‘WWE NXT’ Review (Aug 28th 2019)
Welcome to this week’s NXT review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan favel and NXT is going to the USA Network, which could be great or a disaster. Until that time, NXT is here as a one hour WWE Network program and that’s just fine. Okay, let’s see what the golden goose has brought us this time.
Match #1: Io Shirai def. Cami Fields
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The winner of this match was never in doubt. Io Shirai dominated Cami Fields from start to finish and could have easily pinned her after executing her trademark Moonsault. Instead, The Genius of the Sky chose to inflict more pain, breaking the pin and forcing a submission via the Harajuku Clutch (the same hold Shirai used to defeat Candice LeRae at TakeOver: Toronto).
My Opinion: 2.1 out of 5 – This wasn’t much, but it was something, anyway.
Match #2: Dominik Dijakovic def. Keith Lee
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The NXT Universe waited six months to witness the rematch between Keith Lee and Dominik Dijakovic, and even still, it’s hard to know whether anybody was truly prepared for what transpired when the titans finally locked horns again. The clash was an ebb-and-flow of heavy hits, Herculean feats of strength, and displays of speed and agility that are normally reserved for the Cruiserweight division, not super-heavyweights like the 270-pound Dijakovic and 320-pound Lee.
When one Superstar hit a jaw-dropping move, the other returned fire with an even more spectacular attack. Lee slammed Dijakovic with a spinebuster onto the edge of the ring apron, but The Rare Breed came back with a Fosbury Flop over the ropes onto the floor. After a couple failed attempts, Dijakovic hurled Lee across the ring with a release suplex and followed up with a moonsault. Lee soon regained the advantage and made Dijakovic bask in his glory with a high-risk Spanish Fly off the top rope. The NXT Universe showed their appreciation with a vigorous chant of “fight forever.”
Just when it seemed like the action couldn’t escalate any further, The Rare Breed stopped Lee’s next ascent up the turnbuckles, racked the big man across his shoulders and flipped him into the Feast Your Eyes knee strike to pick up the monumental win.
My Opinion: 3.8 out of 5 – This was a strong match, in every sense of the word. They did every-thing they could to make this match great, including throwing the kitchen sink in the ring for good measure. They did so many moves and spots that it might make your eyes bulge just looking at them. Just go watch the damn thing. You’ll go gaga for it…unless you don’t…but you probably will.
Match #3: (Main Event) Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly def. The Street Profits – NXT Tag Team Championship Match
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Despite a double-tough effort by The Street Profits, Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly triumphed over Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford to regain the NXT Tag Team Titles, moving The Undisputed ERA ever closer to fulfilling their all-gold prophecy. Desperate to hold on to the title they struggled for years to capture, Dawkins & Ford fought their challengers as though their lives depended on it. The Sultans of Swag bravely gritted through the pain as Fish & O’Reilly systematically attacked the Profits’ legs with high-torque leg whips, vicious kicks and airtight submission holds. Aching legs aside, Dawkins & Ford were able to string together impactful double-team moves.
As the intensity heightened, Dawkins drilled O’Reilly with a spear and attempted to do the same to Fish, only to be stopped in his tracks by a devastating knee strike. Ford, who was the legal man, then tried to Frog Splash O’Reilly but came up empty. With Dawkins still reeling from the taste of Fish’s kneecap, The Undisputed ERA toppled King Tez with a high-low combination for the three-count, ushering in the faction’s record-breaking third reign as NXT Tag Team Champions.
My Opinion: 3.5 out of 5 – This was a fabulous way to not just end the show, but give the Undisputed Era the big win they needed. Now that we have new champions, it certainly looks like NXT is gearing up for the big move by combatting All Elite Wrestling’s indy-riffic (a stupid word I’m dumb enough to use) with as many indy stars as they can muster. Either way, the right team won in a match that benefitted both sides of the ring.
News Of The Night:
- Pete Dunne will work both branches of NXT.
- Shayna Baszler is feuding with Rhea Ripley, who intimidated the former during a promo.
- Shane Thorne is being teased to feud with Johnny Gargano.
Final Verdict: 3.8/5
This was a two match show that had two fantastic matches among the three booked.
