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  • Writer's pictureWalker Stewart

3/17/2020: WWE NXT Review, Results, and Realities

Updated: Apr 4, 2021

Note: This article was originally posted on Blade Job Pro Wrestling.


It's Wednesday, and you know what that means - another action-packed edition of NXT television. Happy St. Patrick Day to all of our Blade Jobbers, let's get right into this episode of NXT.

 

Our Main Event is Set


Finn Balor is in the ring and declares himself still the champion. Balor runs through all of the names that he defended the championship against (Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, Pete Dunne, etc.) Suddenly, Karrion Kross and Scarlett come out. Kross says that he and Balor both want to know who the true NXT Champion is. (If you recall, at NXT TakeOver XXX, Karrion Kross defeated Keith Lee for the NXT Championship but relinquished it four days later due to a separated shoulder suffered in his match with Lee. Balor would then win the championship in a fatal-four-way ironman match and has held on to it ever since.) Balor says he is going to show Kross what it feels like to main event an NXT TakeOver and then choke. Scarlett grabs the mic and tells Balor that she has seen this in her cards, and this collision was bound to occur eventually.


Scarlett was eventually cut off by the reigning NXT Tag Team Champions, Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan, who arrives to vouch for a Pete Dunne NXT Championship match. Scarlett lays down a challenge for the boys to test their might against the current champion and the number one contender. After initially denying the match-up, Scarlett seduces Lorcan and Burch, coercing them into accepting a championship match set for the main event of NXT. The tag team champions walk up the ramp, and the Kross-Scarlett tandem follows them. Turning around, Scarlett speaks to Balor about the "cards" she is constantly referring to. These cards spell disaster for Balor at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.


Grade: B+

Walker's Words: I thought this was a pretty good way to start off the show. Admittedly, I'm not incredibly sold on Kross as a main eventer (probably stemming from the lackluster performance he put on against Keith Lee when he first won the championship.) Nevertheless, I believe I just haven't seen enough of Karrion Kross to get a true "vibe" off of him, per se. This segment made me hopeful, and I'm interested to see where this leads.


 

The Final Step in Therapy: Austin Theory vs. Dexter Lumis


We cut backstage to see Austin Theory in a weight room speaking to Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae via an iPad. Gargano and LeRae tell Theory that he needs to take care of this once and for all, and he has to face these demons alone. They hype Theory up, and he makes his entrance for the match. Starting off, Theory is getting an overwhelming amount of offense in on Lumis. Lumis has a couple of comebacks but is consistently shut down time-after-time. Commentary makes allusions that Lumis isn't even trying in the match-up and that he's just allowing Theory to do whatever he wants to him. Lumis mounts a solid amount of offense and then stops his onslaught momentarily. Lumis, with all of the malice in his movement disappearing, offers a hand out to Austin Theory. Theory, at first, rejects this hand but Lumis leaves it outstretched. Theory suddenly takes his hand and wraps him in hug which is subsided by a stranding triangle choke applied to Theory by Lumis. Theory fights out of it and mounts further offense, later attempting the ATL (his variation of a TKO,) before Lumis fights out of it and locks in the Silence for a submission victory in 9:23.


Grade: A-

Walker's Words: This match was very entertaining. It just goes to show how much a good little bit of storytelling can do within your matches. First off, I have to wonder if Gargano and LeRae's absence from NXT television is due to the alleged massive COVID-19 outbreak in the NXT locker room - however, that is just a theory. I've loved watching Theory showcase a little bit of character within this storyline with Lumis, but this feels like a conclusive ending. If it's not, I am interested to see where they go with the rest of this! Overall, very enjoyable match.


 

Tommaso Ciampa Wants A Favor


We cut backstage to see NXT interviewer McKenzie Mitchell outside of General Manager William Regal's office. She is about to ask him for a word on the upcoming NXT Tag Team Championship main event but is interrupted by Tommaso Ciampa. Ciampa cuts a wildly incoherent and confusing promo involving Imperium where he asks Mitchell to find Aichner and Barthel and locate Alexander Wolfe.


