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Credit: WWE.com
In the wake of an epic NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day, the February 17 edition of WWE NXT was all about precipitation. The show did not promise much struggle to begin, but many opportunities for action.
After Finn Balor successfully defended his NXT Championship against Pete Dunne, Adam Cole superkicked The Prince, as well as Kyle O’Reilly. Betrayed by his friend, O’Reilly opened the show in search of answers from the Indisputable Era.
The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic officially ended with two big winners. MSK ended an incredible run with victory, defeating The Grizzled Young Veterans. Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez took down Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon to become the first women to win the tournament.
Blackheart and Moon tried to change the focus by facing two members of The Way, Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell. This long-lasting rivalry would certainly produce another excellent game.
The leader of the Way, Johnny Gargano defeated Kushida at TakeOver, but at a price. With his back turned, Dexter Lumis hijacked Austin’s theory. The Rebel Heart vowed to find its “middle son”.
This show had enormous potential for one of the absolute best TakeOvers in recent memory. Especially while on Road to WrestleMania, anything was possible with the black and gold mark.
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Kyle O’Reilly interrupted the commentary summary to call Adam Cole. He was willing to give his brother Undisputed. It was the benefit of the doubt. Roderick Strong interrupted to explain that Cole did not intend to do what he did.
Finn Balor blamed O’Reilly for setting him up, and he faced Strong. Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch ambushed the three men, especially with a focus on the Prince.
Backstage, William Regal commented on Santos Escobar’s refusal to fight Karrion Kross. He told NXT cruiserweight champion that the fight would take place next week or Escobar would be stripped of his title. He then made official a six-man duo fight for the main event between men in the opening segment.
Grade
C +
Analyze
This was a chaotic opening for the night that adjusted to the chaos at the end of NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day. However, it led to nothing but making a game for later. It looked a lot like a Monday Night Raw segment over an NXT segment.
O’Reilly did a good job of selling his anger, although he is not a great microphone worker on his own. The end goal should be O’Reilly vs. Cole, so this was a solid start. Balor’s involvement will add little at first, and The Prince should have already passed Peso Bruiser.
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Credit: WWE.com
Candice LeRae led Indi Hartwell through a sequence of early dominants against Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart. However, a camera occasionally cuts backstage to show a white van. This caused Johnny Gargano to march behind the scenes to verify Austin’s theory.
The Way went on, closing in a victory. However, as The Poison Pixie scored in Hartwell, Gargano brought Theory to the stage. LeRae ran to check the theory, leaving Hartwell stacked for three.
Pat McAfee scoffed at the NXT Universe in an interview recorded on his private jet, telling fans that he was always right about Adam Cole.
Result
Moon and Blackheart def. The Way by pinfall.
Grade
B-
Analyze
Although it was not as good as last week’s game, it was still solid thanks to the time that was given. LeRae remains the ring general in these fights, but Moon also really found his rhythm in the ring again. Blackheart was less involved than usual, while Hartwell showed his inexperience.
The result was obvious, but it still worked. Dexter Lumis plays mind games constantly, taking Theory out of the title fight on Sunday, and he clearly has more plans for the future. For now, it makes sense for Theory to return to the Path.
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Leon Ruff started out hot, but got kicked hard in the face. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott relied too much on every opportunity, almost costing him victory.
Ruff almost took the victory of a diving cutter and almost fell, so while Scott prepared for victory after a clothesline, Ruff reverted to a crucifix bomb for a surprise pinfall. Afterwards, Swerve attacked Ruff violently and said he was tired of the newbie having all the opportunities.
Result
Def ruff. Dodge by pinfall.
Grade
B +
Analyze
Ruff and Swerve have a chemistry that should be immensely fun to watch. The first competition could have taken longer, but the sprint worked perfectly. These are two of the fastest and smoothest cruiserweights on the NXT. The two complement each other well.
Ruff can make Scott look much more dangerous as a heel than someone like Bronson Reed. NXT intentionally gave Ruff a job entry to solidify how unlucky he is. In the meantime, Scott is able to do anything in the ring, but it will work better with someone he can play with.
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Kacy Catanzaro rolled around the ring to maintain the advantage against the bigger Jessi Kamea and the cunning Aliyah, but Xia Li and Boa arrived to distract her. It was only thanks to a timely hot tag for Kayden Carter that the faces were able to win.
Later, Catanzaro confronted Li, and the Chinese Superstar told the athlete that she would eliminate her next week.
Result
Carter and Catanzaro def. Aliyah and Kamea for pinfall.
Grade
D
Analyze
Carter and Catanzaro are still green in ways that emerge from time to time. It was on full display, especially against the inexperienced Kamea. This was a show for women who need more time before they can seriously take center stage.
It was just a matter of preparing for a bigger fight in the future, but it is not yet known if Catanzaro x Li will be a serious fight in the best female division of wrestling. Although Li’s evolution was fun to watch, she still hasn’t had a chance to show that she can compete at the highest level.
