-A solid little match to start the show this week between Roxanne Perez and Tatum Paxley. It was a short match and rightfully so, but Paxley did show a new level we haven’t seen from her yet. It’s not a high level, but it’s clear she’s improving.
Buying or selling heel Roxanne Perez?
-As for Perez, it’s so damn bizarre to see her cast as a heel. Look, I get it. The goal here is to use the heel turn to show some edge, so she can have that edge when she eventually turns back babyface or simply starts as a babyface on the main roster. That said, it just feels off. The heel persona isn’t natural and it’s easy to tell as you watch her on the show each week. I do like Perez vs. Lyra Valkyria for the NXT Women’s Championship at Stand and Deliver. It’s the biggest match they can do in the NXT women’s division, this is the biggest show, so why not. Good stuff there.
-A serious AND believable from from Josh Briggs. Goodness gracious, who would have thought!! This was Briggs’ best promo to date. Yes, it was a low bar to clear, but props where props are due. He made himself believable as a challenger to Oba Femi and the North American Championship. That was the goal, so thumbs up.
-Femi continues to be a very bright light on this show every week. So much so, that he drowned out a lot of the reaction that Briggs got. There is a presence about that guy that jumps through the screen. He also has some promo chops that will inevitably help him become a star in WWE. Shawn Michaels needs to keep feeding this guy good storylines and strong booking. When Carmelo Hayes, Bron Breakker, and Trick Williams head to the main roster, he can be a guy that can carry the show.
You’re weird Shawn Spears
-Shawn Spears is doing weird Shawn Spears stuff again, eh? Yeah, moving right along …
-A decent little tag team match between No Quarter Catch Crew and the team of Nathan Frazer & Axiom. That’s about it all it was though.
-Look Robert Stone, if Von Wagner hadn’t gotten involved you would have been beaten to a pulp in the ring. Period. Because Stone has been portrayed as such a goofball weakling the last two years, it’s nearly impossible to buy his renewed push to be taken seriously as he tries to physically stand up for himself. This is supposed to be a dramatic story of friendship between Stone and Wagner, but it isn’t working due to the focus being on Stone. He’s a background player.
-What does everyone think about Sol Ruca? Right now, I see a lot of athleticism, but someone that is completely out of touch with her character and what the real goal is out there once she hits the ring. She’s very new, so it obviously is early, but Ruca needs to find a way to make it look like she’s fighting an opponent and less like she’s dancing through planned steps of choreography.
A serious Family
-It’s really cool to see Tony D’Angelo get more serious for this world title program with Ilja Dragunov. I don’t think he’s winning the title at Stand and Deliver, but the pivot in the presentation tone puts him near the top of the card after this match with Dragunov is wrapped up.
-It’s crazy that No Quarter Catch Crew can hold the Heritage Cup as a four group faction. Like, what the hell are we doing here, right? That madness aside, Drew Gulak vs. Riley Osbourne was fine. More than anything, it helped further along the Thea Hail vs. Jacy Jayne stuff.
-Hello Trick Williams! Williams cut a fantastic promo backstage before his match with Noam Dar. Williams looked confident, but also off the cuff in a very likable way. He hit the right notes to further the feud with Carmelo Hayes.
Throw another log on the fire
-As for the main event, welcome back to jobber town, Noam Dar! Ha! Finally! Kidding. This was a good main event. Dar really did a nice job selling for Williams and Trick getting the win was the obvious right way to book things. As for the post-match attack on Trick by Hayes? Smart. The only thing this feud needs at this point is more heat and then a go-home babyface promo in the ring from Trick. With two weeks left to go before the match, throwing logs on the fire was a simple, but effective way to close the show.
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