-There wasn’t much to the actual match between Chase U and D’Angelo & Stacks this week, but the background story was pretty darn compelling. Andre Chase losing his mind over recent and private allegations was played well by Chase. His student section in the arena leaving mid-match and thus leaving him without support and forcing the loss was a smart way to drive home the importance of the story. I don’t know where they’re going and yes, it’s all a bit cheesy. Chase and everyone involved is playing it straight-faced enough that it deserves buy-in.
-Honorable mention to Duke Hudson. The guy walks out in a big red Chase U shirt, but doesn’t look like he gives a damn about what Andre Chase is going through. A real fun dichotomy between the two.
-I chuckled when Dominik Mysterio and Baron Corbin crossed paths backstage during the show. WWE fans have despised both for a very long time and it was fun to see them interact with that history in mind.
Down with Dar
-Good grief. Someone put me out of my misery with this Noam Dar stuff. The material is atrocious and Dar is obnoxious performing it. I’m not convinced that he even knows just what the hell he’s going for. Alpha Academy out there opposite Dar didn’t help matters as Gable, Otis, and Maxxine just can’t shed the silly comedy for anything. This was as bad or worse than you’re envisioning.
-Surprising to see Roxanne Perez do the job to Lash Legend as protected of a loss that it was. Legend hasn’t proved much at this point, but this wins drops her into the Iron Survivor Challenge, which will be a major moment for her to show something. Perez did the job, but walks out of the match this week with a more substantial storyline against Kiana James. Those two are on a collision course thanks to James costing Perez her match. For as young as Roxanne Perez is, it feels like she’s done all she can do for the NXT brand. Like a few others on the show — Carmelo Hayes, Bron Breakker, Wes Lee — it’s time for her to hit the main roster.
Tea Ceremony?
-Man, the Tea Ceremony with Xia Li and Lyra Valkyria was bizarre. Ineffective, too. This didn’t build any heat between the two ahead of their match next week for the NXT Women’s Championship and didn’t do a good job of presenting either act in a impactful way either. As for Li, she needs to have a more consistent character and personality across the Raw and NXT brands. This week and last week on Monday Night Raw, Li was disrespecting and fighting Becky Lynch. On NXT, she’s bowing and showing respect to Valkyria. Now that NXT stars are crossing over to main roster shows, there can’t be that big of a character disconnect.
-Trick Williams vs. Joe Coffey was a good match, but the tension between Williams and Carmelo Hayes was more compelling. The two are playing off one another seamlessly and it’s creating interesting drama between both characters. Who’s going to be the one to turn on the other? We have a long way to go, but its the top story on NXT week to week at this point.
-Yeah, Lexis King just isn’t working. King isn’t believable in presenting the character he’s got and it’s easy to see. It’s almost like he’s uncomfortable playing that part. Not a good start for such a new act that got a big push out of the gate.
-We got an Eddy Thorpe sighting this week. He’s the most underutilized talent down there and has a high upside. Good to see him back involved again.
Put a lid on it, Von Wagner
-What the hell was with that Von Wagner backstage segment with Mr. Stone? The video package about them? Perfect. Short, sweet, and effective. Then Wagner had to go open his mouth to talk about asparagus. Asparagus! Wagner was trying to be funny, but per the norm, he just can’t be. Wagner has to be the muscle competitor guy at all times for him to be a viable part of the show. That’s why what happened between him and Bron Breakker worked so well. Any deviation is a strike and miss.
-A solid main event between Baron Corbin and Wes Lee. Lee sold well as usual and Corbin looked good because of it. After Corbin attacked Ilja Dragunov a few weeks ago, it was evident Shawn Michaels was going with that match. Not very exciting, but they are building the match brick by brick. Time will tell if it’s a viable PLE main event or not.