SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
NXT TV REPORT
NOVEMBER 15, 2022
WINTER PARK, FLA. AT THE CAPITOL WRESTLING CENTER
AIRED ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY BRUCE LEE HAZELWOOD (@B_Lee253), PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
NXT Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T
Ring Announcer: Alicia Taylor
Backstage Correspondent(s): McKenzie Mitchell
Tonight after the show, join the PWT Talks NXT self-proclaimed “gang of idiots” (including me) to break down the show with calls and emails.
•STREAM LIVE HERE ABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTER THE SHOW CONCLUDES
•CALL: (515) 605-9345
•EMAIL COMMENTS/QUESTIONS: pwtorchnxt@gmail.com
•IF YOU DON’T LISTEN LIVE, DOWNLOAD OR STREAM THE FULL SHOW POST-RECORDING
[HOUR ONE]
-The show began with a shot of Bron Breakker making his way from a back hallway with all of the posters to the ring. Von Wagner, with Mr. Stone, made their way from the backstage area. Wagner entered first to a round of boos, Stone in a white or cream suit. Breakker entered after to a respectable pop, no special entrance for this TV championship match. Alicia Taylor was in the ring, where she gave formal ring introductions. Booker T is already too much.
(1) BRON BREAKKER (c) vs. VON WAGNER (w/Mr. Stone) – Men’s NXT Championship match
The ref rung the bell with Stone still in the ring. Wagner grabbed Stone and threw him at Breakker, who swiftly deposited the manager over the top rope. Wagner used the distraction to take over and hit a big back elbow after sending Breakker away with an Irish whip. Breakker avoided a kick and hit a shoulder tackle, then an overhead throw, followed by a standing Frankensteiner. He applied a side headlock and held on as Wagner tried to push him off. Wagner went to the apron and used that to snap the left arm along the top rope, then attacked the left arm with wrenches and shoulders. Wagner hit an arm-trapped bodyslam and taunted the crowd. A snapmare and elbow resulted in a two-count. Breakker avoided a backbody drop and turned it into a delayed vertical suplex. He avoided two back elbows and hit the ropes quickly, landing a huge lariat to Wagner. [c/ss]
During the split-screen, Wagner took control and worked Breakker along the ropes, then returned to working the left arm with a modified arm and rear chin lock. Breakker ducked a lariat and hit a side headlock takedown, then transitioned to side control. He switched sides, allowing Wagner to hit the head scissor. Breakker broke out and went right back to the side headlock takedown. Wagner hit his feet and hit a high running knee, but Breakker was able to get him in a head scissors. Breakker transitioned to a gator roll, then another, then to a side headlock and again to the mat.
They returned from the split-screen with Breakker still in control. However, when he went for another side headlock, Wagner countered with a belly-to-back suplex. Breakker rolled outside, but Wagner threw him into the steps. Wagner removed the top set and then chokeslammed Breakker right onto the bottom set. He rolled him back inside for a two-count. Wagner then went butterfly suplex-Breakker into the post-side slam for a two-count. He applied a standing bearhug, then threw Breakker to the mat. He applied a modified cobra clutch to a seated Breakker.
Wagner seated Breakker on the top rope and went for a second rope superplex. Breakker fought him off and hit a leaping lariat. Breakker hit his comeback shoulder tackles and catching slam. He hit the second rope and hit the Steiner Dog. He called for the spear, but the straps were still up so you know Wagner would counter into his Roode Bomb Death Valley Driver that I didn’t even think was a believable fall anyway. He argued with the ref. Breakker rose slowly behind him, seething, and lowered the straps. Stone tried to get Wagner’s attention, but Wagner pushed him away. Breakker tried for the military press, but his back gave out. He slipped out of a Wagner finisher attempt and hit the spear.
WINNER: Bron Breakker at 13:05 (spear) to retain the Men’s NXT Championship
-After the match, Breakker posed at the entrance. I said this is where Dijak would attack, but it didn’t happen.
-They shifted to an Alba Fyre video where they showed her losing thanks to Toxic Attraction at Halloween Havoc, then her taking out Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne the past two weeks. Fyre put over how there are no more numbers and that anything goes.
