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While wrestling on Monday nights leaves a whole lot to be desired, NXT has delivered yet another solid show this week. The latest installment of the black and gold brand did well to set up a lot of exciting stories for the future.
The next few episodes of NXT will feature some huge matches, with the possibility of change on the horizon. Anyway, this week's edition of the black and gold brand did excite the fans.
It featured some great matches, vicious assaults, and major surprises. We also saw an appearance from a certain WWE Hall of Famer as well.
Let's get into the best and worst from this week's episode of NXT.
#1 Best: The NXT tag team division feels stacked again
The main event of NXT saw Legado del Fantasma dominate their way to a major victory over KUSHIDA and MSK. The match was great, with some fantastic in-ring work from everybody involved. It set up title defenses for the Cruiserweight and Tag Team Champions.
The focus should be on Tag Team titles, with the division slowly growing back to its stacked former self. Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza will give Wes Lee and Nash Carter a run for their money but expect MSK to remain the NXT Tag Team Champions following their likely impending feud.
What made the tag team picture on NXT so exciting was the undercard segment featuring the Grizzled Young Veterans. The UK-based team was interrupted by Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher, who proceeded to attack them. It is a solid use of the former NXT Champion as well. He could do a lot worse than this.
The two teams will likely face off in a No.1 Contender's match, with both having the potential to be NXT Tag Team Champions. The Grizzled Young Veterans are due for a title win, so it would be nice to see them emerge victorious over the hard-hitting duo.
Imperium's storyline with Killian Dain and Drake Maverick is also picking up steam. The tag team division could become on of the focal points for NXT in the coming weeks.
#1 Worst: A non-finish to open NXT
This week's episode of NXT kicked off with a great match between Dakota Kai and Mercedes Martinez. This was seemingly booked to put the latter over as a strong threat to the NXT Women's Championship. The two of them battered each other for nearly 15 minutes before the match ended in a disqualification.
This is a rarity for NXT, with such finishes typically reserved for Monday Night RAW. Anyway, it was done to establish the dynamics of the upcoming feud between Martinez and Raquel Gonzalez.
Gonzalez had teased a babyface turn following her title victory at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, especially with Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair paying her a visit two weeks ago. However, she is clearly a heel after Big Mami Cool viciously attacked her next challenger to end the match.
The same thing could have been achieved after Martinez had beaten Dakota Kai, instead of booking a lazy DQ finish. It probably would have had even more of an impact.
Hopefully, though, the subsequent NXT Women's Title match between Raquel Gonzalez and Mercedes Martinez has a conclusive ending.
#2 Best: NXT's richest man meets his match
Over the past few months, Cameron Grimes has become one of the MVPs of NXT. Grimes was an entertaining figure in his previous persona, but his new gimmick has taken him to the next level.
Grimes is brilliant as NXT's richest man, having had a lot of good luck in the stock market.
He has been flashing his cash around and even tried to get Kyle O'Reilly on board for a business opportunity on last week's NXT. However, Grimes has met his match.
He was outbid by 'The Million Dollar Man' Ted DiBiase for an NFT last week, before the WWE Hall of Famer appeared on the latest edition of NXT.
Cameron Grimes set out to buy a watch and despite not being completely satisfied with the salesman's recommendation, he paid money for it. However, it did not match up to the one DiBiase bought. The 2010 Hall of Fame headliner then laughed right in Grimes' face.
This was the Million Dollar Man's first appearance on WWE programming since July 2019, where he bought the 24/7 Championship from Alundra Blayze and lost it in his limousine to Drake Maverick. Hopefully, we see more of him and Cameron Grimes on NXT. There is so much potential for comedy here.
#2 Worst: Former NXT UK Women's Champion Toni Storm loses to an enhancement talent
When done well, an enhancement talent defeating an established star can be pretty great. NXT pulled this off recently when Leon Ruff beat Johnny Gargano to become NXT North American Champion.
Will Zayda Ramier go on the same path? It remains to be seen.
She appeared in the ring seemingly to put some heat on Toni Storm, who has lost quite a few matches recently. The former NXT UK Women's Champion looked to send a message to Zoey Stark, who has been elevated a great deal recently.
Storm looked to finish Ramier off with a move from the top rope before Stark came out. She provided the distraction, which allowed the enhancement talent to seize an opening and hit a Shooting Star Press for the shocking victory. Ramier just about pulled the move off, landing safely enough.
While the victory is huge for the relative nobody, this did no favors to Toni Storm. She does not need to continue in NXT.
RAW and SmackDown could definitely use someone like her to bolster their ranks. Speaking of the main roster, the distraction finish was another tired trope used in a women's match on this week's NXT.
#3 Best: The InDex saga continues on NXT
The most compelling romantic angle in wrestling today took a twist on NXT, with Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis growing slightly apart this week. A backstage misunderstanding upset the member of The Way. It started with Lumis supposedly sending flowers to Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart.
Hartwell was visibly heartbroken as she walked to the ring with The Way for Austin Theory's match against Bronson Reed. She may have been out of it, but her actions were noticeable. This rang especially true when Dexter Lumis himself came out during the match.
After evading him around the ring, Indi Hartwell entered the squared circle when she met eyes with her possible lover. Lumis even saved her from getting clattered by Theory. After the match, Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae directed the young star to take out her frustrations on the NXT Women's Tag Team Champions.
Hartwell and LeRae then attacked Blackheart and Moon before their scheduled match against The Robert Stone Brand, taking them out with gift baskets beyond the barricade. This set up a Tag Team Street Fight for the titles on next week's episode of NXT. How will Dexter Lumis make his presence felt?
This week seemed like a stepping stone simply to cause some jeopardy in the InDex saga. The two lovebirds will likely get on the same page soon. Once they finally get together, NXT fans around the world will rejoice.
