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MSK & LA KNIGHT vs. IMPERIUM – NXT Six-Man Tag
LA Knight faces Gunther and MSK faces Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner at NXT Stand & Deliver, so why not throw them into a bombastic six man to kick off the go-home NXT? The show kicked off with Imperium’s entrance and MSK & LA Knight attacking them from behind, getting this match underway within seconds on NXT’s start time.
For 95% of the match, it was a better than average six-man tag. That is until Gunther and LA Knight left the match to battle one another through the crowd and into the back. Aichner and Barthel then quickly put MSK away.
The Creed Brothers also made their presence felt after the match, showing up on stage, as they’ll join MSK and Imperium at Stand & Deliver for the NXT Tag Titles.
Verdict: HIT
IVY NILE vs. TIFFANY STRATTON
Beauty takes on brawn, as Ivy Nile met Tiffany Stratton in singles competition. On paper, I’d expect the hard hitting style of Nile to easily overcome Daddy’s Girl. But the life-sized Barbie doll really held her own against Diamond Mine’s only female member.
This may have been the best match I’ve seen either woman in. The action was clean, crisp and much more polished than I’ve seen from either of them in the past.
Sarray, taken out by Stratton last week, interfered in a plume of smoke at the entrance ramp. This distraction allowed Nile to get a win over Stratton, albeit not a clean win. This keeps both Stratton and Nile looking strong. Although, the distraction finish is so overdone that it really makes the face look like a numbskill. But, I don’t think that’s something you can convince Bruce Prichard and the rest of the NXT Creative team of.
Verdict: HIT
LEGADO DEL FANTASMA w/ Elektra Lopez vs. BROOKS JENSEN & JOSH BRIGGS w/ Fallon Henley
Continuing their feud, the Luchadors met the Tractordors in fast paced tag action. Okay, that was a horrible joke. I’m sorry (But not horrible enough for me to leave it out).
While this was a better than average tag match, it was a shame that the announce team didn’t bother talking about this match hardly at all. They focused on the Mysterios vs. Miz & Logan Paul at WrestleMania and the North American title ladder match at Stand & Deliver. Yes, both of those matches have ties to this feud, as the Mysterios showed up to face Legado a few weeks ago, and Santos Escobar is in the NA Ladder match. But, I feel like they did a disservice to this matchup by ignoring half of it.
Verdict: HIT
VON WAGNER w/ Robert Stone vs. BODHI HEYWARD w/ Andre Chase
Von Wagner, king of the Create-A-Wrestler attire took on Chase University’s brightest pupil, Bodhi Heyward. Well, I guess I should have said that Wagner massacred Bodhi, because this was a very one-sided matchup, as it should have been. Wagner needs to be booked to look strong if they’re going to continue to try and get him over as a brutish-heel.
After the match, Von Wagner approached Jacket Time who were sitting at their own commentary booth performing the “Japanese Commentary”, and handily took both of them out as well. He ripped Ikeman Jiro’s jacket in half before leaving the ring and ogling Sofia Cromwell on his way out.
Verdict: Lukewarm HIT
JOE GACY w/ Harland vs. DRACO ANTHONY
For weeks, Joe Gacy and Harland have been stalking Draco Anthony trying to seemingly recruit him to his one person cult. Anthony, having enough, looked to shut Gacy up for good. Outside the ring, in the audience, Quincy Elliott would not take his eyes off of Harland. Elliott was not mentioned much on commentary, but could be seen looking at Harland in the background, almost lustfully.
With Gacy getting the win, I’m not entirely sure what this means for his feud with Anthony. And with Quincy Elliott being a member of the LGBTQ+ community and seemingly being booked as a LGBTQ character, one wonders how tactful and tasteful Bruce Prichard and John Laurinaitis will approach this (Billy and Chuck, anyone?)
Verdict: Lukewarm HIT
NIKKITA LYONS vs. SLOANE JACOBS
Another squash match for Lyons. Another match where she looks like an Instagram model trying to be a professional wrestler.
I’m sorry. I just don’t see it with Lyons. Sure, she has a good look. But that’s about where it ends for me. She relies on her opponents way too much to have a good match, and her promo ability is about as bad as it can get.
Verdict: MISS
RODERICK STRONG vs. A-KID vs. CAMERON GRIMES – Last Chance Match for North American Ladder Match at S&D
This was Grime’s match to win, as the story going into this was that Grimes wanted to make his late father proud.
What a helluva triple threat match to boot. A-Kid pulled out all the stops and worked incredibly synergistically with Grimes and Strong. They were able to book this match where everyone seemed involved, and not like someone was taking a turn “sleeping” outside the ring.
Grimes did indeed pick up the win, and will meet Sikoa, Waller, Escobar, and North American Champion Carmelo Hayes this Saturday at Stand & Deliver.
Verdict: WIN
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