NXT returned to us last night (July 22) from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida. You can find the results on the live blog here.
Almost perfect
The launch of Karrion Kross has been almost perfect.
NXT has been careful not to expose it too much, for a while just mocking its presence. When it finally debuted, they made sure their matches were casual, ensuring that they would feel special every time. And with that magnificent entry, they always feel special.
This week was one of their matches and, once again, they did it.
Dominik Dijakovic was the perfect opponent for Kross at the moment. He’s bigger than Karrion, or at least taller, and unlike Bronson Reed weeks ago, he’s more experienced. It was one of the biggest challenges for Kross. In fact, given the way he easily eliminated Tommaso Ciampa in TakeOver: at your houseIt could be the biggest challenge of your NXT career.
This was the most we’ve probably seen Kross sell. That’s not a problem. If he is finally going to be in a title fight with Keith Lee, he will be selling. But with the way they reserved this segment, they were still able to make it feel extremely dangerous.
Things started to get ugly when Dijakovic was sent to the steel steps, landing between them in the ring. Kross launched a nasty kick to the steps, giving the image that he was crushing his opponent’s head between steel and steel.
Such a brutal move brought Keith Lee to the ring to see his friend. This is the other reason that Dominik was the perfect choice for this match. Not only could he challenge Karrion, but anything Kross does to him will also harm Dom’s friend Keith Lee.
The NXT champion wanted to throw in the proverbial towel for his friend, but Dijakovic insisted that he didn’t, telling his friend that no matter what happens, it’s his choice. That forced Lee to look helpless as his eventual opponent dismantled the man he credited last week for helping him in his career. And without saying a word, Keith’s face told the story they needed to tell. You could read their conflict and their anger.
Meanwhile, after surviving Dijakovic’s onslaught, Kross came out feeling as dangerous as coming in, if not more.
It still looks like it might be too early to run this match on TakeOver: XXX. I suppose Kross will win his eventual title fight, and if that’s the case, Lee’s reign will last only six weeks. But Karrion cutting off the legs of what should be an epic career for Lee could be just another reason for fans to hate the man.
We will have to see what next month brings. After this, I can’t imagine they can delay the title fight too long. The stakes already seem too high to drag him.
Waived
NXT kicked off the show this week with the announcement that Keith Lee will be giving up the American title. His reason is that he did not want to slow the growth of the promotion. By having both titles, he was taking an award for the fighters.
That makes sense. It’s a bit of a disappointment as I love the story of a fighting champion who has to fight twice in one night until he loses one or both titles. But they could probably do more if they had a new midcard champion to anchor that division as Lee defends the promotion’s top prize. In addition, having a person hold the upper title and the intermediate card title confuses the distinctions between “divisions”.
To crown a new champion, there will be a ladder match in TakeOver: XXX in a month. And to qualify for that game, fighters must win a triple threat game.
This week’s triple threat was Bronson Reed vs. Roderick Strong vs. Johnny Gargano. And it was the perfect formula of two smaller, shoddy heels trying to knock down a man whose power outshines his.
This style produced a combination in which Big Boi Bronson looked like a beast, while the other two didn’t seem matched because they could create strategies for the big man. They needed big moves for Reed to fall, the man didn’t sell the offensive that he shouldn’t. And when they knocked him down, they lit up like we should just wait between these two vets.
Bronson picked up the W with a big splash from above to Roddy. Reed is the right choice to win. If they want to use the American title to help develop the next crop of talent, Bronson is their man right there. Gargano and Strong do not need it. Highlight a man who could be your future.
Blue Chip Signature
Then Robert Stone was hit by a tank again.
His client Aliyah had a match with Shotzi Blackheart, continuing the dispute between the brand and the lone wolf. It was a very good game, one of Aliyah’s best. Robert Stone tried to distract Shotzi by victory, but was unsuccessful.
After the game, Blackheart ran over Stone’s good leg with a tank. But then she was attacked by Mercedes Martínez.
Stone is still an explosion. He is very good at playing the role of comedy, with his best sellers. Plus, he acts enough of a jerk so we don’t feel bad for him. It has become a must see for me every week. And this story has also helped elevate Aliyah, whom I am now more interested in than ever.
Meanwhile, it appears that Mercedes Martinez’s first real focus will be Shotzi Blackheart. It is a good program for both women. Blackheart will go to work with a true veteran. Win or less, this enmity will elevate her. Meanwhile, Mercedes has a fight that is likely to win. (At least I should if they want to portray her as the dangerous assassin.)
To tie it all together, Mercedes Martinez agreed to join the Robert Stone brand. Your reasoning? She wants someone to do all the work so she can get in the ring and kick ass. While that makes sense, it also seems that associating with that fool takes a bit of the rudeness out of her. It probably won’t be a long partnership, and she’ll kick the shit out sooner rather than later.
Hoss Fight
Dexter Lumis defeated the great Killian Dain by submission (Dain passed out in his choke). This served as one of Lumis’ most impressive victories. Given the shear size and power of the Belfast Beast, Lumis no longer had his usual edge.
It was a really fun match, a combination of your standard wizard and some more athletic moves, especially at the end of Dexter. The man did a jump on one leg that was really silly. He also has a saddle in his arsenal.
In the middle of the match, Dain’s shirt was ripped and the rest of the fight, it looked like he was wearing a massive thong. And unfortunately I’m still immature and I couldn’t see that the rest of the way.
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Other events:
– Timothy Thatcher defeated Oney Lorcan in his rematch. This time, it wasn’t locking up in a cellar, but instead reversing a cellar on a pin, which was able to score the victory. Just another way he’s competent in the ring.
– Breezango picked up a W this week against Ever-Rise, a team that has been used as an upgrade for a while. The boys were dressed as Mounties, Beth Phoenix threw some beaver puns with a straight face, and this team has struck a good balance between fun and skillful in the ring that wasn’t on the main roster.
This was a very good episode. They continue to nail Karrion Kross as they prepare for the eventual title bout, Bronson Reed won a fun fight to enter the North American championship and Robert Stone continues to entertain.
Grade A
Sound below.
