This was one of those shows that did not have the star power of Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Sasha Banks and Charlotte. Neither was Samoa Jow anywhere around. But Finn Balor was there.
This could have been a lacklustre show but it feature some strong matches. The best matches, though, may belong to the one that started the show and to the one that emphatically ended it. There was even much women’s action in this show which is a rarity these days for NXT.
But taking everything that unfolded on this show here are the 5 points to note from this week's NXT episode:
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1.Finn Balor’s Roadblock
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Balor is on his way for another championship match. The champion at the moment is riding high on his victory over John Cena and on the fact that this was his first match on WWE TV. Samoa Joe is around the corner as well. So, what does NXT do to keep Balor busy? They provide him with a roadblock in the form of The Gore- Rhyno.
This is the only follow-up we have gotten since Rhyno appeared the very first time on NXT and had a backstage staredown with Balor.
This was a powerful main event but the impetus of it lies in the last moments of the night where after the match Rhyno speared Balor at the entrance.
That tells you what Balor’s new feud is.
2.Strong booking
The night began with a match between Adam Rose and Tyler Breeze. On paper, there is no motivation behind this match other than the fact that it was just a match but NXT did something special here.
Breeze is definitely a star in NXT. Adam Rose hasn’t had any starry momentum for a long time.on the main roster, he’s stale but in NXT, he’s something else. He has the opportunity to look strong. And so he did. He was booked really well in this match and this was a major throwback to the days when he was over at NXT.
Breeze won the match, though.
3.Blissful heel
The only women's match we saw this night was the very average match between Alexa Bliss and Carmella. This was just fodder for the heel tag team to gain more jeers and establish bliss as a heel. This is a stable war more than a war between two individuals.
This match was forgettable but as an extension to the rivalry between Enzo Amore, Big Cass, Carmella and Wesley Blake, Buddy Murphy, Alexa Bliss, it was a point to remember.
4.That Interview
The NXT arena was full of jeers and negativity for Eva Marie. Her interview was shrouded with the disdain the audience had for her. Did she deserve it? Not at all.
She’s been training hard to improve her wrestling, the videos of her training with Brian Kendrick are a testament to that belief. She hasn’t even made a full-fledged return.So, to get this sort of a reaction before her in- ring return id, quite frankly, atrocious.
It’ll be interesting, though, if she returns and wrestles really well. This interview ought to be something that motivates her to get even better.
5.The Filler
It is a bit disheartening that in a show like NXT where you see so much beyond the fanfare of the main roster, we have to overlook something. The Vaudevillains were quite interesting when they made their debut. Their gimmick was enchanting but in this show it was hardly remarkable. Their match against Jordan and Louis was the most forgettable part of the show.
The attention, when it comes to NXT, is barely on these tag teams. That’s the sad part.
