5 things WWE NXT got right this week: Dolph Ziggler arrives; Mandy Rose bags another win

The creative team was looking to build some big matches and segments this week, with WWE NXT Vengeance Day on the horizon. Bron Breakker was scheduled to host a Championship Summit with Santos Escobar on the show. The two superstars were interrupted by a couple of men who were looking for a title shot themselves.

Mandy Rose was ready to defend her NXT Women's Championship against Kay Lee Ray. The brand was also ready to build towards the Women's Dusty Rhodes Classic Tournament on the show.

A few newcomers competed in big matches this week, while many of the veterans picked up crucial victories. All in all, WWE booked a solid episode on Tuesday night that gave fans something good to look forward to.

Keeping that in mind, let's take a look at the five things WWE NXT got right on the episode before Vengeance Day.

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#5. Creed Brothers progressed in the WWE NXT Dusty Rhodes Classic

The Creed Brothers took on The Grizzled Young Veterans in the semifinals of the WWE NXT Dusty Rhodes Classic. The brothers dominated early before GYV managed to isolate Brutus Creed.

Brutus endured for some time before fighting back and making the hot tag to Julius Creed. He ran over James Drake and went on a roll.

Drake hit a suicide dive, and GYV hit Doomsday Device for a nearfall. The Creed Brothers did not let the match slip and hit a double-team move. A low clothesline from Brutus helped the brothers pick up the victory and move into the finals of the Dusty Rhodes Classic.

The match was entertaining and arguably the best one of the night. It was heartbreaking to see Grizzled Young Veterans take another loss in a major tournament. Drake and Gibson work like a well-oiled machine and deliver in every match they perform in.

Creed Brothers have been great together, and it was the right call to have them progress to the final of the tournament. They are now the favorites to win and likely become the next NXT Tag Team Champions. A match between Imperium and Creed Brothers for the titles will be epic, to say the least.

#4. Pete Dunne added another factor to his match against Tony D’Angelo on WWE NXT

Draco Anthony geared up for his next big assignment on WWE NXT. He showed Pete Dunne respect early on, but The Bruiserweight was least interested.

Draco started strong and took the fight to Dunne. He hit a vertical suplex and kept the pressure on the veteran. Dunne bounced back and worked on Draco’s fingers to punish him.

The two men continued to fight in the ring as Tony D’Angelo came out with a crowbar. The Bruiserweight wiped him out at ringside before hitting Draco with a Bitter End to pick up the win.

Afterward, Dunne snapped D’Angelo’s fingers and grabbed a few weapons. He decided to change their contest next week into a weaponized steel cage match.

Draco Anthony has proven to be a fine competitor in the ring. WWE could look to give him a push in the months to come. Meanwhile, the change in match type will make the contest between Dunne and D’Angelo even more entertaining. The two hard-hitting superstars will take things to the next level in their weaponized steel cage match.

#3. LA Knight overcame Sanga on WWE NXT

LA Knight looked to take his rivalry against Grayson Waller forward on WWE NXT. To get to the heel, Knight took on his bodyguard Sanga on this week’s show.

Knight wasn’t intimidated by Sanga’s size and took every opportunity to chop him down. Waller tried to coach his bodyguard from outside but could not get things right.

Knight sent Sanga hard into the steel post as Waller uncovered a turnbuckle. The Million Dollar star took advantage and sent Sanga into the exposed turnbuckle before hitting the BFT for the win.

Waller rushed into the ring after the match but fell prey to a few big strikes by Knight. The heel warned Knight that he would be arrested next week for breaking his restraining order.

Sanga still has a lot of work to do in the ring. While he wasn’t too bad, WWE still needs to fine-tune his character and skill set.

Knight got a good match that will give him the upper hand in the rivalry. The two superstars will likely put on some great matches on the show in the weeks to come.

#2. Dolph Ziggler gatecrashed the WWE NXT Championship summit

WWE NXT Champion Bron Breakker came out to the ring to have a chat with his next challenger, Santos Escobar. The two men traded hot words before former WWE Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler showed up.

The Showoff listed his accomplishments in WWE before asking Breakker who he was. Breakker promised to deal with both men before Tommaso Ciampa made his way out to the middle.

The Blackheart was offended by Ziggler claiming the NXT title. He said he was next in line for a title shot after Breakker was done with Escobar. The champ took offense to the interruptions and said he would deal with all three men one by one.

Escobar left the ring and sent Legado del Fantasma to deal with the men in the ring. After Breakker cleared the ring and Ciampa fought with Ziggler on the outside, Legado del Fantasma put the champion through the table to end the segment.

Ziggler’s arrival helped elevate the entire segment and the title scene. A match between Ziggler and Ciampa would be epic if the creative team decides to go that way. The Showoff could take the title off Breakker without denting his image and free him to move to the main roster after WrestleMania.

#1. Kay Lee Ray stood tall even after a loss on WWE NXT

Mandy Rose came out to defend her title against Kay Lee Ray on WWE NXT. The two women started brawling early before Rose took control of the contest with a big spinebuster.

Lee Ray tried to hit the KLR Bomb early, but Rose reversed it into a sunset flip bomb for another nearfall.

Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne returned to the arena and saved the NXT Women’s Champion by sending Ray off the top rope to the floor. Rose took advantage of the situation and hit a Bicycle Knee for the win.

After the match, Toxic Attraction looked to do more damage to KLR. Io Shirai arrived to make the save and sent the heels running. Ray laid out Rose with the KLR Bomb and stood tall with The Genius of the Sky.

Rose got another good title defense on Tuesday night against a top superstar. It looks like Lee Ray and Shirai will now team up for the Dusty Rhodes Classic. However, WWE must keep KLR in the title picture and give her another match against God’s Greatest Creation.