‘WWE NXT’ Review (Apr 4th 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of NXT, right here on Nerdly. Let’s get straight into the review and see what the fallout is from NXT: Stand and Deliver…
Match #1: Pretty Deadly def. The Family
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Tony D’Angelo & Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo tried to take their frustrations out on Pretty Deadly after coming up short at NXT Stand & Deliver, but it was Elton Prince & Kit Wilson that walked out with the win thanks to a sneaky situation. D’Angelo was cruising for The Family, knocking both members of Pretty Deadly around, but when Prince nailed him with a headbutt, the elegant Brits switched spots as Wilson concealed his identity under the ring apron. When D’Angelo realized what was happening, it was too late as Prince reappeared and sent the Italian Superstar right into the exposed turnbuckle which spelled demise for The Family.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Dijak def. Odyssey Jones
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
A titanic matchup between two of NXT’s biggest Superstars took place as both Odyssey Jones and Dijak looked to gain some momentum after the pair took each other out during last week’s Last Chance Battle Royal. Jones caught Dijak with some big strikes early, but Dijak responded in a big way by plucking the larger Jones off of the top rope and hitting him with a rolling fireman’s carry. Hard Justice would finally be delivered as Dijak hit a marvelous moonsault to pick up the victory.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #3: Dragon Lee def. Nathan Frazer
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Dragon Lee lived up to the hype as the incredible Luchador won an incredible contest against the young Nathan Frazer. The Superstars were evenly matched as they countered seemingly every single move that the other threw at them, punctuated by Lee landing on his feet after a head scissors attempt. As the two high-flyers battled, Lee nailed a vicious dropkick in the corner to a seated Frazer, but it wasn’t enough to end the epic battle. When Lee seemingly had the match won, Frazer caught him with a hellacious superkick but that too wasn’t enough. The NXT Universe rose to their feet and saluted the two Superstars, and just as they did, Lee mustered up enough strength to nail a running knee strike that finally ended the incredible matchup.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #4: NXT Women’s Championship – Indi Hartwell def. Zoey Stark
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
To prove herself as a fighting champion, Indi Hartwell decided to put her title on the line against one of the Superstars involved in the Ladder Match at NXT Stand & Deliver, Zoey Stark. Stark took control early, using her impressive strength and ruthless attitude to down the Aussie champ. The crowd was firmly behind Hartwell, but Stark maintained her control. The champion finally gained some momentum after Stark crashed and burned on a failed missile dropkick, but she still found it incredibly difficult to put the challenger away even after an elbow drop and a spinebuster. Stark managed to hit her signature Z-360, but her pin attempt went awry and Hartwell countered it into a pin of her own, retaining her title.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Ivy Nile def. Tatum Paxley
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
A deeply personal match between former Diamond Mine partners Ivy Nile and Tatum Paxley has been weeks in the making, and this round went to Nile. Paxley came out firing, hitting Nile with a plethora of moves, seemingly trying to prove herself as a worthy competitor. The back and forth affair was equally brutal and emotional, but the tide finally turned in Nile’s favor. The submission specialist managed to lock in her dragon sleeper and with nowhere to go, Paxley was forced to tap out.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #6: NXT North American Championship – Wes Lee def. Axiom
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The NXT North American Championship is on the line as Wes Lee once again put his title on the line, this time against one of the Superstars he respects the most, the masked Axiom. Both Superstars used the opening moments as a feeling out process, and a nearfall from Axiom let the champion know that this might be his most difficult test yet. As the two Superstars waged war, Lee went for his signature Cardiac Kick, but Axiom countered into a sleeper hold that nearly put the champ out. Axiom had Lee right where he wanted him, and that was in the corner in line for a Golden Ratio, but Lee managed a remarkable counter with the Cardiac Kick and retained his title in the process.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
Something has GOT to be wrong when your third brand, the one that’s gone through more changes than ANY other WWE brand of late, puts on a BETTER episode than your flagship show! The week’s NXT delivered its own “First Show After…” in a much stronger fashion than Raw did, with two fantastic matches. Hell, we got SIX(!) matches on this card. Six. And some new storylines built, people returning, etc. If we could’ve replaced that Dijak/Jones match, or made it more competitive, then this would’ve been one hell of a follow-up to Stand and Deliver. As it is, still a superb show that put Raw to shame.
