As AEW takes over Texas for their biggest show of the year, WWE takes over Atlanta, Georgia for a stacked weekend of wrestling. I don’t know what people are complaining about, competition brings out the best in people and hopefully that means we are in for an incredible weekend of action. We are kicking off the weekend with NXT.
The build for this show has been pretty lacklustre, matches only started being confirmed for this show last week. If you follow my weekly review of WWE, you will know I have been quite critical of NXT for several months. Everything just feels so unfocused and messy. Shawn Michaels did a great job taking over NXT and rebuilding it after Vince McMahon ruined it, but momentum has stagnated for quite some time.
NXT are kicking off WWE’s stacked weekend. Will they get things off with a bang? Or will it be more of a wet fart? Let’s find out.
Generic WWE style opening video package to hype the matches on the card. It covered the major matches pretty well. We are live from the Center Stage Theatre with the usual NXT commentary team. Vic Joseph, Booker T & Corey Graves.
Je’Von Evans vs Jasper Troy
Pretty minimal build here. From what I remember, Je’Von Evans tries to approach Jasper Troy and praise him on his unsuccessful effort against Oba Femi. Troy doesn’t like this and spends the next few weeks beating Je’Von up. Troy wants another shot at Oba, but he is attacked by Evans, setting up this match.
I’m that invested in this one, but I do like to watch Je’Von bounce around with ease. If anyone in NXT can make Troy look great, it is this boy right here. I’m putting my money on Jasper Troy to pick up a dominant victory.
The Match
Evans’ ribs are heavily tapped after the attacks from Troy. He tries to stand toe to toe with the bigger man, showing his boldness with a slap across the face. Troy tries to launch him into the ring post, Evans floats over it and goes for a springboard crossbody but Troy catches him. Evans keeps going for aerial manoeuvres, Troy catches them but Evans manages to counter big power moves. Troy drops Je’Von with a spinebuster on the apron to take control. Jasper continues to target the ribs, launching Evans around ringside with ease.
Troy hits a running splash but he has no desire to get the pin. He continues the punishment, wearing him down with a submission as the NXT faithful chant “Young OG”. Troy continues his slow dissection of Evans, but Je’Von shows heart throwing chops from his knees. Je’Von keeps trying big moves, but he hesitates due to his injuries and gets caught with a slam. Jasper is just lobbing Evans around like a rugby ball.
Je’Von dodges offence and manages to rock Jasper with a flurry of strikes. He goes for a springboard but collapses onto the top rope. Troy misses a Vader Bomb, Evans continues to wear Troy down with strikes and he manages to get the big man down to a knee. Evans finally lands a springboard crossbody for a quick 2 count. Troy catches a springboard cutter attempt, but Evans follows up with his signature bouncy rebound kick that he does. That move is awesome. Big dive to the outside by Je’Von but Troy is not down for long. Evans finally hits a German Suplex on a 3rd attempt, followed by a frog splash but Jasper kicks out.
Troy catches Evans in mid-air with a chokeslam. Evans counters the Black Hole Slam and rolls Jasper Troy up for a shock victory. Jasper is furious at his loss.
Analysis
B Grade – Indeed, Je’Von Evans managed to get the best out of Jasper Troy. They told a simple but very effective story. Jasper Troy was a dominant force that seemingly could not be put down for long, whilst Evans had to fight through injuries and rely on his quickness and ring smarts to get a flash pinfall. Evans did some brilliant work here. He has proved that not only can he bounce and fly around the ring, but he can sell his ass off. Jasper Troy did some solid work here. I was surprised to see him lose, but he is new around here and he can eat some losses early into his career.
Jaida Parker has a pre-record where she hypes up her appearance at Evolution. Also, we get an Instagram video following Channing Lorenzo trying to find someone to challenge him for the Heritage Cup. After contacting a plethora of people online, he gets a response from Head Trainer Matt Bloom, aka A-Train. He meets him at the Performance Center, only to find out that Bloom never accepted anything and his twitter was hacked. Lorenzo turns around and realises that someone has stolen his Heritage Cup.
