie Dempsey def. Tyler Bate

For as different as these two are in terms of their styles, they're also similar in some ways, so this an enjoyable affair for as long as it lasted. Much like other matches on this show, it would have been better with more time. Dempsey picking up the win was a pleasant surprise, and it's clear we're headed for another multi-man match for the NXT North American Championship at Battleground based on what happened here.

Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen def. Tank Ledger and Hank Walker

As I've mentioned many times in the past, Walker bores me to tears on his own, so I actually like the idea to put him in a team with Ledger, especially since they seem to have nice chemistry as partners so far. I appreciated that they upped the intensity here because it made the match more interesting than it would have been otherwise. Ledger again had an impressive outing and looked credible in defeat. Briggs and Jensen may be more bearable if they can stay in serious mode going forward.

Lyra Valkyria def. Kiana James in an NXT Women's Championship Tournament Semifinal Match

NXT clearly sees a lot in Valkyria, so her winning here shouldn't have shocked anyone. Officials also appear to be high on James, but she had no business advancing to the next round over Valkyria. What I don't understand is how this got more time than most matches on the show. James has improved, but given how predictable the outcome was, Valkyria should have beaten her much quicker. Valkyria vs. Cora Jade in the semifinals would make the most sense.

Bron Breakker def. Trick Williams

Williams didn't have a legitimate chance of beating Breakker, but this did provide him an opportunity to shine on his own in a main event match. Ultimately, I thought he fared well for himself. It was relatively brief, but Williams had a good showing and Breakker proved that he's in his element as a heel. Carmelo Hayes attempted to make the save afterward only to get laid out as well. I expect their rematch at Battleground to be better than their Stand & Deliver encounter now that the dynamic is much stronger.

Overall Show

We were treated to a ton of quality wrestling throughout the night, which made for a solid show on the whole. There was also a nice focus on the NXT Women's Championship Tournament and other storylines expected to culminate at Battleground in a few weeks. I wish we would have gotten an above-average match like last week with McDonagh and Lee, but I can't complain too much. Nothing about NXT feels must-see nowadays, but the storyline advancement and even some of the character development deserve praise. This was quite the efficient episode.

SEE MORE: NXT Reviews