Grade: D-

Walker's Words: I went back and watched this promo twice and was very confused. Admittedly, I didn't watch NXT last week, but Ciampa was all over the place within his 30-45 seconds of speaking to the point where I was completely lost with his point. I guess he was just trying to emphasize one thing - the beating that is coming to Imperium. However, something was off with Ciampa in that one. Weird.

 

Adam Cole Wants to End Kyle O'Reilly


Adam Cole comes out and cuts a promo about how Kyle O'Reilly cost Adam Cole the NXT Championship match last week. Cole calls O'Reilly jealous, and says that he just wrote his "death warrant." Cole claims that he is not leaving the ring until Kyle O'Reilly came down to confront him.


Out comes William Regal (who is not Kyle O'Reilly) who announces that Kyle O'Reilly has further injured his neck due to his involvement in the match-up last week. Regal is a very upset man, as one of his top superstars on his brand is now injured for even longer. Regal and Cole get into a screaming match before a video of Kyle O'Reilly appear on the screen. Kyle O'Reilly says he will not rest until Adam Cole is "done" because Cole tried to end O'Reilly's career. Cole turns his attention back to Regal saying that he is going to find O'Reilly no matter what Regal wants.


Grade: B+

Walker's Words: This segment was entertaining and got the job done. Continuity-wise, it was a little jarring having O'Reilly spontaneously appear on the titantron at the Capitol Wrestling Center, however, it was effective. I love Cole's fire, and William Regal is still so good on the microphone. I don't have a bad word to say about this segment.


 

Our New NXT Women's Tag Team Champions


A video package plays detailing the unveiling of the NXT Women's Tag Team Championships, which were originally awarded to the Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic winners, Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez. On that same night, Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart would challenge the new champions and would end up winning the championships in that match.


We're now taken backstage to witness an interview with the new champions where they discuss how excited they are to be the faces of a division. The Robert Stone Brand arrives on the scene, as Aliyah and Jessi Kamea insult and challenge the champions. The champions accept and leave, but not before dropping a sick burn on Robert Stone's suit, which riles him up more than mentioning his TNA run.


Grade: B-

Walker's Words: I can't say I'm incredibly hyped about the match announcement of Aliyah and Jessi Kamea (two wrestlers I haven't seen much of at all) contending for the NXT Women's Tag Team Championships. However, my one issue with the unveiling of these titles was an expected lack of television time for the champions. If this is the start of consistent television time for those titles and the women holding them, I am all for it. I like Blackheart and Moon as a team - two women who (gimmick-wise) tend to be outsiders compared to others in the division. Overall, I am anticipating a solid match.


 

Legado del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde) vs. Breezango (Tyler Breeze and Fandango)


Fandango and Tyler Breeze are all business, as this match comes after Legado del Fantasma attacked Breezango and Ever-Rise two weeks ago. This match starts off incredibly hot between Fandango and Raul Mendoza. It's frequent tags between these two teams and a lot of hard strikes. On commentary, they're talking about the NXT Cruiserweight Champion - but it's not Santos Escobar. Jordan Devlin had made his arrival earlier on in the night (this would be his first time on television since the pandemic and since the allegations made against him during wrestling's Speaking Out movement.) At one point in this match-up, Tyler Breeze locks in a beautiful rolling single leg Boston crab which impressed me. Legado del Fantasma ends the match-up with an intense russian leg sweep/enzuigiri combination for the victory in 9:54.


Grade: A-

Walker's Words: These two teams packed a lot of stellar action into this one, and I am all for it. It's always nice to witness these little reminders that professional wrestlers are just as good as you remember them being. I know that Fandango and Tyler Breeze are insanely talented, but wow, the fact that they kept up in this match shocked me because we never get to see this type of work from them. I hope we start to see it more often. Go out of your way to watch this one.


 

Who is the real NXT Cruiserweight Champion?