Sol Ruca & Zaria are interviewed about Sol’s appearing on Smackdown, her match tonight and Evolution. Their promo is briefly interrupted by a DarkState glitch. Oh no.
Sol Ruca (c) vs Izzi Dame, North American Championship
This has been an interesting feud with one woman at the very centre of it. Tatum Paxley. Tatum has been struggling emotionally ever since her friends “went missing” (got released). Sol Ruca and Zaria have sort of been there for her, but never allowed her to be as close to them as they are to each other. Ever the opportunist, The Culling’s Izzi Dame begins approaching Tatum over the weeks and tells her how important she is and how she should hang out with her group. Izzi asks Tatum to accompany her to the ring for a match with a shot at the NXT women’s title up for grabs.
Sol Ruca and Zaria see the manipulation and they try to talk Tatum out of it but she doesn’t listen. They decide to go down and withdraw Tatum from ringside herself, forcing Izzi to wrestle without help and eventually lose. Izzi is pissed and so is Tatum who sees Izzi as a friend and wants to make her own decisions. Paxley fully sides with Izzi and becomes a new member of The Culling. Together, Dame & Paxley defeat Sol Ruca & Zaria, with Izzi pinning the North American champion. Pinning the champion equals getting a shot at the gold. Simple, effective good booking.
I think Sol Ruca walks out still champion here. It would make sense for Izzi to win now if ever, but I want Sol to retain and maybe Tatum is the one to dethrone her. We shall see.
During introductions, Izzi Dame does this weird salute taunt thing and I think she should not do that anymore. It looks goofy.
The Match
Paxley punches Zaria as the bell rings! She runs away and the referee is distracted by them. Dame hits her sit-out spinebuster finish! The referee is late to the pin and Sol manages to get a foot on the rope. What a start!
Izzi hits Sol Ruca with a TKO. She runs at her in the corner but Sol gets a knee up, followed by a missile dropkick. The action spills outside, Sol lands a diving headscissors. Back in the ring, Sol hits a big knee for a 2 count. Dame drops Sol throat first on the ropes, following up with a gut check to regain control. Dame beats up Sol, targeting her offence on the mid-section of Ruca. Sol rolls through a kitchen sink for a near fall, but Izzi is back on top immediately after. She uses a submission, but Sol fights out and starts a comeback. Izzi counters a suplex with a huge boot for a near fall.
Sol fights back and starts her comeback again with a series of running shoulder blocks. Sol goes for a knee, Izzi copies her from early and rolls through into a near fall. Dame goes to the outside, Sol hits a step-up moonsault. That looked like a rough landing for Sol. Ruca hits a Buckshot Lariat but with a springboard instead, it looked a little awkward. Izzi comes off the top with a diving codebreaker for a near fall. Both women struggle to their feet and start trading blows. They trade counters and strikes. Sol stumbles but she manages to pull off a top rope X-Factor but she is too exhausted to get the pin.
Izzi hits a sloppy dropkick. She catches Sol mid-springboard for a huge chokeslam. Izzi lands somewhat of a inverted suplex for a near fall. She goes for a dive, Sol meets her with a superkick. Izzi prevents a Sol Snatcher, but Sol flips out of it. She borrows a move from her partner Zaria, hitting a spear but Paxley puts a foot on the rope. Zaria spears the shit out of Paxley. Sol Ruca lands the Sol Snatcher and retains.
Analysis
B Grade – This was a lot of fun. It started off hot, it slowed down afterwards but it never felt dull. It was a little rough around the edges, a few awkward and sloppy moves but it did not damage the overall quality too much. Unfortunately they built a match around working the mid-section, immediately after a match which was also around mid-section targeting, but they didn’t repeat any moves so it didn’t bother me too much.
Izzi Dame has improved a lot in the ring and she continues to show promise. Sol Ruca has star potential if she continues to grow like she is. Her finisher is awesome.
