Overall, this was a decent NXT 2.0, with the main event being the highlight of the show. Tony D’Angelo challenged Carmelo Hayes for the North American Championship. The Don of NXT was looking for his new henchman, Santos Escobar, to be the x-factor. He was, just for the wrong side, giving the brass knuckles to Carmelo Hayes instead of D’Angelo. The other highlight was Wes Lee’s promo. Lee started off the promo showing very real emotion and then the promo was advanced when Trick Williams showed up. The two got in some very good digs at each other, signaling a possible feud upcoming. The lowlights of the show were the Wagner-Jensen match and the Legend-Fyre matches. Neither were bad matches but left a lot of room for improvement. Wagner-Jensen was technically sound but didn't generate a ton of excitement and lost points for not a lot of storytelling. Meanwhile, the Lash Legend-Alba Fyre match was fine but didn't last long enough to generate drama. In summary, this episode of NXT 2.0 had a lot of pretty good matches but nothing really memorable.
Tonight on NXT 2.0: Grayson Waller faces off against Solo Sikoa. Will Sikoa prove to be immune to the Grayson Waller effect? Lash Legend takes on Alba Fyre. Will Lash live up to her name or will she get burned? Cameron Grimes takes on Edris Enofe as he looks to build momentum toward challenging for the NXT Title. Will Grimes keep the momentum going or will Enofe end Grimes’ title hopes? We hear from Wes Lee. What will the former tag champion have to say? And in the main event, the Don of NXT, Tony D’Angelo, challenges Carmelo Hayes for the North American Title. Will Hayes remain the A-Champ or will Tony D have gold around his waist?
GOOD Solo Sikoa vs Grayson Waller: before the match started Grayson Waller opened on the mic but Sikoa could only take so much and started the fight early. Later on, Waller ripped off a turnbuckle cover as Sikoa tried to carry him off. Waller was unable to get in any offense other than a few punches for much of the match, as Sikoa dominated. The exposed turnbuckle turned out to be critical, as Solo Sikoa hurt his back on it after whiffing on a corner attack on Grayson Waller. A stunner from Waller and this one was over.
Results: Grayson Waller by Pinfall via Stunner
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
Tony D’Angelo promised there would be hell to pay for Santos Escobar if D’Angelo left NXT without a belt.
A video package announces JD McDonagh will be coming to NXT 2.0.
ABOVE AVERAGE Katana Chance and Kayden Carter vs Valentina Feroz and Yulisa Leon: Leon danced her way into a dropkick to start off the match. Chance used her body to barricade Leon in the corner, setting up a high dropkick from Carter. In the end, a double stomp from Chance finished off Feroz.
Results: Katana Chance and Kayden Carter by Pinfall via Double Foot Stomp
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.75 Stars
GOOD Wes Lee: as Wes Lee is recounting the emotional highs and lows of the past few months, Trick Williams comes out to ruin the moment. After saying Lee left his friends behind, Lee tells Williams he will always be second fiddle to Carmelo Hayes. Williams ends the segment by saying he’ll do what all of Wes Lee’s friends have done, and leaves.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.25
Tiffany Stratton calls out Wendy Choo for her style and personality.
ABOVE AVERAGE Roderick Strong and Damon Kemp vs Joaquin Wilde and Cruz del Toro: some early tension between Strong and Kemp as Strong slapped his partner in the chest in an effort to fire him up. This had an effect as Kemp showed more offense in the form of a slam and then tried to follow up with an elbow drop. Del Toro got his leg hooked by Two Dimes, distracting him from his opponent. This opened the door for Strong to get Cruz Del Toro with a Sick Kick.
Results: Roderick Strong and Damon Kemp by Pinfall via Sick Kick
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.75 Stars
Ikeman Jiro interrupts Giovanni’s interview backstage.
A video package is played pumping up the baby-faced Apollo Crews.