Directly after the match, Santos Escobar grabs a microphone and starts speaking to the commentary team. Escobar tells the group that he is the real NXT Cruiserweight Champion and that he hasn't seen Jordan Devlin around these parts in a while. He asks "Where is Jordan Devlin?" Devlin then makes his entrance. He makes it known that "The Ace" is back in town and he declares himself the real NXT Cruiserweight Champion. Escobar says that the only reason Devlin has the belt that he does is that everyone forgot he had it in the first place. Santos throws down the challenge - Jordan Devlin vs. Santos Escobar for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. Devlin then headbutts Escobar, busting him open, and leaves with his head held high.


Grade: B+

Walker's Words: With my personal feelings on Jordan Devlin set aside in the interest of journalistic integrity, I believe that this was a good segment. I believe that the title vs. title trope works, but I do feel like we're drawing too many parallels between the Champion vs. Champion gimmick, and the Champion vs. "Rightful" Champion gimmick in the main event scene. Either way, this is going to be a banger of a match because Escobar and Devlin are two incredible workers.


 

We Have a New Friend!


We witness a video detailing the signing of a soon-to-debut Joshi wrestler, Sarray. Sarray (formerly known as Sareee) is a Japanese women's professional wrestler known for her work in Sendai Girl's Pro Wrestling.


Grade: A

Walker's Words: An extremely talented women's professional wrestler with a storied history in Japan coming to NXT? How am I going to mark that down?! While I haven't seen any work from Sarray, she is highly acclaimed and I am very interested to see where this will lead for her and for NXT TV.


 

Zoey Stark vs. Dakota Kai


Fresh off her loss of the NXT Women's Tag Team Championships, Dakota Kai is looking to pick up some momentum with a victory tonight on NXT. Zoey Stark had a great showing against NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai, so she wants to actually pull the trigger tonight against Dakota Kai. This match starts off with some chain wrestling. Stark is getting a solid amount of offense in on Kai. Barrett on commentary goes back and forth between referring to Zoey as "Zoey Stark" or "Zoey Starks," so much so to the point where I became confused. This match lasts through the commercial break. At one point, Stark went for a german suplex on the apron, but Kai counters. Stark springboards into the ring, but Kai lands a superkick out of nowhere. We get a litany of attempted backslide pins, but Stark eventually falls to a Detonation Kick for the pinfall in 12:36.


Grade: B+

Walker's Words: This was a very good match-up and a great showing for Zoey Stark. Stark is a very talented worker, and I am excited to see more of her.


 

Io Shirai Challenges Raquel Gonzalez


After the match, Io Shirai walks down to ringside carrying a clipboard and stares down with Dakota Kai. Shirai disrespects Kai by walking directly past her and shoving a contract into the chest of Raquel Gonzalez. It appears as though Gonzalez is being challenged to a championship match - YES, PLEASE!


Grade: A-

Walker's Words: This was short and to the point, but it was effective. I absolutely adore everything Raquel Gonzalez does, and I hope to see her as a big star one day. I wonder if this is going to begin to drive the wedge between Dakota Kai and her partner? We will have to wait and find out.


 

Grizzled Young Veteran Promises a Receipt


Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake) cut a promo about MSK. It's the same cookie-cutter promo they typically cut.


Grade: C-

Walker's Words: There wasn't much to this one. Pretty basic and forgettable. Moving on.


 

Marcel Barthel vs. Tommaso Ciampa; WALTER returns


After Ciampa's strange promo earlier in the night, it's time for the confrontation. Ciampa attacks Fabian Aichner at ringside with an equalizer (foreign object) leading to a more one-on-one bout between Ciampa and Barthel. It appears as though Ciampa is accusing Imperium of kidnapping his friend and partner, Timothy Thatcher. This match ends quickly after a middle rope DDT in 3:35.


Immediately after the match, we hear the Imperium music. Looking up the ramp, we see the silhouette of our current NXT UK Champion - WALTER is back on NXT. Suddenly, Barthel and Aichner attack Ciampa from behind, leaving WALTER to hit the Golden Bomb ending the segment.