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Beth Phoenix chaired the trophy ceremony. MSK arrived, dizzy with his big win. They challenged Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch to a fight for the NXT Tag Team Championships on March 3.
After Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez arrived to celebrate their victory, Shayna Baszler’s music hit. She and Nia Jax walked and exchanged barbs. Gonzalez refused to be intimidated by the Irresistible Force, promising to make a lasting impression on her on March 3.
Josiah Williams’ music and video package for TakeOver’s Cameron Grimes appeared again for the rich man.
Grade
D
Analyze
This was an ugly segment, despite a lot of talent in the ring. No one seemed confident with the script they received, especially Baszler. The direct confrontation of the Queen of Spades and the Captain of Team Kick should have meant more, since it was Baszler who forced Kai to evolve.
While Jax vs. Gonzalez is an interesting fight and the title fight must be good, focusing on both was a mistake.
MSK was there and probably should have allowed its own segment. It was silly that MSK just challenged the doubles champions and was left there.
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Kushida explained that he was ready to go after Gargano soon, receiving notice from Bronson Reed that he was not the only one to seek the North American Championship. Malcolm Bivens challenged Kushida to fight Tyler Rust, who would show that he was more impressive than the former No. 1 contender.
Rust immediately knew how to focus on Kushida’s neck, which had been hurting since Sunday. Bivens was confident until the Japanese Superstar showed his toughness and reversed the attack in his own attack focused on Rust’s right arm.
Biven’s client won a series of accountants in an impressive sleeper, but Kushida did not remain dejected. The Japanese Superstar arrested Rust on the Hoverboard Lock, and Bivens called his client instead of letting Rust escape.
Result
Kushida def. Rust by submission.
Grade
B
Analyze
Rust continues to stand out with strong competitions. This was a good display by the NXT rookie, who has a lot of experience outside of WWE to show his main opponents. Bivens has done well with Rust so far, although the dynamic is still a little wrong.
Kushida is really meeting at NXT. He’s always been great, but he’s been showing himself lately. He just found the right momentum to work with a variety of NXT performers. He may have lost at TakeOver, but he should be in line for a title soon.
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A cameraman found LA Knight’s home, who did an impromptu promo explaining why he was already the hottest star on the NXT.
A video package was shown to Zoey Stark before this match. Valentina Feroz tried to stay out of his reach, but Stark hardly needed to move. She landed a sliding knee stroke in a revolving knee lift for victory.
Karrion Kross with Scarlett warned Santos Escobar that the cruiserweight champion of NXT would not survive the encounter, either next week or behind the scenes.
Result
Stark def. Fierce by pinfall.
Grade
C +
Analyze
For a short exhibition match, Stark showed from the start. It is a pity that WWE immediately defeated her in the women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. It appears as a power that could dominate NXT over time. The initial loss will have to be discreetly amortized.
Knight is an exclusive addition to NXT. He’s an old school microphone worker with plenty of charisma. Although his focus on the catchphrase may be out of date, he has the talent to make it work. It’s just a matter of how much NXT is willing to invest in a man it dominated outside of WWE.
The new crop of talent will define the future of NXT. Both have pros and cons, but it is exciting to look at a constantly evolving brand.
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Despite the best efforts of the jumps, isolating a face did not work. The pace of this competition was uninterrupted. Roderick Strong and Finn Balor worked together on the explosive attack, even when Pete Dunne started to dissect the pair with the technical attack.
Due to the beating he took earlier in the evening, Kyle O’Reilly was the clearest target, and Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan happily left marks on the NXT champion for Bruiserweight to explore. The prince took O’Reilly’s hot mark, setting up a big fight between Dunne and Balor.
When a fight broke out outside, Strong saved O’Reilly from Burch and Lorcan. However, the referee was eliminated in chaos, and Adam Cole appeared to assault his former friend O’Reilly.
In the chaos that followed, Balor accidentally hit Strong with a skin kick, and Dunne took the opportunity to put Balor with the Bitter End to win. While Balor watched the heel boast, Cole gave Balor a superkick and held the NXT Championship.
Result
Dunne, Burch and Lorcan def. Balor, O’Reilly and Strong by pinfall.
Grade
B +
Analyze
This would always be a fun fight. Everyone involved was too talented not to compete at its absolute best. Balor and Dunne’s sequel was just as fun as it was on Sunday, and it was interesting to see the dynamics of Strong and O’Reilly.
The chaos in the end took some of the action away. However, it was important that Cole finally made a statement. He did it with his actions, clearly showing that he is no longer just acting with emotion. He intends to destroy Undisputed Era to become the champion again.
It will be fascinating to see what comes next. Can be good. It may be bad, but what matters to NXT right away is that it will be different from the many years that passed before with Undisputed Era at the top.