‘WWE NXT’ Review (Oct 23rd 2019)

Welcome to this week’s NXT review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and Elton John used to kick that Tiny Dancer from his song. What a prick. This show has a lot of great wrestling on it, so let’s not waste any time on folding our napkins, because Vanilla Sky is the greatest movie ever made. NXT…NOW!

Match #1: Rhea Ripley def. Bianca Belair

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

They say the enemy of your enemy is your friend, and that holds true for Candice LeRae in the case of Io Shirai. Rhea Ripley’s bout with Bianca Belair showcased two of the NXT Women’s division’s most powerful competitors trading tests of strength and athleticism. Neither was able to gain much of an advantage in the evenly matched bout until Shirai arrived to try to spoil things for Ripley, apparently not taking kindly to Ripley confronting her last week. But LeRae also joined the scene to foil her bitter rival’s plans, taking out The Genius of The Sky at ringside. Meanwhile, “The Nightmare” finished off Belair with the Riptide following an astute counter. While all four women seemingly have their sights set on Shayna Baszler and the NXT Women’s Championship, Ripley may have seized the pole position with her latest victory. Regardless, there is no shortage of challengers ready to step to The Queen of Spades.

My Opinion: 3.6 out of 5 – This was some great stuff. These happy ladies smacked the piss out of each other like iguanas in a synagogue. In my mind, that doesn’t make sense either. Everything about this just worked like a Bay City Rollers concert going downhill on an oil-slick slope. Book this match again…now!

Match #2: Matt Riddle def. Cameron Grimes

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Just as soon as he returned to Full Sail, Tyler Bate might be right back in the thick of things on NXT thanks to a sour encounter with Cameron Grimes. Matt Riddle put an end to Grimes’ recent winning streak with a scintillating victory, ultimately countering The Technical Savage’s attempt to hit “The Cave-In” into a powerbomb before connecting with the Bro Derek. Afterward, Grimes was disinterested in Riddle’s show of “bromanship,” turning down a fist bump. Obliging The Original Bro’s gesture instead was Bate, seated in the front row after arriving alongside Pete Dunne earlier in the night. Grimes greeted “Textbook” Tyler with a shove, prompting Bate to drop him like a pile of bricks with a Bop and Bang punch.

My Opinion: 3.8 out of 5 – I loved this match. Back and forth at such a fierce pace that…awesome. This is what NXT should be delivering every show, not just at a Takeover.

Match #3: Isaiah “Swerve” Scott & Breezango def. The Forgotten Sons

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

The Forgotten Sons used the numbers advantage to get the better of Breezango two weeks ago with Jaxson Ryker serving as the x-factor at ringside. Thanks to a newfound ally in Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, however, Tyler Breeze & Fandango returned the favor with a victory in the two teams’ latest tussle. Recently removed from a near-upset win against NXT North American Champion Roderick Strong earlier this month, “Swerve” paid dividends when Breezango — this time sporting “Top Gun”-inspired outfits as their fashion of choice — tapped him as their partner. With Breezango’s previous tag team partner Kushida sidelined due to a broken wrist, Scott proved to be more than up to the task as the next man in. Dazzling the NXT Universe by using Ryker as a springboard to launch himself onto Steve Cutler & Wesley Blake on the outside, “Swerve” later secured the pin on Blake after a step-up kick that echoed throughout Full Sail Live.

My Opinion: 3.1 out of 5 – This was a fun little excursion. Swerve was the big thing here and he delivered. Dionne Warwick always said, “Then Came You”. What the hell does she know? This was solid and sweet, like freeze-dried sugar cubes.

Match #4: Angel Garza def. Gentleman Jack Gallagher

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

There’s a new Man of the Hour in the NXT Cruiserweight division — and challengers are already lining up to dethrone him. Two weeks into his reign, NXT Cruiserweight Champion Lio Rush joined the commentary team to take in Angel Garza’s victory over Gentleman Jack Gallagher. The encounter was a high-impact affair, finding its end after Garza’s quebrada. Garza left no doubt about his intentions afterward, eyeing Rush from the ring and planting a bullseye squarely on the title.

My Opinion: 3.5 out of 5 – Whew boy. This was another big winner here. The action was absolutely what it should have been, with both impressing in places that many would normally coast in. If you like action with a brain, then this is a match for you.

Match #5: Dakota Kai & Tegan Nox def. Marina Shafir & Jessamyn Duke – #1 Contendership To The WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Dakota Kai & Tegan Nox are one step away from completing storybook comebacks from injury, but their next obstacle is their biggest yet. Strong and thriving in their recent returns, they joined forces Wednesday to knock off Marina Shafir & Jessamyn Duke in a match that NXT General Manager William Regal ruled would determine the next challenger for the Women’s Tag Team Championship. Nox used The Shiniest Wizard to clinch the title opportunity, but her celebration with Kai was short-lived.

My Opinion: 3.3 out of 5 – This was a good match that was about as much fun as American Dad from before it lost its way. Firefall always says to “Just Remember I Love You”, but what if they’re full of $#!@?! This match was not full of $#!@, but it was a little less exciting than some of the other matches on this card. Overall, this got the job done and that’s just fine.

Match #6: (Main Event) Roderick Strong def. Keith Lee and Dominik Dijakovic – Triple Threat Match For The NXT North American Championship

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Roderick Strong managed to battle his way out from the corner he backed himself into, narrowly retaining his North American Championship. With NXT General Manager William Regal foiling Strong’s plan last week to avoid a title defense altogether, Strong found himself between two goliaths in Keith Lee and Dominik Dijakovic with his title on the line in a triple threat match. Commandeering the imagination of the Full Sail Live crowd and highlight reels with breath-taking moments like a spectacular powerbomb-superplex combination and Lee’s death-defying tope con giro, all three competitors made magic. In the end, it was the brute force of Lee and Dijakovic sealing their own fate. Strong swooped in to steal the victory, seizing the moment to finish off Lee for a cover after the Limitless Superstar powerbombed Dijakovic off the ropes.

My Opinion: 3.6 out of 5 – This had plenty of prize fight action and managed to stay afloat in a sea of Triple Threat-itus. That’s a lame joke. Fortunately, this was not a lame match. Hard-hitting like den mothers on Black Friday, this was excellent stuff. Strong beat up the two guys who looked stronger than he does, which means that Vince McMahon probably had a heart attack. I’ve always wondered if Vince ever pissed his pants when he allowed Daniel Bryan to beat Mark Henry and The Big Show at the same time. Anyway, this was how you do a triple threat. Good to the last drop, like a bouncy ball dipped in hooker honey.

News Of The Night:

1. Cameron Grimes and Tyler Bate are teased as being in a feud.
2. Dakota Kai and Tegan Nox will fight The Kabuki Warriors for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles, next week.
3. Finn Balor turned heel and attacked Johnny Gargano.

Final Verdict: 4/5

This was the best episode of NXT in a long time. This is how this show should be, every week.