Lola Vice hype video ahead of her appearance at Evolution. We see Jordynne Grace and Blake Monroe preparing themselves for their match later tonight. Apparently it is the main event! I did not expect that but I am here for it.
Ethan Page (c) vs Ricky Saints, Falls Count Anywhere
Another one of NXT’s better built stories as of late, which isn’t surprised considering it involves the best two wrestlers they have. These “outsiders” got into a rivalry immediately when Ricky Saints debuted in NXT. Saints defeated Shawn Spears for the North American championship, but his celebration was cut short by an attack from Ethan Page. Although Saints retained his championship at Stand & Deliver, Page would win the rematch on TV thanks to a Twisted Grin with a chair.
Saints would be out of action for a little while, but he came back with a vengeance. Page found new allies in The Vanity Project, a trio of youngsters from EVOLVE, to stack the odds against Ricky in a gauntlet match. If Saints wins, he gets his title rematch and he can choose the match stipulation. Considering we are here talking about this match, you can safely assume that he ran the gauntlet successfully.
I am predicting a win for Ricky Saints. I don’t mind if they decide to keep this feud ticking because I love both of these guys.
The Match
Ricky Saints attacks Ethan Page during his entrance and hits a spear early on! Page rolls out and Saints follows him. Ricky has a kendo stick and cracks it over Ethan’s back. Page backdrops Saints over the barricade and he lands very awkwardly on a trash can. Ethan Page uses it as a weapon. Saints and Page fight into and through the crowd. Saints throws Page out the exit door and onto the main concourse! Hell yeah.
Page drives Saints spine first into a pillar, then locks in a Boston Crab. Saints counters Ego’s Edge and the fight continues. Ricky Saints hits a TKO through a merchandise table! It gets a 2 count. They return through the crowd to ringside. Page whips Saints into the steel steps. He grabs a chair and hits him in the gut. He wraps another around Saints’ neck and throws him into the ring post. A callback to Ethan injuring Ricky’s throat.
Ethan Page grabs 2 more chairs, he misses a swing and Saints blasts him with a fire extinguisher spray. He then hits him with it. Ricky Saints separates the steel guardrail and drops it on top of Page before setting it up in the corner of the ring. Ethan counters Saints and drives him neck first into the top turnbuckle. Page sets up 2 chairs and meets Ricky on the top rope. Saints counters and hits a top rope bulldog onto the chair for a near fall.
Saints sets up two chairs but Page backdrops him onto the edge’s of the chairs! He suplexes Saints’ through the guard rail for a near fall. That chair spot always looks sickening. Page sets up 4 chairs and goes for a top rope suplex, but Ricky bites his head. Brutal powerbomb through the chairs by Saints! It gets a near fall.
Both men struggle onto their feet, Ethan Page runs out of the arena backstage but Saints follows him. Ricky uses a flip flop to slap Ethan around. Saints crosses paths with Jasper Troy though and he is in a bad mood. He drops Saints with a black hole slam on a production box. They fight back to the ringside. Saints uses the referee as a wall for a tornado DDT for a near fall. They are on the stage, Ethan throws Saints off the stage through a pair of tables with an Ego’s Edge! He gets the pin and manages to retain.
Analysis
A Grade – Wow. I had high expectations and they managed to overachieve. This was incredible. They maintained a high pace throughout. The story is simple. They fucking hate each other and they were willing to fight anywhere and use anything to maim each other. I loved them leaving the area to fight on the concourse and backstage, this had Attitude Era vibes. Saints used a lot of creative offence around the arena. He also took some of the ugliest bumps in this match my god. This was an absolute war. They sold their hatred perfectly and kept ramping up the offence until the grand finish.
The Jasper Troy appearance makes sense since they were fighting backstage and they entered a room where he was hanging out. He was pissed off from his loss earlier and he reacted to the disturbance. Not sure if I want to see a Jasper Troy vs Ricky Saints feud but I will see how it goes.
One thing I hated here was commentary. Vic Joseph’s constant over-explanation of the rules of a Falls Count Anywhere match was annoying. Booker T not understanding the rules was annoying. Corey Graves tried to keep it all together.
TNA World Championship Contract Signing
TNA Slammiversary is next weekend and we are getting the contract signing for that match right here tonight. Quite interesting that TNA are willing to give this on a WWE show, this is quite a big deal in my mind. I imagine this is doing good business for TNA, but I am worried that they are whoring themselves out to WWE at the expense of their own fanbase. I should ask someone who watches TNA regularly.
Hey Squish Games, are you at all worried that TNA are rejecting their own fans in favour of WWE? Or has the working relationship been a benefit more than a deficit? “I’ll be honest, I’m concerned. The TNA product has felt less interesting since the partnership started early in the year and it does feel like it’s benefitting WWE a lot more than TNA unfortunately.”
Thanks Squish. It seems like my concerns are warranted.
The Segment
Ava hypes up Evolution before talking about the TNA title match at Slammiversary. Mike Santana comes out first to moderate cheers. Commentary put over how he wants to save TNA and restore it to former glory. Next Joe Hendry comes out to a huge reaction, because of course. Hendry wants to take back the gold, redeem himself and lead a new era of TNA. Finally, we have the TNA World Champion, Trick Williams. He gets the usual loud “whoop that Trick” chants. Booker T does his hyped ad-libs. TNA President Carlos Silva is in attendance. Trick is full of smiles whilst Hendry and Santana are serious.
Santana doesn’t take this for granted. Being the standard for TNA on a WWE PLE means something to him, just like the TNA title does. He says Trick takes advantage of the world title, whilst Santana thinks it represents grind and respect. Trick used to have that, but now he has gone soft. Next week, we will find out if “Hollywood Trick” is all sizzle but no steak. Santana hasn’t forgotten about Hendry. He respects his hustle, but he is another obstacle so they have to throw hands. He says TNA will return to it’s roots via him.
Joe Hendry respects Mike but he wants to get back to what he was doing, taking TNA to heights only he can do. He won’t be distracted by Santana. Trick has been using human shields to protect himself, but at Slammiversary he won’t have that luxury. He will be behind enemy lines at TNA and Joe Hendry will make him believe.
Finally, Trick Williams asks if they are all good now. He wants them to enjoy the moment of being at NXT with Trick Williams. Trick tells them to put respect on the TNA champion’s name. He is HIM and they are not HIM. He has the stroke, the midas touch and he is the man carrying two brands. This ain’t about believing or making promises, it is about getting the job done. Trick is the greatest TNA champion of all time. The fans start chanting for AJ Styles. Trick knows that they’re upset he had some help, but he doesn’t need an entourage to whoop both their ass next week.
The contract is now signed by everyone. Trick leaves but Hendry pulls him back. He and Mike don’t agree on much but they agree on 2 things. The TNA title is coming back home, and Trick talks too much. They put Trick through the table. Hendry poses with the TNA title, Santana gets in his face to end the segment…or not.
DarkState appear and attack Joe Hendry and Mike Santana. Trick Williams avoids the assault.
Analysis
C+ Grade – Contract signings are reliably a fun affair. This was a solid segment to build hype for Slammiversary. DarkState’s appearance is fine I guess, I just didn’t really care about it. Santana and Hendry are likable faces so their words connected with the audience. Trick’s promo game is really strong here too.
Hype packages for Kelani Jordan and Tony D’Angelo. It is revealed that Tony is the one who stole the Heritage Cup. He puts it in a bin bag and throws it into the river! “sleep with the fishes.” That is a nice callback to when they did that to a former member of The Family. Does that mean the Heritage Cup is going to be retired? It makes sense if so, there are plenty of titles in NXT and this one never felt that special.
Yoshiki Inamura reminds Briggs that he wants to win the NXT championship with honour.
