-Honestly, Shawn Michaels is trolling me at this point with Noam Dar. Dar defeating Dijak? Really? Look, I’m not a Dijak defender. You guys know that. HOWEVER. Dijak losing to Dar is disqualifying if you’re Dijak. Like, how does he present as a credible wrestler after this? A very strange call given the fact that Dar isn’t going anywhere at the moment. The match wasn’t bad, but a bizarre way to start the show nonetheless.
Crazy with purpose
-I liked the attempt this week to define Tatum Paxley as more than just a crazy woman. There was purpose to her craziness and the line in her vignette about Lyra Valkyria being in her way stood out as proof. It’s clear that the crazy is rooted in winning something, which is an important nuance to call out. She still needs to deliver, but they struck the right tone.
-They are still firmly behind Lola Vice and I still don’t see it. Yes, she was an MMA fighter, but there doesn’t seem to be a feel there with her for the performative fight that a pro wrestling match is. She can walk through the steps, but she doesn’t make me believe. It’ll be Vice vs. Natalya at Spring Breakkin. That will be a good test for Vice to show that she can reach another level of work.
-More fashion nonsense from Gigi Dolin and Arianna Grace this week. Not bad. One of the better skits that they’ve done. Still, I don’t know this angle and story elevate either person, but that likely isn’t the point. This week, it was good for what it was.
-Ridge Holland won, but was upset again? This story is still baffling. Ridge, listen to me. You’re supposed to hurt people in the ring. That’s the idea. Don’t let the NXT brass get you down! More weirdness here. Holland looks like a lost puppy out there.
A main roster promo
-Tony D’Angelo cut an excellent promo this week that detailed his loss to Ilja Dragunov at Stand & Deliver. It was delivered with poise and he took responsibility for the loss. He then pivoted right away into a feud with No Quarter Catch Crew. I liked this a lot and it was another moment where D’Angelo showed how his quirky mob boss gimmick could fit on the main roster.
-Je’Von Evans is impressive. Yes, he was in the ring with Ilja Dragunov and Dragunov can make a mop look good, but it counts for something to keep up. Evans looked great as a high flyer and has a lot of potential. Forming a character will be an important step for his development, but at such a young age, he’s got plenty of time.
-Huh, how about Andre Chase and Thea Hail making up? It usually doesn’t happen so amicably in pro wrestling. Chase gave a reasonable explanation for his betting woes and Hail accepted it. End of story. An interesting and less dramatic way to take the story, but sometimes it’s good to see people acting like real humans toward one another. Hail losing to Paxley thanks to Jacy Jayne just adds fuel to an eventual match between the two and there’s a good chance that match happens at Spring Breakkin week two.
AOP is back
-Authors of Pain got a win. Clearly, they are being positioned as a dominant tag team to chase after the babyface team of Axiom and Nathan Frazer. We’ll know soon which team NXT brass is really behind. Frazer and Axiom if they overcome the monsters and AOP if they dust that duo in seconds.
-Hell no. I know it’s crazy to put this out there, but I’m not booking Ivar to beat Josh Briggs. Briggs is low on the NXT totem poll of importance, but he still has more upside as a young talent than Ivar does. We know the deal with Ivar. Turning the tide of audience perception with him is a near impossible task at this point.
-Once again, Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes brought it in the main event. They could have used the cage a little more, but it wasn’t an egregious misuse of the match gimmick. Williams got the clean win and is ready for his showdown with Ilja Dragunov next week for the NXT Championship. My guess is he wins and takes the banner of NXT as Hayes and Dragunov get called up to the main roster during the WWE Draft.
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