‘WWE NXT 2.0’ Review (May 31st 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: Pretty Deadly def. Roderick Strong & Damon Kemp
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Roderick Strong left the rest of Diamond Mine behind telling them to watch how it’s done as he and Damon Kemp locked horns with NXT Tag Team Champions Pretty Deadly. Elton Prince & Kit Wilson drubbed Strong in the opening minutes until Strong upended Wilson with a huge kick before tagging in the Diamond Mine rookie. Kemp looked a little shaky at first, but after a pep talk from Strong, and a huge slap to the face, Kemp fired up to throw Prince around the ring. The two tag teams traded blows as Kemp took control with a series of suplexes and an in-stereo backbreaker with Strong. The Diamond Mine duo rolled as Strong took on both Prince & Wilson single handedly until The NXT Tag Team Champions grabbed their titles to try and turn the tide. The Creed Brothers raced in to intervene as Julius Creed shoved Strong aside just in time to eat the attempted blow by Wilson. Instead of offering his thanks, though, Strong scolded the brothers before turning around into a Spilt Milk to suffer the pinfall.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: Cora Jade def. Elektra Lopez
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
After taking offense to Cora Jade’s presence in the stands last week during her match against Alba Fyre, Elektra Lopez looked to teach the up-and-comer where her place is in the pecking order of NXT 2.0. After a quick flurry of offense from Jade, La Madrina caught the young Superstar with a facebuster and proceeded to pummel Jade with a powerslam and a devastating dropkick. After Jade escaped a sit-down powerbomb for a near fall, Lopez looked to put Jade on top of the turnbuckle, but before she could get her in position Jade sent Lopez tumbling to the mat with a pop up knee. Jade quickly capitalized by pancaking Lopez with a top rope senton and covered her for the 1-2-3.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Wes Lee def. Xyon Quinn
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Despite not being 100% following his match with Sanga last week, Wes Lee could not pass up the opportunity to finally take on a healthy Xyon Quinn. Lee looked to take his frustrations out on Quinn in a fast and furious opening few minutes, but his momentum quickly ended after Quinn hung Lee up in the ropes and flung him across the ring. Quinn targeted Lee’s injured ribs throughout the match with repeated kicks and slams. Lee continued to fight until Quinn caught Lee and threw him like a lawn dart into the corner turnbuckle. Quinn went to run it straight through Lee with a running forearm, but unlike their previous meeting Lee ducked out of the way and caught Quinn for a quick roll-up victory.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: Solo Sikoa def. Duke Hudson
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Claiming Solo Sikoa wasn’t on his level, Duke Hudson set up a one-on-one showdown with “The Street Champion of the Island” but he paid the price for his words as Sikoa took his best shots and fired back with a huge clothesline. Hudson hung Sikoa up in the ropes for a unique snap suplex and continued to hammer him with clubbing blows and a pair of suplexes. Sikoa rallied with a Samoan Drop and sent Hudson reeling with a superkick and a splash in the corner before climbing to the top rope for a splash and the pinfall victory, proclaiming afterwards that he’s got next.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: Grayson Waller def. Josh Briggs
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Josh Briggs looked to teach Grayson Waller a thing or two about respect after catching “The Arrogant Aussie” badmouthing his friends Fallon Henley and Brooks Jensen. Waller convinced Briggs to send Henley & Jensen backstage to make it a fair fight, but it didn’t seem to matter as Briggs battered Waller with a series of right hands. Using the referee as a distraction, Waller was able to change the momentum by catching Briggs with a kick to the midsection and a series of knees to the head. Briggs began to rally following a back body drop, knocking Waller off his feet and out of the ring with a shoulder tackle, but as he looked to keep his foot on the gas Von Wagner hopped up onto the apron. Briggs caught Wagner with a big boot as he attempted to enter the ring, but the distraction allowed Waller to dive in through the ropes and hit his rolling stunner to earn the win. As Waller celebrated on the entrance ramp, Wagner rained down blows on Briggs, smashing his arm across the ring post before grabbing a steel chair. Wagner looked to do more damage with the weapon, but Jensen raced down to pull his friend to safety as Sofia Cromwell held the towering Superstar at bay.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #6: Ivy Nile def. Kiana James
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Kiana James ran the numbers, and her mouth, about the future of Diamond Mine, but she did not take into account Ivy Nile’s fierce loyalty as she squared up with “The Pitbull of Diamond Mine.” Nile went straight after James, dropping her with a Fireman’s Carry and a vicious forearm, but the rising Superstar countered Nile’s attempted tackle to send her flying into the turnbuckle. Nile swung the momentum back to her corner with an enziguri and a flying kick in the corner, but James rallied once again with a spear in the corner, berating Nile by screaming “brains over brawn.” James stunned Nile after countering her patented Dragon Sleeper, but that only seemed to fire up Nile as she hammered James with right hands before dropping her with a massive powerslam for the pinfall.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #7: Cameron Grimes def. Nathan Frazer
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
For his final tune-up before NXT In Your House, North American Champion Cameron Grimes went toe-to-toe with NXT UK high-flyer Nathan Frazer in a thrilling and fast-paced match. The two Superstars reversed and countered one another in the opening minutes as Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams watched on from the commentary table. Grimes finally earned the upper hand in the back-and-forth match after dodging an attempted dive through the ropes to catch Frazer with a massive kick before dumping him onto the ring apron. The two Superstars continued to trade blows as Frazer dropped Grimes with a springboard reverse DDT and a superkick, but Grimes got his knees up to tag Frazer during a standing moonsault. Both exhausted competitors exchanged blows in the center of the ring until Frazer countered a powerbomb attempt into a huricanrana for a near fall. With the crowd chanting “fight forever,” Grimes leapt up on the top rope to toss Frazer down to the mat below before he could hit his Phoenix Splash and quickly planted him with a Cave-In for the 1-2-3. Grimes’ celebration was short lived, though, as he dodged an attempted attack from Williams only to be blindsided by Hayes. Grimes fought his way back and nearly hit a Cave-In on Hayes, but Williams pulled him out of the ring at the last second leaving Grimes staring down the duo and standing tall with his title as the show went off the air.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
What a step-up for NXT this week, some great matches including a great opener and main event. The matches were all OK but some of the promo stuff was lacking. But it’s great to be able to say that a WWE show had great wrestling. It’s also something special to be able to say, like NXT of old, this show was better than the federation’s flagship show!