-They showed Zoey Stark entering from the parking lot with a smile on her face. [c]
(Hazelwood’s Take: I mean, that was probably the top end of a match between these two. Like I said in the recap, nothing about that match was surprising. Wagner hitting his finisher for a two-count was so predictable I didn’t even think of stopping the timer. They are what they are at this point, and obviously Breakker has more potential.)
-They returned with Breakker slowly walking in the back as he nursed his lower back. He squatted down and looked at his title. JD McDonagh appeared and congratulated him and said Breakker will never be rid of him. Breakker glared at him as he walked away.
-Stark made her entrance to a round of boos. Her music changed from uppity and happy to a more subdued rock theme. She was all smiles and still did her corner pose.
ZOEY STARK IN-RING PROMO
She wasn’t in all black as she had on a dark green top. She said her back feels so much lighter not having to carry Nikkita Lyons for another week (how true!). She said nine months she was on the shelf, but she came back in July like a bat out of hell and won the battle royal to face Mandy Rose. She said she was ready, but she was called into a meeting and said everything changed. She said she was told they were going to hold the Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament and told her they wanted her to tag with Lyons. She said they chose them over more established teams. Stark said she knew she would have to do most of the heavy lifting and that was fine because she was representing NXT. She said that didn’t happen because she wasn’t medically cleared (unvaccinated I believe). She said Lyons came to her and said she wasn’t mad. Stark scoffed because she “wasn’t injured doing some stupid video on Tik Tok,” but with one of the best wrestlers. She just wanted Lyons to carry a bit of the load, but all she got were endless apologies and no results. She said she’s not angry anymore, and then shifted to a video of her attack on Lyons.
She said she tried her hardest to help Lyons and the new recruits, but the more time she gave them, the more they just clung and leeched off of her. She said she’s done and tired of it and instead of being part of the solution, she’s a big part of the problem. She said she didn’t get famous posing on the beach or doing some stupid ridiculous dance for social media, but busting her ass in the ring. She said to everyone clapping with her and cheering along, “Screw you.” She said they are all the same people who go on social media who likes those comments and posts, who look at Lyons “with all of her assets” and go to bed dreaming about her at night. She said NXT is no longer about the future; it’s about Zoey Stark. She yelled that she’s undeniable (Cody Rhodes?!). She said she’s the hunter and everyone is the prey.
-They cut to Chase U. Andre Chase was sitting as Duke Hudson walked in. Chase asked if he really thought Chase couldn’t finish the match. Hudson said Chase means too much to him, but then Chase doesn’t know the meaning of the word “quit.” He said that’s why he threw in the towel. He said he’s guilty as charged for bleeding black-and-red. Thea Hail walked in and Hudson left. Hail said he’s kind of growing on her.
-They showed a reunited INDUS SHER preparing for their match LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOO. [c]
(Hazelwood’s Take: There is a lot to unpack from Stark’s promo. Credit to her for pushing through the crowd chants and their attempts at flustering her. It wasn’t the best promo, but her emotions seemed real as she discussed social media fame vs. “the old fashioned way.” Eventually, this is setting up for a massive babyface push for a returning Lyons – who is injured again – but until then, it will be good to have a distinct, legit ring heel in the women’s division.)
-They returned with Breakker in the locker room toweling off as Apollo Crews sat down next to him to remind him that he wants the title. Crews told Breakker to “watch what I do” because “when one challenge ends, another begins.”
-Indus Sher made their entrance for their first match back in NXT together. Enhancement talent were already in the ring.
(2) INDUS SHER (Veer Mahan & Sanga) vs. GEORGE CANNON & ARIEL DOMINGUEZ – Tag team match
Sanga began with Jobber 1, George Cannon. Sanga just manhandled him. When Booker T asked for his name again, Vic Joseph said, “It doesn’t matter.” Sanga hit a full nelson suplex, then tagged in Mahan. They sandwiched him. Mahan forced Jobber 2 to tag in, then lifted an launched him across the ring. Wow. Ariel Dominguez I think is on his trunks. Veer just chested the guy twice, then tagged in Sanga and they did the running sandwich spot again. Sanga hit a big bodyslam, then another one, and tagged in Mahan. Mahan hit his huge leaping elbow. I swear he clears the top rope. He tagged in Sanga. Mahan grabbed Cannon and Sanga hit a running kick. The ref isn’t even counting. Sanga hit a corner avalanche, then tagged in Mahan. They hit a sidewalk slam-leaping leg drop combo.
