‘WWE NXT’ Review (Mar 28th 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of NXT, right here on Nerdly. Let’s get straight into the review and see what happened this week as the road to NXT: Stand and Deliver continues…
Match #1: Battle Royal – Winner: Axoim
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The coveted fifth and final spot in the North American Championship Fatal 5-Way was decided in a Battle Royal and when the dust settled, Axiom became the last Superstar standing. The field featured some of NXT’s greatest Superstars, including the likes of Axiom, Dijak, Jinder Mahal, Apollo Crews, and Dabba-Kato. After Crews and Mahal were eliminated, Axiom, Nathan Frazer, and Charlie Dempsey teamed up to eliminate the gargantuan Dabba-Kato, leaving them as the final three competitors. Axiom managed to outsmart Dempsey and eliminate him, leaving the masked Superstar and Frazer as the final two. The two high-flyers proceeded to move about the ring in impressive fashion, but after an incredible back and forth, it was Axiom that outlasted everyone and punched his ticket to NXT Stand & Deliver.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Tyler Bate def. Von Wagner
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Von Wagner has had Chase U’s number in recent matchups, but the Big Strong Boi Tyler Bate proved to be too much for the larger Superstar. The two Superstars battled back and forth until Mr. Stone got involved, but his presence only led to cohesion from Chase U as Thea Hail and Duke Hudson neutralized him. Bate followed that up with a Twisty Boi from the top rope, giving him the victory. After the match, Schism appeared and taunted them even further before their match at Stand & Deliver.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Elektra Lopez def. Valentina Feroz
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The personal battle between Valentina Feroz and Elektra Lopez finally hit the ring, but it was the villainous Lopez that came out on top thanks to her superior strength. Feroz controlled the pace early, using her quick strike offense, but Lopez caught her mid-air and followed it with a devastating Elektra Shock sit-out powerbomb to earn the win.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #4: Eddy Thorpe def. Myles Borne
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The Alpha Wolf Eddy Thorpe impressed the entire NXT Universe with his convincing win over Myles Borne in his NXT debut. Thorpe showed off his mat technician skills and controlled the match virtually from start to finish and mercifully put Borne away with a crushing twisting neckbreaker.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: Last Chance Triple Threat Match – Winner: Indi Hartwell
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The pressure was on as Indi Hartwell, Sol Ruca, and Ivy Nile battled for the final spot in the NXT Women’s Championship Ladder Match at Stand & Deliver, but it was the savviness of Hartwell that pushed her forward and allowed her to get the win. The action was frenetic as each woman gave it their all, but it came to a crescendo when Nile locked in her Dragon Sleeper on Hartwell, but a Sol Snatcher out of nowhere planted the Diamond Mine Superstar. Hartwell capitalized on it by knocking Ruca out of the ring and pinning the helpless Nile, sending her to Los Angeles to challenge for the NXT Women’s Title.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #6: Drew Gulak def. Hank Walker
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Mentor meets protege as Drew Gulak and Hank Walker faced off in singles action, and the veteran Gulak showed Walker that he still has a ways to go as an NXT Superstar. Walker started off hot, using his country strength to gain the upper hand and even lock in a few impressive holds like a Stretch Muffler and a Single Leg Boston Crab, but the veteran Gulak was too crafty and escaped each time. When it seemed that Walker had regained momentum after an armbar, Dempsey interfered and delivered a stiff blow when the official had his back turned, allowing Gulak to lock in a cradle and pin the upstart Walker.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #7: The Family def. Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Kiana James arranged a major match for Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen where if they won they’d join the NXT Tag Team Championship Match at NXT Stand & Deliver, but their effort came up short against The Family. Tony D’Angelo & Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo did everything they could to keep Briggs & Jensen out of the match, but the fight of Briggs & Jensen kept the match close. James & Fallon Henley made their way down to ringside during the match, but their presence only hindered Briggs & Jensen as D’Angelo and Stacks took advantage and walked away with the win. After the match, Briggs & Henley demanded James be truthful to Jensen, but she decided to give him his first kiss instead.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
Another OK week for NXT once again. A bunch of average matches and one good main event didn’t make for too an exciting show. And I can’t say this was any kind of great go-home show for the next NXT “pay-per-view.” As I’ve said with other WWE shows recently, stick to watching the highlights on YouTube and social media.