Grade: A

Walker's Words: This match was incredibly entertaining, even with how short it was. High octane action is a great way of keeping fans invested, and it worked for me. The return of WALTER was very unexpected, but I am glad to see my favorite Austrian back in the ring. Hopefully, that means we'll get to see him return to NXT UK sometime soon as well.


 

Undisputed ARREST?!


Earlier on in the night, William Regal is alerted that there has been some sort of altercation between Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly. We now get to see this altercation (or its aftermath at the very least) where O'Reilly and Cole are in handcuffs shouting at each other from separate police vehicles. Adam Cole alleges that Kyle O'Reilly attempted to run him off of the road and the segment cuts.


Grade: B

Walker's Words: I typically don't like when the WWE utilizes law enforcement within angles, because it just never really goes over well. However, in my opinion, this completely worked. It sold the aggression that these two have for each other and it's building towards an intense match. I'm excited about it!


 

L.A Knight vs. August Grey


It's time for the debut of L.A Knight. Knight is backstage and talks to the cameraman where he says he isn't a "superstar," he is a "megastar." This guy carries himself like a legend, let's see if his in-ring debut matches this energy.


L.A Knight comes out to his GTA San Andreas-esque theme music (which I absolutely love) and is set to take on 205 Live's August Grey. Very early on into the match, Bronson Reed walks on stage with Knight's "custom Gucci leather jacket." The Thicc Boy puts on this jacket but manages to rip it in the process. Grey attempts a roll-up, but Knight kicks out. Knight would land his finish on Grey for a three-count victory in 2:20.


Grade: B+

Walker's Words: This match was short, but it was entertaining all the same. I am interested to see where the Bronson Reed-L.A Knight storyline goes. I know Knight is capable of entertaining stories, I just hope he gets the opportunity to tell them.


 

NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Danny Burch (c.) and Oney Lorcan (c.) vs. Karrion Kross and Finn Balor (c.)


Karion Kross makes his entrance, and wow, it is probably my favorite entrance in professional wrestling. The "fall and pray" theme song; Scarlett's presence; Karrion's intimidating look - it's everything you would want or need in a professional wrestling entrance. The NXT Tag Team Champions did not get an entrance on television, which I thought was insane.


This match begins with Karrion Kross and Oney Lorcan, however, Lorcan quickly tagged out. Kross lands a double suplex on Lorcan and Burch, and Burch is down for a concerning amount of time. Kross and Balor have this awkward "just stand next to me" interaction in the corner while the referee is tending to Danny Burch. Burch throws his body into the corner to tag Oney Lorcan, and Balor aggressively tags himself into the match. Kross is not happy about that.


Balor hits a dropkick to Lorcan on the outside that leads to a collision of Lorcan into Scarlett, who was at ringside. Balor goes to check on Scarlett, and Kross is enraged by this. Kross attacks Balor and throws him back into the ring. Lorcan lands a running uppercut on Balor and pins him in 9:02. Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan retain the NXT Tag Team Championships.


Grade: A

Walker's Words: This match was entertaining. While the ending may have been slightly predictable, the execution was well worth it. The visual of Balor with the championship draped across his chest as Karrion Kross and Scarlett stare down at the fallen champion is... oh it's so good! I am now completely on board with Karrion Kross, and I hope he defeats Balor for this title. I am excited.!


 

Overall Grade: B+


Overall, this show was a great start to my Thursday morning. I was not able to watch NXT last week, but I sure wish I had given what I got to witness today. There was a great build to a title vs. title match for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship, a stellar build to an NXT Championship, a build between Cole and O'Reilly, a great showcase for the women's division, and more! It's always a joy to get to cover NXT, and this is just another edition of one of Wednesday night's best wrestling products.


 

Did I miss something? Do you agree/disagree with a take of mine? Let me know in the comments below or reach out on Twitter @BladeJobPW!


Thank you for reading! Find me on social media below!


Walker "WalkurLIVE" Stewart

Co-Founder, Writer, Podcast Host


Twitter: @WalkurLIVE

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