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If you consider the underwhelming episode of RAW and the lacklustre edition of SmackDown Live that we were treated to this week, NXT was the best offering from the WWE camp over the past three evenings.
This wasn't really a noteworthy show, but all said and done, it set the stage for the weeks to follow on the WWE Network. Bear in mind, this is an NXT without Roode, without Asuka and with a menacing trio ruling the roost.
Over the duration of one hour, NXT treated us to some hard-hitting, nail-biting and power-packed action. Here are five points to note from the show.
#5 Lars Sullivan gets the Braun Strowman push
He may have the very same name as the drummer of Metallica, but he certainly does not march to the beat of anyone's drums. Lars Sullivan did not just beat No Way Jose this week but left him broken and devastated in the middle of the ring.
Remember the push that Braun Strowman got when he was separated from the Wyatt family? He was booked in matches with enhancement talent, often many in number, before he faced his first real opponent on RAW in Sin Cara.
After vanquishing multiple opponents not very long ago, Sullivan went up against No Way Jose, a big man who seemed diminutive in size when compared to Lars Sullivan. Sullivan showed off an impressing array of moves, even going to the top rope during the match.
It is certain that NXT has big plans for the man described as the next Brock Lesnar. Who's next on his radar then? Whoever it is had better watch out!
#4 reDragon vs Moustache Mountain
Moustache Mountain, comprising Trent Seven and Tyler Bate, are a well-known tag team on the indie circuit, having won the PROGRESS tag team championship in the UK among several other accolades in the past.
As is reDragon, a tag team comprising of Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish, who have won gold in both ROH and NJPW. This week the two teams collided in a dream match on NXT. The match was essentially a showcase for Tyler Bate, who has the tools to be the best babyface in the entire company.
O'Reilly and Fish triumphed in the encounter with the help of Adam Cole. This was a necessary win to prove their dominance in the division. They are part of the central storyline in NXT right now, and this win just catapults them to the next level.
We also got a glimpse into the next program that the ROH stable will be involved in. Learn more on the next page.
#3 A babyface pop for SAnitY
As is tradition, Cole, O'Reilly and Fish made a hasty retreat when NXT Champion Drew McIntyre stepped into the ring. They were surprised by the arrival of SAnitY, the NXT tag team champions, who got a massive babyface pop.
It is clear that SAnitY are babyfaces now. Nikki Cross made it known when she aligned with Ruby Riot last week, against the villainous Iconic Duo. Having faced The Authors of Pain in the last NXT Takeover, it is clear that SAnitY are babyfaces, as of right now.
Therefore, it is clear that the forthcoming battle between SAnitY and The Undisputed Era should be nothing short of absolutely awesome. We wonder how it will pan out, over time.
Of course, we also await the in-ring debut of Adam Cole bay bay!
#2 A legal weapon
When this match was first announced, we assumed that Lacey Evans, one of the women that NXT seems high on, would pick up an easy win over Bianca Belair. However, it was Bianca Belair who triumphed with some very unique offence.
If you watched the Mae Young Classic, you know that Belair uses her hair as a whip, making for some interesting television. She used it again, against Lacey Evans, allowing her to pick up the win. The best part, there's no rule against using your hair to win a WWE match!
This gimmick should get Belair over, especially with the main roster audience. We were also thrilled to see Dakota Kai, as part of the proceedings on NXT. Let's hope she makes her NXT debut, very soon indeed.
#1 A rather eclectic confrontation
Aleister Black lets his fists and his kicks do the talking, usually. This week on NXT, he broke his silence and explained the rationale behind his many tattoos when he was interrupted by The Velveteen Dream.
Black would kick the microphone out of The Velveteen Dream's hand with a spin kick, but in the battle of mind games that ensued, The Dream got the last laugh. We wonder if it is leading to a program between the two men, at the following Takeover.
Both men are immensely talented in the ring, and this should be a great match. We wonder if WWE will save it for a Takeover, or make it happen on TV.
That concludes our weekly countdown. Did you notice anything special on this week's show that we may have missed out on? Let us know, in the comments section below.
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