Indi Hartwell starts the show, Pretty Deadly VS The Family
After a recap package showcasing what went down on a historic NXT Stand and Deliver, Alicia Taylor welcomed the brand-new NXT Women’s Champion Indi Hartwell to the ring. Indi thanked the crowd for their continued support before she talked about how after she lost the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship with Candice, she wasn’t even sure if she was going to win another title again. She also said that she grant Roxanne Perez the first shot at her title as a sign of respect. However, Zoey Stark came out and she wasn’t happy that Indi “fluked” her way to the NXT Women’s Championship. Stark then said that the only good thing about Indi winning is she’s a beatable champion and the two then agreed to have a championship match tonight. I thought this was fine.
Grade: C+
Pretty Deadly then made their entrance as they were about to take on the Family in tag team action. I thought this match was pretty decent, Pretty Deadly are always excellent and I thought both Tony D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo looked good. It was also a pretty even contest, but the lads from Essex would always find a way to get back in control. In the end, that’s how they won the match as whilst the referee was checking on D’Angelo, Kit Wilson hid his face under the ring apron which was now in the ring and when Tony D pulled Wilson out, the referee realised that Kit wasn’t the legal man which allowed Elton Prince to throw the Don into the exposed turnbuckle (it was pulled off earlier on in the match) and get the victory with a crucifix pin. Pretty Deadly are just terrific.
Grade: B-
Dijak VS Odyssey Jones, Dragon Lee VS Nathan Frazer
Jacy Jayne cut a promo and she seemed very happy with herself for costing Gigi Dolin the NXT Women’s Championship at NXT Stand and Deliver. Jayne then said that she’s going to “break Gigi’s will next” after breaking her spirit at Stand and Deliver. Dijak then did his really cool entrance as he was about to go one-on-one with Odyssey Jones. This match was set up after their altercation in last week’s 20-man Battle Royal and I thought both men put on a decent showing in this match. Dijak is clearly a great professional wrestler and Odyssey Jones is definetly getting closer to his best. At one point, Dijak was able to pick up Jones and slam him down for a close near fall. Dijak then followed this up with a moonsault to get the victory. Dijak then screamed at the camera that he’s now really pissed off and I expect him to get another title match with Wes Lee at some point.
Grade: C+
Gallus cut a promo backstage and they said that they are even more of a dominant force now that Joe Coffey is back. Joe then said that he’s going to bring his own bit of gold to the group sooner rather than later. All of a sudden, we then got a match between Dragon Lee and Nathan Frazer! I was absolutely stunned by this, but before the match started, Noam Dar showed up with the NXT UK Heritage Cup trophy. Dar announced that he is now officially a part of the NXT roster and if one of them impresses him tonight, he may well give them a shot at the trophy down the line. The match then started and it was great! I don’t know what it is with Nathan Frazer, but he delivers high-quality action every time he steps in the ring. Dragon Lee also looked amazing in this match with both his high-flying offense, but also his stiff strikes. Lee then showcased great power when he hit a Powerbomb for a really close near fall. Straight after this, Dragon Lee delivered a big running knee to get the victory. Very good, just need Frazer to start winning some matches soon.
Grade: B+
NXT Women’s Championship: Indi Hartwell VS Zoey Stark
Andre Chase thanked Tyler Bate for helping Chase University before he told Duke Hudson that he wasn’t going to celebrate his help because Duke had said in the past that he doesn’t like ceremonies. However, “the Duke” got all fired up and said his complaints were regarding getting a certificate for one victory, not for saving the whole University. Mr. Chase agreed and announced that next week, Duke Hudson will receive the Chase University MVP award. This was short and I liked it. Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn then did another ritual and this time they said that even though they are now NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions, their work still isn’t complete. Wes Lee then spoke to McKenzie Mitchell backstage about his big win on Saturday and the North American Champion said he was delighted with the opponents he chose for the match. Wes then said that Axiom impressed him the most and because of that, the masked superhero will get a title match tonight. Speaking of championship matches, the NXT Women’s Championship was on the line as Indi Hartwell looked to retain against Zoey Stark. This match was fine, there wasn’t anything wrong with it, but there wasn’t anything particularly great about it. Zoey Stark is always good in the ring though so she definitely carried Indi through this match, but that’s not to say that the new NXT Women’s Champion wasn’t bringing it. In the end, it looked like Zoey was going to get the win after nailing Hartwell with the Z360, but unfortunately for Stark, Indi fell out of the ring. Stark then chucked her back in and this allowed Indi Wrestling to sneak a victory with a small crucifix pin. Zoey was clearly angry at this as Indi celebrated in the ring. Tiffany Stratton’s music then hit and she made her intentions clear on the ramp before Cora Jade made her return to NXT by dropping Hartwell and holding up the gold. I expect this was the last time we will see Zoey Stark in NXT, but it’s clear that Hartwell still has some terrific challengers to face.
