-I usually roll my eyes when WWE does the “everyone in a multi-person match takes turns talking” thing ahead of a big match, but this week it kinda worked to help hype the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge Match at Deadline this weekend. None of the women in that match are smooth enough on the microphone to attempt something with more depth, so this segment did enough to build things. Fans got to hear why an Iron Survivor win was important to each of them and they got to showcase a little personality while doing it. A low bar, but thumbs up for clearing it.
Pay attention to the audience
-Kelani Jordan got some really strong heat when she spoke during that promo, but instead of using it and milking it, she bulldozed right through it. Jordan has to learn to engage back and forth with the crowd when they are bringing heat as much as they did. She was right there, but didn’t take things the distance.
-Joe Hendry and Thea Hail continues to be nauseating. Both are more interesting on their own and as I’ve said for weeks, they don’t have any real chemistry together. You’re seeing the Joe Hendry bubble pop as weeks go by.
From The Takedown on SI
-Poor Chase University. As a sucker for that ridiculous storyline, it would be nice to see Andre Chase and his guys do something of significance. Chase is finding out the same thing that Tony D’Angelo has. There just isn’t room on the main roster for those cookie cutter, albeit entertaining, characters.
-Well, at least Josh Briggs is getting some wins. That’ll help him, but from a character perspective he’s still floundering. Just not sure what or who he is at this point.
Tatum Paxley to the rescue
-It seemed like Izzi Dame forgot some lines of her promo, which led to some choppiness in her delivery. Like Kelani Jordan, Dame also bulldozed through the heat she got from the crowd and therefore neutered some of it. Thankfully, Tatum Paxley is over. Her lines and the connection he has with the audience saved everything. The crowd popped for her final line and the grudge match is on for NXT Deadline this weekend.
-My god, move the Sol Ruca and Zaria storyline forward! Zaria was upset this week, but looked like an upset cartoon character. Watching these two figure out their friendship isn’t entertaining. It’s obnoxious and annoying.
-Kendal Grey shined in the six-woman tag match alongside Ruca and Lola Vice. She’s got strong in-ring chops. Just needs to figure out how to showcase her personality and character a little better. Her offense was legit fun to watch.
WrestleMania weekend
-The NXT anonymous segment between Je’Von Evans and Ricky Saints this week was very interesting. Clearly the seeds are already planted for a major match between those two. If I’m booking it, I build it all the way to Stand and Deliver during WrestleMania weekend next year.
-Myles Borne has the advantage inside the Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge this weekend and it just might help him win the match. Because the title match the winner receives is tucked away on a special episode of NXT television, Borne is a decent pick to get the victory on Saturday.
Saints vs. Femi
-It took all show, but good to see they got to some sort of final build for Saints vs. Oba Femi for the NXT Championship at Deadline. What we’re seeing is the company not want to push this match too much, because they don’t want Femi losing again to be a huge deal. Kind of a big deal? Yes. A transformative moment for Saints? No way. So, this was low level hype, but it worked well enough to that end. Likely Femi’s last major appearance for NXT.
What did you think of this week’s episode of WWE NXT? Let us know in the comments!
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