NXT Review: 15/09
Kali Armstrong VS Lizzy Rain
This week’s edition of NXT kicked off with Kali Armstrong looking to get back in Championship contention with a win over Lizzy Rain! These two have been feuding for a couple of weeks now, interrupting each other’s backstage promos, and in fairness, I thought this was a solid enough match! It was an independent wrestling star taking on a former Evolve Women’s Champion, so the experience levels were certainly different! However, Armstrong still held her own, eventually pinning Rain with the Kali Connection! After the match was over, Skylar Raye made her return to NXT, ambushing Kali Armstrong from behind! Let’s see if Skylar has improved since being on Evolve?! Also, I’m not sure that this move to NXT has particularly worked for Lizzy Rain (so far anyway)!
Grade: C+
DarkState VS Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux, Myles Borne Issues a Public Apology
After BirthRight got in the faces of Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux, Cruz Montana was having a conversation with Mr. Stone before he put over EK Prosper for apologising for losing last week! The Vanity Project then stormed in wanting to know what Stone’s massive Tag Team revelation is going to be, and all this did was lead to Montana and Prosper getting themselves a match with the NXT Tag Team Champions! Speaking of Tag Teams, Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux were out next as they were looking to get back to winning ways over DarkState! I’m not fully sure if this match was set up in a previous week; it feels like it was just done as a way to get both teams on the show, but either way, that’s beyond fine! My biggest takeaway from this match is that Cutler James has been growing his hair out; I like it! Anyway, on a serious note, DarkState would eventually score the win with the help of Dion Lennox, before BirthRight showed up to destroy Legacy and The DVD! BirthRight then stated that they’re coming for every division, which led to Zilla Fatu arriving to floor Charlie Dempsey with the Triple Z! This was all done to set up a 6-Man Tag for next week’s show!
Grade: C+
Mason Rook had a video promo talking about all the obstacles he’s had to overcome since becoming a professional wrestler, whilst Skylar Raye was very pleased with herself for getting some attention on her name after attacking Kali Armstrong! Izzi Dame would then once again try and play mind games with Zaria, before Myles Borne came down to the ring to issue a public apology to Tavion Heights! Tavion quickly showed up, saying that it’s a lot easier to be in Borne’s situation, as Heights simply cannot get over the betrayal! Myles then rightly brought up The Great American Bash, and how he forgave Tavion despite being dropped by him, all in pursuit of the NXT North American Championship! Eventually, Tavion Heights agreed with Myles Borne as the two hugged it out, only for Myles to once again floor his former brother with Borne Again, followed by a vicious stomp with a steel chair! This was obviously going to happen, but as a segment, this could’ve been done so much better!
Grade: C-
The Vanity Project VS Cruz Montana and EK Prosper, Kelani Jordan Gets Interrupted
Kendal Grey was gutted over finding out that she’s still not medically cleared to compete, whilst Wren Sinclair remains suspended! It was then time for more Tag Team action as Cruz Montana and EK Prosper once again teamed up, this time to take on The Vanity Project! Unlike last week, there wasn’t an NXT Championship opportunity on the line for either Cruz or EK, but I suppose a win over Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes would’ve put them in contention for the NXT Tag Team Titles, even if they wouldn’t want them! However, that wasn’t to be the case anyway, as Jackson Drake took care of Montana, opening the door for The Vanity Project to cheat their way to a victory over Prosper! The Vanity Project actually cheated on two separate instances in this one match, and the referee never disqualified them; stupid ref!
Grade: C+
Saquon Shugars believed his time to hold the NXT Championship is coming, whilst Tristan Angels seemed offended over the idea that Shugars is even in Title contention! Fresh from her appearance in Mexico City, Kelani Jordan was out next to discuss what’s next for her and the NXT Women’s Championship! Unlike the large majority of the Champions in WWE, Kelani prides herself on being a fighting Champion, which is why she successfully defended her Title against Jaida Parker last week! Now, you could argue that this is a Babyface mentality, but I actually think it works perfectly for Lani’s character as she really does believe that she’s the best! Interestingly, the brand-new AAA Reina de Reinas Champion, La Catalina, made a surprise appearance to interrupt Jordan, with the two World Champions coming face-to-face! Zaria would then also show up, as she believed the conversation of dominant Champions couldn’t carry on without her, before Thea Hail showed up to start a brawl! Whilst all this really did was set up a Tag Team match for next week, having La Catalina and Kelani Jordan in the ring at the same time was pretty cool!
Grade: C+
Tony D’Angelo wants to remind people just who the hell he is in NXT, whilst we then got the most bizarre video involving Shiloh Hill! Granted, the large majority of Shiloh Hill videos are weird, but this time he was talking to imaginary raccoons after spraying himself with the yellow mist (as part of his experiments to combat Naraku)! What on earth?! Anyway, Mr. Stone then made a positive announcement that the NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will be returning next week, with The Creed Brothers looking to make history by becoming the first-ever 2-time winners!
NXT Championship Number 1 Contender’s Match: Tony D’Angelo VS Mason Rook VS Saquon Shugars
And in the Main Event of this week’s edition of NXT, Tony D’Angelo, Mason Rook, and Saquon Shugars competed in a Triple Threat match to determine the next Number 1 contender to Grayson Waller’s NXT Championship! Speaking of Grayson Waller, he was shown throughout the night running a half marathon on a treadmill whilst (I assume) he watched the rest of the show, and I have no idea whose idea this was, as it was rather peculiar! Anyway, the Triple Threat itself was pretty decent; Rook is definitely starting to find his footing in NXT, whilst Shugars is popular amongst the NXT Universe! Tony D’Angelo showcased his experience by carrying parts of this match, but, rather interestingly, he was the one who actually took the pin! At first, it looked like the win was going to Saquon Shugars, only for Tristan Angels to screw him! A back injury for D’Angelo would then open the door for Mason Rook to score the win with a massive splash, as Waller appeared in the entranceway to close the show! That’s now 3 wins on the bounce for Mason Rook; I doubt he’ll get his 4th!
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