BRM Reviews 9/18/2019 NXT: Part 1 (USA debut)
Posted: Sep 18th, '19, 20:04
OPENING VIDEO- yeah… HUNTER didn’t need to be the one giving the speech, nor did he need to waste our time by coming out for the beginning of the show. I understand the value of having a recognizable face endorse things, but I’d rather have him narrating something that puts the current stars over, rather than using the first-person plural.
Nigel made sure to immediately tell us that NXT was “the true alternative,” which manages to take a shot at both AEW and Vince at the same time.
#1 CONTENDERSHIP MATCH: Io Shirai vs. Bianca Belair vs. Candice LeRae vs. Mia Yim- 7/10
This was your standard four-way with the story being people breaking up each other’s pins because it’s a four-way and you have to be prepared for that sort of thing. The Io vs. Candice issue was definitely tangible, but was purposely not overpowering. They did a very good job (although not a perfect one, for sure) of avoiding doing things that felt like pre-planned spots, even when there were more than two women involved.
POST-MATCH SEGMENT- good
Shayna Baszler and the Horsewomen came out and got in the winner’s face but the winner did not back down.
SHORT ADAM COLE INTRO VIDEO- this was one of those fifteen-second things they did way too much in the early days of NXT UK.
AEW COMMERCIAL- this wasn’t part of the scheduled program, but I felt it was notable. It was very good, although I, personally, was annoyed at the “they saw what wrestling was… and what it could be” line, just for straddling the line of breaking kayfabe (it doesn’t outright do so, but it also doesn’t have any logical kayfabe interpretation.
KEITH LEE VS. DONOVAN DIJAKOVIC VIDEO PACKAGE- good
They announced these two will face off again next week.
MATT RIDDLE VS. KILLIAN DANE VIDEO PACKAGE- good
That being said, I really don’t like the idea of doing a second hour on the Network this week. It makes this USA show feel like a pre-show rather than feeling the like the main show, which is what it needs to feel like if they want to convince people to tune in and watch it every week from now on.
CAMERON GRIMES vs. SEAN MALUTA- no rating, good squash
Maluta charged at Grimes, who immediately hit his finisher and won. They had no time to waste here, so they wasted no time it with, making it feel different from what pretty much everyone else does nowadays.
NORTH AMERICAN TITLE MATCH VIDEO PACKAGE- good
DAMIAN PRIEST VIDEO PACKAGE- same idea as the Adam Cole one. This was very good.
NXT NORTH AMERICAN TITLE MATCH: The Velveteen Dream(c) vs. Roderick Strong- 7.5/10
These guys were given plenty of time (over twenty minutes) to build, but the match never quite felt like it really kicked into gear. Roddy won the title after interference from Undisputed Era (and Cole, in particular, so that feud is finally coming). The heels having all of the belts and screwed babyface is a fine hook for the second show.
I’ll be reviewing the WWE Network part of tonight’s show separately because I think that this is the truly important presentation. THIS is what has to convince people to tune in next week. And my guess would be that it at least did a good enough job to get people to give it another chance next week.
Nigel made sure to immediately tell us that NXT was “the true alternative,” which manages to take a shot at both AEW and Vince at the same time.
#1 CONTENDERSHIP MATCH: Io Shirai vs. Bianca Belair vs. Candice LeRae vs. Mia Yim- 7/10
This was your standard four-way with the story being people breaking up each other’s pins because it’s a four-way and you have to be prepared for that sort of thing. The Io vs. Candice issue was definitely tangible, but was purposely not overpowering. They did a very good job (although not a perfect one, for sure) of avoiding doing things that felt like pre-planned spots, even when there were more than two women involved.
POST-MATCH SEGMENT- good
Shayna Baszler and the Horsewomen came out and got in the winner’s face but the winner did not back down.
SHORT ADAM COLE INTRO VIDEO- this was one of those fifteen-second things they did way too much in the early days of NXT UK.
AEW COMMERCIAL- this wasn’t part of the scheduled program, but I felt it was notable. It was very good, although I, personally, was annoyed at the “they saw what wrestling was… and what it could be” line, just for straddling the line of breaking kayfabe (it doesn’t outright do so, but it also doesn’t have any logical kayfabe interpretation.
KEITH LEE VS. DONOVAN DIJAKOVIC VIDEO PACKAGE- good
They announced these two will face off again next week.
MATT RIDDLE VS. KILLIAN DANE VIDEO PACKAGE- good
That being said, I really don’t like the idea of doing a second hour on the Network this week. It makes this USA show feel like a pre-show rather than feeling the like the main show, which is what it needs to feel like if they want to convince people to tune in and watch it every week from now on.
CAMERON GRIMES vs. SEAN MALUTA- no rating, good squash
Maluta charged at Grimes, who immediately hit his finisher and won. They had no time to waste here, so they wasted no time it with, making it feel different from what pretty much everyone else does nowadays.
NORTH AMERICAN TITLE MATCH VIDEO PACKAGE- good
DAMIAN PRIEST VIDEO PACKAGE- same idea as the Adam Cole one. This was very good.
NXT NORTH AMERICAN TITLE MATCH: The Velveteen Dream(c) vs. Roderick Strong- 7.5/10
These guys were given plenty of time (over twenty minutes) to build, but the match never quite felt like it really kicked into gear. Roddy won the title after interference from Undisputed Era (and Cole, in particular, so that feud is finally coming). The heels having all of the belts and screwed babyface is a fine hook for the second show.
I’ll be reviewing the WWE Network part of tonight’s show separately because I think that this is the truly important presentation. THIS is what has to convince people to tune in next week. And my guess would be that it at least did a good enough job to get people to give it another chance next week.