‘WWE NXT’ Review (Mar 19th 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of NXT, right here on Nerdly. Let’s get straight into it and see what went down in this episode…
Match #1: Roxanne Perez def. Tatum Paxley
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Roxanne Perez is one step closer to Stand & Deliver as she defeated Tatum Paxley, challenged Lyra Valkyria, and attacked the champion once again. Before the match could even begin, Paxley attacked Perez as the two brawled at the ringside area. Paxley put up a fight, but a Pop Rox into a crossface from Perez sealed the victory. After the match, a sling-wearing Valkyria confronted The Prodigy only for Perez to lock her in a crossface as well.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Nathan Frazer & Axiom def. No Quarter Catch Crew
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Myles Borne and Charlie competed for No Quarter Catch Crew under the Catch Clause, but it was Nathan Frazer and Axiom that punched their ticket to the No. 1 Contender Triple Threat Match. The action was fast and hard-hitting as all four Superstars traded clubbing blows, including incredible chops from both Dempsey and Axiom. After a Spanish Fly on Borne from Axiom, Frazer followed it with a Phoenix Splash while Axiom hit a Golden Ratio on Dempsey to give the win to the speedy tag team.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #3: Sol Ruca def. Brinley Reece
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Sol Ruca is officially back in NXT as she picked up an impressive win over the newcomer Brinley Reece. The Sol of NXT didn’t miss a beat as she used her supreme athleticism, including an X-Factor, to slow down the energetic Reece. Reece managed to hit an incredible front flip lariat, but she later found herself in prime position for a Sol Snatcher. After the match, Blair Davenport laid out Ruca in an act of payback for what happened at NXT Roadblock.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #4: Heritage Cup Match – Drew Gulak def. Riley Osborne
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The NXT Heritage Cup remains with the No Quarter Catch Crew as Drew Gulak represented the group against Chase U’s Riley Osborne. The first round went to Osborne after a scintillating Shooting Star Press, but Gulak evened up the bout after a perfect counter to one of Osborne’s athletic moves. Round three came and went without a fall, but Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx made their way to the ringside area, much to the anger of Thea Hail. In the deciding round four, Osborne was in a good position to win, but Jayne caused Hail to blow a gasket which distracted the official, allowing Nyx to pull Osborne’s foot, allowing Gulak to pick up the winning pinfall.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson def. Hank Walker & Tank Ledger
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Hank Walker and Tank Ledger gave the veteran Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson all they could handle but in the end, The OC stood tall and advanced to the Triple Threat Tag Team No. 1 Contenders Match. Ledger went for a Running Powerslam but Anderson countered it while Gallows simultaneously tossed Hank Walker into the steel steps. That allowed the duo to isolate Ledger and hit a Magic Killer and pick up the win.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #6: Trick Williams def. Noam Dar
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The Meta-Four wanted Trick Williams, but Noam Dar ended up feeling his wrath as NXT’s fastest rising Superstar scored a major win on The Road to Stand & Deliver. Dar was more than game for the match, even hitting a Flatliner and locking in a submission on Williams’ leg. After last week’s kiss with Trick Willy, Lash Legend got on the apron and distracted him, but Williams managed to counter the Nova Roller with a huge Trick Shot knee. After the match, Carmelo Hayes launched a sneak attack on Williams and left him laying in the ring.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
Apart from the main event and the first tag team match of the night, this week’s NXT was as average as last week’s. We seem to have hit something of a lull in the output from WWE’s developmental brand and I get it, new (or newer) stars need to be put over but to do so matches need to be better. Sometimes NXT’s matches feel like fluff, lightweight stuff that isn’t worth a damn – and that’s a shame for the NXT roster.
