NXT preview (Jan. 30, 2019): A possible breather

NXT returns tonight (Jan. 30) with their first episode after NXT TakeOver: Phoenix.

Advertised for tonight:

• Kairi Sane & Io Shirai vs. Jessamyn Duke & Marina Shafir
• The Street Profits vs. the Forgotten Sons

As per usual, here are our five questions about NXT tonight:

1) Where will Halftime Heat be taped?

It’s not really in relations to this show but instead the 20 minute match on Sunday during the Super Bowl halftime. And you can be sure we’ll be seeing clips of the brawl and get plenty of promotion for the match during this hour of filler NXT.

My guess was that they’d tape this at Full Sail during their taping this week, but it would have been really cool if they did it in front of the Arizona crowd after Raw or SmackDown. There’s also rumor that it’s being taped at the Performance Center, but I don’t know if that means it’ll be without a crowd. That would be a Halftime Heat throwback.

We won’t know the real next stop for all these men until next week, but it’ll be a fun tag match, especially with Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa on the same team.

2) How will Duke and Shafir look against a legit team?

We haven’t seen the greenest two members of the MMA Horsewomen much. They had one tag match where they were asked to do much. But this week, they’re performing in hot Arizona pre-TakeOver crowd. Time to bring the A Game against vets Kairi Sane and Io Shirai.

Obviously, dance partners who have experience are good for the rookies. Tonight will be a good test to see how they can handle against veteran talent in front of a lively crowd. While it’s not fair to expect the world from Jessamyn & Marina, it’ll be interesting to watch how fast they grow.

3) Is the Profits/Sons feud this short?

This match between the Street Profits and Forgotten Sons was set up after the Sons randomly attacked Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins a couple weeks back. Which gives the match meaning, but this is a quick way to get to the payoff match if this is it.

I doubt it is. The Forgotten Sons need more of a build before either beating or losing to the Street Profits. I expect this match to end with shenanigans, especially since the Sons have the numbers game.

4) How do they promote Worlds Collide?

Halftime Heat isn’t the only NXT focused event coming up this weekend. They’re also part of the Worlds Collide tournament that also featured 205 Live and NXT UK. It was a tournament held at Royal Rumble Access and the winner earned a title shot on their brand.

There hasn’t been much promotion for it yet. But since it will air on the Network and other WWE digital channels (i.e. Facebook and YouTube) on Saturday, they’ll have to remind fans this week. Perhaps a couple promos from members involved will also help build it.

5) Is this show skippable?

If you’re tired of wrestling this week after watching the 30 hour Rumble and then Raw and SmackDown, NXT is certainly not must see tonight. All the matches were taped in Phoenix prior to the event. All fallout will be by fallout videos that are already on YouTube. The real follow up will be next week.

This show does have the addition of building to Worlds Collide on Saturday and Halftime Heat on Sunday. There won’t be any fresh matches to promote it, but it will be something to fill the time.

The matches could be good, but if you’re looking for a breather, you can also watch the clips later.

We’ll see if we get answers to these questions tonight at 8 PM.