WINNER: Indus Sher at 3:27 (side slam-leaping leg drop combo)
-After the match, Mahan said they have great respect for The Creed Brothers. Sanga said the NXT Universe respects The Creeds, but not them. Mahan said in India, they’re treated like stars, but not here. They said the only way to gain respect is to destroy The Creeds, and that’s what they’re going to do.
-The Creeds were in the back and said they would maul them. Ivy Nile and Tatum Paxley walked in with no facemask! Nile said not to worry since they’re over the Damon Kemp hump. Julius seemed to cutoff Nile, and said they can’t leave it unchecked. Nile said she won’t argue with them, but said she thinks they’re after the wrong people. Tell them, Ivy!
-McDonagh made his entrance. [c]
(Hazelwood’s Take: Squashes don’t always have to be quick. They just have to be dominant!)
-They returned with McKenzie Mitchell in the back with Wendy Choo asking about Cora Jade. Choo said Jade is a petulant child who will never change. She did concede Jade said some stuff about her that she hadn’t heard since high school, trying to open old wounds. Choo said she likes to be quirky, but that’s her and she wants others to look in the mirror, especially Jade after she gives her two black eyes.
-Joseph replayed what happened last week between McDoangh and Axiom. Crews then made his entrance.
(3) JD MCDONAGH vs. APOLLOW CREWS – Singles match
Crews hit a go-behind and slammed McDonagh, but then the two traded holds for a bit. They reset and McDonagh hit a kick, but Crews hit a back handspring escape and an arm drag. He slid under McDonagh, then hit a shoulder tackle only to be taken down with a big arm drag, then another from McDonagh. McDonagh faked a third and caused Crews to fall in response, then hit an elbow. Some corner work from McDonagh followed, but Crews responded with chops and punches. He sent McDonagh flying with a big backbody drop. McDonagh tried to beg off as a ploy, but Crews didn’t fall for it and sent him out of the ring. Crews chased McDonagh around the ring, then caught and dropped McDonagh on top of the announce desk. Booker T as they went to break, “The hell?” [c]
Crews was climbing the corner with McDonagh on him in a sleeper, then from the second rope he leaped back and right onto McDonagh. However, McDonagh grabbed the rear naked choke again. Crews fought out and then went for a sleeper, but McDonagh countered with a belly-to-back suplex.
[HOUR TWO]
Crews backbody dropped McDonagh to the outside, then hit his apron moonsault, landing on his feet. He rolled McDonagh back inside, then hit a gut kick and a running pump kick, followed by a big lariat. Crews set in the corner and hit a running corner splash. He hit the second rope and went for a senton, but rolled through as McDonagh moved. Crews hit a powerbomb, hung on, then hit a sit-down powerbomb for a two-count. Booker T questioned the speed of the count for some reason, but ref D.A. Brewer was right there. Crews set McDonagh on the top rope as Booker T said this was for a championship (it was not). McDonagh slipped out and sat Crews on the top, then elbowed him to the mat. McDonagh messed up a corner spot, but then caused Crews to hit the outside. He hit a PK that showed a lot of light, then hit an Asai moonsault. He rolled Crews back in and then climbed to the top rope. Crews met him there and hit an avalanche Olympic slam, throw really. That could have been bad, but a good landing by McDonagh.
The two men slowly rose to their feet to sell the physicality of the match. They traded chops and shots. McDonagh countered a vertical into an inside cradle, then the two exchanged the pin about four times. McDonagh then hit a Spanish fly counter. A chant rung out for him, but Crews hit a knee to block Devlin Slide. McDonagh hit a headbutt, but Crews countered another one with a sunset flip for a two-count, then McDonagh hit his own pin for a two-count. The crowd chanted “this is awesome” at the two. McDonagh set in the corner, then dodged a Crews attack. He climbed to the top, but rolled through his moonsault. Crews then hit a Ron Simmons and Bobby Lashley one-armed spinebuster to get the clean win. Booker T must not have known the outcome because he reacted in complete shock.
WINNER: Apollo Crews at 13:38 (one-armed spinebuster)
-After the match, Breakker hit the entrance area and the two looked at each other.
