WWE NXT Review - September 26, 2023

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Butch def. Joe Coffey in the Finals of the NXT Global Heritage Invitational

Similar to Butch vs. Tyler Bate last week, these two have history as well. Many may not remember, but they headlined the first NXT UK TakeOver for the NXT United Kingdom Championship back in January 2019. They had a well-wrestled opener. I didn't have Butch pegged to win this whole thing, but I suppose he makes more sense than Coffey. He definitely does not need the NXT Heritage Cup Championship, though. Between Becky Lynch, Baron Corbin, Dominik Mysterio and now Butch, No Mercy will be loaded with main roster stars, and that could be considered overkill.

Trick Williams def. Joe Gacy

With The Dyad gone from the group, Schism is all but dead at this point. Thank God. Gacy's a good worker, but Williams is the much hotter hand right now and this didn't need to be more than what it was. In fact, it was essentially a squash for Williams. In a post-match promo, he teased his pursuit for gold, which obviously led to him being added to the NXT North American Championship number one contender's match later in the night.

Baron Corbin def. Josh Briggs

Briggs and Brooks Jensen just exist at this point, so Briggs was an easy opponent for Corbin to beat ahead of his upcoming clash with Bron Breakker. It was perfectly passable while it lasted. Speaking of Breakker, he emerged afterward and the two had a pull-apart brawl. I'm very curious to see what kind of match they have at No Mercy. Either way, I think it's safe to assume Von Wagner will return there and make his presence felt.

Out the Mud def. Hank Walker and Tank Ledger

Out the Mud (OTM for short, apparently) is the new team name for Bronco Lima and Lucien Price. They've got the Grand Theft Auto font going and everything, so that must be the inspiration for their gimmick. Scrypts being their manager doesn't make them very intimidating, but it's a vast improvement over what Scrypts has done in the past in NXT and on the main roster. This was a straightforward showcase for OTM to establish their dominance.

Eddy Thorpe def. Dijak in a Strap Match

There's been a lot of focus on Thorpe's heritage during this feud, so going with the Strap stipulation was logical. I feel like we've seen so many Strap matches in WWE and AEW in recent years, but they made the stip worthwhile by delivering a hard-hitting affair here. Thorpe continues to prove he can hang and Dijak works well with just about everyone. I figured this would be the blowoff, but evidently not based on Dijak's post-match attack on Thorpe while his family watched from the crowd.

Thea Hail def. Dani Palmer

I thought Hail's new entrance music sounded familiar, and then I realized Jody Threat uses the same song in IMPACT at the moment. I doubt that sticks. At any rate, this marked Hail's first match since officially joining forces with Jacy Jane. She debuted a new look and attitude. She's not a full-blown heel, but I'm digging her character's evolution. The match was fine and Palmer was able to show off some of her athleticism before eating defeat.

Trick Williams in an NXT North American Championship No. 1 Contender's Fatal 4-Way Match

There was some uncertainty surrounding the originally-advertised Triple Threat, but adding Williams made it fairly obvious he was winning. Hey, I'm not complaining. He's gotten over with the audience in recent months and is a perfect opponent for Dominik at No Mercy. I don't think he takes the title, but that'll only add to his frustration toward Carmelo Hayes. This was an all-action, chaotic, fun Fatal 4-Way. My only gripe is that Lee loses yet again. Can the guy eventually win when it matters most?

NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov Signed the Contract for Their NXT Championship Match at No Mercy

Hayes and Dragunov have taken a backseat to some of the other storylines on NXT as of late, but they delivered with their mic work in this segment. The intensity was excellent and it wasn't necessary for it to end in the usual brawl. Both men are currently firing on all cylinders and it's a slightly different dynamic than the last time they went one-on-one at The Great American Bash, so while the outcome is unpredictable at No Mercy, I think Dragunov walks out as champ.

Overall Show

NXT has put together a hell of a card for No Mercy this Saturday, even with some of the changes. As previously noted, it's a bit heavy on main roster talent, but I'm looking forward to it, nonetheless. This wasn't an electric episode by any means, but as a go-home show, it was a quality effort. Only the Fatal 4-Way is worth seeking out as far as the matches are concerned, but the contract signing was a highlight and I'm glad the focus was on the NXT Championship for a change.

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