Tegan Nox vs Dakota Kai-Steel Cage Match
After a rather lackluster start to this feud, the last couple of encounters have finally added some intensity. It’ll be interesting to see how Nox overcomes and finally gets her revenge, especially now that Kai has a new pet in Raquel Gonzales. I felt like the assisted escape finish made sense and set up for another chapter in this anthology.
Winner: Dakota Kai
Grade: B+
Video Packages
Finn Balor and Walter is gonna be an excellent match when it happens and I am enjoying the build.
Rhea Ripley vs Charlotte Flair is the match I’m most looking forward to anyways so anything they give me is just icing on the cake. Just hearing the theme played makes me want to start packing.
Not Graded
Chelsea Green vs Shotzi Blackheart-Ladder Match Qualifier
This was decent given its short length and NXT is trying very hard to make Chelsea Green a thing. Yeah.
Winner: Chelsea Green
Grade: D+
Keith Lee and Cameron Grimes
While the general idea was to set up a match between Lee and Grimes, the whole segment was overshadowed by the crowd’s very loud disdain for Grimes. The booing was so loud, he could barely get a word in without shouting into the microphone. It was kind of funny actually.
Not Graded
Undisputed Era vs Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch
This was a fun tag match. I really enjoy watching tag matches wherein both sets of partners have great chemistry with each other. Also adding to this was the post-match angle with the Broserweights and the Grizzled Young Veterans. Perhaps there’s a triple threat for the tag titles in the future?
Winner: Undisputed Era
Grade: B+
Austin Theory vs Isaiah Scott
This was a great match and I did really enjoy it. It seems like Theory is someone else that NXT really wants us to get behind. Scott has already somewhat established himself so I feel like this was a good match up. I wouldn’t mind seeing them tousle again.
Winner: Austin Theory
Grade: B-
Grade: B-
Interview with Johnny Gargano
I’ll give them some points for intensity but nothing about this interview really grabbed me or made interested in this revisited feud between Gargano and Ciampa. Gargano really just came off as a whiny brat here and I really hope Ciampa comes out on top.
Grade: B-
Roderick Strong vs Velveteen Dream-Steel Cage Match
All Dream wants to do is ruin a man’s family, is that so wrong? That aside, this was balls to the wall from the sound of the bell. And then the Undisputed Era got involved (because of course) and Dream showed out with them too. He may have taken the loss here but that pose on top of the cage must be setting up something for Takeover Tampa! At least I hope so.
Winner: Roderick Strong
Grade: A-
Final Thoughts
I apologize for my brief hiatus. Things have gotten a little hectic in real life but I seem to be in a better place now. Tonight there was a bit of a risk with having two steel cage matches on a regular television episode but the risk paid off, advancing both stories. This was a good episode all in all.
Final Grade: B+