-Mitchell was in the Toxic Lounge with Rose. Rose cut her off about what Fyre said, saying “I have ears.” She said for the last year, she has heard every prediction in the book: she’s not ready, the stage is too big, she’s not a good wrestler, she can’t carry the title. She said every one-hit wonder and ringer and cliche that’s been promoted to beat her has failed as she still stands as the Women’s Champion because she is a one-in-a-billion superstar. She said she will be the last woman standing and then told Mitchell to get out of here. Mitchell reacted with disgust, as she should! [c]
-They returned with Javier Bernal with Mitchell. He said he knows he’s the new kid, but he needs to seize the moment. He said he’s going to be the one to make challenges, so he brought up Axiom. Mitchell cut him off to make sure she heard right, then said Axiom isn’t medically cleared. Bernal said Axiom is a true wrestler. Mitchell said she’s not disagreeing, but he’s hurt. Bernal said Ilja Dragunov, but Mitchell said he’s rehabbing in Germany. He then brought up Gallus. She said they’re suspended and thought he would know that. He said he knows that she is part of the problem for holding him back. She reacted as one would.
NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP CONTRACT SIGNING
Booker T was in the ring for the contract signing segment. He hyped the North American Championship match next week and gave his own introductions for Carmelo Hayes (with Trick Williams) and Wes Lee (c). Both sat down across from each other as Booker T said he’s excited and a fan of both. Hayes said from a lowercase g to a Big G, it’s an honor to be in Booker T’s fave five and real recognize real. Booker T said he did do that, but no disrespect to the champ. Lee said they have to realize Hayes is no longer the A-Champion, but the ex-champion. Booker T had some questions. He said Hayes is on the precipice of being a three-time North American Champion. Hayes said he knows Lee will go to his absolute limit to retain his title, but that Lee’s absolute limit is where Hayes pulls up and starts from. He said he’s relentless about being the A-Champ, so next week, the 15 minutes of sympathy and attention and best time of Lee’s life and worst time of Hayes’ life is over. Booker T was interrupted by Williams again and looked affronted. Williams was just putting over Hayes.
Booker T turned to Lee and said it was Lee’s first title defense (of any singles title, ever!). Lee said everyone knows how hard he worked in order to earn this and if you told him a year ago this would happen, he wouldn’t believe you and took the hand the universe out dealt him and played it really well. He said he took some peace from knocking Williams out. He said next week he will show the world that he is the new standard and will do whatever it takes to show everyone that. Hayes said he prefers to be called the future three-time North American Champion and Lee said he promised him that arrogance will be Hayes’ downfall. Hayes signed, then Lee, a lot longer than you would think six letters would take. Williams said no one cares about how Lee feels and Lee erupted, telling Williams to shut up because this is about Lee and Williams’ meal ticket. Hayes said he’s about to “First 48” Lee right here in front of all these witnesses. Booker T stopped them and said they can “save that drama for your momma,” and then hyped the match one last time for next week.
-They played another vignette for Donovan Dijak, saying the truth is never simple until you’re sitting with him: give him the truth or have it beaten out of you. He said NXT is soft, but that will change because he is not a product of his environment, but the environment is a product of him. He ended by saying hard justice is on the way (so…TNA?)
-Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen made their entrance (with Fallon Henley). [c]
-They returned with Odyssey Jones, Edris Enofe, and Malik Blade in the back. Jones asked about the sweater vest. Blade said his dad was a pastor, but he lost him. He said his dad would have the best fits. He said the first thing his dad ordered for him out of a style book from their stylist was a sweater vest. He said when his dad passed, he found a bunch of sweater vests in their attic, so he wears it to honor his dad.
-Schism made their entrance for The Dyad’s match. Their gear is much more like Sanity than what they wore before.
(4) JOSH BRIGGS & BROOKS JENSEN (w/Fallon Henley) vs. THE DYAD (Rip Fowler & Jagger Reed w/Ava Raine & Joe Gacy) – Tag Team match
Jensen and Rip Fowler began the match with Jensen taking control. He hit a sloppy dropkick for a one-count, then worked the left. Fowler forced Jensen into their corner and tagged in Reed. The Dyad are back to traditional wrestling trunks like when they were Grizzled Young Veterans, just in black-and-white. Briggs made a sneaky tag and bowled over Reed. Jensen tagged back in and worked the left arm of Reed. Jensen hit a shoulder tackle and tagged in Briggs. They hit their sliding straight rights. Briggs tagged in Jensen, but Fowler made a sneaky tag and picked the leg. Jensen was confronted by Ava Raine, then suffered a tope from Reed into the announce desk. Henley looked on with her hands on her head. Fowler took a cravate and slammed Jensen face-first into the apron. Back in the ring, Jensen fought off both men and tagged in Briggs.
