If you stopped watching NXT, now you’re missing out

We publish a whole lot of content here at Cageside Seats. We’re also [looks around and whispers so the bosses can’t hear] not the only place producing wrestling content on the internet. So, as a service to you on the weekdays, we’ll be producing a wrestling newsletter, "Rude Awakening." Well, it will be a newsletter eventually: for now, it’ll just be part of your experience here at Cageside, collecting the news, recaps, and social moments from the greater wrestling universe daily so you won’t fall behind, with a newsletter format to come.

NXT is going to have its ups and downs. Sometimes, the television product is going to be at this sweet spot of exciting new faces and experienced favorites, and that’s going to translate into incredible events like TakeOver: Brooklyn, the entire Sami Zayn saga, and the rise of Bayley. Other times, things like post-WrestleMania promotions and the brand split draft are going to heavily drain WWE’s developmental brand, leaving it with less polished, less familiar performers. Many fans tuned out of NXT when 2016 hit the roster hard and brought those favorites up to the main roster, but if you’re one of those, it might be time to open up your Wednesday nights again.

NXT lost The Revival, who helped bring their lifeless tag division to the forefront of the show and turned it into one of the most must-watch parts of WWE in general. However, the Tag Team Champions Authors of Pain are still there, as are #DIY and new soon-to-be favorites like Heavy Machinery. Hideo Itami is back, and he’s in the NXT Championship scene, and you know Drew McIntyre will get there soon, too. Kassius Ohno is back, SAnitY looks like it’s going to develop multiple stars, and you’re going to love Aleister Black as much as his character probably loves Satan.

The women’s division is as deep as it’s ever been, even if no one has come up with a moniker like the Four Horsewomen to promote that fact. Asuka is doing wonderful work as a cocky, overconfident heel. Ruby Riot has brought a new look and new attitude to the division, and that’s without even getting into her fantastic in-ring skills. You can’t say enough great things about Nikki Cross, Ember Moon is a believable threat to Asuka, and the Billie Kay/Peyton Royce tandem might be the top iteration of the time-honored NXT tradition of the Mean Girls we’ve seen so far.

That’s without getting into the work of Oney Lorcan, who will elbow his way into the hearts of everyone both literally and figuratively, or Andrade Almas’ ever-improving performance sans mask. Dylan Miley is another promising huge star — emphasis on huge — and there are likely even more promising women to come following the Women’s Tournament — especially if Candice LeRae showing up for the number one contender battle royal this week was any indication.

Start watching NXT again. You won’t be disappointed.

• Sean Rueter sure isn’t!
• Thursday’s Rumor Roundup lacks any spoilers, but it does have info on what Vince McMahon’s schedule looks like these days.
• Asuka interrupted the battle royal to determine the number one contender to her championship, and her reward was William Regal making a Fatal Four Way for NXT TakeOver: Chicago official.
• Ember Moon was potentially injured in that match after colliding with a barricade, so we tried to figure out if it’s a work or for real.
• Here’s Mark Henry putting the Houston Rockets’ mascot into the Hall of Pain.
• This one Cagesider believes Jinder Mahal should not only face Randy Orton, but should win the WWE World Championship in the process.
• Chris Jericho showed off a shirt that has his head on a goat because he’s the GOAT.
• Feeling like a burger? Maybe you could eat a Gold-burger.
• This Lucha Underground infographic details all of Dario Cueto’s evil connections.
• Here’s your weekly preview of Impact Wrestling, courtesy Kyle Decker.
• If you’re bothered by Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns sightseeing in Italy together, might I suggest pretending that Strowman knocked him out and now they’re just Weekend at Bernie’s-ing Reigns around Rome?
• Sean “X-Pac” Waltman is denying meth charges, and details of a 2016 arrest are emerging.
• WWE’s upcoming schedule leaves little room for rest unless it’s on whatever vehicle the wrestling can nap on.
• New Japan announced the participants for the 2017 Best of the Super Juniors Tournament.