Ilja Dragunov VS Trick Williams, Chase University VS The Dyad
This week’s edition of NXT started with a match between Ilja Dragunov and Trick Williams. I thought both men put on a good showing here and it’s clear to see that NXT management likes them. Dragunov was on top to start with until JD McDonagh came out and joined commentary. This distraction allowed Trick Willy to takeover a bit, but after a hard-hitting shot from the former NXT United Kingdom Champion, the Czar picked up the win with the Torpedo Moscow. Ilja Dragunov is one of the best wrestlers on the entire roster so him winning was definitely the right call, but Trick Williams continues to prove himself as a good candidate to take the North American Championship off of Wes Lee. I’m just really looking forward to Dragunov-McDonagh.
Grade: B
We got a video promo next where Jinder Mahal made it clear why he’s going to win the NXT Championship tonight. I’d honestly completely forgotten that Jinder won the United States Championship at WrestleMania 34. Fallon Henley was then trying to call Brooks Jensen for about the 12th time and Josh Briggs made it clear that she messed up both Brooks’ and her tag team partner’s night last week. Henley realised this and said that she was going to apologise to Kiana James in person. Meiko Satomura was then about to see if anyone could do her workout before Roxanne Perez asked if she could join in. At the end of this segment, only Roxanne was left standing, but Meiko made it clear that that was only the warm-up. Part 2 comes later.
Tyler Bate then came out to the ring and he said he wanted to thank the NXT Universe for their support since he’s came over from NXT UK. As he was about to say what his plans are, The Schism interrupted and as they were about to attack the former NXT UK triple crowner, Chase University arrived to make the save. When we came back from the ad break, Chase U were in the ring battling the Dyad in tag team action. Both of these teams are really good so this was another entertaining match on NXT. The crowd are fully into Chase U as an act whilst Fowler and Reid work so well together. Chase U looked like they were going to pick up the win before Ava went and terrorised Thea Hail on the outside. Mr. Chase jumped out of the ring to protect his number 1 student and that allowed the Dyad to deliver their double knees combo onto Hudson to get the win. After the match, the Duke made it clear that Andre Chase needs to let Thea Hail grow up. Good match, interesting story.
Grade: B
Jacy Jayne VS Indi Hartwell, Gallus VS Edris Enofe and Malik Blade
Mr. Stone was trying to get Von Wagner to tell him about himself before Tony D’Angelo and Stacks made it clear that they weren’t happy with the fact that Von took their opportunity for a shot at Wes Lee last week. Even though Mr. Stone didn’t want Wagner to face D’Angelo, the Don goaded him into a match anyway. Drew Gulak then explained to the world that Hank Walker was never his friend and he came to NXT to work with the best. Charlie Dempsey is the best. Sol Ruca then talked about how everyone in NXT is so different so it’s super hard to be consistent. She then said that she loves trying new things and she won’t stop until she perfects them which is why she is challenging Zoey Stark to another match.
We then got Jacy Jayne’s first match as a solo star as she took on the “veteran” Indi Hartwell. I’ve said before that I think Jacy Jayne has a chance to be a good solo act and she showed that here in this match. She’s a solid competitor who knows her character well. Indi Hartwell also put up a good fight like always, but the story was about the unrelenting aggression from Jayne. Before she could pick up the win, however, she was attacked by her former Toxic Attraction teammate Gigi Dolin. The two brawled to the back before NXT went to a commercial break. Personally, I would’ve had Jacy pick up the win before Gigi attacked her as it pushes Jayne more as a talented singles wrestler whilst still building the feud between them. However, it was a good way to sort of protect Indi Wrestling from being pinned.
