If we ignore the absolute mess of trash that has been Karrion Kross’s main roster booking, he’s the most dominant champion NXT has seen in some time. He’s been so dominant, it becomes difficult to find a challenger for him who poses a legitimate threat.
You can’t make Kross beg off — you can only find someone to match his mean streak. In doing so, you set in motion two runaway trains on opposite ends of the same track, barreling toward one another. NXT started this process many weeks ago when Samoa Joe was signed and instantly established himself as a dog with real bite behind his bark. Kross being Kross, they just needed to give them a little push.
That started us down this track, and they’ve been steadily gaining steam ever since. Now, we’ve reached a point of no return, with Joe firmly established as every bit as dangerous as the man he’ll attempt to take the title from in a few short weeks. Kross — again, provided you can ignore what’s been going on with him on Raw, and I know that’s next to impossible — is matching his intensity.
It’s made for the kind of compelling television NXT has been missing elsewhere. The show had been slipping into a sort of dull mediocrity. Joe begging to be provoked has been a welcome injection of inspiration.
Here are the videos from NXT TV this week:
- Hit Row vs. Legado del Fantasma
- Ridge Holland vs. Ikemen Jiro
- Franky Monet promises to rebuild The Robert Stone Brand in her image
- Bobby Fish vs. Roderick Strong
- Cameron Grimes & LA Knight vs. Grizzled Young Veterans
- Dakota Kai explains her attack on Raquel Gonzalez
- Joe Gacy vs. Trey Baxter — First Round NXT Breakout Tournament
- Zoey Stark & Io Shirai bond over sushi
- Karrion Kross provokes Samoa Joe into brawl with security guards
- WALTER and Ilja Dragunov prepare for epic rematch
- Dexter Lumis vs. Johnny Gargano — Love Her or Lose Her
- Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis show love conquers all with passionate kiss
- The Diamond Mine lets Kushida know time is running out
- Grizzled Young Veterans will take a win any way they can get it
- Trey Baxter is all heart