Hello, readers! Prince Osborne here, back with a review of this week’s NXT on Syfy Network. This will be the final week of a spoiled show as we will return to the USA Network from next week. After witnessing a recap of last week, we’re set to start things with a tag team match.
Tag Team Match: Hit Row (Top Dolla & Ashanthe “Thee” Adonis) w/Isaiah “Swerve” Scott & B-FAB vs Legado del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) w/Santos Escobar
Hit Row def. Legado del Fantasma by disqualification @7:23 after Escobar hit Top Dolla with a steel chair. A solid match to kick-off the proceedings and this rivalry takes a slow turn to become a really good one for both. Rating: 2.25 out of 5 stars
Backstage, Samoa Joe is surrounded by security as William Regal orders not to have any altercations with Karrion Kross until TakeOver: 36. How much did Joe miss this?! But, there’s something that we missed and it’s next! The man who returned last week and made a statement, Ridge Holland is back in action next!
Singles Match: Ikemen Jiro vs Ridge Holland w/Pete Dunne & Oney Lorcan
Ridge Holland def. Ikemen Jiro by pinfall @3:13 after a unique suplex. Extended squash for the returning superstar. Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
Post- match, Pete Dunne ran his mouth on Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher and billed as “people will act bad until the real bad men arrive.” Interesting!
Coming up next, another match from the broken pieces of The Undisputed Era as Bobby Fish takes on the leader of Diamond Mine, Roderick Strong next!
Singles Match: Bobby Fish vs Roderick Strong w/Diamond Mine
Roderick Strong def. Bobby Fish by pinfall @12:40 after Strong hit the End of Heartache for the win. A solid match that was put together nicely. I’m totally in for Diamond Mine and I really don’t know what’s in store for this group. Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Up next, a match straight form last week’s entertaining ‘golf course’ battle as Grizzled Young Veterans face the impromptu team of LA Knight & Cameron Grimes.
Tag Team Match: LA Knight & Cameron Grimes vs Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake)
Grizzled Young Veterans def. LA Knight & Cameron Grimes by pinfall @4:45 after GYV hit the Ticket to Mayhem on Grimes for the win. Another short match but more improvement on the storied feud between Knight & Grimes. The sympathy built around Grimes was so pleasing to watch. Rating: 2.25 out of 5 stars
Post-match, Ted DiBiase Sr. came out and consoled Grimes for being a man of his word. He requested Grimes to find a solution to get away from this as he carries Grimes to the back. But, someone stabbed their back last week as Dakota Kai made her intentions clear by attacking her former best friend, the NXT Women’s Champion, Raquel Gonzalez. She’ll address her actions next!
Dakota Kai addresses her actions
Dakota said that she needed the help of Raquel when she saw her being knocked out of the Mae Young Classic tourney so that she could watch and learn from a veteran like her. But, she learnt and didn’t repay. All she did was become selfish and take the spotlight from her. That’s what happened when Raquel won the NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver and when she had her beautiful moment the following week with Rhea Ripley & Bianca Belair. This made Dakota furious that she will prove to all that she is not worth of being a sidekick. A good video package that showcased Dakota’s dark side very well. Grade: B
Up next, the final match in the first round of the NXT Breakout Tournament is bound to happen!
First Round Match – NXT Breakout Tournament: Trey Baxter vs Joe Gacy
Trey Baxter def. Joe Gacy by pinfall @5:10 after Baxter hit the 450 Stomp for the win. I’ve seen Baxter’s work outside WWE and I’m impressed already but Gacy is super talented too. Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
We were shown a video from last week, where Io Shirai and Zoey Stark had a hanging out situation in a sushi restaurant. That didn’t sit well with Stark as she didn’t like the food. Ha! Comedic relief worked really well. Grade: B+
Karrion Kross came out suddenly and provoked Joe, which led to Joe thrashing the guards. He followed suit by locking a guard with the Coquina Clutch and warning Kross that he’s coming for him. Incensed Joe is really dangerous!
WALTER vs Ilja Dragunov: Prime Target
This rivalry is one of the very best from NXT UK as this video was put together so well with the thoughts collected from main roster stars like Drew McIntyre & Sheamus and from the NXT management. Both men are poised to prove their own statements – Dragunov wants to show who he is again to the champion, while WALTER wants to knock some sense into Dragunov’s head and say that he’s fragile all along. Great hype for what is billed as another stellar contest! Grade: A
It’s time for the main event! Either you’ll get the girl or you’re away from her! Lumis vs Gargano, next!
Before we head to the main event, we had a challenge being accepted as KUSHIDA nods to the call-out of Roderick Strong! Expect a hard hitting match-up.
Next week, we will have Raquel Gonzalez respond to Dakota’s actions while Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly come face-to-face under the mediation of the NXT General Manager William Regal! And, we have ourselves a first time ever match between Ember Moon and Sarray! And, Ilja Dragunov will be in attendance for the very first time in the CWC! Next week looks super stacked!
Singles Match – Love Her or Lose Her: Dexter Lumis vs Johnny Gargano
Johnny Gargano def. Dexter Lumis by pinfall @12:49 after Gargano hit the One Final Beat for the win. Such an entertaining main event. Apart from the solid in-ring action, the story of InDex almost coming together was told really well and it benefitted both sides in a positive way. Grade: 2.75 out of 5 stars
Post-match, Gargano & LeRae console Indi for her heartbreaking “loss” but Indi is not accepting it! She runs back to the ring, jumps onto Lumis and kisses the life out of him! InDex is alive! A happy ending to a solid episode of NXT.
Overall Match Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Overall Show Rating: 7.5 out of 10 points
This was another solid episode of NXT with really good matches and promising segments. Fish vs Strong bagged the MOTN while WALTER vs Dragunov’s Prime Target and InDex becoming official were the key moments of the show. Tonight was a really good mix of fast-paced action and great storytelling. Satisfied with tonight’s show and can’t wait for next week!
What are your thoughts on tonight’s show? Mention in the form right below. Until next time, see you all and enjoy wrestling!