NXT HITS & MISSES 10/3: Lars Anderson vs. EC3, North American Triple Threat match promo, Gargano vs. Neese

HITS

North American Triple Threat Match Promo:  This segment was great as it elevated the prestige of the North American Championship.  Each man discussed what the title means to them and how they will bring glory to it.  It also builds up the match as it replayed the events that lead up to it all the while having great placement of when each wrestler spoke.  In my opinion, it would be good to put the belt back on Adam Cole as Pete Dunne already has the UK Championship and for him to get the belt at this time wouldn’t seem fitting.  Cole would be the better choice over Ricochet as the time for Cole being in NXT is running out as he is main roster ready, so to give him a great push before sending him (along with Undisputed Era) to the main roster would be ideal.  Ricochet has plenty of more time to dazzle the NXT universe and to go onto greater heights.

Johnny Gargano vs. Tony Neese:  This was a great match as it had the potential of being the main event for this evening.  One side note, does it diminish 205 Live in any way as Neese justified coming to NXT to go to another level?  But back to the match, Gargano was the Johnny Wrestling of old as he fought a great match with the build ups for the comebacks being there, but not in one long drug out dramatic fashion, it came in spurts which helped to draw the crowd in and get reinvested in him (not that they weren’t, but back to how they were).  Neese put on a great performance as well with displays of strength and fantastic athleticism.  Overall, both men looked great in action and it was good for Gargano, as it seems like a reset button has been pushed and Neese looked formidable in defeat to where it wouldn’t do him any damage.

Lars Sullivan vs. EC3:  This match was good, but it should not have been the main event.  EC3 showed great intensity and this has been the best I’ve seen him in the ring since debuting in NXT.  He kept up with Lars Sullivan and made him look vulnerable.  Sullivan was his usual brutish self, seeming unstoppable as EC3 had a hard time keeping him down.  Even though Sullivan picked up the win, EC3 held his own.  I don’t know which direction EC3 should go next.  Honestly, he seems better off as a heel and he is forced into being a face, maybe that’s down the line but right now he seems rather directionless.

MISSES

None

FINAL THOUGHTS…

Not a bad show, there was some great action to begin the show with Lacey Evans picking up the win against Candice LaRae as she continues to enjoy a strong push.  The Forgotten Sons seem to be receiving a push as well as they won their match against some enhancement talent.  Jaxson Ryker is definitely the stand out of the group.  Tomasso Ciampa cut a backstage promo warning the Velveteen dream to tread lightly when making allegations on who attacked Aleister Black.  He reminded him that he was the one that ended the fairytale and exposed the mystique and if the Dream was not careful, he could be next.  There was also a segment with Danny Birch and Oney Lorcan that helped to rebrand the tag team, as they have been absent since Takeover Chicago.  Overall, a decent show, but still not much is happening in the form of a buildup, but it will all come in time.

NOW CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS COLUMN: NXT HITS & MISSES 9/26: Tomasso Ciampa vs. Otis Dozovic, William Regal’s announcement segment with Undisputed Era, Booking Standstill