The Future is now. The unofficial third brand has FINALLY made its way to cable television with NXT on USA. The landscape of the wrestling world as we know it is forever changed. There is no question that NXT is now WWE’s OFFICIAL third brand and it is here to stay. And that … is UNDISPUTED.
Triple H appropriately opens NXT on USA with a short monologue accompanied by a stellar video package. I absolutely love it as The Game very symbolically opens the curtain from backstage to reveal the NXT Universe in all it’s glory. That is how you open a show.
As if things couldn’t get any better, one of my favorites Io Shirai makes her way to the ring which means the fatal four way number one contenders match that I’m most looking forward to is up first. Well played, Hunter. Well played. Everything about this already feels special.
“The EST of NXT” Bianca Belair shows impressive power out of the gate with suplexes and presses galore. Io Shirai impresses with one of the most beautiful springboard missile dropkicks I’ve ever seen and an early 619 on Mia Yim. The big moves continue early on. Yim hits a suicide dive on Bianca and “The Genius of the Sky” hits a moonsault to the outside on Yim and Candice LeRae.
At this point we hit our first commercial break, and I am suddenly reminded that NXT on USA will now have commercials during matches. No matter as the superstars pick up exactly where they left off. Immediately after the break the four woman perform a tower of doom superplex without missing a beat! This match has literally been a constant highlight reel. After a K.O.D, Code Blue, Double Spear, Protect Ya Neck, and more signature moves, LeRae is able to hit a critical reverse-rana on Yim. Candice hits a springboard moonsault on Yim for the win. What a Match!!
LeRae is FINALLY getting her shot at Baszler and the NXT Women’s Championship. I was lucky enough to see Candice vs. Shayna at a house show in Toms River last year and it was epic. Let me tell you, the real winners here are the fans.
Another thing I love about NXT is that you never know who is going to come out of the curtain next. Former cruiserweight Classic Competitor and Evolve Unwanted member Sean Mulata takes on NXT Break-Out Tournament competitor Cameron Grimes (formerly Trevor Lee in IMPACT/TNA). Grimes absolutely decimates Maluta with a running diving stomp for the win in one of the quickest victories in NXT history.
At this point I am just a little concerned with the amount of video packages we’ve seen in just over 30 minutes on NXT on USA. I do, however, understand that we have to cater to the new audience and get everyone up to speed. Regardless, I think they are going to give Roddy vs. Dream some time here tonight.
As expected, we conclude the first hour of NXT on USA (Before we move to the WWE Network) with our North American Championship match. Will the Undisputed Era’s prophecy come true tonight? I think yes.
Roderick Strong and Velveteen Dream start their match with grappling and mat wrestling. Roddy uses his patented backbreakers to weaken his opponent using the barrier and ring apron. “The Messiah of the Backbreaker” continues to hit backbreakers left and right. Strong is in control, but Dream finally uses more axe handles than Paul Bunyan to recover. Dream finally rallies with a Dream-D-T for a near fall. As the crowd chants, “This is Wrestling” Roddy traps Dream in the ropes and hits several strikes. Roddy hits yet another backbreaker and locks in the Strong Hold Submission. Dream barely makes it to the bottom rope. The Undisputed Era make their way to the ringside area.
Dream hits his comeback series of moves, but Strong drops his opponent into the referee. The ref is out, and the Undisputed Era gets involved.
Roddy hits the End of Heartache for the potential win, but dream kicks out! The NXT Universe goes absolutely bonkers with “NXT” chants. Dream goes for the Dream Valley Driver and Purple Rainmaker Elbow, but The Undisputed Era distracts the ref allowing Cole to super-kick Dream. Roddy wins with a second End of Heartache and the prophecy is fulfilled.
What a moment for one of the best factions in the business today and fantastic booking by those in charge at NXT.
