5 Things NXT got right on this week's episode (April 15, 2020)

#2 Stallion Timothy Thatcher

NXT Tag Team Champions Pete Dunne and Matt Riddle had to defend their tag team titles against former Champions Roderick Strong and Bobby Fish this week.

However, Dunne was unavailable for the show and picked Timothy Thatcher to replace him in the match as Riddle’s partner. In case you didn’t know, Thatcher was the longest-reigning EVOLVE Champion in history before he lost the title in early 2017 after holding it for nearly 600 days.

The Superstar did not know how to handle the super energetic and charismatic Riddle in his first match for NXT but tried to give it his all.

Strong and Fish, who know Thatcher pretty well, tried to work on The Original Bro for most of the match and tried not to allow him to get the tag to Thatcher. Behind the barricades, Dexter Lumis watched intensely with something on his mind.

After Thatcher got the tag, he ripped through Undisputed Era and soon managed to make Strong tap out to the Fujiwara Armbar, allowing Riddle to retain the titles.

This was an interesting way to debut Thatcher as he’s one of the bigger names WWE has recently signed. He not only managed to main-event upon debut but also picked up the victory himself and retained the NXT Tag Team Championships for Riddle and Dunne.

Later on, Thatcher gave his belt to Riddle too, showing that he might not be a long-term prospect to join The Original Bro until Dunne returns.

Will Riddle need to find another partner for his next defense?