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Just when I thought that this week of wrestling couldn't get any better, NXT brought it home and how! Stomping Grounds was a good show, RAW was actually not all that bad and SmackDown Live, while not extraordinary, was a fun little show.
But then again, WWE NXT just upped the ante with one of the best main event matches that I've seen in quite some time. The rest of the show wasn't too shabby either and I shall elaborate upon it all, in this recap.
Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you guys thought about the show that just transpired. I'd love to hear your take on how the current NXT product fares as compared to the past incarnations of the black and yellow brand, in your personal opinion.
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Here are 5 points that I felt were worth noting from the show.
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#5 Impact Wrestling Superstars get new names in NXT
The TNA X Division has been on fire in recent times, and two of the men responsible for the same have been DJZ and Garza Jr. The two gentlemen are now in NXT and they kicked off the NXT Breakout Tournament in style this week. I really think that this is a great way to debut the wealth of talent that NXT has, to the world at large.
Full Sail obviously knew who the two men are, and thankfully, it even seemed like the announcers did. I've had the fortune of being able to speak to DJZ in the past and learn his incredible life story, his close brush with death in Mexico.
In any case, he will be known as Joaquin Wilde, going forward. Garza Jr. will henceforth be known as Angel Garza.
#4 Incredible main event match to close the show
The name Asuka was mentioned on commentary during the course of the match. I've often heard people lament that the Shayna Baszler era, as great as it has been, does not have the same quality of matches that the Asuka era did, back when NXT was on fire. Baszler had possibly her best match in the main roster this week, in an incredible clash.
This match had everything, from a backstory, to run-ins from Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir, to a picture perfect moonsault from Io Shirai that had the audience chanting 'NXT' in unison. The chants were well deserved too because you don't get to see this level of competition on almost any other brand. Maybe 205 Live comes close, but NXT is in a class of its own.
Watch this match if you haven't, ladies and gentlemen. It's worth your time and then some.
#3 Io Shirai tapped into her dark side
I absolutely LOVED the storytelling here. Io Shirai did not just turn heel for no rhyme or reason, but because she tried everything in her power to win the match and lost even then, she just snapped!
Shirai and Baszler were poised at the door of the steel cage, both looking for the opportunity to escape and emerge as the victor. Shirai used the cage door as a weapon, bashing Baszler's head in with solid steel, knocking her almost senseless in a flurry of offense, which led to the latter winning.
Baszler would just collapse out of the cage and end up winning the match. This would lead Io Shirai to snap and take out all her ire, all her frustrations on poor Candice LeRae.
Well, the good news is that we get a Shirai vs. LeRae feud out of this. And that is awesome!
#2 Killian Dain is back in NXT once again
Killian Dain is far too talented an individual to be sidelined in the main WWE roster. The SAnitY member may have had a great run in NXT, but he became an afterthought in the main roster. The same can be said for Eric Young as well, who's just a minor player in the WWE 24/7 Championship picture at the moment.
Nikki Cross is doing well for herself, but not as the same twisted character that she was in NXT once upon a time. In any case, Dain is back in NXT and we saw a glimpse of him in a special video package. I think that he could be a big-time player in the title picture if he is booked right.
Dain is the ideal combination of size and agility. He could be a great opponent for someone like Adam Cole, down the line.
#1 Adam Cole invaded Johnny Gargano's family owned restaurant
Adam Cole assured us during his segment that he was a much bigger deal than Johnny Gargano, right before he stepped into a private jet and flew off to Download Festival where he hung out with metal band Slipknot. After returning from the UK, Cole called up Roddy and asked him about his match next week.
Roderick Strong takes on Tyler Breeze in what should be quite the encounter on next week's show. And then Cole would pull up in front of a restaurant named Gargano's, which WWE.com describes as the former NXT Champion's family owned restaurant.
I suppose we'll get to see the next chapter of this feud on next week's show. It is clear that we are in for at least another match between the two men.
Considering how good their clashes have been thus far, I wouldn't really mind another.
