This was a good episode of NXT. The action was good and the stories are being set up for Stand and Deliver. The highlight of the show was the main event in which Bron Breakker and Carmelo Hayes teamed up to defeat Pretty Deadly. The action was good and they did a good job of building up chemistry throughout the match while still keeping their rivalry in view. The lowlight of the show was the match between Ivy Nile and Lyra Valkyria. The match was just ok.
Two great matches but nothing amazing keeps the match rating at 0.5. The show structure was mostly good but some segments slowed it down, most notably the debate with Chase U. atmosphere was good at times but not so good at others. Storytelling was pretty good as most stories were advanced but nothing that makes you jump out of your seat. The production value was high as always but nothing special about this episode.
On tonight’s episode of NXT: Tiffany Stratton faces Indi Hartwell in Championship Qualifying Match. Who advances to the ladder match at Stand and Deliver? Ilja Dragunov battles with JD McDonagh. Will Dragunov defeat his old rival? And Chase U has a debate with Schism.
ABOVE AVERAGE Pretty Deadly confronted by Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams:
The British duo ripped into the fashion choices of Carmelo Hayes and Bron Breakker until Hayes interrupted. Later, Trick Williams signed Hayes up for a tag match with his Stand and Deliver opponent, Bron Breakker. This segment ended with Breakker and Hayes throwing Pretty Deadly out of the ring.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.75 stars
Trick Williams explained why he volunteered Hayes to tag with Bron Brekker.
GOOD Tiffany Stratton vs Indi Hartwell in a qualifier match:
The two traded blows early on but eventually, Stratton took control with a suplex. Later, Stratton got the boo birds going after knocking Hartwell off the apron. Indi Hartwell recovered and nearly won the match on a spinebuster. It wasn’t enough, as Stratton won the match on a moonsault.
Results: Tiffany Stratton by Pinfall via Moonsault
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
The Creed Brothers played a series of bar games with Gallus. Later, the Creeds and Tony D’Angelo both asked for a title shot.
Tiffany Stratton trash-talked Gigi Dolin about the ladder match.
GOOD Wes Lee:
Lee explained that his open challenges come from wanting to pay it forward to those who are as hungry to win as he was. Then, Dragon Lee came to the ring and asked for a spot in the title match at Stand and Deliver. In the end, JD McDonagh interrupted to move the show along to his match with Ilja Dragunov.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
Fallon Henley finally confronted Kiana James about the cheating she believes James is doing.
GREAT JD McDonagh vs Ilja Dragunov:
After trading punches, Dragunov and McDonagh fell to the ground. Later, Dragunov took his opponent to suplex city. He further wore down McDonagh with some machine gun chops. McDonagh fought back, however, getting a two count with a powerbomb. The two became so focused on each other that they crashed into Dragon Lee. The match came to an end after McDonagh punched Lee and he responded in kind. Wes Lee jumped from the ring onto JD McDonagh at the end of the segment.
Results: JD McDonagh by Disqualification
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.5 Stars
Wes Lee gave spots into his title match to JD McDonagh and Ilja Dragunov before announcing the final spot will go to the winner of a battle royale.
GOOD Javier Bernal and Johnny Gargano:
Bernal got some serious heat by coming out to Johnny Gargano’s music. Then, Gargano actually came to the ring and beat Javi up and out of the ring. Johnny Gargano then took to the mic to raise the stakes in his feud with Grayson Waller to an unsanctioned match. Waller then came on the titantron and told Gargano he will agree to the stipulation if Gargano stays away from NXT next week while the contract is signed.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
Eddy Thorpe (Karl Fredericks) is coming to NXT next week.
ABOVE AVERAGE Ivy Nile vs Lyra Valkyria in a qualifier match:
The two traded pin attempts early in the match. Nile went for a couple of submission moves later on when Valkyria countered them. She won on a roundhouse kick to earn a spot in the ladder match at Stand and Deliver.
Results: Lyra Valkyria by Pinfall via Roundhouse Kick
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.5 Stars
Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre attacked Fallon Henley and Kiana James backstage. Afterward, James promised to tell Brooks Jensen the truth.
Various wrestlers walked past Wes Lee promising to win the battle royale and face Lee at Stand and Deliver.
Chase U and Schism had a debate that ended with Chase U issuing a challenge for a match. Duke Hudson upped the stakes by offering control of Chase U to the winner.
GREAT Pretty Deadly vs Bron Breakker and Carmelo Hayes:
Pretty Deadly double-teamed Hayes outside the ring but Breakker came to his aid. Later, PD dropped Hayes with a DDT and got a two-count out of it. Melo was stuck in the ring for a long time but finally tagged in Bron Breakker. Breakker came in hot by suplexing each of his opponents. In the end, Hayes and Bron Breakker sound chemistry. They hit Kit Wilson with a codebreaker, spear, and leg drop for the win.
Results: Bron Breakker and Carmelo Hayes by Pinfall via Leg Drop
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.5 Stars
Overall…
This was a good episode of NXT. The action was good and the stories are being set up for Stand and Deliver. The highlight of the show was the main event in which Bron Breakker and Carmelo Hayes teamed up to defeat Pretty Deadly. The action was good and they did a good job of building up chemistry throughout the match while still keeping their rivalry in view. The lowlight of the show was the match between Ivy Nile and Lyra Valkyria. The match was just ok.
Two great matches but nothing amazing keeps the match rating at 0.5. The show structure was mostly good but some segments slowed it down, most notably the debate with Chase U. atmosphere was good at times but not so good at others. Storytelling was pretty good as most stories were advanced but nothing that makes you jump out of your seat. The production value was high as always but nothing special about this episode.
Matches: 0.5/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 0.5/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.5/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.75/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 3/5 Stars
Photo Credit: WWE
For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here:
