NXT was back tonight as they work to round out the card for TakeOver: Chicago in a couple weeks. ReverendKain stepped in to the live blog, so check that out here.
Let’s do it.
Aleister Black def. Cezar Bononi with the Black Mass kick
NXT’s rollout of Aleister Black has been pretty much perfect. Outside his introductory match against Andrade Almas, it’s been all squashes. But even these are must see viewing. His entrance fits perfectly, with some seriously badass music coupled with his rise and slow walk to the ring.
His peaceful attitude in the ring, including meditation after a stiff hit, juxtaposed with his brutal looking strikes make for a unique experience. Then add in the fact his Black Mass kick looks deadly and that completes this total package.
Credit goes to both NXT and Black, who has shined with his silent charisma and hard hitting strikes, for an incredible roll out. I cannot wait for an eventual McIntyre/Black feud. Hopefully for the title. Make it happen, NXT!
They play a video of William Regal telling Asuka she’ll face all three of the women from last week. But then they show Ember Moon being attended to regarding her shoulder sprain. She will need 4-5 weeks of recovery. There is an interview with a clearly disappointed Moon. She assures when she gets back, she’ll be better than ever.
It’s good to hear that it’s only a sprain and she won’t miss too much time. Injuries are never good, but knowing that she’ll be back soon makes me feel less bad thinking that this is going to end up helping the story.
After TakeOver: Orlando, Ember Moon already had one big gripe with Asuka given the way the Empress retained her title. But now add in the fact that Asuka injured Ember, which also cost her another chance at the title. Now things are really personal.
Hopefully, Asuka retains in Chicago so we can get this one on one rematch in the future with all the added bad blood.
They run a Pete Dunn package. Later on in the night, they run one for UK champion Tyler Bate.
I’m looking forward to when the UK brand has their own show. Not that I don’t enjoy the UK guys and their matches, but it doesn’t fit on the NXT brand because it’s not part of the NXT brand. It always feels like a shift in tone as a title that isn’t part of NXT is defended on this show.
That doesn’t mean I’m not looking forward to a rematch from the UK tournamnet finals. Tyler Bate was great, but Pete Dunn is a friggin’ star. A natural villain who you can hate while at the same time, appreciate what he does. His offense is so nasty and cruel looking that it’s difficult to cheer him even if you appreciate everything he does. That’s a lost art nowadays. I wouldn’t be surprised if this ends up being the first title switch for the UK title.
A Ruby Riot package played. She talks about her tattoos and how they all tell a story. She speaks of all she’s had to give up in her life to get here to try to win the title.
Nikki Cross has a very unique sit down interview.
To showcase the ladies in the NXT Women’s title match in a week and a half, they ran video packages for the two remaining challengers. Both did a good job building those characters.
Ruby Riot talked about how she’s not like anyone else. They focused on her tattoos, showing in a parlor where she talked about how all her tattoos told a different story. Then she got slightly emotional as she spoke about how she had to give up being there for friends and family in her journey to become a champion. That was the part that resonated the most with me as someone who also had to travel far from family as part of a career pursuit. She hit the notes that people can connect to such as sacrificing to try to succeed and being different in a world where that can be a difficult.
While her video was good, Nikki Cross stole the show. They played a sit-down interview gone wrong with the SAnitY member. She harassed a production member, batted the boom microphone, got way too close to the camera, and at one point shouted “Where is Ruby?” over and over.
This was just fantastic. Nikki is such an entertaining character, a strong combination of comedy and unpredictably frightening. Why they’d ever try to get this unhinged individual in a sit down interview is beyond me, but it was a unique take on a common trope that was wildly entertaining.
Drew McIntrye is interviewed backstage about tonight’s #1 contenders match. He’s a bit disappointed he’s not in the mix. But he’s learned recently if things aren’t happening for him, make it happen. Wesley Blake interrupts saying he’s the one who deserves a second chance.
When I read about new dad Wesley Blake today, I wondered if he was injured since he hadn’t been seen for so long. However, looks like he’s going to run up against the Scottish Warrior instead. Any chance to see Drew kick some arse is fine by me.
#DIY cut an in-ring promo. They still want their one on one championship rematch and they want it at TakeOver: Chicago. Johnny Gargano says that the line for title opportunities starts behind them. They are interrupted by Riddick Moss and Tino Sabbatelli. They claim the line starts behind them. This leads to a match.
#DIY defeat Moss and Sabbatelli with the knee/superkick double team finish.
Post match, William Regal comes out to grant them their title match, but he is interrupted the Authors of Pain and Paul Ellering. Paul says if Regal makes the match, his boys will end the careers #DIY. Regal is willing to take that chance and books the match. And it’s a ladder match!
The NXT tag division feels much thinner with the Revival moved on to Raw. It really is just #DIY and the Authors of Pain. Because of that, we’ve seen teams like Heavy Machinery and tonight Riddick and Sabbatelli get more time.
Riddick and Sabbatelli looked good in a losing effort against Gargano and Ciampa tonight. They’re two big guys with potential. But I’m going to have a hard time believing another team as a title challenger right away (unless TM-61 are on the way back soon).
In the meanwhile, I’m sure that the ladder match in Chicago will be really fun. Given that #DIY can win and leave the champs unpinned, it leaves a match that can go either way.
Kassius Ohno is interviewed in the back and is asked what’s next for him. He said he’s used to getting back up after he’s knocked down. That’s what he did three years ago when he was released. While he’s talking, Andrade Almas walks in. They set up a match for next week.
There’s some poetry in putting these two together. These are two guys have not been able to find their spots in NXT.
Even after a needed heel turn for Almas, all he does is lose. At least there’s a story attached so they can turn it around when they feel necessary. And while Kassius hasn’t been back for long, he’s seemed lost since he returned. He’s already lost to Bobby Roode in a title match and then there didn’t seem to be anything for him to do. They plugged him into No Way Jose’s spot again SAnitY, but he still feels directionless. And with the addition of McIntyre, who is surely going to be a consistent main event presence, finding a spot for Ohno may be tough.
This surely doesn’t mean they won’t find something though. They recently just started paying more attention to Roderick Strong and was successful with that. Ohno could be next.
Hideo Itami defeats Roddy Strong to become #1 contender.
After the match, they shake hands.
After the show went of the air, Roderick Strong is attacked by SAnitY.
It’s amazing what a couple video packages could do for my interest in Roddy Strong. Granted, it was coming from as low as I pretty much could get for Strong. Not having followed his character elsewhere, NXT gave me no reason to give a damn about him when he debuted. However, those two video packages the last two weeks did a great job giving me a reason to care. Maybe they won’t connect with everyone, but it worked for me and it added to this match.
The match itself was a great television main event. It received almost 20 minutes, starting off slow and building to a fever pitch. At the end, a running drop kick from Itami in the corner left Strong loopy. But that wouldn’t stop him from fighting until the end. Unfortunately, he didn’t have it in him and Itami easily ducked his punch, setting up the GTS for the win.
This was a great main event with plenty on the line to conclude another enjoyable episode of NXT. Hideo will go on to challenge Bobby Roode for the title. Hideo seems to have more attitude since his return, understandably so. The man has had the worst luck. Of course, he’s going to get to the point he wants the prize and be damned who stands in his way. He’s certainly not heel. Holding up Roddy’s arm at the end shows that. But his “take no bullshit” attitude should match up well with “all bullshit” Bobby Roode.
This loss doesn’t mean they’ll be forgetting about Roderick Strong either. It ended up being a springboard back into a feud with SAnitY. It feels like he could be taking the spot of Tye Dillinger in his war against the deranged stable.
Since I don’t usually recap NXT, I wanted to touch on the announce booth.
Announcing is an interesting case. I am reluctant to say that its finding its groove as well because I am constantly forgetting Percy Watson is at the table. Phillips is good at play by play and Nigel McGuinness has found his spot. But it feels like Watson tries to just get in short comments just to remind us that he’s there. He’s not adding anything of note though. They need to find a way to get him to stand out more. Perhaps Phillips needs to back off anything but pure play by play to let Watson take the spot of babyface color analyst. The state of the booth doesn’t hurt the show, but it sounds like we’re listening to a two man booth with a third guy just hanging out with them.
NXT has found its groove again in the newest era. They are building some great characters with the likes of Black, Nikki Cross, and Ruby Riot. The women’s division and the main title division feels more robust than it has in a long time. It certainly helps that they’ve had some great television matches this round of tapings.
Once again, NXT delivered tonight. There were great bits of character building with Aleister Black, Ruby Riot, and Nikki Cross. And the main event match delivered as a main event with a title opportunity on the line.
NXT’s weekly show has found itself again and it’s been a blast.
Grade: A
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