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This week's episode of NXT was the final one before the brand moves to the USA Network next week. It's a big period of transition and unfortunately, the final episode of NXT before the big jump felt a lot like filler.
A lot of big matches were announced for the debut of NXT on the USA Network, and it just seemed that a lot more focus will be on the upcoming episode of the black and gold brand for the time being. That said, I wouldn't say that this week's episode of NXT was necessarily bad, but it just wasn't the best show that I've seen from the brand.
In any case, I will point out 5 points that I found particularly interesting from this week's episode. Be sure to voice your comments and whether you thought that this episode was just as unworthy of note as I did.
Let's begin with the most interesting thing from the show then!
#5 Rhea Ripley will not be added to the Fatal Four-way match
Rhea Ripley was clearly the star of the show this week, as the program opened with her and she was also in the main event match. Thus far, every woman who's squared off with Shayna Baszler has cowed down to the superior strength advantage. But Ripley, on the other hand, seems even more physically intimidating and tough than the NXT Women's Champion does.
Ripley would end up hitting Baszler with the steel chair and this would result in a disqualification for her. This means that the Fatal Four-Way match, to which she would have been added had she won, will remain what it originally was. But you can be sure that she is not done with Shayna Baszler or the Horsewomen just yet, no sir!
#4 Pete Dunne continues to dominate the competition
So Pete Dunne should be a big part of NXT on the USA Network. While he could be mistaken for just another Cruiserweight at first glance, he is just so much more. This technical wizard is also a mean you-know-what, attacking the fingers and digits of his opponents and leaving them splayed on the mat.
He took on Angel Garza in a singles match this week and it was clear from the very start that the two men could not be any more different from each other. One man represents the mean and savage streets of the UK, while the other is a flamboyant Latino superstar, showboating to the crowd at every possible occasion! Dunne would manage to tap out his opponent and will likely be one of the top players for NXT in coming weeks.
Garza has much potential too, and certainly the skill to back it up.
#3 A deafening ovation
When Johnny Gargano stepped out to Full Sail, to address his future, the chants just would not stop. He took a moment to soak it in and just when he was about to talk about what the future meant for him, Shane Thorne's music hit, to the dismay of the crowd.
Thorne was in full heel mode as he confronted Gargano and asked him to take a hike, something that Gargano did not take kindly to. And so he had to eat a superkick as Gargano assured NXT that he wasn't going anywhere at all.
Gargano has, in the past, been very vocal about his loyalty to the NXT brand and it is clear that this loyalty is paying off for him. Considering the response of the NXT Universe, it is clear that this loyalty is certainly paying off.
Aren't we glad that his main-roster call-up didn't really pan out?
#2 Dakota Kai returns
I've always thought that Dakota Kai is the complete package. Not only is she gorgeous, but she can also go in the ring and mix it up with the best competitors in the NXT Women's Division. It was announced that she'll be coming back to NXT, on this week's show.
The fact of the matter is that the women's division in NXT needs a shot in the arm and Dakota Kai could be just what the brand really needs. With Kairi Sane having gone to the main roster to do nothing at all, it needs the star power that Dakota Kai could bring to the table. Maybe someone like Asuka too could consider a comeback to bolster the ranks.
NXT's women's division used to be the hottest thing in the world before all of the call-ups happened and Shayna Baszler's reign of terror began. Kai's return could make things interesting once again.
#1 The future is undisputed
The final few minutes of this week's episode of NXT showed the Undisputed ERA talking about their prophecy. The one where they had proclaimed that every single member in the faction would be draped in gold by the end of 2019.
There's a big chance that it will be fulfilled on next week's show when Roderick Strong goes up one on one against The Velveteen Dream for the North American Championship. But then again, The Street Profits seem like they want the Tag Team Championships back, so I wonder what that's going to lead to.
With the women's number 1 contenders match and Matt Riddle in action, the future is truly undisputed. I don't mean that it'll necessarily be good for the Undisputed ERA, but it'll undisputedly be good for fans!
And if Dakota Kai chooses to come back, it'll just be the icing on what is already a very loaded cake indeed.
