WWE NXT Review - October 8, 2024

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

NXT Champion Trick Williams Celebrated with Intercontinental Champion Jey Uso After Being Interrupted by Wes Lee

Williams' promo addressing his NXT Championship victory last week was basic stuff, but I was interested to see Lee interrupt him. He finished his feud with Zachary Wentz with a win last week, so it makes sense for him to move on to the NXT Championship. Uso coming out was random, but he did say in a WWE Digital exclusive last night that he'd be here and the crowd obviously enjoyed it.

NXT Women's North American Champion Kelani Jordan and WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill def. Fatal Influence (Jazmyn Nyx, Jacy Jane and Fallon Henley)

Belair and Cargill helped Jordan even the odds against Fatal Influence last week to set up this six-woman tag team match. Fatal Influence has been a thing for a little while now, but I just hasn't clicked for me so far. They feel like a second-rate Toxic Attraction. This was a well-worked matchup with the babyfaces going over decisively. Perhaps Fatal Influence will continue to chase Jordan for the NXT Women's North American Championship, but I can't bring myself to care.

Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer Attacked NXT Women's Champion Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade

Perez and Jade confirmed here that they weren't in cahoots last week but that they are willing to reform their alliance. The mic work from Perez and Jade was fine, but Vaquer making her formal NXT debut and helping Giulia fend them off was the big moment the crowd was waiting for. A tag team match is inevitable, but will we get that at Halloween Havoc or a Fatal 4-Way for the title? I'd prefer the latter, personally.

Tony D'Angelo def. Oba Femi to Win the NXT North American Championship

These two had a solid match at No Mercy last month, but this was much better. It had a hotter atmosphere and the crowd got more and more behind D'Angelo as it progressed. Femi has been so dominant that his first loss needed to be treated like a massive deal and thankfully it was. This was a cool moment for D'Angelo and Femi loses nothing in defeat with the way it was executed. Despite being in NXT for over three years now, D'Angelo's NXT run will last a little longer now that he has gold again.

NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazer and Axiom def. A-Town Down Under

There really was no reason for this match to exist other than to add more main roster "star power" to NXT's second CW show. That doesn't mean it wasn't fun, though. This was all action as they never seemed to slow down, making for an entertaining, fast-paced affair. I thought this would've been where Motor City Machine Guns debuted to confront the champs afterward, but there was that vignette that aired on SmackDown (and another one at Bad Blood) indicating they're headed to SmackDown, so apparently they'll be bypassing NXT after all.

Ethan Page Interrupted Sexyy Red and Was Attacked Je'Von Evans

I know it was brief, but Sexy Red's performance was a total waste of time. She certainly has her fans and I have no issue with WWE tapping more into hip-hop culture, but the less of Red on WWE TV, the better. Page immediately turned face in my book the second he interrupted her. Page demanded a rematch for the NXT Championship but was sent packing by Evans instead, so it looks like we know who Page's next feud will be with.

Randy Orton def. Je'Von Evans

Orton competing in an NXT ring was a hell of a sight. I'm all for him working with the young guys and Evans was the perfect opponent for him. They didn't go quite as crazy as I thought they might, but it was a nice main event, regardless. It's a bummer that midair RKO didn't connect because that would've been wild, but good on Orton for knowing to hit another RKO to finish off Evans.

Overall Show

I think I liked this show a little more than last week's CW premiere. It had a better energy to it thanks to the smaller venue, and honestly, I wouldn't mind NXT hitting the road and running smaller venues for the weekly show more often (at least for the special episodes/non-premium live events). Vaquer showing up, Orton wrestling and the NXT North American Championship changing hands were newsworthy and the tag title match was a blast. We'll see how NXT keeps the momentum going once they return to their regular arena next week heading into Halloween Havoc.

SEE MORE: NXT Reviews