4 Things NXT got just right on this week’s episode (October 2, 2019) 

Who says NXT is a developmental brand?

This week’s NXT episode did more than anyone could have ever imagined to establish the brand as one of the strongest in all of the wrestling industry. Last night's episode also left a big mark on the USA Network.

From hard-hitting non-title matches, to the North American Championship rematch challenge, to the NXT Championship match, the action was as solid as ever.

The company did a lot to bring more attention to the Black and Gold Brand, ensuring fans would stay focused on the action that took place in NXT without moving away to any other promotion.

In this article, we take a look at the 4 things NXT got just right on this week’s episode of the show.

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#1 Introduced Velveteen Dream to the USA Network audience in perfect fashion

On NXT's USA Network premiere, Velveteen Dream defended his North American Championship against Roderick Strong. The action was as tight as ever, and the two men delivered a TakeOver worthy performance. At the end of the day, Strong managed to defeat Dream to score his first singles championship in WWE.

While the match did everything to display the in-ring talent of both Dream and Strong, it did not do much to introduce Dream’s unique character to the new USA Network audience.

Things were done perfectly this week, as Dream emerged to make a statement in his own unique manner. With the stage lit in purple and pink, Dream called out Strong and issued a challenge for a North American Championship rematch.

The Dream has one of the most unforgettable gimmicks today, and WWE really needed to build on that, especially considering he very well might be the future of the company.

With this week’s segment, not only did the company allow him to issue a challenge to regain his lost title, but Velveteen Dream also showed the world his promo-cutting skills and overall uniqueness.

#2 Allowed Baszler to retain after an epic battle against LeRae

At a time when it felt like no one could match the unforgiving and ruthless Shayna Baszler, Candice LeRae emerged as a legitimate NXT Women's Championship contender.

Throughout the bout, Baszler showed no remorse and continued to punish LeRae, but LeRae showed the heart and fight that she and her husband are famous for. LeRae fought through the pain and fans rallied behind her.

One of the early highlights of the match was LeRae escaping the Kirifuda Clutch and reversing it to apply her own version of the maneuver. After an epic battle, LeRae finally submitted to Baszler's submission hold and lost the opportunity she had fought so hard for.

The result not only showed Baszler’s insanely powerful gimmick, but also arguably established her as the most dominating champion in WWE.

Allowing Baszler to retain the title was the right thing to do, as the new audience are still getting used to the Champion and her abilities. It also enables WWE to display her as an unbeatable force. Whoever does eventually defeat her will get an immediate career boost.

#3 Brought back 'The Demon' of NXT

How do you answer to wrestlers who consider NXT a mere developmental brand? By bringing back one of the most brilliant wrestlers the world has ever seen.

The longest reigning NXT Champion of all time, and former Universal Champion, Finn Balor made a surprise return to the Black and Gold Brand this week and made it very clear that he is here to stay.

Finn Balor has been one of the biggest names in WWE and all of the wrestling industry over the decade. His return to the brand that kickstarted his WWE career means he’s here to do some big business.

NXT is not short on talent to propel it to the top on the USA Network, and the return of 'The Demon' only gives creative another weapon in their arsenal.

After a hard-fought NXT Championship match between Adam Cole and Matt Riddle, Balor’s music hit and 'The Extraordinary Man' surprised everyone in the arena by coming out and standing up to Cole. He then shocked the wrestling world by announcing he was now back in NXT full time.

Balor’s return to NXT opens up a world of possibilities, so brace yourself for some exciting segments over the next several months.

#4 Set up several new challenges

If you thought Balor’s return to NXT wasn’t surprising enough, then the surprise at the end of the show must have really overwhelmed you.

The main event of the night saw The Undisputed Era defend their NXT Tag Team Championships against The Street Profits. Both teams seem incapable of having a single bad match inside the ring.

After a fantastic back and forth battle, The Undisputed Era stood tall once again. They were joined by their partner and NXT Champion Adam Cole to close out the show. However, Tommaso Ciampa made a surprise return and stared down Cole and his NXT Championship.

We all know how much Ciampa loves Goldie, and it won’t be long before he takes on the NXT Champion to get his belt back.

The entire night helped set up future rivalries and championship matches, as Balor and Ciampa returned to the company eyeing the NXT Champion.

That wasn’t all. Damien Priest attacked Pete Dunne after his match, to make a huge statement about his next target. Io Shirai also defeated Mia Yim in an incredible match, and we could see her emerge as a future NXT Women’s Championship challenger in the coming weeks.

What else could we have possibly asked for from this week’s episode of NXT?