Grade: C+
Ivy Nile VS Tatum Paxley, Wes Lee VS Axiom: NXT North American Championship
Kiana James was not happy with Brooks Jensen backstage over what happened at Stand and Deliver. Fallon Henley then walked in and straight away told Brooks that Kiana was cheating on him. Kiana didn’t deny this, but she did say she realised how much he meant to her when they kissed, but she’s not sure if Brooks feels the same way. Insert shrug emoji! Ivy Nile was then about to have a match with her old tag team partner Tatum Paxley, but before that could happen, some random guy showed up and he started handing people out his business card. Ivy Nile then choked him out in the Dragon Sleeper. I honestly can’t tell you what this guy's name is because I can’t find him anywhere. Ivy Nile then took on Tatum Paxley and it was a pretty short match. I do like both Nile and Paxley though so I thought this was alright and Nile was made to look particularly impressive as she picked up the win with the Dragon Sleeper. Hopefully, this could be the start of Ivy Nile getting the push she deserves in NXT, but I am a bit worried for Tatum Paxley’s future in both NXT and the WWE.
Grade: C
Ilja Dragunov was backstage in a smart suit and he didn’t seem too happy with losing out on winning the NXT North American Championship at Stand and Deliver. Von Wagner then came up to him and called him a loser so Dragunov took a shot at Wagner for not even being good enough to get a qualifying match for Stand and Deliver which is just genius. Mr. Stone then walked in and told Von that he’ll get him a match with Dragunov, but if he loses, Mr. Stone is done with him. Mr. Stone is clearly done with Von Wagner then. The NXT North American Championship was then on the line as Wes Lee took on Axiom. I thought this was a pretty decent match, maybe even a good match. Both guys are excellent in-ring workers and I really liked the story of the two guys reversing each other's big moves. I especially liked that as Wes Lee was going for the Cardiac Kick, he changed direction at the last moment and hit a stomp to Axiom’s chest. Why, because the champion learnt from Stand and Deliver which saw Axiom wreck him with the Golden Ratio. In the end, it was Wes Lee who hit his finisher first (the Cardiac Kick) and that resulted in the champion retaining his title. After the match, Scrypts sent an eerie message to his fellow masked competitor before he tried to jump him from behind. However, Axiom’s a smart competitor so he connected with a dropkick first.
Grade: B-
The Beginning of the Him Era
McKenzie Mitchell spoke to Nathan Frazer backstage and he said that he hopes his fortunes will turn around soon. He then had a lightbulb moment and looked pretty happy. We then got a video highlighting three NXT Superstars who are “Coming Soon”. They are Tank Ledger, Dani Palmer and Oba Femi. Let’s hope they’re good at what they do. The Main Event segment of the show was then a celebration for the brand-new NXT Champion. Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams came out to a big cheer and the two seemed very much in a celebratory mood. However, Carmelo Hayes wanted to show respect to Bron Breakker so he asked him to come down to the ring. Melo said that he wanted to thank Bron for everything he’s done for NXT before the two shook hands. As Bron lifted Hayes' arm up in a show of respect, Breakker then shockingly dropped Melo with a clothesline before he laid out Trick Williams with the Military Press Slam. He then wrecked the brand-new NXT Champion with a Spear for good measure. On paper, Bron should’ve shown up on Raw yesterday. However, that didn’t happen and who knows when that’s going to happen. Because of this, I liked this, I think Bron as a heel makes perfect sense. Why, because the crowd doesn’t like him and he’s a good wrestler who is capable of having great wrestling matches. Whilst Bron VS Melo I was all about respect and seeing who the top guy in NXT is, Hayes VS Breakker II is personal.
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