NXT recap and reactions: The ladies run this

NXT’s Women’s division ran everything this week as everyone focused on the Women’s North American championship.

Girls Dem Sugar

NXT revolved around the ladies this week. That’s a smart move considering the Women’s North American championship is the hot commodity in the territory. More than just putting them in matches, the brand filled out or accentuated their personalities. Even Trick Williams’ big segment really wasn’t about him so much as it was about Lash Legend. There’s a secret between those two, which is the big deal, but the bigger deal is why Meta Four left the building without Ms. Legend in tow. That typified a show that put its women’s roster over in a big way.

The main event featured even showed the rest of WWE that Chelsea Green isn’t the joke she comes off as on the main roster. She looked credible wrestling Roxanne Perez and made the champ look silly for taking her lightly. While Chelsea isn’t competing in for the new championship, the match, plus her brief interaction with Mr. Stone, sets her up more seriously than her current position on the main roster.

Speaking of the new belt, they showed the women competing in a combine as a prerequisite for qualifying for the tournament. The combine was exactly what I figured; an actual combine like in the NFL. Thankfully they only showed us clips instead of the whole thing. I’ve said before that even if everything they do doesn’t work for me, I always give NXT props for trying. They think outside the box and that’s necessary. Especially when one covers as much wrestling as we do. It’s always weird seeing a ranking system without knowing the criteria, but that’s what they did.

Why is Sol number one? Why is Lash seven? Not disagreeing with the rankings just have no basis for them. If I give them props for trying things then I gotta knock them for not fully developing the concepts. That said, these choices should make for interesting matches and rivalries. That’s the benefit of all the character work over the past few weeks. There’s history between several of those women, which will no doubt play out as they fight for a championship. This show set up some stories that will hopefully pay off during the tournament.

I’m impressed with what they’ve done with their Women’s division. That’s a sacred thing in NXT that has a lot to live up to. While it’s not near its apex, there’s a lot of talented women here with potential to do some big things. And this tournament might spark the wick that blows an entire locker room into another stratosphere. At least I hope.

---

B-Sides

Back to Back

Wes Lee looked impressive after such a long hiatus. That sentence doesn’t really do justice to everything he went through following his emotional promo last December. He underwent major back surgery that almost took him out the game completely.

Josh Briggs, Wes’ first challenge on his comeback tour, established early that bruising and battering the former North American champ was his mission.

The match worked exactly how it should when it involving someone with a surgically repaired back. It not only let Wes work a little different than before, but it showcased Josh’s brutality. The tried and true story revolving around a competitor getting their mojo back while their opponent tests their body played out. The one wrinkle? Ivar.

The big man made his way to the announcer table and watched. I wanted more from him on commentary but this is a new role for the big man, so I’m exercising patience.

Wes eventually made his comeback once he started doing the normal things Wes does. He got the W, and of course all three men ended up on the floor when all the smoke cleared.

Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle

The Shayna Baszler & Lola Vice team has my attention. Shayna didn’t quite run through Karmen Petrovic, but it wasn’t hard for her either. This feud continues and I really want to see if Nattie & Karmen have any fight in them. Karmen got a lesson in aggressiveness later in the show that made me chuckle, so I see the vision.

It’s All About Me

Fallon Henley made it clear that she’s looking out for Fallon. No more friends, no more helping anyone; she’s Mya and it’s all about her. Kelani Jordan was her first target, completely dissolving their friendship.

This is Fallon’s heel run and it’s off to a good start. Not just because she got the W and used less than honorable tactics, but because of the moveset. She didn’t try to wrestle her former friend so much as she tried beating her to a pulp. Look at this:

That’s insane. I mean, we all know from just being fans that those ropes are more like cables. You’re incredibly mean if you do that to someone you once called a friend.

Solid match that firmly put this new Fallon in the spotlight and saved Kelani in defeat. I do hope Kelani gets some get back, so hopefully this isn’t over any time soon.

---

Singles

• The D’Angelo Family is having a lot of fun with the No Quarter Catch Crew. Stacks put on the referee shirt for No Quarter’s tag match against newcomers Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont. So naturally, the new team won because Stacks was on the take. Actually, Tony and his crew just want to get paid. And Tony wants that Heritage Cup.
• Michin defeated Arianna Grace in another match all about looking good for Ava.
• Lexis King took down Duke Hudson thanks to Ridge Holland’s good intentions. The road to hell is paved with those sorts of things. There’s a little thing happening with Ridge and Chase U that seems contentious at times but also chummy. I’m hoping it leans toward the former because Ridge in Chase U just doesn’t work.

---

This was a week where I really liked the stuff featuring the women while most of the men’s action left me a bit deflated. The brand really needs to establish what that division is now with Bron Breakker, Carmelo Hayes, & Ilja Dragunov (among others) on other shows. Trick vs. Noam Dar isn’t something I’m itching to see again, but I also know there’ aren’t many credible options for his first title defense. That’s indicative of a larger issue that hopefully gets rectified soon.

All in all, an average show with the one notable thing being the setup for this tournament.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Your turn!