Note: I'm trying a new, more condensed format for these reviews. We'll see how it goes.
There's been a lot of talk of what's wrong with NXT. One of the hottest shows in the world has fallen to the C show in it's own promotion, well behind Raw and SmackDown. The glory days of NXT seem to be over, the old guard has left it's post. But even when NXT is struggling, it still has the possibility to pull a rabbit out of it's hat. For this one night, perhaps for the last time, perhaps not, NXT was...............................GLORIOUS!!!!
- I'll start by sending some good wishes the way of Corey Graves, who is departing NXT, to be replaced with Nigel McGuinness. My first NXT show was Fatal Four Way, but I wasn't seriously watching the show until the lead up to REvolution, and the addition of Graves. Corey is the last of NXT's first generation, a true changing of the guard.
- Eric Young and Tye Dillinger had an entertaining match to start the show, though I'm still not feeling Tye. I do love Sanity and EY, and I see a big future ahead for that stable.
- Roddy Strong and Andrade Almas might not have the most developed of characters, but they are fantastic wrestlers and put on a great show. I could see Roddy as the future of NXT, and would be my pick for the new champ's next opponent.
- The tag title match was a bit controversial, at least in terms of the finish, but I loved it. Gargano and Ciampa could carry anyone to a great match, and Akam and Rezar certainly did their part. They're getting the mega push, and with Paul Ellering at their side, it was a matter of when, not if.
-Holy sh**, Seth Rollins is here! I'm a massive Seth mark, and I've not done anything to cover that up, so it was awesome to see him back in NXT. I'm more hyped that ever for Seth-HHH at Mania, it's just a shame they waited almost five months to finally start the build.
- One of the biggest problems with NXT currently is the lack of competition in the women's division, which has been the highlight of the show in the past. While this fatal four-way was nothing ground-breaking, it was a good start to rebuilding the division. Asuka-Cross should be incredible down the line, and Ember Moon is lurking as well.
- Despite being over with the crowd and having great entrances, I didn't expect much from Nakamura-Roode. Shinsuke's a great worker, but has a tendency to phone it in. And Roode suffers from Miz-itis, in that he's very good at what he does, but he doesn't wow a crowd. The main event definitely delivered well above anything I expected. It took a while to get going, and was slow throughout, but it had a more methodical feel. Roode exploiting Shinsuke's injury was great, as was the fact that Shinsuke actually sold the injury. This was told very well, and sets up some very interesting television to come.
7/10
In-ring wise, this was nothing special. The tag match was great, Strong/Almas and the main were both solid, but not overly amazing. But this was a very good show. Sometimes, that's all you need.
There's been a lot of talk of what's wrong with NXT. One of the hottest shows in the world has fallen to the C show in it's own promotion, well behind Raw and SmackDown. The glory days of NXT seem to be over, the old guard has left it's post. But even when NXT is struggling, it still has the possibility to pull a rabbit out of it's hat. For this one night, perhaps for the last time, perhaps not, NXT was...............................GLORIOUS!!!!
- I'll start by sending some good wishes the way of Corey Graves, who is departing NXT, to be replaced with Nigel McGuinness. My first NXT show was Fatal Four Way, but I wasn't seriously watching the show until the lead up to REvolution, and the addition of Graves. Corey is the last of NXT's first generation, a true changing of the guard.
- Eric Young and Tye Dillinger had an entertaining match to start the show, though I'm still not feeling Tye. I do love Sanity and EY, and I see a big future ahead for that stable.
- Roddy Strong and Andrade Almas might not have the most developed of characters, but they are fantastic wrestlers and put on a great show. I could see Roddy as the future of NXT, and would be my pick for the new champ's next opponent.
- The tag title match was a bit controversial, at least in terms of the finish, but I loved it. Gargano and Ciampa could carry anyone to a great match, and Akam and Rezar certainly did their part. They're getting the mega push, and with Paul Ellering at their side, it was a matter of when, not if.
-Holy sh**, Seth Rollins is here! I'm a massive Seth mark, and I've not done anything to cover that up, so it was awesome to see him back in NXT. I'm more hyped that ever for Seth-HHH at Mania, it's just a shame they waited almost five months to finally start the build.
- One of the biggest problems with NXT currently is the lack of competition in the women's division, which has been the highlight of the show in the past. While this fatal four-way was nothing ground-breaking, it was a good start to rebuilding the division. Asuka-Cross should be incredible down the line, and Ember Moon is lurking as well.
- Despite being over with the crowd and having great entrances, I didn't expect much from Nakamura-Roode. Shinsuke's a great worker, but has a tendency to phone it in. And Roode suffers from Miz-itis, in that he's very good at what he does, but he doesn't wow a crowd. The main event definitely delivered well above anything I expected. It took a while to get going, and was slow throughout, but it had a more methodical feel. Roode exploiting Shinsuke's injury was great, as was the fact that Shinsuke actually sold the injury. This was told very well, and sets up some very interesting television to come.
7/10
In-ring wise, this was nothing special. The tag match was great, Strong/Almas and the main were both solid, but not overly amazing. But this was a very good show. Sometimes, that's all you need.
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