This was a decent episode of NXT: the matches were ok but stories were advanced as the heat built up between Grayson Waller and Johnny Gargano. Also, each of the champions either knows their next challenger or a plan is in place to determine one. The highlight of the show was the tag match between Gallus and Pretty Deadly. Lowlight was the match between Kiana James and Gigi Dolin.
None of the matches were great, hurting ratings. The show structure was hurt by a lot of short segments towards the end. The atmosphere was ok and inconsistent throughout. Rivalries intensified but it’s unclear if Roxanne Perez will actually defend her title. Production was good but the show lacked a specific theme.
On tonight’s NXT: Bron Breakker and Carmelo Hayes sign the contract for their title match. WHo’s getting put through the table? Johnny Gargano returns to NXT. What does he have to say in his first words since he left? And Gallus defends the tag team titles. Will Pretty Deadly win the titles back or will Gallus retain?
GOOD Johnny Gargano:
Gargano told the crowd that he has some unfinished business in NXT. Then he lit into Grayson Waller for what he said about NXT, Gargano’s home. The promo ended abruptly when Vic Joseph told Gargano that Waller was at the Gargano household. Johnny Wrestling then went running out of the ring.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.25 stars
Wes Lee was shown arriving at the Performance Center ahead of his open challenge.
GOOD Pretty Deadly vs Gallus:
Despite an inside cradle from Kit Wilson, Gallus controlled the match early with the help of several shoulder drags. Pretty Deadly gained momentum when Elton Prince got in a cheap shot to help a struggling Wilson. They nearly stole the victory and the titles when Kit Wilson hit Coffey in the back of the head with one of the belts. Despite this tomfoolery, Gallus retained the NXT Tag Team Championships.
Results: Gallus by Pinfall
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
In their effort to dig up dirt on Kiana James, Josh Briggs and Fallon Henley discover James received flowers and a note from someone named Sebastian.
Shawn Michaels announced on Twitter several qualifying matches to crown a potential new Women’s Champion at Stand and Deliver, should Roxanne Perez be unable to compete. A doctor then provided more details on Perez’s medical condition
GOOD Sol Ruca vs Zoey Stark in a qualifying match for Stand and Deliver:
Stark quickly rolled out of the ring when Rucca got off to a hot start. Sol Rucca then showed impressive athleticism with a codebreaker and later avoided a strike. She got the crowd hot with a moonsault from the top rope onto the floor outside the ring. It wasn’t enough, as Stark won with a GTS.
Results: Zoey Stark by Pinfall via Belly-to-Back GTS
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
Scrpyts was shown in a brief video package.
GOOD Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre vs Kayden Carter and Katana Chance vs Ivy Nile and Tatum Paxley in a triple threat match:
Lots of pin attempts resulted in the third team breaking up the pin. The turning point came when Tatum Paxley turned on Icy Nile. Fyre and Dawn leaped upon the opportunity created by this turn of events. Dawn hit Kayden Carter with a Backstabber and Fyre followed that up with a Swanton Bomb. As a result, Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre earned a shot at the women’s tag titles at Stand and Deliver.
Results: Isla Dawn by Pinfall via Swanton Bomb
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
With several references to old gangster movies, Bron Breakker turned down Tony D’Angelo’s offer to attack Carmelo Hayes. After Breakker left, D’Angelo told Stacks Lorenzo that the two of them should challenge for the tag titles.
ABOVE AVERAGE Ilja Dragunov:
Dragunov said that he needs to defeat JD McDonagh once and for all if he wants to continue his rise in NXT. McDonagh came to the ring and flipped the blame onto Dragunov. Pointing out that Dragunov drove him out of the UK and then followed him to the US. The two agreed to match and then engaged in a brawl that took them backstage.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.75 Stars
Post loss, Pretty Deadly decided they should host Stand and Deliver.
Andre Chase told Duke Hudson about Chase U’s impact on Hudson. Afterward, Ava Raine walked by and left a mask in the view of Hudson.
Grayson Waller shared a Twitter video of himself outside Johnny Gargano’s house.
The open challenge for the North American Championship ended up as a massive brazil outside the ring.
Dragon Lee talked with McKenzie Mitchell about how excited he is to be in NXT.
Jacey Jayne promised revenge on Gigi Dolin.
ABOVE AVERAGE Apollo Crews vs Dabba-Kato:
Apollo Crews started his offensive before the bell rang, brawling with his opponent outside the ring. Once the match did get started, Crews got off to a hot start until Dabba-Kato landed a big boot. Later, Crews was almost counted out after Dabba-Kato power bombed him onto the stairs. While he beat the count, it wasn’t enough. Dabba-Kato won after a powerbomb.
Results: Dabb-Kato by Pinfall via Chokebomb
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.75 Stars
In order to end the chaotic open challenges, Shawn Michaels offered Wes Lee a fatal five way at Stand and Deliver as a substitute for proving himself.
ABOVE AVERAGE Kiana James vs Gigi Dolin in a qualifying match for Stand and Deliver:
Despite early dominance by Dolin, James had a cross-face submission locked in until Dolin got the rope break. Dolin regained control and won the match on a Gigi Driver. After the match, Kiana James was attacked by Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn.
Results: Gigi Dolin by Pinfall via Gigi Driver
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.5 Stars
Grayson Waller attacked Johnny Gargano outside his home while Candace LeRae and his son looked on.
Kiana James argued with Fallon Henley about why Henley didn’t have her back.
ABOVE AVERAGE Carmelo Hayes and Bron Breakker sign the contract for their championship match:
Pretty Deadly invited themselves to host the contract signing. Bron Breakker told Hayes he wants to face the best possible version of Hayes. Carmelo Hayes responded that he wants the most dangerous version of Breakker. Wilson and Prince kept interrupting, much to the annoyance of the champ and challenger. After signing the contract, Pretty Deadly asked for some drama which Carmelo Hayes and Bron Breakker obliged: by putting them through the table.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.75Stars
Overall…
This was a decent episode of NXT: the matches were ok but stories were advanced as the heat built up between Grayson Waller and Johnny Gargano. Also, each of the champions either knows their next challenger or a plan is in place to determine one. The highlight of the show was the tag match between Gallus and Pretty Deadly. Lowlight was the match between Kiana James and Gigi Dolin.
None of the matches were great, hurting ratings. The show structure was hurt by a lot of short segments towards the end. The atmosphere was ok and inconsistent throughout. Rivalries intensified but it’s unclear if Roxanne Perez will actually defend her title. Production was good but the show lacked a specific theme.
Matches: 0.25/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.5/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 0.5/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.75/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.75/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 2.75/5 Stars
Photo Credit: WWE
For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here:
