WWE NXT Review - September 6, 2017

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Andrade "Cien" Almas def. Cezar Bononi

If you can recall, Bononi owns a victory over Almas from many months ago, so while Almas should have avenged that loss earlier than he did, I guess it was better late than never. This wasn't much of a match but more of a one-sided showcase for Almas, which is exactly what it should have been. I continue to enjoy the addition of Zelina Vega to his act and I'm happy to see him finally build momentum for a change.

Lars Sullivan def. Jake James, Alfred Watkins and Ricky Martinez in a 3-on-1 Handicap Match

Needless to say, Sullivan made short work of his unknown opponents despite it being a 3-on-1 situation. The guy is an incredibly impressive specimen and I look forward to watching him grow in the ring. No Way Jose confronted him afterward but was also laid out by Sullivan. Beating Jose would be a big win for Sullivan and I'm interested how he would fare in a competitive contest.

Sonya Deville def. Zeda​

Deville is definitely a work in progress, but I will admit that she's gradually getting better with each appearance she makes. This match was kept short and sweet, and in that time, Deville was able to show off her skills a bit. The only issue I can see her suffering from is if WWE signs Mae Young Classic competitor Shayna Bazler, who is also a legitimate mixed martial arts fighter and a bigger badass than Deveille. As for Zeda, she lost in the first round in the Mae Young Classic, but she should be a top prospect in the Performance Center eventually.

Kassius Ohno def. Hideo Itami in a No Disqualification Match

I really wanted this feud to culminate at TakeOver: Brooklyn III and Ohno wasn't even on the card, but I'm glad they ended up blowing it off after all. It wasn't a super lengthy match, but for as long as it lasted, it was a ton of fun. This was the intensity I hoped they would bring in their previous bouts and the No Disqualification stipulation allowed them to get creative. Ohno picking up a win for once was a pleasant surprise, but I'm not sure what this means for Itami.

Asuka Relinquished the NXT Women's Championship

We heard about this soon after it was taped late last month, but I had no idea it came as across as amazing as it did. Say what you will about the Full Sail University crowd, but they gave Asuka an outstanding ovation when she made her announcement regarding going to the main roster and having to relinquish the NXT Women's Championship. Even Triple H emerged to make the moment even more special, along with Ember Moon and the rest of the NXT roster. After an exceptional two-year run in NXT, Asuka deserved this and I hope to God WWE doesn't ruin her on Raw or SmackDown Live.

Overall Show

Once again, NXT continues to kill it by delivering really enjoyable episodes from week-to-week. The first three matches weren't instant classics by any stretch, but they served a purpose and got over the talent involved. Ohno vs. Itami was a great match to finish off their feud while the Asuka segment is must-see for how excellent it was executed and how newsworthy it was considering Asuka's NXT tenure is now over. Next week's edition should be equally entertaining as Ruby Riot challenges Billie Kay and Peyton Royce to a Handicap match and Pete Dunne defends his United Kingdom Championship against Wolfgang.