Oba Femi (c) vs Yoshiki Inamura, NXT Championship
Pretty straight forward build. The dominant champion wanted a new challenger and he found one in rising star Yoshiki Inamura. Inamura defeated Jasper Troy and earned himself a match. What started off as a peaceful battle of respect might end up devolving into something personal thanks to Josh Briggs, Yoshiki’s tag partner. Briggs says that he will help Inamura win anyway he can, teasing that he will screw Oba over if he must. Inamura seems like he wants to do things the right way though.
Although there isn’t much story, I am excited at the possible banger this could be. I think Oba is retaining and a Josh Briggs heel turn is cooking.
The Match
These big boys lock up and collide to a stale mate. Both men try to overpower each other and bring their opponent to their knees. Oba manages to bring him down to the mat with a headlock, Inamura powers up. Oba catches a running splash and throws him over his shoulder. Inamura gets up immediately and Oba smiles. Inamura throws Oba across the ring and hits a shoulder tackle for a 1 count. Oba goes outside, Yoshiki runs on the apron right into a meaty chop from the champion. Inamura counters him and lands a diving battering ram from the apron.
A spinning scoop slam by Inamura gets a 2. Femi drops Inamura with a Big Ending for a 2 count. Femi wears down Inamura and mocks Briggs a little. He drops Yoshiki with a front suplex on the top rope for a 2. The Ruler is in firm control now, a series of gut busters gets a 2 count. Inamura powers out of a submission and gets a pair of near falls. He runs right into a big spinebuster for a 2 count. Oba and Yoshiki duel over a suplex, Inamura wins the contest. He peppers Femi with sumo style strikes, trapping him in the corner with strikes. A great strike combination finally drops Oba. Inamura with a dead lift German Suplex for a near fall.
Inamura goes for the top rope splash, Oba counters and leap frogs him. Oba hits a running uppercut but takes out the referee. Oba goes for his finish, but Briggs uses the NXT title as a weapon! Yoshiki sets up the splash, but he gets distracted realising Briggs has the title in his hands. Inamura eventually lands the splash but the referee is not there. Briggs tries to hand Inamura his chain, Inamura refuses and turns around into a big chokeslam for a great near fall.
Oba and Yoshiki trade huge forearms and chops. The fighting spirit is on display by both men. Inamura hits an awesome sit-out powerbomb for a near fall. Inamura is distracted by Briggs, Oba runs at him and takes out Briggs. He goes for a roll up but Femi kicks out. The Ruler catches Yoshiki with the Fall From Grace and pins him to win.
Analysis
B+ Grade – This was a great powerhouse contest between these two. Yoshiki Inamura stood by his morals and refused to take a shortcut even if he had an opportunity to win numerous times. I liked Briggs’ involvement, it never felt too much and it all made sense with the story being told.
It will be interesting to see where things go from here. Who will step up next? What will happen with Inamura & Briggs? I still sense a heel turn incoming.
Trick Williams speaks to Ava upset about his attack. Ava questions the DarkState involvement and assumes that Trick is working with them. She reveals that Trick is teaming with his opponents to face DarkState next week. HOW CAN THEY CO-EXIST?!? I don’t care. They better not reveal that Trick has been leading DarkState all this time because that contradicts what was previously told in the past when he was feuding with Oba Femi and Je’Von Evans. Speaking of Oba…
Oba Femi says the right man won though he feels bad for Yoshiki Inamura. Yoshiki approaches him and thanks him for the challenge, then apologising for the interference. Oba Femi is willing to give him a rematch without Briggs’ involvement. Briggs charges in and gets into a shoving contest before they are separated.
Jordynne GraCe & Blake Monroe vs Fatal Influence
The women’s division has been a consistent positive in NXT for the longest time. Although I admit ever since the debut of Blake Monroe and the announcement of Evolution, things have been a bit messy. Cannot deny the hype for this one though. Blake Monroe makes her NXT debut, plus we get a teaser ahead of the NXT women’s title match taking place at Evolution.
