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The men and women of NXT know that the brand is the talk of town. There are many eyes on them at all times. And this is why they put on great performances, every single week. This week was certainly no different.
In this piece, I shall note 5 points that I found particularly noteworthy. Let me know what you thought of this week's action as well. I'm curious to know what your feelings about this very episode are.
Do you think NXT TakeOver: WarGames will be just as exciting as the inaugural edition last year? How do you think the build to the event has been thus far?
Here is my assessment of this week's hour-long episode.
#5 Lacey Evans continues her dominant run
Only last week, Lacey Evans had met Candice LeRae outside the arena and exchanged a few harsh words. This was the setup for the match this week, where both performers brought their A-Game to the fold. As impressive as the veteran LeRae seemed during the match, it is clear that the company is very high on Lacey Evans at the moment.
Evans did not play fair, even resorting to heel tactics like pulling LeRae's hair to get the upper hand. And then, when the audience least expected it, Evans would scream- 'You’re no good, just like your husband' at her opponent. This would just anger LeRae who unleashed a flurry of blows on Lacey Evans.
But Evans had LeRae's number and decked her with a massive Woman's Right to pick up the victory and move up the ranks in the women's division. I expect Evans to be a major player when she goes up into the main roster too.
#4 A dominant showcase
We've seen The Forgotten Sons in action before, but it was this week that they displayed just how dominant they can be as a unit. They took on a trio of enhancement talent that did not stand a chance. All three of the Forgotten Sons got their offense in and showed that they can work as a well oiled machine. The opponents did not pose any threat at all.
I genuinely wonder in which division these men will make their presence felt in the coming weeks. Will they work as a tag team unit or will they try and ascend the singles ladder hereon in? I'm curious to see how far high the ceiling is for this particular unit.
I'm also genuinely not certain whether these men are working as babyfaces or heels at this point in time. That said, I'm anxious to see what the future holds for The Forgotten Sons.
#3 Brand new feud teased with Ciampa?
It comes as no surprise that people consider Ciampa to be the prime suspect with regard to the unseen attack on former NXT Champion, Aleister Black. The Velveteen Dream made his suspicions known in a backstage interview. Ciampa cut a promo on The Velveteen Dream this week, sending him a warning. It is clear that the two men will clash very soon.
Does this mean that The Velveteen Dream is a full fledged babyface now? Imagine how hot the crowd will be when the two men meet in the middle of the ring!
#2 Brand vs. brand dream match
I mean no disrespect to the talented men and women that competed on this episode. But Johnny Gargano and Tony Nese had the match of the night, on this week's show. And despite the fact that the other performers had great matches too, this was the clear cut winner for Match of the Night.
This was a really fast paced match. It did seem like Nese had the match won at points, during the contest. But ultimately, it was Johnny Gargano who pulled off a big win.
Can we please have more crossovers with performers in other brands, NXT? These contests remind us about the wealth of talent that exists in WWE right now.
#1 Sullivan destroyed EC3
EC3 and Lars Sullivan finally met in a singles match this week. Even though EC3 had the upper hand for the first half of the match, we all knew how it was going to go. Sullivan destroyed EC3 with a Freak Accident off the ring apron. And then he picked up a win with a flying head butt.
I wonder if Sullivan will use the flying head butt as his finisher. It certainly is quite a sight to see such a monstrous individual fly through the air. Also, does this qualify Sullivan for a bigger opportunity very soon?
Both of these men are destined to do well in the main roster. They have the size and physique that Vince McMahon has been known to like.
Could either man become the next NXT Champion, in months to follow?
