Here are the results for NXT from the Center Stage Theatre in Atlanta Georgia
Bayley vs Cora Jade
The go-home episode of NXT ahead of Vengeance Day this weekend starts with women’s action. Jade attacks before the bell and this match begins as a brawl. Bayley gets the better of Cora, who rolls out of the ring. Bayley meets her outside and the fight continues. Cora slides out again. Bayley goes for her signature baseball slide dropkick below the turnbuckle, but it was poorly executed. Cora slides out of the ring again, Bayley hits a suicide dive.
Back from break, Bayley is fighting back against Cora. It is devolving into a fight once again. A Bayley to Belly gets a 2. Bayley hits a back suplex for a near fall. Cora with a springboard double stomp, it didn’t look very effective. Bayley hits that swinging move again off her shoulders that looks like shit, I never know what she is trying to do. Suddenly we hear Bayley’s old music play. Roxanne Perez comes out dressed as Bayley when she was a hugger in NXT. Bayley attacks her. Perez causes a distraction and allows her “friend” Cora to hit the double underhook DDT to win.
Perez and Cora argue in the ring, it doesn’t seem like they’re back to normal. Ava comes out and confirms that Cora Jade is being added to the women’s title match this weekend. Bayley takes out both Perez and Jade, standing tall.
Analysis
B- Grade – This is the second match for Bayley this week and it is the second one that I have felt that she has been a bit sloppy in the ring which is so peculiar. She is usually reliably great. This was still a decent opener, I am happy to see Cora getting her spot this weekend. She deserves it.
We hear from NXT Champion Oba Femi
This saturday, Femi has a date with Austin Theory and Grayson Waller. He knows it is going to be a handicap match, but their egos will be their greatest downfall. Out come A-Town Down Under. Waller says trying to turn them on each other is pathetic and isn’t going to work. Theory sings Wallers praises and calls him a pillar of the modern NXT. Waller is going to help Theory win the title this weekend. Waller sings praises Theory and says that he will be riding shotgun with the new champion this weekend. The Aussie says he will do whatever it takes to win the NXT title.
Austin Theory questions what he means. Grayson tells Austin that he doesn’t care about his US title reign or his win over John Cena. Theory mocks him for not winning a singles title. Waller mocks him for being a cheerleader. Oba Femi just watches on in glee. ATDU reveal their plan is to take out Oba Femi first and fight amongst them for the belt. They argue some more, but this was all apparently a ruse to attack the NXT champion.
Analysis
B+ Grade – A great promo by the heels. Although they’re able to work together and they claim to be intentionally fighting, I still think that there are some real cracks in the tag relationship between these 2 that will break in the near future. I have no doubt Oba Femi is retaining this weekend.
-Je’Von Evans is willing to risk his health to fight Ethan Page. Ava makes him sign a waiver to remove any responsibility from NXT for what may happen to him.
No Quarter Catch Crew vs Hank & Tank vs Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura
Inamura beats up both Hank and Tank on his own. In comes the members of NQCC for some tag team offence. Honestly, I am not going to be able to follow this very well. This is a lot of fast paced action and plenty of double team moves. I don’t know who is who except for Briggs and Inamura. The NXT Tag Champions Fraxiom are seen watching from above.
After the break, Inamura is tagged in to fight Matt Borne. He and Briggs destroy anyone who comes their way. Briggs hits some brutal big boots on everyone in sight. Hank with a huge dive off the top rope to all of the competitors. Briggs hits a brutal clothesline, Inamura with a cool looking frog splash for the win. Fraxiom tells them they have their title shot this saturday.
Analysis
C Grade – This was hard to enjoy, I apologise. The fans were going crazy for this match, but I couldn’t get into it. I don’t really like Hank and Tank, I just don’t get the appeal. I have zero reason to care about NQCC either. Briggs and Inamura I enjoyed watching, I look forward to their tag title match at NXT Vengeance Day.
Lexis King (c) vs JDC, NXT Heritage Cup
Lexis enters on a throne. JDC is of course formerly known as Fandango, he represents TNA here. No Heritage Cup rules anymore remember. Just one fall to a finish. JDC and King exchange grapples. strikes and pin attempts. JDC knocks King out of the ring and hits a dive on to him.
