‘WWE NXT 2.0’ Review (June 28th 2022)
Welcome to this week’s review of NXT 2.0, a show that – if I’m honest – rarely gets me excited to watch the programme these days. But we keep on watching all in the name of fairness and in the hope that this new iteration of WWE’s third show can become as hot and unmissable as its predecessor. Let’s see what this week has in store!
Match #1: Roxanne Perez & Cora Jade def. Katana Chance & Kayden Carter
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Still upset at being cut in line by Roxanne Perez & Cora Jade, Katana Chance & Kayden Carter took out their frustrations on the best friend duo in a hard-fought match for the right to challenge Toxic Attraction for the NXT Women’s Tag Team Titles at Great American Bash. Chance & Carter displayed a new aggressiveness as they flew around the ring and pummeled Jade & Perez with a multitude of high-flying maneuvers. After clearing the ring with a few massive right hands, Carter set Perez up for a top rope 360 Splash and neckbreaker combo with Chance, but Jade pulled Carter out of the ring allowing Perez to get out of harms way and catch Chance for a Pop Rox and the 1-2-3.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Giovanni Vinci def. Ikemen Jiro
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The self-proclaimed “King of Style Strong” Ikemen Jiro set out to show NXT 2.0 newcomer Giovanni Vinci a thing or two about taste, but the Italian Superstar cut Jiro down to size with a suplex and some vicious chops. After a tremendous flying Tornado DDT, Vinci flattened Jiro with a devastating sit-down powerbomb for the decisive victory.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #3: Kiana James def. Indi Hartwell
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Indi Hartwell looked to disprove Kiana James’ facts and figures, but the up-and-comer was able to use her smarts to counter Hartwell at every turn. Hartwell finally caught James with a big boot, battering her with a flurry of right hands. Hartwell kept her foot on the gas going for a springboard elbow, hitting nothing but air as James rolled out of the way. The calculating James then rolled Hartwell up and used the ropes for leverage to secure the pinfall.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: Joe Gacy & The Dyad def. Diamond Mine
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The devious Joe Gacy sensed the tension building within Diamond Mine, but after Julius & Brutus Creed assured him that it was Diamond Mine forever the NXT Tag Team Champions, alongside Roderick Strong, set out to prove their devotion inside the ring. The Diamond Mine trio out-muscled their opponents with a series of suplexes and slams until Gacy delivered a message to fire up his two mysterious followers. Under Gacy’s direction, The Dyad took it to The Creeds in a slugfest, but Diamond Mine swung the momentum back into their corner with a trio of in-stereo backbody drops. The two teams traded blows as The Dyad isolated Brutus before he fought his way to tag in his brother who quickly cleared the ring. Just when it looked like Julius would put the final nail in the coffin with a ferocious clothesline, Strong tagged himself into the match. As all three members of Diamond Mine argued, The Dyad unknowingly switched places catching Strong by surprise during a roll up attempt to plant the self-appointed leader of Diamond Mine with an assisted DDT for the pinfall victory.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: Sanga def. Xyon Quinn
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Xyon Quinn did not want to wait around to take the fight to Sanga, jumping the towering Superstar as he made his way to the ring. The two brawled their way into the ring where the match finally started after referees got ahold of the situation. Quinn managed to chop down the much larger Sanga at the onset, but Sanga absorbed the attack and bulldozed Quinn with a shoulder tackle before decimating him with clubbing blows and a tremendous powerslam. After avoiding an elbow drop, Quinn looked to wear down Sanga with a sleeper hold, but Sanga battled his way out to drop Quinn with a clothesline. Following another powerslam, Sanga lifted Quinn up for a massive chokeslam and the 1-2-3.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #6: Nikkita Lyons def. Mandy Rose (DQ)
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Making her return from injury Nikkita Lyons set her sights straight on NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose. The two show-stopping Superstars collided in a Premium Live Event worthy showdown as Rose looked to show Lyons she is the queen of the jungle. Lyons flung Rose across the ring, forcing a quick breather from the women’s champion outside the ring with her Toxic Attraction cohorts. Lyons looked to keep the pressure on, but Rose upended her with a kick to the back of the leg, targeting her recently injured knee. Rose continued to attack Lyons’ knee, but the rising Superstar rallied after catching a right hand from Rose to drop the NXT Women’s Champion with a clothesline and a corner splash. As Lyons chopped down Rose with a series of kicks, Jacy Jayne & Gigi Dolin stormed the ring to lay out Lyons with a chop block and force the disqualification. Toxic Attraction continued their assault after the bell rang until Cora Jade & Roxanne Perez raced out to send Jayne & Dolin scurrying away. Rose attempted to make her escape as well, but was met by a double superkick from Jade & Perez. Lyons then went to hit her split-legged splash, but Rose was pulled out of the ring just in time by Dolin & Jayne.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2/5
I hate to sh*t on shows, but this was bad. Well, I say bad but it was more like underwhelming… Everything about this weeks episode felt poor-put together, poorly planned out and very much treading water till someone comes up with something more for the colourful brand. I think focussing too much on the upcoming Great American Bash, which is usually a good thing – building to a PPV/premium event – hurt this episode of NXT 2.0… As did ending on a promo WITHOUT any sort of match to back it up!
