'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
There is only just one truth in life, WWE Universe. When RAW and SmackDown Live let you down, WWE NXT comes to town and blows both of those shows out of the water with an hour of absolutely fantastic action.
The main event was an extraordinary affair, of course, but so was the undercard. Everything felt like it had a meaning and a purpose and it is clear how every minute of the show was scripted for some major long term payoff.
Here are 5 things that I found notable from this week's episode. Let me also mention that the commentary desk comprising of Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness and Percy Watson was on their A-Game for the duration of the show.
Trending
So without wasting any more of your valuable time, here is my assessment of NXT.
#5 An incredible main event match
You put two of the best sports entertainers on the planet in the same ring and you know that chaos will ensue very soon indeed. This week, Matt Riddle and Adam Cole took each other on in a match that had me on the edge of my seat on more than one occasion. Both Superstars work so brilliantly with each other, and I want a TakeOver match between the two men.
Of course, this was all feeding into a more macro storyline concerning the future of the Undisputed ERA with Adam Cole as the leader of the said faction. Tensions have been brewing between Cole and Roderick Strong in the past few days and it escalated to a boiling point. The fact of the matter is that despite Strong's interference, Cole lost.
I love how much matches mean in WWE NXT. Main roster matches just feel like they're throwaway affairs.
#4 The end of the Undisputed ERA?
Even though Roderick Strong came to the aid of his stablemate Adam Cole, Cole suffered a loss to Matt Riddle and this did not sit well with him at all. He was enraged at the conclusion of his match and he blamed Strong for his loss. It is clear that we are headed for a showdown between the two men somewhere down the line.
Cole assured the rest of his stable that as long as Strong doesn't interfere, he has things well under his control. However, it is when Roderick Strong decides to meddle in The Undisputed ERA's business that he suffers these highly unfortunate losses. The crowd chanted 'hug it out' but it was clear that such wouldn't be the case, this week.
Are we headed for the end of this faction? Or is this all a swerve designed to just seem that way?
#3 Bianca Belair cheats to win
The match that kicked off the night featured Bianca Belair in action against Mia Yim. The two ladies were very vocal with one another and it was amply clear that both wanted the big win quite badly.
Bianca Belair would use her hair to grab the ring ropes and then secure a victory for herself. Unfortunately, the referee did not see it happen and Belair has a mark in the win column and one would assume this puts her in title contention.
Elsewhere in the roster, Io Shirai attacked Shayna Baszler as she was training her Horsewomen in the Performance Center. The whole NXT Women's Championship picture is growing quite interesting indeed with multiple contenders for the prize.
I wonder how long Shayna Baszler will hang on to the Championship and more importantly, which of the women in the roster will be the one to finally dethrone her.
#2 The Viking Raiders are ambushed by the Forgotten Sons
One of the best parts about this week's show was the Surveillance footage we saw of the Viking Raiders getting jumped by the Forgotten Sons. The latter means business and they are gunning for the gold that the Viking Raiders now hold. They have been gaining a lot of momentum and are a force to be reckoned with, in my opinion.
I also wonder what the future holds for The Viking Raiders going forward. This is because they're an integral part of the main roster now and also pinned the RAW Tag Team Champions this past week meaning they've earned themselves a title shot for later. Can they possibly work both brands in the weeks that follow?
I think that they are going to drop the titles very soon. I've not read the spoilers yet so I urge you to not spoil the results for me in the comments section below.
#1 Riddick Moss returns with a new gimmick, loses his big match
I don't know how many of you remember Riddick Moss, but in case you don't, here's a little refresher. Moss was a part of a tag team unit with Tino Sabbatelli not long ago.
However, he tore his Achilles tendon a year back and was out of commission since then.
Moss came back with a new gimmick called the Riddick regimen and took on Raul Mendoza in a match that he seemed to have well under control until the very end. He seemed to be in great shape and was moving better than ever before as well. But unfortunately, he now has a tick in the loss column.
I wonder if this gimmick has a chance to succeed or if indeed he will be relegated as Kona Reeves has been. With the wealth of talent, it's possible to forget that NXT is also a developmental brand.