What a debut for the black and gold brand with some amazing matches. My only complaint is the lack of NXT’s heart and soul, Mr. Johnny Gargano on the show. We’ll see if he makes an appearance on part two, on the WWE Network.
The USA Network debut may now be over, but NXT on the WWE Network is not “Dunne.” “The Bruiserweight” Pete Dunne takes on NXT and Evolve superstar Arturo Ruas (formerly Adrian Jaoude). The two jockey for position until Ruas gets a quick submission locked in on the former UK Champ. Dunne answers with a series of vicious strikes and immediately goes for the fingers. Vintage Dunne (sorry). Dunne even attacks the toes of Ruas after a missed kick! Ruas has more kicks than a Rockettes show. Dunne is eventually able to lock in a triangle chocke and wishbone Ruas’ fingers for the submission victory.
Out of nowhere, a graphic of Lio Rush vs. Oney Lorcan for the Number 1 Contender spot for the Cruiserweight Title is shown. This match is scheduled for Tonight! Let’s go!
Up next, Xia Li takes on longtime NXT superstar Aliyah w/ Vanessa Borne. Li uses her speed to get all of the early offense. She is slowed after a misstep on the top rope, but continues to get the strikes in on Aliyah. A tornado kick seals the deal for Li, as Aliyah gets zero offense in on this one.
Newcomer Denzel Dejournette hypes up the crowd on his way to the ring before his match with Kushida. But out of nowhere, NXT UK’s faction Imperium surround the ring and lay out the young superstar. Not long after, the NXT UK Champion WALTER makes his way to the NXT ring. Walter cuts a super heel promo, but Kushida interrupts. Kushida takes out Imperium, but is grabbed by Walter. Kushida gets a quick strike on Walter before retreating in one piece.
To be continued.
Mauro Ranallo doesn’t miss a beat as Lio Rush makes his way to the ring and the commentator explains he “had more issues than a magazine.” Rush comes out of the gate strong as the NXT Universe welcomes him back. Lio is “Faster than 5G” and hits a trifecta of suicide dives. Rush is running circles around Lorcan and quite honestly I’m glad they’re letting Rush do his thing. This guy has impressed me on the indy scene in the past.
Regardless, the larger Lorcan is able to slow his opponent and pick him apart. Lorcan hits a gutwrench powerbomb for the near fall. Out of nowhere The Man of The Hour hits an incredible lower rope springboard stunner like I’ve never seen. It’s not enough for the win, and Rush goes for his patented frogsplash. Rush misses the high flying maneuver and Lorcan power-bombs rush. Lorcan locks in a single leg crab, but Rush escapes. Orcan locks in a second single leg crab and switches into an STF submission. Rush makes his way to the ropes. Lorcan hulks up but runs into a standing Spanish fly, a move that I’ve been waiting to see Rush use on TV.Rush hits the frogsplash for the win! Rush is now the new number one contender for the Cruiserweight Title.
Our final match of the evening is the long-awaited Street Fight between Matt Riddle and Killian Dain. Riddle is able to show his strength by lifting the much bigger Dain with slams early on. Up next is a flurry of Kendo Stick strikes between both superstars. The fight begins to spill into the backstage area and outside of the arena. Walter is sitting outside and gets involved. Walter attacks Riddle along with the Imperium. It turns into an all out Brawl as NXT veterans The Street Profits and The Forgotten Sons get involved as well!
Somehow Dain and Riddle get back into the arena, but the NXT Locker room spill out to join the fight! The crowd goes bonkers. nSecurity for some reason restrains the two original competitors even though it’s a Street Fight. The ring floods with brawling NXT Superstars. Dain hits a suicide dive onto five or six superstars to end the night.
It was a phenomenal show all around and we knew it would be. My one complaint is that they did not once feature the heart and soul of NXT, Mr. Johnny Gargano in any capacity, which is beyond me at this point. Other than that, NXT has stayed the course and continued to do everything that makes it THE brand in Sports Entertainment today.