Jordynne Grace won an Evolution Eliminator tournament to earn herself a shot at the NXT women’s title. Blake Monroe debuted by interrupted newly crowned Jacy Jayne, who shocked the world by defeating Stephanie Vaquer for the title. Blake had her momentum cut immediately after a week of being in NXT, she got attacked during her contract signing and then we didn’t see her at all for a couple of weeks. Monroe would return and help Jordynne against the numbers of Fatal Influence, setting up this match. This is surely going to be a debut win for team Monroe.
I know that she is a new hire, but I find it pretty baffling that they have not announced Blake Monroe appearing at Evolution in anyway. A hot new female signing, with an all-women’s PLE in the near future? That is an easy homerun is it not?
The Match
Jordynne Grace and Fallon Henley start the match. Henley lights her up with a chop but Grace no-sells it. They go counter for counter before Grace starts to dominate early. She slams Henley hard so she tags out to Jacy Jayne for an Evolution preview. They trade pin attempts until the champion calls for a time out. Grace tags in Blake Monroe to wrestle for the first time in NXT. She is crazy over as I expected. Blake and Jacy lock up, they do some nice chain wrestling with arm wringers. Monroe sends Jacy into the corner with a dropkick, so Henley tags in.
Another dropkick by Monroe to Henley. Grace tags in and scoop slams Blake onto Henley. Blake and Grace do some good tandem offence, Blake hits an airplane spin side slam for a 1 count. Jacy distracts the referee, allowing Jazmyn Nyx to cheap shot Blake Monroe. Fatal Influence begin to wear down Monroe in their corner. Monroe escapes and tags Grace in to run wild. She takes out Fatal Influence on her own, hitting a double Northern Lights suplex. Chants for “muscle muffin”. Grace chases Nyx on the outside, running into a pump kick from Jacy Jayne.
Fatal Influence work together to wear down Jordynne Grace. After a few minutes of beat down, Grace finally manages a counter and drops Henley with a Death Valley Driver. She gets the hot tag to Blake Monroe who runs wild. Monroe hits a Stratusphere and a dropkick for a 2 count on Jacy. They fight on the apron, Blake goes for a powerbomb but Nyx gets involved again behind the referee’s back. Henley hits a blockbuster for a 2 count. Monroe lands a headbutt and falls into a tag from Grace. She and Henley fight near the entrance ramp, Henley drills her with a spear but cannot capitalise. Monroe and Jayne both tag in and trade big strikes.
Blake Monroe hits a German suplex. Henley distracts the referee and again Nyx gets involved. Then, TNA Knockouts champion Masha Slamovich comes out and fights Nyx! A double team move by Fatal Influence gets a near fall, Grace breaking it up. All 4 women get into a scrap. Henley does a tiger feint kick on Grace. Jayne and Monroe go counter for counter. Grace hits a spinning backfist to Jayne, allowing Monroe to hit a double underhook DDT to pin the NXT women’s champion in her debut match.
Analysis
B Grade – A good tag match. This was all about showcasing the debuting Blake Monroe and I think she did a great job. All of her work looked great and she is clearly mega star material. Everyone in this match wrestled well, though I think this exposed Fallon Henley as the weaker of the 4. She still worked hard though. Jacy Jayne is doing great heel work. I cannot remember the last time I saw a woman in NXT get the level of heel heat that she is getting.
The finish makes sense to put over Blake Monroe strong. I imagine that Jacy will find a way to retain at Evolution, setting up Monroe to be the one to dethrone her. Masha Slamovich was a cool surprise even if it was brief. More set up for TNA Slammiversary.
Blake Monroe and Jordynne Grace celebrate together to close the show.
Final Thoughts
B+ Overall Grade – WWE’s weekend got off to a strong start with a consistently great show. Not a single bad match, not a single bad performance. Everyone worked hard to put on a show and they all did incredibly well.
The Falls Count Anywhere match is by far the match of the night. It was a fantastic slice of chaos. Everything else though was absolutely worth watching. Blake Monroe and Je’Von Evans are the performers who really stood out to me tonight. They were both operating at the highest level.
Although a mediocre build to the show, NXT Great American Bash knocked it out of the park with a really fun show.
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