Hello, wrestling fam! I hope you’re doing well. I’m wishing everyone who’s travelling to NY/NJ for this amazing WrestleMania week safe journeys and a fantastic trip. I can’t wait to see everyone’s pictures on social media. For now, let’s take a look at the go-home show for NXT!
War! War! War!
The NXT Tag Team Champions, War Raiders, started off the show by completely demolishing some enhancement talent. Then they demanded another team and out came Cesar Bononi and Adrian Jaoude. The War Raiders made quick work of them as well.
Winner: War Raiders
Thoughts: Beating up two teams with ease definitely makes War Raiders look menacing as they head into their first tag team title defense. Also that viking entrance with the tag belts is so cool. I can’t wait to see what they bring out for Takeover.
Grade: A
700 Days and Candice Failure?!
There was a video package to hype up the NXT UK Championship match between Pete Dunne and Walter. Pete Dunne is rapidly closing in on a 700 day reign as champion. Candice LeRae had her interview interrupted by Aliyah and Vanessa Borne, who called her a failure like her husband. LeRae said she was going to earn her place as a contender for the women’s championship and challenged Aliyah to a match.
Thoughts: I’m glad we have Dunne’s 700 day reign to air out the stench of that 504 day reign of terror we had from Brock Lesnar. And Aliyah is trying really hard, I can tell, but she just…comes off as a generic mean girl heel.
Grade: B
Jaxson Ryker vs Oney Lorcan
Ryker has been touted as being the muscle of the Forgotten Sons. He did use his strength to his advantage in this match, locking on a very convincing bearhug. A sitout spinebuster won the match for Ryker.
Winner: Jaxson Ryker
Thoughts: Credit has to be given to Lorcan for bumping around and selling like crazy to make Ryker look good. It wasn’t the most entertaining match, but it was okay.
Grade: C+
More Video Packages
We got two video packages, one for the NXT Championship match between Adam Cole and Johnny Gargano and one for the North American Championship between Matt Riddle and Velveteen Dream. We also learned that Keith Lee and Dominik Dijakovic will have a rematch in two weeks and The Street Profits will battle the European Union next week.
Thoughts: No one can touch the WWE editing team when it comes to these hype videos. They’re so well done and really do add the extra air of importance to the matches. I’m kinda sad Lee vs Dijakovic is not on the Takeover card; seems like they would’ve had a banger of a Takeover match.
Grade: A-
Bianca Belair vs Kairi Sane
This was a pretty good match, with Belair showing off her power and agility and Sane showing off her great ring awareness and skills. The match actually ended in a no contest when Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Dukes, and Marina Shafir hit the ring. The rest of the women’s locker room came out as well and there was a big brawl. Io Shirai closed the show holding up the women’s championship.
Winner: No Contest
Thoughts: There have been several non-finishes to different variations of this match and I think it has worked each time. It makes Shayna Baszler look like more of a monster with her cronies and makes the upcoming championship match look evenly matched to some degree. One person isn’t coming off to look like they have a better chance than the others.
Grade: B+
Final Thoughts
This was a solid go-home show for NXT. One of the better decisions, and maybe it happened by sheer coincidence due to the timing, is to not have the big stars all together on the show. If we had seen everyone again right before Takeover, it might have taken a little something from it. All in all, this is set up to be another fantastic Takeover.
Overall Grade: B+
