-A tough couple weeks for Tristan Angels. He loses the Mr. NXT competition last week to Shiloh Hill and then the opening contest this week to the Men’s Evolve Champion, Aaron Rourke. Angels has a very one-note gimmick at this point. One that absolutely has a low ceiling in WWE. He’s got to find some depth if he’s going to become something more than a developmental jobber. Rourke looked good. Already appears to be leaps and bounds ahead of Angels.
A fireball? Really?
-There were way too many issues with what happened this week between Naraku and Tony D’Angelo. First of all, weren’t these two guys friends like a week ago? Now Naraku breaks out a fireball? Just like that? Second of all, the fireball gimmick is so silly. Nobody buys it and it generates laughter more than it does heat or concern from the audience. More on these two in a minute …
-Ok, it’s a low bar, but this week’s segment between Saquon Shugars and Dion Lennox was the best one between them yet. Good timing with their match on the horizon this weekend at the Great American Bash. This feud needed promo time like this, so it was a win the minute things kicked off. Both Lennox and Shugars appropriately talked about their history together with the heel framing why they turned and babyface putting a mission statement out about what he’s going to do during the match. Nothing ground-breaking here, but a traditional pro wrestling segment that set the tone for a PLE match.
-A strong video package this week for the Myles Borne North American Championship title defense against Tavion Heights at The Bash. Borne has proven to be a level above Heights inside of this feud. Not the time for Borne to lose that belt and there hasn’t been any indications that he will.
Which is worse?
-Birthright or The Vision? Which is worse right now in WWE? Birthright lost to Hank and Tank on NXT. That’s rough. They get my vote. Sidebar: what’s with all the comedians getting involved in matches on WWE television? Who is Matt Mathews anyway?
-The Shiloh Hill backstage promo was the top segment on the show this week. Serious virtually the entire time. Thumbs way up. As long as Hill stays away from silliness, his charisma can shine bright.
-Yeeeeeaaaaah, no. Keanu Carver shouldn’t be losing to EK Prosper. Prosper isn’t anywhere near over enough or known enough for a win like that. Carver is still too undefined to be taking losses. The match was less than fine and the finish furrowed the brow.
Possible main event at The Bash
-Glad to see Zaria vs. Tatum Paxley added to the Great American Bash this weekend for the Women’s North American Championship. There is a good argument to be made for this match taking the main event slot. It won’t happen, but the argument is there.
-Oh. No. The Culling. Broke. Up. How will the show go on? Good riddance. The faction never made a lot of sense. Now Izzi Dame can do her thing as a singles act and not have to worry about the odd gimmick that came with being in the group.
Huh???
-Why the swerve in the main event segment? Robert Stone teased that Naraku would have a different opponent at The Bash for a long time. Too long. Why not just bring D’Angelo out and go? The entire angle didn’t really need to exist and it didn’t add much to the D’Angelo vs. Naraku match on Sunday. Very curious to see the kind of match these two have in a major spot on a PLE.
What did you think of this week’s episode of WWE NXT? Let us know in the comments!
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