NXT Television Report Card - May 23, 2018

It seems to me that the NXT television show has been on FIRE since NXT TakeOver: New Orleans. It has been a great segment or match from start to finish, and this week's edition was no exception.

As we head to NXT TakeOver: Chicago II on June 16th, the card is starting to take shape. There is only one announced match at this time between The Undisputed Era's Kyle O'Reilly and Roderick Strong defending the NXT Tag Team Championships against Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch.

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I fully expect the best feud in professional wrestling today, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa, to have a match, as well as Ricochet v. Velveteen Dream. It's going to be yet another great Takeover for sure.

This week's edition of NXT television saw three great matches and the continuation of that great feud I just mentioned in the paragraph before. To kick things off, let's fire up the backhoe because it's time for some steaks and weights!

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Match #1 - TM61 def. Heavy Machinery

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After essentially turning heel by cheating against the Street Profits, TM61 earned the disrespect of another tag team of Heavy Machinery. These two talented tag teams kicked off NXT this week with a fantastic match.

From his grunts and growls to the worm, Otis Dozovic is fast becoming one of my favorite personalities on the NXT roster. I think he's going to be a major star for years to come in the WWE.

The action truly went back and forth for the entire opening contest, and just like they did with the Street Profits, TM61 found a shortcut to defeat Heavy Machinery. Though TM61 cheated to win, it was still a very solid match.

GRADE: B+

Match #2 - Lacey Evans def. Kairi Sane

The stock of Lacey Evans is rising fast in NXT

If you have followed NXT closely for the past month, it is evident that Lacey Evans is the next big star in the women's division. She took a major step towards being in the upper echelon of NXT this week when she took on Kairi Sane.

The end of the match saw Sane hit that sick corner forearm; which is usually the precursor to the Insane Elbow; however, as Sane was coming down, Evans met her with a BRUTAL forearm of her own called The Woman's Right for the victory.

Though I love Sane, I am glad that Evans got the surprising win here to even up the score at one match a piece because these two work really well in the ring together. I'm really excited for the rubber match, and if it doesn't make the NXT TakeOver: Chicago II card, I hope they put it on before TakeOver in front of that hot crowd to air the week after.

GRADE: A-

Match #3 - Lars Sullivan def. Ricochet & Velveteen Dream (Handicap Match)

Could two talented NXT Superstars take down the "Leviathan" of NXT?

Last week on NXT, we were set to witness some magic between Ricochet and Velveteen Dream, but Lars Sullivan ruined all of the fun. Both men talked to NXT General Manager William Regal and set up a handicap match against Sullivan on this week's edition of NXT.

Much like the great match on Monday Night Raw between Finn Balor and Braun Strowman, I thought Lars Sullivan worked tremendously well with the smaller Velveteen Dream and even smaller Ricochet.

It looked like Dream and Ricochet were working very well together, and even had a chance to defeat Sullivan, but Dream let his ego get in the way and when the moment was right, he laid out Ricochet with that sick rolling Death Valley Driver.

That opened up the door for Sullivan to hit Ricochet with the Freak Accident to end the match.

Grade: A

Dakota Kai and Shayna Baszler face-off before their championship match next week

Dakota Kai must face her fears and her bully next week on NXT...

Cathy Kelley was backstage interviewing Dakota Kai one week before the biggest match of her career when she takes on Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women's Championship. Kelley mentioned the history between the two and Dakota said that she has been waiting for this opportunity for years and will have to go through the biggest bully she's ever come across.

That prompted Baszler to crash the interview and mentions how Dakota likes to talk a lot when she's not around, but can't say anything when she's right in front of her. Dakota would respond with "we will see" to end the interview.

I thought it was an effective set-up for a match where the outcome is probably not in much doubt. I still think in the end Dakota turns heel and joins Shayna.

GRADE: C+

Johnny Gargano addresses the NXT Universe

Johnny Gargano is obsessed with ending Tommaso Ciampa...

Johnny Gargano's music played at the end of NXT this week, and this time it is Johnny Wrestling that comes out to the ring, but first, his wife, Candice LeRae, appeared on the ramp. The two headed to the ring to a thunderous ovation from the NXT Universe.

Throughout the promo, Gargano teased that he was contemplating retirement due to the toll this feud with Tommaso Ciampa has taken on him, his wife, his family, and friends. He asked the NXT Universe "is it worth it" and he answered his own question with a resounding HELL YES it's worth it.

Gargano calls out Ciampa, who appears on the ramp. Ciampa said if Gargano is still in the ring by the time he gets there, Tommaso will finish this for good. Before that could happen, Candice ran out to the back and was able to get some referees to get in between the two.

Ciampa told Johnny that he's a good little boy for listening to his wife. That set off Johnny and he climbed up on the ring apron where Ciampa knocked him off right onto Candice, knocking her out, and that's how NXT ended.

The best feud in professional wrestling today stepped up another notch with the end of NXT this week...

GRADE: A+