Briggs took it to both men and hit a butterfly backbreaker to Fowler, then took out Reed. He threw Reed off of the ropes from the outside and hit a lariat. Back in the ring, he hit some furious offense on Fowler, but then Kiana James came down to attack Henley. She was punched right into Jensen, who held her in disbelief. The Dyad hit a double lungblower/codebreaker to Briggs to win.
WINNER: The Dyad at 4:08 (double lungblower)
-Joseph hyped Shawn Michaels’ announcement. [c]
(Hazelwood’s Take: That wasn’t just an a-to-b match, but a very boring one at that. It just never really seemed to hit another gear and I don’t think anyone thought that Briggs and Jensen would win here. The shenanigans were pointless as The Dyad should have won clean anyway, and there were plenty of ways to continue the story with James than what they did here.)
-They returned with Joseph and Booker T leading viewers into Michaels’ announcement.
SHAWN MICHAELS’ BIG ANNOUNCEMENT FOR NXT DEADL1NE
A video played about NXT focusing on the development of the future stars, but also evolution. He said they have the “Iron Survivor Challenge,” one for the men and women. Five wrestlers compete in a 25-minute match. Two wrestlers start, with another entering every five minutes. The goal is to have the most wins at the end of the 25 minutes. You can earn a point by pin, sub, or DQ. If a wrestler is pinned or submitted or DQd, they enter the penalty box. Basically, it’s beat the clock and king/queen of the mountain.
(5) INDI HARTWELL vs. TATUM PAXLEY (w/Ivy Nile) – Singles match
The match just started holy crap. The lights flickered (Scrypts!). Indi Hartwell took the early advantage. Paxley had on the facemask for the match. An “Indi wrestling” chant started as she hit a big clothesline. Hartwell hit another big move for a two-count, then hit a rear chinlock. She kept it locked on as Paxley tried to fight out, about a minute or so. Hartwell hit a big uppercut to floor Paxley for a two-count and went right back to the rear chinlock. Paxley fought back, but Hartwell shut it down with a right to the face. On the apron, Hartwell went for an uppercut, but Paxley dodged and tripped her. Paxley then hit a head kick from the apron and drove Hartwell into the corner. She came back inside and hit a few sloppy clotheslines, then a neckbreaker and standing moonsault for a two-count. She lifted Hartwell, but Hartwell grabbed and removed the mask, then stomped Paxley’s back. She tossed the mask to Nile, then hit her running elbow to the back of Paxley like Will Ospreay’s Hidden Blade.
WINNER: Indi Hartwell at 3:52 (running elbow)
-Another Scrypts vignette played where he said, in rhyme, that he’s faster and smarter than we think. He said next week we’ll see that he and us aren’t the same, and who’s first to play a little game? Looks like the debut is next week.
-Joseph hyped the main event as they hit break. [c]
-Edit: not the Beat the Clock, but a mix between the Championship Scramble match and the King/Queen of the Mountain matches!
-They returned with Hartwell in the back as Roxanne Perez approached with Hartwell looking annoyed. Perez congratulated her, but then asked if it was too far to take off the mask. Hartwell said it can’t just be congrats from little miss perfect. Perez said what if she broke Paxley’s nose again? Hartwell said if that’s what she needs to do to get into that Iron Survivor Challenge, then that’s what she’ll do.
-Joseph ran through next week’s card with Lee (c) vs. Hayes and Choo vs. Jade.
-Fyre made her entrance first, then Rose without her cronies. Rose usually has entered these matches solo and, as discussed on PWT Talks NXT post-show, she’s won most of her title defenses clean. She looked absolutely confident for this match. Taylor gave formal ring introductions inside the ring with referee Daryl Sharma scheduled for the match.
