Raw ended with debris strewn everywhere, as Big Show and Braun Strowman made the ring they were in collapse and crumble. SmackDown left us scratching our heads, as Jinder Mahal was announced as the Number 1 Contender for Randy Orton’s WWE Championship. Would NXT be able to keep up with the craziness of the two other brands?
While this show wasn’t as crazy as the other two were, it still had at least 5 moments that left us intrigued and invested our interest for the episodes to come. NXT is the pit stop between the independents and the main roster, and we witnessed a comeback and a departure.
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#5 Aiming for Asuka’s Achilles Heel
There was a match between Billie Kay, Peyton Royce, Aliyah and Liv Morgan this week in the women’s division, but that was just a sideshow to the actual story. We saw a promo where they showcased the achievements of the dominant women's champion Asuka and how her strikes and submissions were truly quite deadly.
The entire NXT women’s roster voiced their opinion about how much of a threat Asuka really is. However, they then mentioned her Achilles heel and the tone of the video changed instantly. Asuka had been growing a superiority complex based on her winning streak. Each woman in the division said they would bring her down.
We heard that Candice LeRae, independent wrestling legend and wife of Johnny Gargano was now a part of NXT. Could she be the woman to ultimately defeat Asuka and take her NXT Championship in the process? Let’s stay glued to the women's tournament and find out.
#4 A perfect 10 farewell
We know Tye Dillinger as a SmackDown Live Superstar right now. However, deep in our hearts, we know that he will always be the soul of NXT, with the perennial never-say-die spirit that personifies the brand and the hunger to make it for yourself against all odds.
It is customary to lose and put someone over, during one’s departure. Tye Dillinger, who made it a habit of losing his matches, actually won his farewell match.
The steel cage match against Eric Young was a contest with two distinct parts. The first was a personal battle between the two men, during the course of which the leader of SAnitY was even busted open. The latter had the remaining members of SAnitY come to the ring and attempt to support their faction leader.
Despite the odds, Tye Dillinger defeated his arch nemesis, and for a change, actually left the arena in the throes of triumph with his best friends. While we’ll see him on SmackDown every week, NXT won't be the same without The Perfect 10.
#3 Look who's back again!
Hideo Itami has been injured for far too long now, sitting on the sidelines as generations of NXT Superstars have come and gone up to the main roster. This time, it seems like he has been cleared and that he can make his televised in-ring return very soon indeed.
He went straight for the top guy, challenging Bobby Roode as the latter cut a vicious promo against the NXT Universe for cheering on someone like Shinsuke Nakamura. Looks like the Canadian NXT Champion will be facing yet another Japanese Superstar in his next program. Let’s hope Itami can keep himself healthy and hearty until the show.
#2 The battle of the gentlemen
We now know that there will be a weekly television show on the WWE Network, featuring talent from the WWE UK Tournament. As a prelude to that, for the very first time, WWE United Kingdom Champion Tyler Bate will defend his Championship against someone who was not a part of the tournament but should have been- Jack Gallagher.
The two moustachioed English participants will definitely tear the house down next week. It will be interesting to see if Jack Gallagher does shift to the show once it begins airing on the WWE Network.
#1 NXT’s newest face vs. its in-house party animal
The story right now is that Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas is not focused on his wrestling right now, but on partying and pretty women. For someone with such obsessions, it was strange to see him pick on Drew McIntyre in the gym, when he was simply working out.
From the looks of it, the two men will face each other next week, in what should be the main event. McIntyre is wrestling better than ever, and we're certain he can take the fight to Almas, who’s no slouch in the ring.
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