5 things WWE NXT 2.0 got right this week: WALTER dominates; Grayson Waller follows in AJ Styles’ footsteps

A loaded episode of WWE NXT 2.0 was set to take fans on a ride this week. WALTER returned to the brand to take on Roderick Strong in a much-awaited contest.

The rivalry between Grayson Waller and LA Knight also picked up on this week’s episode. It looks like the creative team will build their feud before giving them a match on a big stage.

The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Tournament also kicked off this week as four teams competed for a spot in the semi-finals. Legado del Fantasma took a surprise loss to Malik Blade & Edris Enofe to get knocked out of the tournament.

Bron Breakker was also ready to put his title on the line against Santos Escobar. The champion showed Escobar that he wouldn’t wait for his challenger to select a date and time for their match.

Take a look at the five things WWE NXT 2.0 got right on this week’s show.

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#5. Grayson Waller continued to impress on WWE NXT 2.0

LA Knight arrived early on WWE NXT 2.0 to face Grayson Waller. The Australian star arrived with a restraining order in hand, warning Knight that he would be arrested if he came near.

Dexter Lumis arrived, and a match was booked between him and Waller. The former recently recovered from a hand injury, and his opponent targeted his arm to put him through a lot of pain.

The Tortured Artist fought back and hit an uranage nearly into the Silence. Lumis lost control after a mysterious man attacked him, sending him into the steel post. Waller took advantage and hit a rolling cutter for the win.

After the contest, Waller presented his new “insurance policy,” i.e., a bodyguard, to the NXT Universe. The match was solid and helped NXT 2.0 get off to a great start.

It looks like Waller is taking a page out of AJ Styles’ book and aligning himself with the revamped Saurav. The decision could help him get over in his rivalry against LA Knight.

Both men will likely put on some great matches in the coming weeks. It would be great to see Knight pick up some wins after a slow start to his career. Meanwhile, WWE will need to find a way to elevate Lumis on the roster.

#4. The Creed Brothers progressed in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic on WWE NXT 2.0

The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic kicked off on WWE NXT 2.0 this week, with Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen taking on The Creed Brothers in the first match.

Jensen kneed Brutus Creed in the mouth early, sending his mouthpiece flying out. Briggs got the tag and came in to hit a double-team maneuver. The Creed Brothers got back in the game once Brutus returned to the ring.

The match spilled to the floor, where Julius punished both his opponents. He bent the railing with Jensen’s back and returned to the ring to help Brutus finish off Briggs for the victory.

Malcolm Bivens was ecstatic after The Creed Brothers picked up the win. It was the right call to allow the two massive men to progress to the semifinals of the Dusty Rhodes Classic.

The brand could crown Julius & Brutus as the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic winners. The brothers are arguably the most dominant tag team on the roster today and can have a great rivalry with Imperium for the tag team titles.

#3. The North American Championship scene picked up on WWE NXT 2.0

Tony D'Angelo defeated Pete Dunne after a hard-fought Crowbar on a Pole match on WWE NXT 2.0 last week. The former held a memorial service for The Bruiserweight this week.

The heel said it was a closed casket funeral after what he did to him. D'Angelo said he would now focus on the NXT North American Championship held by Carmelo Hayes.

This brought out Hayes and Trick Williams. The heels got in a war of words before Cameron Grimes came out for his shot at the title. Melo told them to fight it out.

D'Angelo tried to attack Grimes, but he countered and smashed the picture of Dunne over D'Angelo's head. The creative team did well to build the North American Championship scene on this week's show.

Grimes and D'Angelo are great performers who can give Melo a run for his money. NXT 2.0 could look to push Grimes into the title match first to give Melo some good matches and victories. D'Angelo can then enter the picture to take the title away from Hayes and free him up for a shot at the top title.

#2. Ivy Nile defeated Kay Lee Ray on WWE NXT 2.0

With Cora Jade and Raquel Gonzalez out of the title picture, Kay Lee Ray stepped forward on WWE NXT 2.0. She was ready to take on Ivy Nile of Diamond Mine to prove herself on the show.

While KLR came in as the favorite in the contest, Nile used her speed to surprise to her advantage. She countered Lee Ray’s best moves and hit some of her own to ground the former NXT UK Women’s Champion.

Lee Ray made a comeback and went for the KLR Bomb, but Mandy Rose showed up to distract her. The interruption was enough for Nile to roll her opponent up for the three-count.

After the match, Toxic Attraction hit the ring and attacked Lee Ray. Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta evened the odds and sent the heels running.

Nile picked up a big win to help her position on NXT 2.0. The booking protected KLR from a clean loss on the show.

Meanwhile, WWE did well to set up the next challenger for Toxic Attraction. It would be great to see Lee Ray defeat Rose for the NXT Women’s Championship.

#1. WALTER decimated Roderick Strong to stand tall on WWE NXT 2.0

WALTER praised Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner backstage before making his way out to the main event of WWE NXT 2.0. The former NXT UK Champion took out Roderick Strong in the biggest match of the night.

Malcolm Bivens was convinced that Strong would win the contest and put Diamond Mine over. However, things did not go too well for the former NXT Cruiserweight Champion once the match started.

WALTER delivered thunderous chops to Strong’s chest and nearly made it bleed. The Messiah of the Backbreaker fought back and hit an impressive superplex for a near-fall.

The Ring General found himself on the backfoot as Strong continued to hit him with some good moves. However, the match ended abruptly after WALTER hit Strong with a powerbomb.

After the contest, WALTER took the mic and stated that the winner of the match was “Gunther.” Barthel and Aichner attacked Strong, causing a massive brawl between Diamond Mine and Imperium on NXT 2.0.

It was good to have WALTER on the show after a long time. However, renaming him at this point in his career makes little sense. WWE could soon book a massive contest between Diamond Mine and Imperium, leading to some NXT Tag Team Championship matches between the champs and The Creed Brothers.