This was a good episode of NXT: the show featured some great matches and a memorable promo from Gigi Dolin. That was probably the highlight of the show because the emotion behind it was so real. The Wes Lee-Nathan Frazer match is a close second. The low point of the show was the match between Axiom and Hank Walker. The match was decent but wasn't anything to write home about.
The match rating loses points because none of the matches rose above the rating of great. Show structure loses points because a few above-average segments slowed it down. The crowd noise was good but ebbed at times. Storytelling was hurt by some matches not having a lot of story to them. Production was good as usual but with the same theme.
Tonight on NXT: Gigil Dolin addresses the NXT Universe. What will she say about her former tag team partner? Wes Lee has another open challenge for the NXT North American Championship. Who will answer the call this time? Meiko Satomura goes one on one with Zoey Stark. Will the Final Boss keep up the momentum ahead of her title match with Roxanne Perez? And in the main event, Carmelo Hayes battles Tyler Bate. Will Melo miss in his matchup with the Big Strong Boy?
A brawl broke out amongst the roster to answer Wes Lee’s open challenge. Eventually, Nathan Frazer snuck through the chaos to face the champion.
GREAT Nathan Frazer vs Wes Lee for the North American Championship:
The two have very similar styles and were evenly matched early on. An interesting spot came when they attempted consecutive moves jumping over the top rope and each man moving out of the way. The similarity between the two was the theme of the match, as they hit each other with a crossbody simultaneously. Amazingly, Wes Lee kicked out after a superplex and another suplex from Frazer. In a banger of a match, the champion retained on a Cardiac Kick.
Results: Wes Lee by Pinfall via Cardiac Kick
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.5 Stars
JD McDonagh promised to inflict damage upon Ilja Dragunov, unlike anything he had experienced.
Axiom angrily confronted Hank Walker for getting in the way of him answering Wes Lee’s open challenge.
ABOVE AVERAGE Briggs and Jensen vs Indus Sher:
Problems arose when a love-strick Jensen missed a call from Briggs to tag in. This ended up costing them the match, as Jensen was late on a double team move. Briggs chewed out Jensen for this miscue, allowing Indus Sher to retake momentum. In the finish, Indus Sher won on a clothesline. After the match, Jinder Mahal challenged the Creeds to a tag match at Roadblock next week.
Results: Indus Sher by Pinfall via Clothesline
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.75 Stars
GREAT Gigi Dolin:
Dolin said that Toxic Attraction was a way for her to let her inner demons out. She then went into the abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother and how this shows her toughness. Dolin promised to put the final nail in the coffin of Toxic Attraction when she defeats Jacy Jayne.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.5 stars
Schism interrupted a Chase U class with a video promising to demolish Chase U.
Dijak responded to Tony D’Angelo’s call for Jailbreak Steet Fight and promised to inflict his brand of justice on the Don of NXT.
GOOD Meiko Satomura vs Zoey Stark with Roxanne Perez on commentary:
Satomura had the early advantage after landing a flurry of punches and kicks. Later, Zoey Stark went for a corner move but Satomura knocked Stark down. In the end, Satomura defeated Stark with Scorpio Rising. Post-match, Roxanne Perez stood face-to-face with Satomura in the ring.
Results: Meiko Satomura by Pinfall via Scorpio Rising
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
Katana Chance challenged Tiffany Stratton to a match after Stratton played down the importance of the attack on Wendy Choo.
Damon Kemp rebuffed the Creeds’ request to join them in taking on Indus Sher. Luckily for them, Bron Breakker agreed to join them.
GOOD Sol Ruca vs Elektra Lopez (w/Valentina Feroz):
Ruca showed off her athleticism to avoid strikes from Lopez. However, Lopex gained an advantage after she pushed Sol Ruca off the turnbuckle and onto the floor outside the ring. The key point came when Elektra Lopez went to the corner looking for her brass knuckles. She looked to see that Valentina Feroz had taken them. This distracted Lopez and opened the door for Sol Ruca to hit her finisher. Post-match, Lopez berated Feroz and she responded by punching Lopez with the brass knuckles.
Results: Sol Ruca by Pinfall via Sol Snatcher
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
Gallus got angry at the thought of getting revenge on Pretty Deadly for attacking them.
ABOVE AVERAGE Katana Chance (w/Kayden Carter) vs Tiffany Stratton:
Stratton had Chance locked in a submission hold early in the match but Chance turned things around. Chance was looking to finish off Stratton with a corner move but got distracted when Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn entered the arena. This opened the door for Stratton, who won the match on a moonsault. Tiffany Stratton then issued a challenge for the NXT Women’s Championship.
Results: Tiffany Stratton by Pinfall via Moonsault
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.75 Stars
Briggs offered to talk to Kiana James on Brooks Jensen’s behalf.
Shawn Michaels announced in a tweet that he was accepting Grayson Waller’s invitation to appear on the Grayson Waller Effect.
ABOVE AVERAGE Axiom vs Hank Walker:
Walker flipped a switch after Axiom slapped him across the face. Walker’s ferocity after this allowed him to control the match. He hit Axiom with some vicious clotheslines but Axiom eventually pinned Walker with a Golden Ratio.
Results: Axiom by Pinfall via Golden Ratio
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.75 Stars
GOOD Carmelo Hayes vs Tyler Bate:
These two were evenly matched with neither having an advantage early on. A botch came when the referee appeared to count to three and the fans let him know. Trick Williams tried to interfere but Bate took him out. Later, Carmelo Hayes nearly got the win with a knee and a cutter. Williams interfered again, this time proving crucial in the result. Hayes landed Melo Don’t Miss to defeat Bate.
Results: Carmelo Hayes by Pinfall via Melo Don’t Miss
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
Overall…
This was a good episode of NXT: the show featured some great matches and a memorable promo from Gigi Dolin. That was probably the highlight of the show because the emotion behind it was so real. The Wes Lee-Nathan Frazer match is a close second. The low point of the show was the match between Axiom and Hank Walker. The match was decent but wasn’t anything to write home about.
The match rating loses points because none of the matches rose above the rating of great. Show structure loses points because a few above-average segments slowed it down. The crowd noise was good but ebbed at times. Storytelling was hurt by some matches not having a lot of story to them. Production was good as usual but with the same theme.
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:
