‘WWE NXT’ Review (Oct 24th 2018)

Welcome to this week’s NXT review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have the assailant of Aleister Black finally making their identity known, so don’t go any-where… get lost.

Match #1: EC3 def. Adam Cole

The following is courtesy of WWE.com:

Once again operating at full strength following the return of Bobby Fish, Undisputed ERA opened this week’s NXT by bragging that they embody the black-and-yellow brand. Adam Cole portrayed Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly’s controversial NXT Tag Team Title defense against The War Raiders last week as a one-sided drubbing in the ERA’s favor (which most onlookers would be hard-pressed to agree with) and then alluded to himself once again challenging Ricochet for the NXT North American Championship. That last part ruffled the feathers of EC3, who entered the arena and, after declaring that Cole didn’t deserve another title opportunity, accepted Cole’s challenge to a match on the spot. Despite the presence of Fish, Strong & O’Reilly at ringside, EC3 maintained a steady focus on Cole as he bounced The Panama City Playboy around the ring like a pinball. The other Undisputed ERA members interjected late in the contest, but EC3 summarily disposed of them. Cole hoped to capitalize on the distraction by going for the Last Shot, but The Top One Percent dodged the move and surprised Cole with a roll-up for the pin. Though EC3 won the battle, the fight was just getting started. Furious over the outcome of the match, Undisputed ERA ambushed EC3 in a savage four-on-one barrage that culminated with Fish using a steel chair to bash EC3’s leg as it was draped over the edge of the entrance stage.

My Take: 3 out of 5 – This was a good match that wasn’t anything fancy, but it got the job done. EC3 was the weaker part of the match and the reason why this match ended up being just average was because he was on offense the whole time, but Cole sold the thing like it was a pound of gold to a poor bum.

Match #2: Mia Yim def. Aliyah

The following is courtesy of WWE.com:

Fresh off her remarkable run in the 2018 Mae Young Classic, Mia Yim began her career as an NXT Superstar with a bang, defeating Aliyah in one-on-one action. The ever-conceited and increasingly aggressive Aliyah did her best to ruin Yim’s big debut, but The Blasian Baddie refused to lose in her first outing on the black-and-yellow brand. She endured Aliyah’s ruthless onslaught before firing back with a series of face-smashing strikes. Yim clinched the victory after drilling Aliyah with the foot-to-face capper she calls Sole Food. It may have taken Yim, a veteran of the independent wrestling scene, a while to get to NXT, but now that she’s here, she looks right at home.

My Take: 2.5 out of 5 – This was a quick burst of action that got Mia a good start in NXT. Aliyah did well as the opponent and offered some great attacks for Mia to repel. Overall, this was good for what it was.

Match #3: (Main Event) – Kassius Ohno def. Justin Xavier

The following is courtesy of WWE.com:

Until Kassius Ohno gets what he wants from NXT General Manager William Regal — i.e., bigger opportunities and higher-quality opponents (especially one unidentified “shiny new toy”) — Ohno continues doing what he does best: knocking opponents senseless. Ohno’s latest massacre, a systematic destruction of Justin Xavier, can be viewed as nothing short of a direct message to Regal. As he toyed with the overmatched Xavier, The Knockout Artist brazenly lamented, “This ain’t what I asked for, Regal.” Ohno’s hubris gave Xavier a glimmer of hope, as the youngster attempted to mount an offensive against Ohno, only to find little success. Like a cat that had grown tired of batting around a mouse, The Knockout Artist soon zeroed in on the end game, smothering Xavier with back-to-back sentons before nearly decapitating him with the Rolling Elbow for the win. Afterward, Nikki Cross emerged on the entrance stage and befuddled Ohno by laughing frantically and cryptically repeating that “he is coming.” Before the end of the night, the entire NXT Universe would find out what she meant.

My Take: 2.5 out of 5 – Ohno did a great job beating this poor guy to death. Xavier didn’t get enough wrestling time for my taste, but at least Ohno sold for him. Over-all, a dull choice for a main event.

News Of The Night:

1. Johnny Gargano revealed himself as the guy who attacked Aleister Black several weeks ago during the climax of the card, which was an NXT World Title announcement from William Regal.

Final Verdict: 2.5/5

Apart from the reveal of Black’s attacker, this was a lame show.