NXT Tag Team Championships: Chase University VS The Family
NXT started with “the press” trying to interview Andre Chase over this ongoing investigation that’s currently taking place. This led straight into the first match of the night as Chase University look to focus on retaining their NXT Tag Team Championships against The Family. The in-ring action was solid enough, but the more interesting aspect of this contest was the fact that members of the Chase U Student Section started to leave midway through the contest till there was no one left. This clearly bothered Mr. Chase who lost his focus, and in the end, his and Duke Hudson’s Tag Team Titles as a result as Tony D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo hit Bada Bing, Bada Boom to get the victory. I didn’t like this because Chase U only recently won these Titles and also, The Family’s reign was pretty poor.
Grade: C-
Supernova Sessions (Featuring Alpha Academy), Lash Legend VS Roxanne Perez: Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match, Warrior’s Tea Ceremony
After Lita announced her picks for tonight’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying matches, Baron Corbin and Dominik Mysterio praised one another backstage. It was then time for the return of Supernova Sessions and I’ll give Noam Dar and Meta-Four some props because I was actually slightly looking forward to this. Noam had his NXT Heritage Cup locked up (a bit like Maleficent’s wings in the 2014 film) due to having “criminals” on the show. Those “criminals” were none other than Alpha Academy and this turned into a slightly funny, but also slightly annoying show. However, it was mostly alright and Otis “flirting” with Lash Legend and Lash’s response to it was quite good. Also, Noam Dar agreed to put his Heritage Cup on the line next week as it looked like it was going to be Otis who would be facing him for the Cup. However, this was all a big ruse as it was revealed that Chad Gable will be Supernova 11’s next challenger which should be quite a good match.
Grade: C+ (I can’t really give it any higher or lower)
This then led straight into a Qualifying match for a spot in this year’s Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge as Lash Legend looked to tackle last year’s winner, Roxanne Perez. I actually think Lash Legend is a decent in-ring performer and I much prefer her work in the ring to her character and mic game. Still, it felt pretty obvious that Roxanne Perez was going to win this match so when Kiana James showed up to cost Perez the match as Legend got the win with a Powerbomb, I was pleasantly surprised. Roxanne is most likely going to find herself in the match anyway thanks to the Last Chance Qualifier (NXT and WWE’s favourite match) and I like that it’s not just Noam Dar who’s getting featured opportunities from Meta-Four. However, Jakara Jackson showing up to distract the referee despite already being chucked out earlier in the contest was a bit stupid (twice in two days something like this has happened).
Grade: C+
A bunch of the NXT Tag Team Division were just hanging out backstage as were Axiom and Nathan Frazer. This made me sad as Axiom and Frazer were the stars of NXT this time last year and now they’re not doing anything. Anyway, Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo walked in as did the new NXT Tag Team Champions Tony D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo so I’m assuming that that’s going to be the next Title feud. We then saw Lyra Valkyria watching/doing film study before she got an invite to a “Warrior’s Tea Ceremony”. We then went straight to this as Lyra sat down with Xia Li as the two exchanged words whilst also talking about tea. Xia told the NXT Women’s Champion that this is tradition in her heritage, but The Morgen decided against drinking the tea which was probably both a fair and safe move. The two then bowed at each other as a sign of respect. This was a very strange segment that didn’t make a lot of sense given Lyra Valkyria literally said last week that she doesn’t respect Xia Li. Still, the background looked cool and this is the best thing that Xia’s done in ages (which isn’t saying a lot).
Grade: C+
Joe Coffey VS Trick Williams: Men’s Iron Survivor Qualifying Match, The Brawling Brutes VS OTM, Arianna Grace VS Gigi Dolin
Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams seemed to be back on the same page backstage before we saw Kiana James gloating in the NXT Women’s Locker room. This resulted in Gigi Dolin and Arianna Grace getting into an argument (even though it was mostly Gigi who seemed to have an issue). Bron Breakker then spoke about Von Wagner before Dijak walked in and made his feelings surrounding Bron known. Breakker then told Dijak that he’d better hope that he doesn’t find a way into the Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge match before he referenced Retribution. That group annoys me greatly as it could’ve and should’ve been really cool. Anyway, it was then time for the second Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifier as Joe Coffey and Trick Williams fought for a spot in the Men’s match. This was a totally fine match that continued to build the fact that Carmelo Hayes doesn’t necessarily have Trick Williams’ best interests at heart. Still, Trick was able to beat Coffey with the running knee and that was the right call as “the leader” of Gallus certainly doesn’t deserve to be featured at NXT Deadline.
Grade: C+
Wes Lee and Ilja Dragunov praised each other backstage before Wes told Ilja that he’s got his eyes on other things (in regards to Dragunov asking Lee about the NXT Championship). I’m not so sure that I believe The Kardiak Kid. Anyway, Baron Corbin and Lexis King were then the ones to be praising one another before The Brawling Brutes came out as they ready for a fight with OTM. I’ll be honest, I really don’t enjoy watching OTM as something about them just puts me off. It also doesn’t help Bronco Nima and Lucien Price’s cause that Scrypts is hanging out with them because his character’s really bad. In the end, The Brutes got the win as they should.
Grade: C
Joe Gacy cut another eerie video promo, but this time, he was on the top of the WWE Performance Center. Gacy then decided to throw the camera off the roof which led to it smashing on the floor and I really hope that was a cheap bit of equipment because NXT certainly aren’t using that camera again. Gigi Dolin then made her way down to the ring as it was time for her to go one-on-one with Arianna Grace. This match felt like the old NXT 2.0 women’s matches where neither competitor seemed confident enough to lead the proceedings. I do like Arianna Grace’s character, but it’s understandably going to take her a bit of time to become a good in-ring worker after being out with an injury for over a year. Gigi ended up getting the victory with the Gigi Driver and I’m assuming this will lead to Dolin qualifying for the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge.
Grade: C
Baron Corbin VS Wes Lee
After a really nice video package highlighting the journey of both Von Wagner and Mr. Stone, an argument between Eddy Thorpe and Charlie Dempsey, and Chase University driving off in a car, it was Main Event time as Baron Corbin and Wes Lee clashed. I think both Baron and Wes are good in-ring workers so it was nice to see this match. It was especially nice however to see Corbin looking so strong as he does possess all the tools to be a top-level player in NXT (and maybe even beyond). Still, his opponent was Wes Lee and that’s a guy that Shawn Michaels has booked incredibly strong over the past few years. In the end, a distraction from the NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio and a massive End of Days was enough for Lee to be “put down” by Corbin. After the match, Ilja Dragunov ran down to make the save before The Lone Wolf dropped the NXT Champion with an even cooler End of Days. The show then went off the air with Dragunov challenging Corbin to a match at NXT Deadline which should be good fun. I thought this was a good Main Event that made Baron Corbin look really strong (which is a good thing).
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