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NXT came out swinging for the fences tonight. With a card full of matches, any of which could've main evented the weekly show by themselves, and some shocking returns, the Black & Gold Brand kicked off its new era on the USA Network with two hours of perfection.
Three championship matches, including an absolute banger of an opener between Matt Riddle and NXT Champion Adam Cole gave viewers on the USA Network enough of a reason to return the week after. Not to mention some new feuds the WWE set up tonight.
It's hard to narrow this down to just five, considering the sheer amount of times I went "Holy ****" tonight. That being said, let's kick this off with something that excited fans of the Bruiserweight.
#5 Damian Priest marks Pete Dunne
There aren't many men in the wrestling world that aren't intimidated by the former United Kingdom Champion. Pete Dunne has made a name for himself snapping fingers and records while under the NXT brand.
His feuds with Tyler Bate, the Undisputed Era, Walter, and Velveteen Dream have left quite an impression on the WWE Universe. However, the amount of punishment people go through when dealing with the Bruiserweight is, to put it frankly, horrifying.
Several times now, Pete Dunne has forced Superstars to tap out simply by snapping their fingers, a sight that has left many fans and performers gagging. With offence like that, you'd have to be crazy or a glutton for punishment to want to battle the master of joint manipulation...
Enter the Archer of Infamy. Damien Priest has knocked off some of the best performers that NXT has to offer in his short run in the company, even the likes of Keith Lee. Tonight, he set his sights on Pete Dunne, attacking the young star after a highly competitive brawl with Danny Burch.
Priest drove Dunne's face into the mat with the Reckoning, making it clear that his path to Infamy runs through the Bruiserweight.
#4 Wale escorts the Street Profits to their title bout
While this was sort of spoiled by WWE on their social media accounts, it was still a great treat to see Wale join the Street Profits on the way to the ring. Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford have been one of the most exciting and captivating tag teams in NXT history, and it didn't take long for the NXT fan base to catch on.
In no time, the Full Sail crowd was carrying hundreds of red solo cups like Ford, rocking out to their entrance every time they strolled down the ramp. So it was pretty obvious that putting one of the most beloved tag teams with a hype man like Wale would be money. The three men made their way through the crowd, celebrating the two-hour premiere with the WWE Universe in a sea of red cups.
Wale led the crowd in "Street! Profits!" and "We Want The Smoke" chants as he, Dawkins and Ford milked each and every second out of this entrance. After an hour and a half of nonstop action, this was just what we all needed to get amped up for the main event.
#3 NXT is Too Sweet
When it comes to special appearances, NXT is going to be the place to be going forward. The former developmental brand was always the place to tune in to see what newly contracted performers would be appearing soon. At various takeovers, we were introduced to Bobby Roode, Keith Lee, Matt Riddle, and more.
However, tonight, Full Sail University was invaded by legends of the business. Mark Henry, Stephanie McMahon, and Madusa were shown ringside during the second half of the show. Though, that wasn't the surprise that got the fans on their feet.
No, the NXT Universe erupted in "Too Sweet" chants once they saw the Outsiders, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, sitting back and enjoying the show front row. And though it was short, it was a great moment that gave the Black & Gold Brand some much-needed validation from the Attitude Era.
#2 Blackheart Ciampa stalks Adam Cole
NXT fans have been waiting for half a year for this epic moment. After Tommaso Ciampa was forced to vacate the NXT Championship before his climactic battle with Johnny Gargano at NXT TakeOver: New York, he vowed that he would return one day to reclaim what was rightfully his.
While the Ciampa didn't get his Fairy Tale Ending, it looks like he'll get another opportunity in the near future. Following the end of tonight's show, Adam Cole stood at the top of the ramp to celebrate the Undisputed Era's ongoing domination of NXT.
However, the festivities were put to an immediate halt when some familiar music hit, and it was at this moment that there wasn't one butt left in a seat at Full Sail or around the world.
Cole's head immediately dropped when he heard those ominous beeps, and slowly turned to see the Blackheart himself, Tommaso Ciampa, stagger towards him, keeping his eyes on his precious Goldie. For a moment, Ciampa looked up to acknowledge Adam Cole, who's confidence seemed to shrink at the sight of the former champion.
And if it was just Ciampa, maybe the night wouldn've have been so bad for Cole. After all, he did open the show by defeating Matt Riddle and putting the Original Bro in his rearview mirror. However...he wasn't even able to celebrate his own victory, thanks to the return of a certain former Universal Champion.
#1 Finn Balor is back for good
In a moment that had NXT fans around the world, myself included, standing on their feet, Finn Balor returned to the Black & Gold Brand tonight. Many wondered if this might be some one-off appearance to help boost ratings of the first two-hour show.
Luckily for us, that's not the case. Finn Balor didn't give Adam Cole much time to revel in his victory over Matt Riddle at the beginning of the show, interrupting the post-match celebration almost immediately. After basking in the glow of the NXT Universe, Balor let it be known that he wasn't going anywhere.
Cole backed out the ring, clearly not ready for another fight after the war he'd just fought. Still, at this point, Cole's stuck between a rock and a hard place. With both Finn Balor and Tommaso Ciampa circling the Panama City Playboy, one has to wonder if the Undisputed Era's grasp on the brand's gold could be coming to an end.
