Two polar oppositesThis episode of NXT is the proper representation of arguments about how NXT represents the tag team division and the women's division better than the main roster.There were more female competitors on this show than male competitors. So many different storylines were given the time to develop, continue or end. While Emma, Dana Brooke and Asuka continue their storyline, Nia Jax is dominating, Bayley is moving on to a new feud after defeating Alexa Bliss in the main event.The tag team division had two really entertaining matches. Here are the 5 points to note from this weeks show-
#5 A Nia Jax match
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Carmella came out to face Nia Jax and while she’s not as rabidly popular as her teammates Enzo Amore and Big Cass, she’s definitely improving.
It’s much better than the time when she was booed. They don’t boo her now. And being a regular in NXT definitely helped Carmella get some offence against the heavyweight. She was cheered on by the audience even after she took he pinfall.
Nia Jax looked dominant still. She was clearly the heel in this match and did her part well. It’ll be interesting to see what’s there for her down the road after her interaction with Eva Marie and Bayley last week.
#4 Ya ya ya
The Ascension returned to NXT to a reaction that is a polar opposite to what they get on the main roster.
The audience here really cares for them. They were like MVPs and their presence in this arena made them look like the veterans of the tag team division. They are the longest reigning tag team champions in NXT history and they lost to Jordan and Gable in this episode.
It was a highly entertaining match supported by the audience who were in rapt attention of each and every move. Particularly liked the ‘revolving door’ tactic of Gable and Jordan. It looked like quite a close fight till the final pinfall.
That signalled passing the baton to the new era of the tag division.
#3 A trap
After Emma won her match, Tom Phillips was interviewing Asuka when dana Brooke interfered.
Dana Brooke is especially quite hilarious and consequentially entertaining in these backstage segments. Her patting the interviewer’s head is a particularly nice feature. She challenged Asuka to a match next week and Asuka, removing her mask, accepted the challenge.
She walked away and Brooke shooed away Phillips soon after. That led Emma to join her partner in crime and it is then that the audience gets to know that was some sort of a trap for Asuka’s downfall at the hands of NXT’s resident mean girls.
#2 A technical squash
Of all the squashes in this episode, this was by far the most technical.
Dash and Dawson won the match via pinfall but controlled the proceedings the entire match by working on the knee of their opponent in many different ways. It was a deconstruction process in motion. Cory Graves called it surgical and beautiful.
While the popular opinion on surgery wouldn’t really be beautiful, it was hard not to say that for these two. It wasn’t definitely a match that makes you jump in excitement, but it was certainly something you take notice of and is imprinted in your mind.
It was by far one of the most meaningful squashes ever seen in the WWE.
#1 The Main Event
Alexa Bliss was supposed to lose and while this match would not rank really high among past championship defenses, it did its part. Bliss has improved so much and she’s one of the best heels in NXT and this match was a nice little step for something big in the future.
Bayley is super, super over. The NXT arena was jumping in excitement for her mere presence chanting, singing actually, “Oh, we want some Bayley’
And you know who’s super, super over as a heel? Eva Marie. She walked out towards the end of the show to a chorus of boos. So strong was that reaction that she had to repeat the few words of her promo again and again. Bayley had to lean forward to hear her talk. Nice touch that.
Eva Marie has, out of the blue, recieved the opportunity to face Bayley for the title next week. Interesting!
