'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
From the Final Deletion to Daniel Bryan's highly emotional return, this has certainly been a newsworthy week of wrestling in WWE. It was capped off by a fun NXT episode. Yes, this wasn't the most noteworthy episode, really. However, it was a pretty solid hour.
As is customary, we will look back at the episode and list 5 points that we found noteworthy. We hope that you chime in with your opinions in the comments. If your opinions differ from ours, let us know what they are.
As NXT TakeOver: New Orleans approaches, things are well underway for WWE's fan-favourite brand to shine on the big stage again!
#5 Gargano returns to seek retribution
Tommaso Ciampa sent his former best friend Johnny Gargano packing by interfering in a career vs. title match. Since then, he's grown into the top heel in NXT. In fact, one may even call him the top heel in all of wrestling, judging by the reaction that he usually gets. Even Roman Reigns would be scared of Ciampa's negative reception.
This week, he came out to the ringside area, to gloat once again. He tore up a bunch of posters that fans at ringside were holding up. Even even got into a war of words with a kindly looking old lady.
And then he chanced upon a luchador who was sitting at ringside. The luchador was, of course, none other than Johnny Gargano who fired off a volley of shots, before he was escorted from the ringside area, quite promptly indeed.
Without going into spoilers, it would be a shame if Ciampa vs. Gargano is not a featured attraction at the following TakeOver event.
#4 Roderick Strong's new ally
Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch are two extraordinary competitors with a lot of fight, and very little hair. They were supposed to go up against Moustache Mountain in the first round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament. Unfortunately, an injury to Pete Dunne would put those plans on hold, making room for a new tag team to step up.
Roderick Strong came to ring side and was joined by Pete Dunne thereafter. There was great continuity from the week before, when Strong and Dunne had chased away the Undisputed ERA following Pete Dunne's classic with Adam Cole. The four men involved in the match took one another to the limit.
Strong and Dunne were the clear favourites going into this match, and they stood tall when all was said and done, going into the next round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament. They will square off against SAnitY in the next round in a match that should be significantly tougher to call.
#3 An easy victory for the Champion
Ember Moon squared off against Aliyah this week on NXT. It was what it was. Moon defeated Aliyah with the utmost of ease with The Eclipse. It was clear that she was looking past this match, at the dangerous woman seated on the NXT commentary desk.
It was only after the match was done and dusted, that the two women involved in the TakeOver match faced off from two ends of the venue. Believe us, their contest at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans will be a power-packed affair!
#2 Packed show next week!
Raul Mendoza is not a lucky man. We was making his first NXT appearance in a while when he was blindsided by the NXT Champion. Andrade 'Cien' Almas came to the ring and said a lot of things. You did not have to understand his native tongue to be able to understand that he was absolutely incensed.
Almas called out Black to the ring, for a face-off next week. William Regal has also promised a huge announcement on next week's show. Moreover, there will be two Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Championship semi final matches on the show as well.
Things are heating up on the road to New Orleans. NXT TakeOver: New Orleans may even be the best TakeOver event of all time, judging by the build.
#1 Match of the night
Adam Cole was very confident coming into the match. So much so, that he asked the Undisputed ERA to stay in the backstage area. He believed Kassius Ohno would be a walk in the park. As one would expect, he wasn't.
Here's what we do know about Kassius Ohno. He may be the most nimble big man in all of NXT, right now. He can do things that no man his size should be able to do.
Adam Cole did manage to win the match of course and get his heat back after he couldn't put Pete Dunne away. Ohno, however, proved he deserves to be in the conversation for the NXT Championship.
See you all next week, bay bay!
Send us news tips at [email protected].
Do you love to play crosswords, Wordle or other exciting games? We'd like to connect with you. Fill the form here!