(6) MANDY ROSE (c) vs. ALBA FYRE – Women’s NXT Championship Last Woman Standing match
Rose immediately left the ring, but then Fyre chased her. Rose went for Kissed by the Rose, but Fyre caught it. Rose escaped a Gory Bomb, but then ate a lope as she hit the outside. Remember, the only rule is you win by keeping your opponent floored for ten seconds. Rose escaped another Gory Bomb, this time for the announce table, but Fyre then proceeded to just throw her around outside and into the barrier. She poked her in the gut with a chair, then grabbed some tools. Rose slipped out and bodyslammed Fyre onto a chair at ringside. Rose rolled inside as Fyre regained her feet. Fyre grabbed a chair, but Rose kicked her and then went for her finisher again, but Fyre put the chair up so Rose hit the chair. Fyre then grabbed a steel rod and used that to assist her in a single leg crab. [c/ss]
During the split-screen, Fyre was getting the better of Rose for a bit, even using a trashcan, until Rose hit a big spinebuster. Rose grabbed the rod that Fyre used in the crab and hit her in the side twice, then put it across her mouth and wrenched back.
[OVERRUN]
Fyre threw off Rose, then hit a few clotheslines and a gourdbuster. She then hit a few kicks to the chest. Fyre hit a tornado DDT out of the corner, narrowly missing a trashcan. Rose rolled outside, and Fyre followed by climbing and hitting a top rope senton to the outside. She’s lucky Rose caught her as Fyre came up a little short because it could have been worse. Fyre then grabbed a ladder and rammed Rose with it before setting it up against the steel steps. Rose countered the Irish whip and sent Fyre into the ladder instead. She went to slam the ladder on Fyre. Fyre rolled away, but I think it hit her fingers. Rose then rammed the ladder against a seated Fyre, up against the barricade.
Rose waited around as Sharma hit another count, this time hitting eight. Rose rolled Fyre back inside the ring and grabbed the trash can from earlier. She set it in the middle and went at Fyre. She went for a bodyslam, but the knee buckled. Fyre then lifted Rose to her shoulders and the hit a modified spinebuster kind of onto the ladder. Rose rolled and briefly hit her feet before falling, breaking the count, then sending Fyre outside with Fyre now holding her left leg. Rose threw Fyre over the barricade between the glass, but Fyre went for a suplex off of the barricade. Sharma moved the ladder, then Rose pushed Fyre off and into the steps. Sharma started the count again as Rose tried to get more feeling into her knee. Fyre used the ring to hit her feet. Rose leaped at Fyre, but ate a superkick (that showed light). Fyre then hit the Gory Bomb into the apron (the announce table was still right there!).
Fyre then grabbed her red bat and swung, hitting Rose across the gut. Fyre grabbed the ladder and set it up by the announce desk. Joseph said they need to get out of there. Fyre set up Rose on the table and then climbed. She hit the top, but then turned as Isla Dawn appeared and sprayed some mist into Fyre’s face, then pushed her off and through the table as Rose moved. Rose used the apron to just make it to her feet at nine as Sharma hit ten on Fyre. Dawn has a different look than I knew from NXT UK, but even then, it was obvious who she was if you had even a tangential knowledge of UK (Joseph saying it was her didn’t hurt).
WINNER: Mandy Rose at 11:57 to retain the Women’s NXT Championship
-The arena video boards started going staticy and color bars as Dawn was sitting on top of the ladder, posing with Rose’s music in the background.
(Hazelwood’s Take: Honestly, I was kind of dreading this match because of how much standing around and counting there generally is in these matches, but they did a good job here of making it flow better and not seem too out of place. Kelly really thought that Fyre would win here, and it was a perfect match to have Rose lose without seeming like she lost much…but it’s also the perfect type of match for someone to debut and cost Fyre, which is exactly what Dawn did tonight. Dawn was always one of the more interesting talent in UK to me, so I’m interested to see how they present her stateside, especially since it looks like a bit of a repackaging is coming. Now we go back to the same question of who is going to defeat Rose?)
FINAL THOUGHTS: As much as Joseph and Booker T said the show was furious and stacked, honestly, outside of the two championship matches and the contract signing, it was a rather ho-hum show. The tag match and Hartwell vs. Paxley were just there, really, and were more angles than matches, anyway. I do like how they set up Breakker’s next feud with Crews through their mutual respect and Crews’ telling Breakker to watch what he did tonight, then winning clean. Breakker appearing after the match also gives a bit more credence to Crews as a challenger since Breakker is identifying him as such. Stark’s promo was up-and-down, but I think there’s enough there that we’ll see a good heel. Still, some of the show was entirely skippable and all the hype for the title matches didn’t completely negate that.
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