‘WWE NXT 2.0’ Review (May 24th 2022)
Well we can’t get back to reviewing WWE’s product without also checking out WWE NXT 2.0, a show that hasn’t captured my attention as much as its previous incarnation did. Let’s see what this week’s episode has to offer!
Match #1: Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo & Troy “Two Dimes” Donovan def. Malik Blade & Edris Enofé
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Tony D’Angelo’s right hand men made the boss proud in their NXT 2.0 debut against Malik Blade & Edris Enofé. Channing Lorenzo & Troy Donovan battered Enofé from the onset until Enofé & Blade fired back with a pair of precision dropkicks to halt Stacks & Two Dimes’ momentum in its tracks. The veteran tag team rolled before taking a second to trade barbs with D’Angelo at ringside, opening the door for a huge uppercut from Lorenzo. The two teams went back-and-forth in a high-speed, hard-hitting collision that saw Blade come flying in for a flurry of crossbodies. As Lorenzo took out Enofé at ringside, Donovan swung momentum back to his corner with a clothesline while Legado del Fantasma made their way to the entrance ramp to take in the match. Sensing their presence, Stacks & Two Dimes turned up the heat with a pair of tandem right hands and big boots to Blade to earn the pinfall victory.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #2: Sanga def. Wes Lee
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
In an effort to prove to the NXT Universe and himself that he is capable of chopping down giants, Wes Lee went toe-to-toe with Sanga. The high-flyer used his speed to try and catch Sanga off guard, but the massive Superstar took it in stride and launched Lee across the ring. Lee refused to back down, but Sanga answered each attempt to rally with clubbing blows. Lee targeted Sanga’s legs and pummeled the larger Superstar with kicks, but he could not take the big man down as Sanga turned Lee inside out with a clothesline before planting him with a chokeslam to earn the win.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Alba Fyre def. Elektra Lopez
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
While Cora Jade took in the match from the stands, the two dominant forces of Alba Fyre and Elektra Lopez collided in a hard-hitting matchup. The two brawlers battered one another until Lopez pulled Fyre into the ring post and stared down Jade. Lopez targeted Fyre’s weakened arm, but the former NXT UK Champion fired back with a Superkick and a Glasgow Kiss before climbing to the top rope for a senton bomb and the victory. Afterwards an upset Lopez stared down the celebrating Jade and knocked the popcorn out of her hand as she made her way backstage.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #4: Women’s Breakout Tournament Semifinal Match – Roxanne Perez def. Lash Legend
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The upstart Roxanne Perez ran into one of her biggest challenges yet in the semifinals of the Women’s Breakout Tournament as she and Lash Legend collided for a spot in the finals. Despite the size difference Perez showed no fear stepping to Legend, but the towering Superstar decimated the rookie in the opening minutes with multiple slams. Perez continued to fight, slowly chopping down Legend with kicks and a pair of corner splashes until Legend squashed Perez’s momentum with a quick facebuster. As Legend set up for a powerbomb, Perez reversed it into a shocking Pop Rox for the victory.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: Mandy Rose def. Indi Hartwell
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Mandy Rose was forced to go it alone against Indi Hartwell after Katana Chance & Kayden Carter attacked Jacy Jayne & Gigi Dolin as Toxic Attraction made their way to the ring. Undeterred, the NXT Women’s Champion withstood an early flurry from Hartwell before pummeling her challenger in the corner. Hartwell began to turn the tide with a Snake Eyes and a Sidewalk Slam, but Rose rolled out of the ring to regroup. With Rose back on top after sending Hartwell flying into the turnbuckle, the two Superstars began to trade forearms until Hartwell dropped Rose face first onto the mat. Hartwell planted Rose with a spinebuster when Jayne & Dolin stumbled out to the ring with Chance & Carter not far behind as all four Superstars brawled at ringside. The fight between Chance and Jayne spilled into the ring, but before the referee could gain control of the chaos Hartwell sent Jayne flying with a big boot. Rose took advantage of the chaos and caught Hartwell with a running knee for the 1-2-3 while the rest of Toxic Attraction continued to battle with Chance & Carter.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #6: Women’s Breakout Tournament Semifinal Match – Tiffany Stratton def. Fallon Henley
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
After Nikkita Lyons was ruled ineligible to compete in her semifinal match following an injury in training, Tiffany Stratton jumped in to insert herself into the tournament as Fallon Henley’s competitor. The two Superstars exchanged blows with Henley stunning Stratton with a ferocious right hand in the ropes, but as she tried to get back into the ring Stratton went after her leg. “The Buff Barbie Doll” laid into Henley’s leg with a flurry of strikes and a chop block before locking in a unique submission. Henley fought out of the submission attempt to flatten Stratton with a sit down facebuster and a big right hand, but as she went for a Shining Wizard her injured leg gave out underneath her. Stratton took advantage with a dropkick in the corner before hitting her spinning splash to record the 1-2-3 and earn a spot in the Women’s Breakout Tournament Finals.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #7: Von Wagner def. Ikemen Jiro
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Ikemen Jiro was chomping at the bit to get back at Von Wagner for his ferocious attack weeks ago, storming the ring to rain down blows on the big man. Jiro’s aggressiveness backfired, though, as Wagner caught Jiro and planted him with a powerslam. Jiro attempted to fight off the towering Superstar, but he could not sustain any offense as Wagner squashed each attempted rally. After flattening Jiro with his swinging powerslam for the pinfall, Wagner, at the direction of Sofia Cromwell, hoisted Jiro above his head. But before he could launch Jiro from the ring like last time, Josh Briggs raced in to send Wagner tumbling to the arena floor with a flurry of right hands and a clothesline. Wagner readied himself for another fight, but was held back by Cromwell as the pair stared down Briggs.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #8: Duke Hudson def. Bron Breakker (DQ)
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
While Joe Gacy and his two hooded disciples watched closely, Duke Hudson looked to beat some respect into the NXT Champion, but Bron Breakker responded by launching Hudson around the ring with a suplex, a Frankensteiner and a back body drop. Hudson took a moment to gather himself outside the ring, drilling Breakker with a clothesline as the Champion came out to get him. Hudson kept his foot on the gas with a suplex of his own before the two Superstars leveled one another with a pair of flying clotheslines as Gacy made his way to ringside. After Hudson tried to lock in a Steiner Recliner on Breakker, the NXT Champion battled back to catch Hudson with a powerslam, sending both of them flying over the ropes with a clothesline. Outside the ring Breakker turned his attention to the hooded figures bearing down on him while, unbeknownst to him, Gacy slid a steel chair into the ring. Hudson went for the chair but was met by a big boot from Breakker who looked to turn the weapon onto Gacy and his disciples. Breakker went to hit Gacy with the chair, but he jumped out of the way and Breakker instead accidentally struck Hudson resulting in his disqualification. Gacy smiled at the NXT Champion as he stood there upset at the outcome, stating that Breakker simply couldn’t control himself.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
Another episode of NXT 2.0 and another decidedly average affair. I’m digging the Women’s Breakout Tournament even if the matches weren’t exactly stellar. Poor Wes Lee though… He’s become the “enhancement talent” of NXT it seems following the release of his tag team partner. Though to be fair it looked like WWE were taking a leaf out of AEW’s playbook and booking a squash that wasn’t a squash. It was a quasi-squash! As for the main event, I enjoyed the ferocity of Bron Breakker but, for me, this storyline still seems far too forced.