09th Jun2022

‘WWE NXT 2.0’ Review (June 7th 2022)

by Phil Wheat

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: Josh Briggs def. Von Wagner

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

The much anticipated “Battle of the Big Men” between Josh Briggs and Von Wagner did not disappoint as they bruised and battered each other all over the ring on NXT 2.0. Both competitors had their posse in tow with Brooks Jensen, still in a cast, and Fallon Henley in the corner of Briggs and Mr. Stone and Sofia Cromwell in the corner of Wagner. The action was fast and furious in the ring and on the outside. At one point Wagner took Jensen by the cast and slammed the cast straight onto the unforgiving ring apron. That same ended up being Wagner’s downfall, however, as Fallon Henley jumped onto the apron to distract the referee which gave Jensen enough time to slip off his cast and toss it to Briggs who used it to club Wagner before striking him with a colossal clothesline to give him the victory.

My Score: 2 out of 5

Match #2: Nathan Frazer def. Santos Escobar

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Competing in his first match since losing to Tony D’Angelo at NXT In Your House, Santos Escobar was ordered to face off against newcomer Nathan Frazer. With Legado Del Fantasma under new management following the Premium Live Event, D’Angelo led the now six-person group to the ring, making his presence felt at the announce table. D’Angelo was quick to critique Escobar in the ring, finding fault with a terrific dive to the outside that Escobar executed to wipe out Frazer. Frazer shined brightly in this match, hitting an awe-inspiring running hurricanrana on Escobar to light up the crowd. Frazer and Escobar put on a frenetic show, with Frazer performing a Standing Shooting Star Press and Escobar striking Frazer with a stunning Superkick. The tension between The Emperor and The Don of NXT couldn’t be simmered though as Troy “Two Dimes” Donovan offered Escobar a crowbar to use against Frazer. Escobar refused the crowbar, sliding it back to “Two Dimes” but the distraction enabled Frazer to capitalize as he hit a Phoenix Splash to pick up another victory.

My Score: 3 out of 5

Match #3: Women’s Breakout Tournament Final – Roxanne Perez def. Tiffany Stratton

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

The first-ever NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament came to a conclusion with a historic bang as Tiffany Stratton and Roxanne Perez fought tooth-and-nail to come out on top. Stratton and Perez wowed the NXT 2.0 crowd with multiple reversals and high-octane offense. As Stratton looked to get the victory with a gorgeous Moonsault, Perez rolled out of the way and flattened Stratton with a Pop-Rox for the pinfall victory. After the match, Perez’s best friend Cora Jade ran down to congratulate her, handing her the Women’s Breakout Tournament contract. However, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Perez and Jade as a rather thorny Mandy Rose and her Toxic Attraction cohorts came out and taunted the two besties. The NXT Women’s Champion suggested Perez go to Raw or SmackDown to cash in her contract as she had no chance in beating Rose. This infuriated Perez who attacked The Golden Goddess, setting up a 3-on-2 brawl until an unlikely savior in the form of Indi Hartwell came to their aid. With Hartwell’s help, they sent Rose, Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne tumbling to the arena floor, standing tall in the center of the ring.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5

Match #4: Pretty Deadly def. Andre Chase

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Still fuming after losing their NXT Tag Team Championships at NXT In Your House, Pretty Deadly jumped Bodhi Hayward backstage, turning what should have been a Tag Team Match into a 2-on-1 Handicap Match. Andre Chase fought valiantly, but could not overcome the combined forces of Elton Prince and Kit Wilson. As the match progressed, Bodhi Hayward attempted to crawl his way to the ring and join the fray but he was still reeling from Pretty Deadly’s attack. Chase University’s newest member, Thea Hail, rushed out to help Hayward, but realizing the predicament he was in decided to jump up on the apron and try to tag into the match. Chase was close to tagging in Hail but decided against it, mounting a comeback after Hail slapped a mocking Prince. Despite his efforts, the numbers game caught up to Chase and he was put away with Spilt Milk, giving Pretty Deadly the win.

My Score: 2 out of 5

Match #5: Alba Fyre def. Tatum Paxley

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Alba Fyre continued her winning ways on NXT 2.0, picking up an impressive victory over Tatum Paxley. Paxley took Fyre to the limit in a back-and-forth battle until Fyre dropped her with a Gory Bomb to set up a picture-perfect Senton Bomb, wowing both the NXT faithful in attendance. After the match, Fyre shook the hand of Paxley, acknowledging her performance, but as she made her way up the entrance ramp Fyre was blindsided by a blitzing big boot from the loathsome Lash Legend.

My Score: 1 out of 5

Match #6: Apollo Crews & Solo Sikoa def. Carmelo Hayes & Grayson Waller

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

On a night full of surprises it was Apollo Crews who came to the aid of Solo Sikoa to take on Carmelo Hayes and Grayson Waller. Crews looks like he hadn’t missed a step in his absence from NXT, holding up Waller for a full 30 seconds before dropping him with a Vertical Suplex. The “A Champion” and the “Arrogant Aussie” also got their fair share of licks in as well, dictating the flow of the match and working seamlessly together to keep Sikoa away from Crews who was desperate to tag in. After gaining some separation Sikoa finally tagged in Crews, who raced in like a house on fire to deliver a flurry of German Suplexes left right and centre. Crews even broke out his vintage Standing Moonsault, nearly giving the victory to his team. In the end, it would be Crews and Sikoa who had the final laugh, picking up the victory following a devastating Spinning Sit-Out Powerbomb by Crews.

My Score: 3.5 out of 5

Final Verdict: 2.5/5

There seems to be a theme to WWE recently… rollercoasters. As in their shows feel like riding a rollercoaster, highs one minute, lows the next, with nothing in between. But whilst that may make for an exciting, interesting show, the lows are SO low that it’s a real struggle to stick around for the highs. Though this week had a particularly good high, the return of Apollo Crews! And guess what, his match was the match of the night, lifting the 2.0 iteration to the highest point of the night. Let’s see how long that lasts.

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