‘WWE NXT 2.0’ Review (Sep 13th 2022)
Welcome to this week’s review of NXT 2.0, which has an interesting epilogue that looks like we’re going to see a MAJOR change for WWE’s third show… So let’s get into the review!
Match #1: NXT Tag Team Championship Steel Cage Match – Pretty Deadly def. The Creed Brothers
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Pretty Deadly found themselves locked in with The Creed Brothers after the WWE Universe voted that the NXT Tag Team Titles should be defended inside a steel cage. Determined to prove the naysayers wrong, Pretty Deadly immediately tried to escape the cage, but were dragged back inside by The Creeds. Julius & Brutus Creed thrived inside the cage, tossing Kit Wilson & Elton Prince around the ring and into the steel barrier. The Creed Brothers kept their heads on a swivel as Pretty Deadly took every opportunity to try and slither out of the cage with Julius catching Prince on the top of the ropes for a jaw-dropping springboard Spanish Fly. The NXT Tag Team Champions rallied to take out Julius with a superplex off the top of the steel cage, but Brutus pounced on the UK duo before they could capitalize. With all four Superstars laid out flat on the mat, Damon Kemp raced out to the ring and started the climb the steel cage. Julius met Kemp at the top of the cage and the two duked it out until Kemp handcuffed the older Creed to the cage post. Brutus fought off the combined efforts of Pretty Deadly as best as he could, kicking out of a Spilt Milk, but the numbers game eventually caught up with him as the champions pummeled Brutus against the cage before hitting a second Spilt Milk for the pinfall victory.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: Fallon Henley def. Lash Legend
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
After receiving good luck from Conor’s Cure Thriver Mason Ramirez, Fallon Henley settled in for a heated fight with Lash Legend. Despite being undersized, Henley overcame a quick start from Legend to chop the taller Superstar down to size with a pair of well placed dropkicks. Legend turned the tables with a pump kick, but Henley continued to fight with a flurry of right hands and a modified bulldog before nailing Legend with a shining wizard to score the 1-2-3.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #3: Quincy Elliott def. Sean Gallagher
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The SuperDiva Quincy Elliott turned heads in his debut match. Making his entrance in style, Elliott’s opponent Sean Gallagher wasn’t sure what to make of The SuperDiva, but he quickly felt the impact as Elliott took him off his feet with a flying uppercut before flattening Gallagher with a seated corner senton for the victory.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #4: Cameron Grimes def. Tony D’Angelo & Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Claiming he was the only person he could trust, Cameron Grimes stepped into the ring by himself to face off against the full fury of The D’Angelo Family. Grimes held his own against Tony D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo until he was driven into the corner and stomped repeatedly. With the numbers game catching up to Grimes, The Schism strolled out to the ring as Joe Gacy joined Grimes’ corner to extend a helping hand. Grimes refused to tag in Gacy as D’Angelo & “Stacks” worked him over until finally a weary Grimes fell back into his corner and Gacy tagged himself in. Gacy swung momentum back to his corner with a massive uranage before he and Grimes joined forces to take out “The Don” & “Stacks” with a Cave-In and a springboard clothesline, respectively, to pick up the win. Gacy celebrated the victory by embracing Grimes, but “The Richest Man in NXT” shrugged the hug off, drawing the wrath of The Schism.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: Zoey Stark & Nikkita Lyons def. Kiana James & Arianna Grace
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
With a newly recruited Arianna Grace by her side, Kiana James looked to dish out some punishment on Zoey Stark & Nikkita Lyons. Stark & Lyons quickly earned the upper hand which only served to enrage James further as she attempted to introduce her computer bag into the match. Grace stepped in to calm James down and take control of the match, but the beauty pageant queen could not contain the power of Lyons for long as she dropped Grace with a Samoan Drop and a massive kick. Grace looked for a respite by tagging in James who used her wits to upend Stark with a clothesline. James wisely knocked Lyons off the apron as she and Grace teamed up on Stark. The former NXT Tag Team Champion battled back to hit her Z-360 and drop Grace for Lyons to come in and pick up the pieces with a spinning roundhouse kick, a split-legged splash, and the pinfall.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #6: Hank Walker def. Javier Bernal
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Trading in his security uniform for ring gear, Hank Walker stepped into the ring to teach the egotistical Javier Bernal a lesson in respect. With the NXT Universe in attendance cheering him on, Walker tried to adjust to in-ring fighting, firing up to launch Bernal across the ring after “Big Body Javy” slapped Walker across the face. Bernal took advantage of Walker’s inexperience to gain the edge, but what Walker lacked in experience he made up for in sheer power. Walker smashed Bernal with a splash in the corner followed swiftly by a flying crossbody to record a shocking victory.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #7: NXT North American Championship – Solo Sikoa def. Carmelo Hayes
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
After the WWE Universe chose Wes Lee to face Carmelo Hayes for the North American Title, “The A Champ” and Trick Williams took fate into their own hands and jumped Lee in the locker room before the main event. Secure in the fact that he would hang on to his title, Hayes reiterated his superiority until Solo Sikoa stepped out ready for a fight. Sikoa took it to the Champion with a flurry of right hands, tossing Hayes over the top rope and onto Williams standing at ringside. The newest member of The Bloodline pummeled Hayes until Williams snuck in to slam Sikoa’s previously injured knee onto the apron. After a springboard clothesline, Hayes targeted the weakened knee before locking in a single leg Boston Crab. On one shaky leg, “The Street Champion” rallied to drop Hayes with a pair of brutal Samoan Drops. Williams tried to interfere once again, but this time was blasted with a Superkick. Hayes looked to hit another springboard clothesline off the distraction, but Sikoa caught him for a uranage and landed a top-rope splash for the pinfall victory, raising both the North American Title and one finger in the air.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
This week’s episode of NXT was a drop in quality following last week’s banger of a show. But it did feel like, following THAT epilogue, that this was a blow-off for the multi-coloured 2.o version of NXT. If it is I can forgive some of the faults – like the two squash matches – plus what’s not to love about that main event? And I’ll be honest, I did NOT expect such a great steel cage match from Pretty Deadly!