GOOD Toxic Attraction: each member of the faction spends time calling out Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade. Jade and Perez come to the ring to respond to Toxic Attraction. Roxanne Perez tells Jayne and Dolin that she plans to use her automatic title shot on the tag team belts with Cora Jade as her partner. Feeling like Perez and Jade were jumping the line, Katana Chance and Kayden Carter come to the ring to give Perez and Jade a piece of their mind. The war of words quickly turned physical, ending in a brawl.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 stars
Carmelo Hays says in an interview he has no intention of giving up his title.
Indi Hartwell challenges Kiana James to a match next week.
GOOD Cameron Grimes vs Edris Enofe: Grimes hit Enofe with a hurricanrana and then a cross body from the top to get a near fall. Enofe hit Grimes with a suicide dive but was unable to convert on a double stomp from the top. A Cave-In from Grimes finished off Enofe.
Results: Cameron Grimes by Pinfall via Cave-In
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
Thea Hail settles into her room at Chase U and bonds with her roommate, Bodhi Hayward
ABOVE AVERAGE Von Wagner vs Brooks Jensen: Wagner made a point of targeting the injured hand of Brooks Jensen. Jensen was able to get some offense going punctuated by a DDT. Jensen tried to continue the momentum with a move off the corner but Wagner reversed it into an attack on Jensen’s hand. A death valley driver from Wagner finished off Jensen.
Results: Von Wagner by Pinfall via Death Valley Driver
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.5 Stars
Bron Breakker complimented Cameron Grimes on his win but ever the competitor, Grimes only has eyes for Breakker’s belt.
Joe Gacy tells the Dyad how he has reformed their way of thinking.
ABOVE AVERAGE Alba Fyre vs Lash Legend: Legend reversed Fyre’s first attempt at a DDT but Fyre converted on the second attempt. Alba Fyre was able to hit Lash Legend with a Gory Bomb but was unable to land a move off the top rope. Legend then DQ’d herself after hitting Alba Fyre with Fyre’s own bat.
Results: Alba Fyre by Disqualification
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.5 stars Stars
GREAT Tony D’Angelo vs Carmelo Hayes for the North American Championship: early in the match, the supporters of each man lined up on the side of the ring in a staredown. Arguing between the D’Angelo family and Trick Williams distracted Carmelo Hayes. This opened the door for D’Angelo to push Hayes into the stairs. Tony D nearly got the pin after reversing a kick into a suplex. The deciding factor in this match proved to be Santos Escobar, whose loyalty could not be counted on. When the ref was distracted, the Don of NXT begged Escobar to give him the brass knuckles. Escobar deliberately slid the weapon too far past D’Angelo, where they were picked up by Hayes. Hayes used them to deliver the finishing punch to Tony D for the victory.
Results: Carmelo Hayes by Pinfall
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.5 Stars
Overall, this was a decent NXT 2.0, with the main event being the highlight of the show. Tony D’Angelo challenged Carmelo Hayes for the North American Championship. The Don of NXT was looking for his new henchman, Santos Escobar, to be the x-factor. He was, just for the wrong side, giving the brass knuckles to Carmelo Hayes instead of D’Angelo. The other highlight was Wes Lee’s promo. Lee started off the promo showing very real emotion and then the promo was advanced when Trick Williams showed up. The two got in some very good digs at each other, signaling a possible feud upcoming. The lowlights of the show were the Wagner-Jensen match and the Legend-Fyre matches. Neither were bad matches but left a lot of room for improvement. Wagner-Jensen was technically sound but didn’t generate a ton of excitement and lost points for not a lot of storytelling. Meanwhile, the Lash Legend-Alba Fyre match was fine but didn’t last long enough to generate drama. In summary, this episode of NXT 2.0 had a lot of pretty good matches but nothing really memorable.
Matches: 0.5/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.5/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 0.5/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.5/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.75/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 2.75/5 Stars
Photo Credit: WWE
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