After the break, King is in charge. King locks in a single-legged Boston Crab, then drops some H-bomber elbow strikes. JDC with a huge clothesline to find a break. He hits the falcon arrow for a 2. A tope con hilo by JDC onto King. He hits the top rope leg drop for a near fall. King distracts the referee as he intentionally runs into the ropes, knocking JDC crotch first onto the top rope. He hits the Coronation to retain.
Analysis
C+ Grade – This was fine. I don’t really have much else to say on this. It was about what I expected it to be.
-Perez and Bayley argue backstage. Bayley calls her an ugly idiot. Perez says there will be a new champion this weekend. Cora Jade agrees but it will be her.
Nikkita Lyons vs Zaria
They get into a physical brawl here, Zaria dropping Lyons with a series of clotheslines. Lyons counters a powerbomb with a headscissor. She hits a German suplex on Zaria. Both women get up and go strike for strike. Lyons drops her with a kick then locks in a split-legged Camel Clutch. Lyons misses a Vader Bomb, Zaria hits a big spear. She hits a sit-out F-5 to win.
Analysis
C Grade – Not very long, but a fun little match. The right woman won.
-Eddy Thorpe challenged Trick to a strap match at Vengeance Day. Trick accepts. Thorpe has been a thorn in his side for far too long.
A Shocking Debut
“Well this feels right” Out comes Ricky Starks!!! He says if NXT is the future of wrestling, then they need the future star in wrestling. If this is the hottest brand, they need to hottest star. Do not be fooled by his looks and fabulous scent, He is here to change up NXT. The future is about to be televised. Ricky Starks is here.
Analysis
A+ Grade – Barely a segment but less than 24 hours since finally being granted his AEW release, Ricky Starks turns up in NXT. Hell fucking yeah. Get that back Ricky. Prove how much of a star you will be.
(Hey, you want to get in the mood for Wrestlemania? I am currently rebooking every Wrestlemania ever! Here is my most recent one)
Tony D’Angelo (c) vs Ridge Holland, Steel Cage for North American Championship
Both men try to use the cell as a weapon early on. D’Angelo takes the early advantage as this fight becomes a fight immediately. Tony drops Holland with a lariat. Eye gouge by Holland to take control. The champion yeets Holland into the steel wall. He goes for a spear but Holland dodges, Tony crashes into the steel.
Back from the break, Holland is in firm control. Big clothesline by Holland. Ridge goes for a diving splash but he misses. D’Angelo throws Holland into each cage wall. 2 Belly to Belly suplexes and a fisherman’s suplex for a near fall for the champion. Holland lands a pump kick then a Snow Plow for a near fall. They trade punches back and forth. I don’t know what they were going for, but they horrible botched a clothesline reversal. D’Angelo throws him into the cage wall then nails a spear for a near fall.
Izzy Dame has a crowbar, Channing Lorenzo takes it off her and slides it to the champion but it backfires. Holland has it and uses it as a weapon. He strikes the Don across the back of the head for the 1-2-kick out! That was great I admit. Holland tries to use the crowbar again, but The Don counters with an eye rake. He hits his big spinebuster finisher to retain. Holland isn’t happy, but the other members of The Family brawl with him and take him out.
Out comes Shawn Spears, stalking the North American champion. Izzy Dame attacks D’Angelo with the crowbar! It was a ruse all this time! Spears and his two goons lock themselves in the cage and absolutely decimate Tony D’Angelo. The Family try to get in to help but they cannot enter. Spears hits the C4 from the top rope onto a chair. He laughs at the chaos he has caused.
Analysis
B Grade – An enjoyable main event. What is in the water in WWE recently? A lot of sloppy spots and botches recently. Both men recovered though and for the most part this was fun. Amazing post match angle too, Izzy Dame was using The Don all this time for her secret ally Shawn Spears. It is time for Spears to FINALLY win a singles title I hope.
Final Thoughts
C+ Grade Overall – Similar to Raw, this was a weak episode of NXT compared to what I have seen in the past. It was fine, but considering it is the last show before their PLE I expected more. This was completely skippable.
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