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Hey, kids! Sully here, bringing you five takeaways from tonight's episode of NXT. Now, hopefully you were watching, as NXT is consistently good week after week. But, life happens, we know. So, until you get a chance to get home from your job at, I dunno, the pet store or something, and watch the episode on demand, here are the five most important things that happened on this taping.
Special thanks to Riju Dasgupta for giving me the opportunity to take the reigns this week. I hope I don't embarrass him.
I probably already did.
#5 Jordan Myles advanced in the NXT Breakout Tournament
I am really, really digging this Breakout Tournament. Like, a lot. This week's match pitted Jordan Myles, an Austin, TX resident like myself, against Angel Garza, who is such a classic, old school heel, and I love it.
The match itself was really good, with Garza getting the advantage through most of it. Myles was able to make a comeback and score a victory with a really impressive German Suplex. Which, as my wife pointed out, you never see a match ended with.
That's a little hyperbolic, but you get the idea. There were some really great old school moments in this match, like when Garza was trying to slam Myles' head into the turnbuckle, and Jordan blocked it and was all like "Oh no you don't" and then went crazy on him.
So, Angel Garza is out of the tournament, but I don't doubt that we'll see him on NXT TV again very soon.
He's such a great, smarmy, arrogant bad guy and he's also just so talented in the ring. Looking forward to seeing more from him.
Same with Myles, who's got that same Xavier Woods-type vibe about him (and not just because he's black, come on), and I actually can see him winning this whole thing.
#4 Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole pick their stipulations for their Takeover Match
Even if I didn't like the idea of the "2-out-of-3 falls, each guy picks a stipulation" match, I would totally be sold on it just from hearing William Regal announce it.
But, I do like it, and it's another example of NXT using gimmick matches to maximum effect. They're not just throwing a couple of guys into a cage or whatever because they don't like each other. There's a reason for this madness.
Basically, to sum up, Gargano won their first 2-out-of-3 falls match to get the NXT Championship, although Cole won the first fall. Cole used that to claim that he should be the rightful champion - and then became the owner of the championship after winning their next match. Now, they're going back to that original stipulation... with a twist.
These two have put on two amazing matches so far, and this one sounds like it'll be the best one yet.
#3 NXT still know how to book their women's division better than the main roster
Tonight's NXT episode had three major women's division angles pushed forward. And they're all interesting.
First, Bianca Belair defeated Xia LI - who has been looking strong on recent NXT episodes - while the announce team played up Belair's recent losing streak that's gotten her out of title contention.
That was followed by a backstage segment with Mia Yim attacking Jessamyn Duke, one of Shayna Baszler's buddies, possibly taking her out before her Takeover: Toronto match with the champ next month.
Finally, we had Io Shirai taking on American Ninja Warrior icon, Kacy Catanzaro. Io has been pushing her new "bad attitude" since attacking Candice LaRae and destroying the Performance Center hopeful before LaRae ran in to attack the Genius of the Sky.
Also, Io got some pretty dope new theme music.
The women on the main roster are extremely talented and have been involved in some pretty decent angles recently, but the NXT women have just been telling way more interesting stories.
#2 Pete Dunne is on NXT now
PETE DUNNE IS ON NXT NOW!
PETE DUNNE IS ON NXT NOW!
Ok, I need to write an actual thing here. Sorry. I'm just excited.
So, Velveteen Dream, the current NXT North American Champion, cut a pretty brilliant promo, saying he wanted some competition before his Takeover match with Undisputed Era member Roderick Strong. That's when Strong came out, said some mean stuff, and it looked like the two were going to go at it...
And that's when Pete Dunne showed up. He nearly broke Strong's fingers and tossed him out of the ring (remember, these two have a history). Then a staredown of sorts between The Bruiserweight and Dream and then we find out that PETE DUNNE IS ON NXT NOW!
Nothing against NXT UK, which is awesome, but the Bruiserweight moving to the original NXT is a good sign that he's moving on up to bigger and better things.
And finally...
#1 Keith Lee and Damien Priest had a really fun match
So, I probably need to turn in my Wrestling Dork card, but I wasn't familiar with Damien Priest before his NXT debut. I do have to also admit that I'm impressed with what I've seen so far.
I'm also not exactly thrilled with Keith Lee's NXT run so far - not entirely his fault - but it looks like he isn't either and they're using that as an angle. Which is good, because the guy is awesome.
The two NXT Superstars had a great match to wrap up this episode tonight, and it really pushed both characters forward. Priest continued with his winning ways - while still making Lee look fantastic - and his win helped move the current story the brand is telling with the man who's glory we should bask in.
All in all, a really solid show. Even though SummerSlam weekend is a way's away, I'm already stoked for TakeOver: Toronto.
What did you guys think of NXT tonight? Did you like the main event as much as I did. Did you like my jokes as much as I did? Let me know by posting your thoughts in the comments section.
That's all from me. Riju will be back next week, unless he talks me into doing this again which, I've gotta admit, was a lot of fun. If you liked it, too, make sure you share it on Twitter and Facebook and... I dunno... what other social networks are out there now?
Anyway, have a great week!
