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With NXT TakeOver 36 in the rear-view mirror, the Black and Gold brand is undergoing some changes. However, the quality remains high.
This episode was solid as usual, as we saw some big developments take place. The women's division has gotten some development, with matches being teased and big stars debuting. Kay Lee Ray will add a lot to NXT's female roster.
Meanwhile, several other stories were furthered. There is some potential across NXT right now, as the brand continues to undergo gradual change. We now know who the biggest players will be, as evidenced by Samoa Joe's first segment as a three-time NXT Champion.
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Anyway, let's take a look at the main positives and negatives of this week's show. Be sure to give your thoughts on the show in the comments.
#3 Best: Hit Row and Legado del Fantasma deliver in the main event of NXT
The heated rivalry between Hit Row and Legado del Fantasma took an interesting turn on NXT, as the two factions faced off in the main event of the show. The six-man tag team grudge match truly delivered in the ring, accommodating the animosity between both trios.
One of the best moments of the match came when Top Dolla rushed in from the hot tag, as he decimated all members of Santos Escobar's group. He even lifted all three men for a big move, wowing the Capitol Wrestling Center in the process.
Isaiah "Swerve" Scott was impressive too, hitting a brilliant 450 Splash for a near-fall. However, B-Fab's ringside presence was neutralized by Legado del Fantasma's own female member - Elektra Lopez. She provided enough of a distraction to Scott for Escobar to roll him up.
While the finish was poor, this development is interesting. This gang war is nowhere near complete. Also, the in-ring action was tremendous, giving us hope that the best is yet to come for Hit Row and Legado del Fantasma.
#2 Best: NXT Champion Samoa Joe's hands are full
Samoa Joe is the NXT Champion once again, after vanquishing Karrion Kross and sending him into the fiery depths of Monday Night RAW. He came out for a strong promo and demanded to meet his next challenger. He met a lot of potential opponents over the course of this segment.
It ended with Ridge Holland and Pete Dunne being run out of the ring by Joe and Tommaso Ciampa. So, it ultimately seems like the new four-man group will be going after the NXT Title. Dunne would be a great opponent for Samoa Joe.
The main event scene has gotten interesting immediately after TakeOver 36, with quite some intrigue surrounding the main title picture.
#2 Worst: Another promo train
While the destination of a potential Samoa Joe-Pete Dunne match was exciting, this segment was filled with typical cliches of a standard WWE promo. The Champion is interrupted by a potential challenger before another few superstars come out one by one.
This promo train began with The Bruiserweight, before LA Knight and Kyle O'Reilly came out to try and stake their claim for an NXT Championship match. To be fair, Ridge Holland's attack on O'Reilly did change things up, as did Tommaso Ciampa's appearance at the end.
#1 Best: A great end to the NXT Breakout Tournament
The 2021 NXT Breakout Tournament featured some interesting names and while not entirely perfect, the final was well done. Odyssey Jones and Carmelo Hayes took each other on for a title shot of their choosing. Playing on their size difference, the two had a great match.
Both finalists impressed in the ring but while some big moves were hit during it, the match ended on a surprising note. Hayes picked up an upset victory over Jones with a crucifix pin after suffering a huge splash. He earned the tournament win, withstanding the big man's offense to stand tall.
Big things are in store on NXT for both, Carmelo Hayes and Odyssey Jones.
#1 Worst: A missed opportunity to create some Million Dollar magic
The show began with Cameron Grimes celebrating his Million Dollar Championship win alongside Ted DiBiase. It eventually turned out that Grimes got hold of the fake Million Dollar Title, which indicates that this story is over. While entertaining on its own, the Black and Gold brand missed a huge opportunity.
Throughout this entire angle, it would have been fun to see Baron Corbin show up to NXT to try and make some money off of Cameron Grimes' millions. His character work as a broke man is top-notch and would have fit right into the million-dollar shenanigans.
This was an easy way to create some new-found synergy between NXT and the WWE main roster, especially after the Karrion Kross debacle. But it did not happen when it probably would have enhanced both stories. Corbin and Grimes seem like a golden pairing, in their current financial situations.