Grade: C+
We then got part 2 of Meiko Satomura’s training session where you could tell that Roxanne Perez was living on fumes. However, the NXT Women’s Champion survived and she was taught a valuable lesson by Satomura that heart will win her the match in two weeks, not her strength/ability. I thought this was pretty well done and I always enjoy babyface vs babyface storylines. Zoey Stark was then interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell and she rejected Sol Ruca’s request for a rematch before she challenged Meiko Satomura for a match next week. I think that’s a really exciting matchup, but I’m also slightly worried as I don’t think either woman should lose right now. The Gallus Boys were then out as they were about to take Edris Enofe and Malik Blade. Both of these teams are talented so this was a pretty good match and both teams' styles worked well against each other. Wolfgang and Coffey are bruising powerhouses whilst Enofe and Blade are fast-paced highflyers. In the end though, the NXT Tag Team Champions picked up the win with their tag team finisher. During the match, two guys (who I thought were Pretty Deadly) came out to ringside and they had an anniversary cake. If you wondering what the anniversary was, it was the 2 year anniversary since Pretty Deadly beat Gallus for the NXT UK Tag Team Championships. I’m so glad NXT did this as it’s actually really smart and shows the two teams have a past bigger than what’s happened in America. Pretty Deadly then arrived and attacked Gallus with some chairs before they continued to throw their opponents into the steel steps. This segment ended with Pretty Deadly standing above them, holding the NXT Tag Team Championships! I liked all of this; the match was good, the anniversary cake was clever and adding a more vicious side to Pretty Deadly is only going to make them into an even better tag team.
Grade: B
Tony D’Angelo VS Von Wagner, Alba Fyre VS Ivy Nile
Dabba-Kato made it clear that the reason why he attacked Apollo Crews at Vengeance Day is because he was left behind when Apollo went to NXT. Fair point. Stevie Turner then debuted her new randomiser wheel and it landed on Lyra Valkyria. I liked this as it was sort of a fact file on her so I hope they do more of these. We then got a match between the Don of NXT and Von Wagner. This match didn’t go particularly long and it resulted in Tony D’Angelo picking up the win. After the match, D’Angelo challenged Dijak to a Jailhouse Street Fight at NXT Roadblock. Should be fun.
Grade: C
Nikkita Lyons was backstage and she said that she is hoping to return within a year. Tiffany Stratton then came up to her and mocked her over her injury. She then made it clear that if she was the one to attack Lyons, Nikkita would never return to action. Ivy Nile and Tatum Paxley were then talking in the Diamond Dojo and Ivy eventually convinced Tatum to come out to the ring with her. Isla Dawn has definitely gotten in Pax’s head. Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes were then in the medical room before Tyler Bate came over and congratulated Trick Willy on a great performance at the start of the show. Williams thanked Bate before Melo made sure that Bate has no interest in getting involved in the NXT title picture. This was a setup for their match next week and god, that has potential to be special. Alba Fyre then made her way down to the ring as she was about to go one-on-one with Ivy Nile. This was a solid match that got a bit of time, but it was more about the story. As Ivy looked to be in a good spot, Isla Dawn jumped on the apron whilst Tatum Paxley did the same on the other side. As the referee was dealing with Dawn, Nile accidentally collided with her tag team partner before Fyre got the victory with the Gory Bomb. Solid stuff.
Grade: C+
NXT Championship: Bron Breakker VS Jinder Mahal
We got a video package showcasing Bron Breakker’s run in NXT before Fallon Henley arrived at Kiana James’ new office. Henley apologised to James and the two agreed to move on and work together to defend their tag team titles. Wes Lee then announced that he will be holding another NXT North American Championship open challenge next week before it was time for the main event as Bron Breakker put his NXT Championship on the line against Jinder Mahal. I was actually pleasantly surprised with this match in terms of overall quality. I thought it was going to be pretty poor, but it was actually alright. They both hit some decent moves and it quickly turned into a one-on-one match after the Creed Brothers brawled with Indus Sher, sending Jinder’s buddies to the back. In the end though, as Mahal was going for the Khallas, Breakker reversed and met the Modern Day Maharaja with the Spear to get the win. As Bron celebrated, Melo appeared on the platform, but before we could get the stare-off, the camera cut to the production truck to see Grayson Waller messing with the production team. He then called out Shawn Michaels and told him to show up on the “Grayson Waller Effect” in two weeks at NXT Roadblock. I’m still looking forward to seeing who his opponent at Stand and Deliver is going to be.
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