'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Amid the fluctuations in the quality of RAW and SmackDown, WWE presented yet another solid and consistent episode of NXT.
The black and gold brand did well to keep storylines running, either in the ring or through promos. We saw a couple of fantastic stipulation matches book-end the show, while Finn Balor made his return. As a result, the direction of the NXT Championship picture is now known.
NXT does a fantastic job in booking week-to-week episodic programming, especially now that there is no pressure to match AEW Dynamite in the ratings.
This week was strong in itself while setting up the next edition to be even more exciting.
Anyway, let's get into the best and worst of this week's episode of WWE NXT. What did you think of the show? Sound off in the comments below.
#1 Best: Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell become NXT Women's Tag Team Champions
The best thing about this week's episode of NXT was by far the main event Women's Tag Team Championship Street Fight, pitting Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart against Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell. It was everything one could hope for with such a match.
The action was brutal and went all over ringside. Tables, ladders, and chairs were all used with the utmost creativity.
Some of the biggest spots involved Blackheart trying to take flight, either through the ropes or from the scaffolding onto the announcer's table.
Things kept on getting increasingly brutal, with Indi Wrestling laying out Moon with a huge springboard elbow drop through a table at ringside.
The end came when LeRae finished Blackheart off with the Wicked Stepsister onto a chair. The female members of The Way are now NXT Women's Tag Team Champions.
This is an inspired decision that is being very well received, thanks to the stellar work Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell have been doing recently.
The Way had an excellent night, with the two of them not being the only ones to stand tall on NXT.
Also, Hartwell's love story with Dexter Lumis wasn't forgotten in this chaos. His attempts to reach her were thwarted by LeRae in a bid to ensure there were no distractions before their title match. It worked in the end.
#1 Worst: Same contenders in the NXT Championship scene
Karrion Kross made his first live appearance since his promo as NXT Champion on the Tuesday premiere of the black and gold brand. He cut a typical promo, calling out contenders for his title. And boy, did he get them or what?
Kross was quickly interrupted by "cool" Kyle O'Reilly before Pete Dunne and the returning Finn Balor came out quickly afterward. While exciting, it was the standard promo train trope, with one superstar following another in an orderly fashion. Also, that was not the only issue with the segment.
There aren't any new names in the NXT Championship picture, with O'Reilly, Dunne, and Balor all having fought for the belt this year. This isn't the worst thing in the world by a long shot, considering the immense talent in the ring. But could NXT possibly have thrown a surprising name in the hat?
Nevertheless, a possible Fatal-4-Way at the next TakeOver sounds like a fantastic match. It's just stuff we have seen before.
Karrion Kross was eventually laid out by Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory following the chaos. The latter will face him next week, following a backstage confrontation with Scarlett earlier on NXT.
#2 Best: Shoes off for tag team wrestling on NXT
One of the biggest matches on NXT this week saw the Grizzled Young Veterans take on Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher, following up on their segment from last week.
The four superstars, varying in tag team experience, put on a highly competitive and technical contest.
GYV was impressive yet again here, which begs the question over why they aren't further up the card as NXT Tag Team Champions. Nevertheless, they did get a lot of shine here. Ciampa and Thatcher themselves have slowly grown as a unit on the program.
NXT brought up on the aforementioned segment last week, which ended with a reference to the "Shoes off if you hate Gibson" chant. A dive from James Drake on Tommaso Ciampa into the announcer's table somehow led to Wade Barrett losing his shoe in the chaos.
Timothy Thatcher ended up hitting Zack Gibson with the shoe and locked him in an armbar to pick up the victory for his team. This was a logical end to a fun match between the two tandems, with the babyfaces coming off much better for it.
They could be next in line for a shot at MSK's Tag Team Championships once their feud with Legado del Fantasma is over. A special mention must go out for Ciampa, who looked extra ripped on NXT tonight.
#2 Worst: Franky Monet doesn't have a story on NXT yet
Franky Monet debuted on NXT four weeks ago, and all she has done is roam around the place with her dog and confront different women on the roster. It has done well to establish the recent signing as a presence on the show and a part of this universe, but this exercise may have gotten a little too repetitive.
The former IMPACT Knockouts Champion debuted by interrupting Raquel Gonzalez's victory promo as the NXT Women's Champion. However, it did not set up anything in the process.
Monet met Io Shirai during an interview the following episode, before bumping into Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart last week.
This week's appearance was even less consequential, as she gave Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter some words of encouragement. That wasn't it, though. Her dog had gotten away for a brief moment and seemingly spoiled Blackheart's tank.
Will that development lead to something substantial for Franky Monet?
Either way, it is high time that NXT sets up a story for her, giving her a definitive character in the process.
Maybe she will take on the winner of the NXT Women's Championship match between Raquel Gonzalez and Mercedes Martinez.
#3 Best/Worst: Great match to open NXT, but with a questionable finish
While the main event Street Fight stole the show on NXT, the opening Falls Count Anywhere match between Leon Ruff and Isaiah "Swerve" Scott sizzled too. The two were able to put on one hell of a brawl across the Capitol Wrestling Center. It was quick and intense.
Ruff was particularly impressive, hitting a crucifix bomb from the top rope and a Poison Rana from the apron. The babyface underdog withstood a lot of Swerve's offense as well.
The two stars used a closed toolbox from under the ring, to differing effects. However, just as Leon Ruff was about to put his rival away with a high spot outside the ring, AJ Francis interfered and hit him with a fireman's carry onto the barricade. This allowed Isaiah Scott to pick up the victory.
This was an explosive way to open NXT, but there was a disconnect with the finish. Francis was hardly established as part of Swerve's "entourage" beforehand, with most fans recognizing him from the new A&E Series - WWE's Most Wanted Treasures.
Hopefully, NXT will follow up on this in the next few weeks.
