NXT returns tonight (June 22) from the Capitol Wrestling Center (CWC) in Orlando, Florida.
Advertised for the show:
- Kushida goes one-on-one with Kyle O’Reilly in a non-title match
- Adam Cole will be in action against an opponent of his choice
- Franky Monet’s premiere encore will take place
- The Diamond Mine opens
- Samoa Joe resumes his role as William Regal’s enforcer
As usual, here are our five questions about NXT tonight:
1) Is William Regal happy with Samoa Joe’s first day as his enforcer?
Have y’all emotionally recovered from last week? I’m going to be real here; I was on the edge of tears for most of William Regal’s opening speech. Thank the gods that we don’t have to live in a post-Regal NXT world just yet! Plus, we get Samoa Joe semi back in action? Yes, please.
But while I personally loved everything that Samoa Joe did in the name of our lord William Regal, I’m curious to hear from the man himself. He did have some pretty strict rules for Joe, and it’s important for Regal’s sanity that at least one person listens to him. Of course, Adam Cole 100% did deserve to be choked out and since Regal’s big rule was “you can not lay a hand on anyone... unless provoked” I think Joe is safe.
Excited to see who else steps to Regal and, therefore, Joe this week. How long until the NXT roster learns that there is a new sheriff in town? Oh, and let’s not forget that Joe interrupted AND insulted the NXT champion Karrion Kross. I’m sure he’s stewing in his clock room about that one!
2) What’s Adam Cole going to do about it?
As previously discussed, Adam Cole was choked out by Samoa Joe last week on NXT. Now, Adam Cole is “set for action” tonight, so we know he’s going to be wrestling, but I’m sure that this man who loves the sound of his own voice also has something to say about being “attacked” by Joe.
Joe isn’t a competitor, so it’s not like Cole can challenge him to a match, so the big question is, what will he do about it?
He is scheduled for a rematch with Kyle O’Reilly at the Great American Bash in a few weeks, so he does have other things to focus on than getting some revenge on Joe, but Cole is not generally one to let a grudge go... but considering the fact that he was choked out because he lost control attacking KOR backstage maybe it will only add fuel to his feud with KOR and Adame will conveniently look past his altercation with Joe. Perhaps, “Samoa Joe only attacked me because of you” or something.
Regardless, you better believe Joe will be waiting in the wings, ready for some Adam Cole shenanigans tonight.
3) Can we do something more with Franky Monet, please?
Maybe I’m biased, but I love me some Taya, and I was super excited to see her sign with NXT. I really like what she’s been doing - the whole “see you next Tuesday” bit is chef kiss good - but I want more from her. They have been laying good groundwork for her character since her debut. She’s rich, snotty, and stuffy, but in the ring, she’s a beast! That’s great for people unfamiliar with La Wera Loca, but it’s time we get more from her.
Hopefully, tonight in her premiere encore, we get the beginnings of a feud or at least some direction for her character. Not saying she has to be champion right now or anything, but she needs something more tangible to focus on because the cute dog only draws new viewers in so far.
4) Is challenging Kushida in a non-title match really the best use of Kyle O’Reilly’s time?
What to do, what to do with Kyle O’Reilly? He’s in one of those fight forever feuds with Adam Cole, so there’s always that. We know they’re already going back to that well at the Great American Bash, but after that, we still have the remaining question of “how do you solve a problem like Kyle O’Reilly?” (Someone, please make that mash-up video for me)
He’s one of the best wrestlers on the whole damn show, but since striking out on his own and losing his title matches, he has become...hmmm what’s a nice way of saying this...a not very charismatic weirdo with a hat. He just doesn’t have that leadership “give me a damn belt” energy outside of the ring, and because of that, he’s floundering.
Sure, his match with Kushida is going to rule, but it’s very clear that this is a pit stop for Kushida. Maybe after Great American Bash, we will see a real feud between these two form -and wouldn’t that be great! - but in the meantime, Kyle O’Reilly exists to fuel other people’s storylines. Heck, even in the feud he’s in with Adam Cole, he’s sort of in the background.
O’Reilly needs definition. Maybe that starts with losing the hat.
5) Who is the Diamond Mine????
I know it’s not Tessa Blanchard and Daga but also what if it’s Tessa Blanchard and Daga??
Give us your questions and answers in the comments below. Then join us in our live blog and we’ll see what Qs and As tonight’s show gives us.