‘WWE NXT’ Review (Oct 30th 2019)
Welcome to this week’s NXT review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we got some tig ol’ bitties! There’s some War Games news to get to later, so don’t go outside, because Todd Rundgren is gonna get you…to bang the drum all day! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! NXT begins…okay, this is a couple hours late.
Match #1: Io Shirai def. Candice LeRae
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Singer/songwriter Poppy had Io Shirae ready for battle after kicking off NXT with performances of songs “I Disagree” and “Scary Mask.” But Candice LeRae had retribution on her mind. The action immediately spilled to the outside once the bell sounded, as LeRae chased Shirai around the ring. The back-and-forth bout was stiff but exciting as the rivals traded knees, hard right-hands and aerial magic. Neither would give up, but after LeRae escaped the Harajuku Clutch by her tiptoes, Shirai opted to bring a chair into the picture. The official stepped in and LeRae knocked Shirai down, but the chair landed directly under The Genius of the Sky. Candice went for a moonsault, but Shirai moved and Candice got nothing but steel, making for an easy pinfall. The victorious “Joshi Judas” attempted to add insult to injury with a post-match chair attack, but Rhea Ripley arrived to send Shirai heading to the back. Despite retreating, Shirai scored a pivotal win over LeRae, strengthening her résumé in the heated NXT Women’s Championship picture.
My Opinion: 3.5 out of 5 – This was a mean, nasty match, but not that nasty. These two clobbered each other like Raider’s fans at a New York Knicks game. Trust me…they just hit each other when the Raider’s aren’t playing. Like Danny Glover’s old, saggy thong, this match had every-thing I needed. From taut suspense to hard-shots, from here to Timbuktu, from sea to shining sea, I can’t remember what the hell we’re talking about. There’s plenty of intense wrestling on display here to enjoy and I feel like a burrito with a life insurance policy. Overall, this is a fantastic way to start the show.
Match #2: Bronson Reed def. Shane Thorne
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Shane Thorne struck early against Bronson Reed with a flurry of dropkicks and cannonballs, but the hulking Reed countered with a devastating clothesline and senton. Thorne and Reed traded so many chops that the NXT Universe couldn’t “Woo!” fast enough. Reed knocked Thorne off his feet with a discus forearm, but Thorne amazingly suplexed the 330-pounder. Reed took down his singlet straps and went to the top rope, but Thorne slowed him with more chops. Thorne’s hurricanrana attempt was blocked, setting up a decisive, ring-shaking splash to give Reed the win.
My Opinion: 3.2 out of 5 – There was some fine action in here, but as a complete match, it lacked in certain areas, so I can’t give this a higher review. These guys worked hard though, like potato chips in a strip club. Those strippers are always fighting for tips with the chips. The wrestling was fluid like my birthday cake and the action was as exciting as a tiger pajama party. Tiger’s love pajamas! They eat and wear the pajamas at the same time…a lot of injuries. Anyway, Bronson looks like Roseanne after she divorced Tom Arnold and this was pretty good.
Match #3: The Kabuki Warriors def. Dakota Kai and Tegan Nox – WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The Kabuki Warriors returned to NXT to defend the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles for the first time on the brand, and the return did not disappoint. Asuka & Kairi Sane arrived with a new attitude, two days removed from spitting poison mist at former manager Paige on Raw, but Dakota Kai & Tegan Nox were waiting for them. Asuka and Sane were ruthless, from Sane throwing Nox into the steel steps to Asuka attacking Kai’s surgically repaired knee. The champions specifically targeted Kai’s legs, making her kicks a nonfactor until she unexpectedly caught Sane, allowing her to crawl to tag in Nox, who rushed the ring. Nox dished out elbows like they were free candy on Halloween. When Asuka reversed the Shiniest Wizard with a knee bar, it seemed like hope was lost for the challengers, but Nox powered out and tagged Kai back into the bout. She had the champions on the defensive, but Sane wisely distracted the official, allowing Asuka to blind Kai with poison mist. Sane finished with an InSane Elbow for the win.
My Opinion: 3.4 out of 5 – This was an excellent prize fight that delivered a match that made the challengers look formidable and the champions look like they broke out of a psycho ward. The Pummeling…that’s what this should be called. For all of this talk about how abuse of women is bad, we sure do like to watch those women beat the hell out of each other, don’t we? Reese Witherspoon versus Mike Tyson. Do it, now! I’mma punch’er in da’ chin! POW! Right in the kisser! This match took it’s time and made everything count. The right women are the champions and that’s the way it outta stay for the near future. Make it so, Number 1. Star Trek!
Match #4: Cameron Grimes def. Tyler Bates
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Tyler Bate’s impressive, cerebral style was on full-display against Cameron Grimes. The first WWE United Kingdom Champion’s defense was so dizzying that Grimes didn’t know whether to continue his attack or wind his watch. Grimes’ size helped him to slow down Bate’s attack and to gain control of the match. Bate battled back and even seemed poised for a win after connecting with a tope suicida, but his eyes caught Killian Dain waiting at ringside. That momentary distraction allowed Grimes to hit Bate with the Cave-in for the win. The Beast of Belfast then feasted, crushing Bate into the steel steps in a clear message to Pete Dunne.
My Opinion: 3.5 out of 5 – This was a strong match that wasn’t quite as thrilling as you might hope for, but these guys were so easily matched that they could coast and still produce a match of this quality. I thought of Meg Ryan the whole time. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s Tyler’s hair? Between these two guys there was enough hair to make my bald ass feel bad for being nothing but skin and fat. If you know any-thing about these guys, then you’ll know that this was all about mat work, which is just like my last Saturday night. Ooooooh! Welcome to OZ, b—h! Grimes and Bate…do another one.
Match #5: (Main Event) The Undisputed ERA def. Matt Riddle and Keith Lee
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish struck quickly, trying to take out Matt Riddle immediately, but Keith Lee fended off the double-team attack causing the reigning NXT Tag Team Champions to retreat. Riddle chased O’Reilly & Fish back inside, where he split the former with a Spear and the latter with a Jackhammer. Even the arrival of NXT Champion Adam Cole and NXT North American Champion Roderick Strong couldn’t slow Riddle & Lee, as The King of the Bros laid out all of Undisputed ERA with an Asai Moonsault. But the chaos allowed Fish and O’Reilly to hit Riddle with a picture-perfect Total Elimination to give Undisputed ERA the victory. A win wasn’t enough for Cole and company, who stomped Lee and Riddle after the bell, triggering the arrival of Tommaso Ciampa and his crutch. The trio of Lee, Riddle and Ciampa chased Undisputed ERA from the ring, then Ciampa had a message for Goldie: You’re going to have to wait. Daddy’s going to War!
My Opinion: 3.5 out of 5 – This was a fine main event that brought some top-notch action to a show that had already delivered plenty of it. This had a bit of every-thing, like trail mix made of road-kill. Raccoon dingleberry pie! Hey Mama! Git da’ skillet! You cook it, ‘cuz we killed it! Trucker Clock! There was so much action here to speak of, but it never got too out of hand. This didn’t always quite feel like the main event, but it sure worked its ass off to have a go at being it. Over-all, this was pretty damn good.
News Of The Night:
- Finn Balor claimed he did what he did because he got tired of being at Vince McMahon’s mercy (he hated jobbing to Bray Wyatt this year).
- The Women’s Division will have a War Games Match.
- Tommaso Ciampa is waging war on The Undisputed ERA.
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
This was quite good, if a bit dull in parts. The wrestling was really good, which is the main thing.
