Welcome back readers! It’s time for another round of NXT goodness! Tonight’s show, quite honestly, feels like the calm before the storm. What storm could that be, you might ask? Well, there’s just this tiny match coming at us next week, a triple threat match between Pete Dunne, Adam Cole and King Ricochet for the North American title. The matches we get tonight should be entertaining, but with that match looming, it really is just the calm before the storm. But enough about next week, let’s crack open this Nutshell!
Best Match of the night:
The main event had some nice action, but it wasn’t enough to get this spot.
What earned it? Gargano and Nese. Johnny Wrestling and The Premier Athlete put on a clinic. Perhaps the only downside is, the match likely showed us where Gargano’s future is (205 Live), but the match was very good. I know WWE has sent other main roster talents down to NXT for work lately, but Nese is one of the first I can recall actually making it onto the hourly show. It was worth it.
Worst match of the night:
Evans and LeRae. Was not absolutely unwatchable, but it just wasn’t the best. These two are building to something bigger, so they have time to perfect the formula.
Crowd Chants of the Night:
NXT! NXT! NXT!
Johnny Wrestling
This is awesome
NX3
Star of the Night
Well, Johnny got back on track, having a strong match against a 205 Live mainstay, Tony Nese. So I give both men a nod, as it was an entertaining match.
Spot of the Night:
In general, some nice spots in the Gargano/Nese bout. Like, Nese leaping over the top rope, twisting his way to the outside. As much as I love Gargano and what he’s done in NXT the past 12 months or so, I think a match like this one shows that his future is likely in 205 Live more than as a main event challenger on the full main roster. I’d love to be wrong and I hope I am, but I think the fit there is just too obvious.
Here is something we should never hear: Lars Sullivan, from the top rope. A man that big just ought not be comfortable climbing to the top and taking flight, but then again, Sullivan isn’t a man…he’s a monster.
Jobber of the Night:
Kirsh, Rise and Mixon. It’s not that often that we see a six man match featuring three jobbers, but that is exactly what we got tonight. The trio looked every bit the part, too.
Upset of the Night:
Nothing to report
Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:
I was surprised that heel champ Tommaso Ciampa appears to be setting his sights on Velveteen Dream.
Lots of shocking action in the main event, as EC3 was putting his strength on display against behemoth Lars Sullivan.
Botch of the night:
Minor gripes:
one series during the Nese/Gargano match looked a bit too scripted. When Nese delivered an exchange that wrapped up with a whiff on a leg sweep, it looked like it was half speed. Minor nit pick.
Sometimes EC3 works stiff, I think. Maybe not stiff, but just not very fluid. Or it’s just something that bugs me.
Tweets of the night:
I love how we all complained at Nikki not being with SaNity, myself included & #WWENXT made sure it was the right decision. Can’t wait for them evolve her character into a unstoppable lunatic.. champion.
— R.Dream (@WWERDream) October 4, 2018
Kinda bummed that EC3 keeps losing seeing that Lars already had a push. The guy deserves so much better because he has the personality, in-ring ability and charisma. #WWENXT
— Tony (@prowrestlingbit) October 4, 2018
Is Ciampa cutting a promo of Velveteen Dream?!? Are we gonna get Dream vs Ciampa for the NXT Title!? Man NXT killing the the game right now!#WWENXT
— Bigg Luv (@Biggluvsbrkdown) October 4, 2018
LOL Moment of the night:
What the heck was up with that like, Olde English ring garb by one of the jobbers to the Forgotten Sons?
Noteworthy Moment:
Next week. North American title. Triple threat. Just saying
We got a video package with Ciampa apparently calling out Velveteen Dream. Very interesting, especially when you factor in both men present as heels. Of course, Dream has, at times, gotten strong fan support, but he definitely trends more as a heel of late. Perhaps this is signifying a turn?
Overall lowlights:
Not much to complain about.
No update on the whodunnit case though.
Overall highlights:
Tony Nese brought his A game from 205 Live, and he and Johnny Gargano delivered a very fine effort.
Nice video package for next week’s triple threat match.
Interesting backstage promo for Tommaso Ciampa
Main event was not the best match, but it was good action.
After the final bell:
As I said at the onset, this is the calm before the storm. The show was good, not great, but once you remember that next week brings us a loaded triple threat match, all is right with the world
Results:
Lacey Evans knocks out Candace LeRae for the win.
We get a nice video package for the pending North American triple threat next week
Jobbers Kirsh, Rise and Mixon lose to the Forgotten Sons.
Johnny Gargano defeats the visiting Tony Nese
Lars Sullivan destroys EC3
