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The latest episode of NXT was dominated by tag team action, with as many as three first-round Dusty Rhodes Tag-Team Classic Tournament taking place on the show. Grizzled Young Veterans won a hard-fought battle against Ever-Rise, while the highly-anticipated debut of a tag team was also mightily impressive.
On the other hand, Adam Cole and Roderick Strong defeated Breezango in the main event of the night that ended with a massive show-closing brawl featuring several big players of the brand. Finn Balor's imminent challenger for the NXT Championship is also seemingly determined, with the former receiving help from Undisputed Era to deal with his new foes.
That said, let's dive in and discuss all the major talking points from the show that have already gotten the fans buzzing. Do share your thoughts and opinions about this episode of NXT in the comments section.
#5 New challenger emerges for Finn Balor's NXT Championship
NXT Champion Finn Balor made his way to the ring and spoke about defeating Kyle O'Reilly again. Just when he was getting into the groove, he was interrupted by Pete Dunne and NXT Tag Team Champions Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan. The former NXT UK Champion made it clear that the only reason Balor has the title is because he hasn't faced him yet. The trio soon made their way into the attack and unleashed an attack onto the champion.
However, Kyle O'Reilly made the save for his last week's opponent, though he too fell short and was taken down by The Kings of NXT. His Undisputed Era stablemates, Adam Cole and Roderick Strong, finally came to the rescue and successfully dealt with the trio, who quickly left the ring.
There were loud cheers of 'Too Sweet' with many expecting NXT to pull off a little Bullet Club reunion with Finn Balor and Adam Cole, just like how AEW had done last week with other former members. Though Balor decided to leave the ring rather than outright aligning with them, doors have opened up for the reigning champion to strike a partnership to deal with his challenger and his mates.
It would be intriguing to see how this story transpires, as Reilly helping the man who defeated him twice doesn't make a lot of sense. Maybe this could be a catalyst for him to finally turn to the dark side by turning on his mates.
#4 Adam Cole and Roderick Strong advance to the second round of Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Tournament, a massive brawl breaks out on NXT
In the main event of this week's NXT, Undisputed Era's Adam Cole and Roderick Strong took on Breezango in a first-round match tournament of NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Tournament. An injured Kyle O'Reilly was hanging around the ring corner, cheering for his stablemates.
The match was a pretty good back and forth contest between the two teams, though the attack by Kings of NXT on Kyle O'Reilly was the bigger talking point. Just when the match was getting into its second gear, the trio of Pete Dunne, Danny Burch, and Oney Lorcan laid down Reilly and brutalized him. NXT Champion Finn Balor, too, made his way to the ringside but was also taken down after a massive brawl broke down.
While Cole and Strong were visibly distracted by this attack, they somehow got over it and emerged victorious in this bout against Breezango. Post-match, Undisputed Era, and Kings of NXT had a staredown as the show went off-air.
Like mentioned earlier, Reilly turning on his stablemates still seems like a logical endpoint to this story. The chances of Cole and Roderick winning the tournament and challenging Burch and Lorcan for their titles also seem quite high as they are already tangling with them. The title match between the two can be the right stage where Reilly finally betrays his friends and embark on a high-profile singles run.
#3 The Grizzled Young Veterans and MSK advance to the second round of NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Tournament.
The first match of NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Tournament saw the last year's finalists Grizzled Young Veterans taking on the team of Ever-Rise. After a spectacular battle, which was by far, Ever-Rise's best performance in the Black and Gold brand, the former NXT UK Tag Team Champions came on top.
The duo of James Drake and Zack Gibson are the favorites to win the tournament due to their performances in the past year, and most importantly, because NXT needs real tag teams to be competing for the title.
In the second of the tournament, former IMPACT Wrestling champions, The Rascalz, made their highly-awaited NXT debut against the team of Isaiah 'Swerve' Scott and Jake Atlas. It was clear from the very moment their opponents came out that Scott and Atlas have come as far as they can in this tournament.
Dubbed as MSK, the debutants put up an incredible performance and displayed their tremendous athletic abilities. The match proved to be a perfect launch-pad for them, and they can be expected to go a long way in the tournament by having competitive clashes with experienced teams.
#2 NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano defeats Dexter Lumis in screwy fashion, gets taken down by KUSHIDA
NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano took on Dexter Lumis on this week's episode, and as the case with every Gargano match, it was fantastic, with Lumis putting up another impressive performance. Thanks to Austin Theory being present at the ringside, Gargano was able to come up on top by rolling-up Lumis after Theory successfully distracted him.
Post-match, an angered Lumis tried to choke Theory, but Gargano was quick to unleash a chair attack on him. However, KUSHIDA made the save and took down the reigning champion. Though KUSHIDA and Gargano are set to collide for NXT North American Championship sometime down the line, they would also be in opposite corners next week during the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Tournament where KUSHIDA teams up with Leon Ruff, while Gargano with Theory.
That match would be the right opportunity to hand KUSHIDA another pinfall victory over the former NXT Champion to make his challenge even stronger. Though none of these teams are expected to win the tournament, advancing this story should ideally be the prime focus of next week's match.
#1 Candice LeRae defeats Shotzi Blackheart in the opening match of this week's NXT
In the opening match of the night, Candice LeRae and Shotzi Blackheart had a highly-entertaining affair that was the perfect start to this week's NXT. There wasn't any dull moment in the match as both women unleashed aerial attacks soon after the bout begun without wasting even a single second. Despite the tiny crowd that was present, the action was engaging enough to generate loud cheers.
Being the snarly heel she is, LeRae came on top by the end, with Indie Hartwell ably helping her at ringside. A couple of distractions were enough to get the upper-hand, though Blackheart yet again showed why she's sure to be a vital part of NXT's women's division going forward.
Her charisma was off-the-charts as the crowd was wowed by her character work as well as with her fantastic in-ring skills. Though she lost here, the match seems to be far from a feud-ender with a few more bouts in the pipeline, by the end of which Blackheart should emerge as the new face of the division.
