NXT 3/20/19
Daddy H
Triple H came out to give us The Talk, all while holding Goldie. He said the Full Sail building is special because the fans make it special and also noted that it sometimes takes years to get to NXT. Unfortunately bad things can and do happen and Triple H announced that there would be a fatal five-away to determine who will face Johnny Gargano in a 2/3 Falls Match at NXT Takeover. While it is sad that Goldie is no longer in the loving arms of Tommaso Ciampa, I think this was a great way to find a new opponent for Gargano without seeming like the person was rushed or shoehorned in.
Grade: A
Promos and Interviews
Kona Reeves tried to hit on Cathy Kelly and it was awkward to say the least. Apparently he wasn’t impressed by the fatal five-way.
The Forgotten Sons said they were going to win the Dusty Tag Classic and it was going to be part of their legacy in NXT.
We got some information on Tommaso Ciampa’s surgery. This doctor has performed three other surgeries on the former champion.
Kairi Sane and Io Shirai were interviewed. Bianca Belair interrupted and said that neither of them deserved the title match at Takeover and that she would’ve beaten Shirai if Shayna Baszler hadn’t gotten involved.
I put all of these segments together because I don’t see any need to analyze them that deeply. They moved stories along and hyped up matches, which is what backstage segments like these are supposed to do. I was a little emotional at the Ciampa part, but since he posted a picture of himself with his neck brace on Instagram, I know he’s okay.
Grade: A
Ricochet vs Adam Cole vs Aleister Black vs Velveteen Dream vs Matt Riddle
This was the main event match to determine Johnny Gargano’s opponent at the upcoming Takeover: New York…and it delivered just the way it sounds like it would. I must say I am quite particular to Matt Riddle and Aleister Black knocking each other out with kicks at the same time! Everyone in the match got a chance to not only shine but also address individual issues with each other. I think the match was given an appropriate amount of time so that everyone could have a moment and everyone could look like a credible threat. There was technical wrestling, there were big spots, and the pace was even and didn’t drag or feel too much like a sprint. Adam Cole won and I’m pretty happy about that, seeing as he’s my personal favorite to take Goldie home. And it definitely puts more stock back into the leader of Undisputed, after his lackluster run over the last couple of weeks. I also think putting Matt Riddle in this high of a place so early show that they have a lot of faith in the King of Bros. If he can get a little better on the mic, I could see him having a successful run with the title.
Winner: Adam Cole
Grade: A+
Final Thoughts
This episode was fairly heavy with promos and interviews, but it definitely wasn’t a bad thing. I like that the main event was the only wrestling match we got because it emphasized the importance of the match. Goldie needs a new home and I think this 2/3 falls match will be wonderful, probably one of the best matches over WrestleMania weekend.
Overall Grade: A
-Wynter
