Starting last week, with the announcement of the Dusty Rhodes Memorial Tag Team Classic tournament, NXT has taken its place as the most exciting brand in WWE once again. Think about it.
Raw is a show that drags on and on, where Cruiserweights perform watered down moves. Smackdown has more advertisements than actual in-ring action. NXT is what made us all fall in love with wrestling all over again. Simple feuds and storylines, and hungry talent that is keen on getting over.
With Tom Phillips and Corey Graves saying just the right things, at the right places. As always, NXT came to us from Full Sail in Orlando, Florida; and we did find quite a lot to write about today’s episode.
#5 Samoa Joe ruined Dan Matha’s debut
Last week, it was the Ealy Twins. This week, it was the debuting Dan Matha, who cuts an impressive figure; but was squashed to a pulp by Samoa Joe. Joe would pick up the microphone thereafter and warn Regal that many more would suffer; if Joe did not either get the injured Nakamura in a title match or be offered the title directly.
This serves two purposes. It establishes Samoa Joe as the top heel monster, who is unstoppable and only focused on winning his title back from Nakamura. It also makes us curious to see what Matha’s debut will actually be like, whenever it happens.
Sure, one can say that Matha got buried on arrival; but we’d like to disagree. He was in a program with the top guy, and it doesn’t get better.
#4 A new women’s alliance was formed
We saw Billy Kay at the last Takeover against the debuting Ember Moon. In this depleted NXT roster, she is probably the top heel. Now it looks like she’s part of a duo heel stable with Peyton Royce. Peyton Royce is just as green in the ring as her outfit is, and her match against Danielle Kamela left a lot to be desired.
But hey, one must remember that NXT is a developmental brand too! There was even the tease of a feud against the (kayfabe) injured Liv Morgan, who was squashed by Asuka last week. It’s great to see the women’s division in NXT picking up, and while most of the talent is green, things can only get better from here on in.
#3 The Authors of Pain kickstarted the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
We all know how much Dusty Rhodes meant to the entire NXT roster. And to celebrate his legacy, NXT has a tag team tournament that celebrates his legacy. Last year’s tournament was of course, a huge success.
This year, it started with the destructive duo known as The Authors of Pain. Akam and Rezar obliterated their opponents from the word go. The Bollywood Boyz (who were treated as jobbers even in the Cruiserweight Classic) could not get any offence in.
Also, with due respect to Brock Lesnar, we don’t know of any other superstars in the roster who’re being booked as ‘unbeatable’ the way Akam and Rezar are. Paul Ellering by the ringside is just a creepy touch.
#2 Huge heel turn during the main event
Cedric Alexander and Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas had an amazing bout recently on NXT television. At the conclusion of the match, the two of them had hugged in a sign of mutual respect. In time, we’d even see them decide to team up and compete in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
Their opponents- the NXT Tag Team Champions ‘The Revival’. Dash and Dawson put on a classic every time they step into the ring, and today was no different. They just are the best tag team in the world, main roster included, as Corey Graves kept saying on commentary.
This is not the main story, though. At the conclusion of their match, Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas would turn on his tag team partner, and officially go ‘heel’. Great move, as he’s not been over as a babyface at all, since his debut.
#1 Huge debut coming next week
Ever since NXT Takeover Brooklyn II, we’ve been seeing vignettes talking about ‘Sanity’. And next week, we’ll finally come to know who this team is. This unit goes one on one with Tye Dillinger and Bobby Roode, aka The Glorious 10. If you thought Cesaro and Sheamus are an odd couple, these two guys are the very definition of odd.
Eric Young is said to be one of the members of Sanity, while another is expected to be “Crazy” Mary Dobson. Young is a former TNA Champion, who has previously featured on WWE.
We can’t wait for next week to watch this debut and catch the rest of the tag team tournament. Until then, see you later folks!
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