As usual, NXT delivered with a strong card that featured talent from true up and coming acts to bonafide main event level WWE attractions. It was a hodge podge mix of stuff for nearly three hours, but a pleasant watch start to finish.
Here are my Brass Ring Ratings for the show and here’s how they work … I call it like I see em and always happy to discuss.
Bron Breakker vs. Baron Corbin
Eh. I could take or leave this. The wild fight around the ring was fun I suppose, but there just wasn’t a rooting interest either way. Both guys are heels and the crowd was confused even amidst the action. They were even more confused when Corbin got the victory. Bizarre.
OO
Dominik Mysterio vs. Trick Williams - NXT North American Championship
This was a fun match. Not the smoothest, but exciting due to the hatred that the entire audience had for Dominik Mysterio. Williams was on a hot little run and this championship win catapults him further. Smart all the way around, but a big step up for Trick. He has to deliver now.
OO 1/2
Tony D’Angelo & Stacks vs. The Creed Brothers vs. Los Lotharios vs. Out The Mud - NXT Tag Team Championship Fatal Four-Way
A wild match with a pretty archaic, but impressive quadruple vertical suplex off the top ropes involving all eight men in the match. I had Los Lotharios winning to get the belts off D’Angelo and Stacks in a protected way. Instead, D’Angelo and Stacks retained. A fine move, but the tag division doesn’t look too much different after this.
OO 3/4
Noam Dar vs. Butch - NXT Heritage Cup
This round based style of match freshened up the show in terms of style, but made it drag a little too. Dar just isn’t interesting and given Butch is a mainstay on the main roster now, there wasn’t any drama to be had.
O 3/4
Carmelo Hayes vs. Ilja Dragunov - NXT Championship
Awesome match. Just awesome. Match of the night. Smooth action with very believable near-falls and emotion. Dragunov is one of the best sellers that NXT has and his facial expressions were on full display to build investment with the audience. Hayes losing the title was a big surprise, but my guess is a main roster call up is in his future. Go out of your way to see this. It was that good.
OOOO 1/4
Becky Lynch vs. Tiffany Stratton - NXT Women’s Championship Extreme Rules Match
These women had two goals. First, have an exciting and entertaining match for the audience. Check! They did that. Second, put Tiffany Stratton in a position where she can show some edge and some grit as a credible champion and act. Check! They did that also. This was very good and Stratton hit the move of the match with a Swanton Bomb from the ring post onto Lynch outside of the ring and on a table. This had drama, excitement, and felt like a really big deal as it went on.