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RAW was hard to sit through. SmackDown Live was better, but not a show that makes you proud to be a fan of sports entertainment. Thankfully, there is a brand under the NXT umbrella that does not insult your intelligence by serving you one hour of exciting action, every single week. This brand is NXT!
So many things happened in this episode, that it's not easy to keep track of it all. Therefore, for your convenience and reading pleasure, I've mapped out 5 points to note from the hour that was. I'd like to hear your thoughts on the current NXT product too.
The last TakeOver event was one to remember, and from the looks of it, the next one will be just as good as the last one was. This was just a building block, but a very significant one.
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Here are 5 points to note from this week's NXT.
#5 Dakota Kai takes The Champ to her limit
Shayna Baszler and Dakota Kai have had many encounters in the past. In each one of them, Kai has seemed apprehensive and reluctant to take on the submission specialist that is Shayna Baszler. Things seemed even worse for her when Baszler got Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke to ringside, as her two corner women.
But this was a different Dakota Kai, who took the fight to Baszler and put on a match to remember, with her incredible skill. There were times where it seemed that she even had the match won. However, the Champ would choke Kai out to secure the victory.
When Duke and Shafir would launch a post-match assault on Kai, Io Shirai would show up, to help Kai out. This feud is far from over.
#4 Two big matches scheduled next week
I love how every member of the Undisputed ERA has his own feud in the roster. The Tag Team Champions have many teams gunning for their title. Adam Cole has his own bunch of feuds. The returning Bobby Fish has EC3 to contend with.
The two men will finally settle their score next week. Expect this to be a personal and hard-hitting affair between two of NXT's promising superstars. And that's not all that's on the cards next week.
There is a huge open challenge scheduled with Ricochet defending his North American title against an unknown opponent. Who knows who will show up, considering that it could be anyone from someone not yet signed to NXT, to main roster talent.
I'm sure you're just as excited for next week as I am.
#3 The exciting NXT Tag Team Division heats up
I just spoke about the exciting tag team division in NXT right now. Add Raul Mendoza and Humberto Carillo to the list. The two relative newcomers put on a performance that's certain to get them noticed by the top NXT brass. They took on the Forgotten Sons on this week's show.
It was the perfect match of speed vs. strength. Ultimately it was the power advantage of the Forgotten Sons that would prevail in this huge contest. The Forgotten Sons seem to be quickly rising the ranks and should be in title contention in no time.
This was the move that changed it all. Go watch the match, if you haven't already, NXT Universe, because it was better than anything on RAW, at least this week.
Let's hope these teams lock up a few more times in the weeks that follow.
#2 A massive debut, a sneak attack
Matt Riddle made very short work of Kassius Ohno at the last TakeOver event, in front of a capacity crowd. He took on the debuting Punishment Martinez in a match that wasn't too bad. Even though Martinez had a good showing, it was strange that he would be booked to lose in his official debut match.
As for Matt Riddle, I'm certain he's going to be one of NXT's breakout superstars, in almost no time. He's being booked to appear strong and dominant in almost every outing. His new finisher, dubbed the Bromission, is a good reminder of his MMA background.
Both of the men involved in the match could go on to have great NXT careers and then make waves in the main roster too. Oh before I forget, Kassius Ohno took out Matt Riddle shortly after his dominant performance.
#1 Steel cage match set up
Wedding bells rang for Aleister Black when he married ex NXT superstar Zelina Vega recently. He also made Tommaso Ciampa's bell ring, when he slayed him with a Black Mass kick. But somewhere in the middle a huge match was set up. Gargano and Black will compete in a steel cage.
Gargano insists that his rivalry with Black is not finished yet, which should be great news for fans. Readers need to remember that Gargano and Black took each other on, at Survivor Series weekend, putting on a real clinic for the fans. Gargano had, in kayfabe, attacked Black in the parking lot recently.
Black has made his intentions of coming after the NXT Championship quite clear. There's always a chance that he will recapture the title that he held so proudly.
Will Dakota Kai become a future NXT Women's Champion?
