WWE NXT Review: February 5, 2020

WWE NXT Review: February 5, 2020 by Felix Pichler

Opening segment

We started the show with the “Broserweights” Matt Riddle and Pete Dunne who came into the arena with a golf cart on which’s top the Dusty Rhodes Cup was. Riddle called the golf cart the Broserweight Mobile. Dunne said that the last thing he would ever want is to be in a tag team with Riddle, but despite that, they won the Dusty Rhodes Classic Tournament and now will win the NXT Tag Team Championships.

Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish interrupted them, but then Roderick Strong came out to bring them back to the backstage area. Riddle and Dunne made fun of Fish saying fish before the segment closed.

Opinion: There were quite a lot of jokes in this segment, but with Riddle in such promos this works out and besides you have to add that we’ll get a hell of a match at NXT TakeOver: Portland as Riddle and Dunne will take on Fish an O’Reilly.

Rating: A

Angel Garza vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott

Logically, these Cruiserweights showed us some interesting combinations and moves. They did well in performing an entertaining match. Besides, both men were about on the same level and were able to show their offensive abilities. Angel Garza even kicked out after Isaiah Scott’s House Call Kick and seconds later he performed the Wing Clipper for the win.

After the match, Garza took a mic and noted that in one week he took his cousin out and bet Mysterio and Scott. He added that he never lost his title and called out Jordan Devlin.

Opinion: Great first match of the show and Garza made clear that he wants a “rematch” for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship.

Rating: A

Dominik Dijakovic vs. Killian Dain

Ahead of this match, we saw the Undisputed Era looking for Tommaso Ciampa in the backstage area. They also showed us a short video from “earlier today” as Dominik Dijakovic got confronted by Killian Dain in the performance center what led to this match.

Both men had several times the chance to show off their offence, but in the end, it was Dijakovic’s Feast your Eyes which led to his victory. After the match, Keith Lee came out to show him respect and offered him a handshake which Dijakovic accepted.

Opinion: A solid match to let Dijakovic look strong ahead of his match for the NXT North American Championship against Lee at NXT TakeOver: Portland.

Rating: B

Johnny Gargano’s and Finn Balor’s interview

Then, we once more saw the UE who walked around in the backstage area asking other wrestlers where Ciampa would be and they bet up everyone who couldn’t give them the answer.

Next, the interview with Jonny Gargano and Finn Balor took place as we saw both on a split screen and each in front of a black backdrop. Balor explained that at TakeOver: Portland everybody would realise that Gargano isn’t the next Finn Balor and also joked about Gargano looking for a match of the year. Gargano countered by recapping how the “Raw Balor” lost about 17 weeks in a row to Bobby Lashley. Balor answered that Gargano will not face the “Raw Balor” but Gargano explained that he would have heart. The Prince noted that Balor has no heart as this segment finished.

Opinion: The best part of that was clearly Gargano joking about Balor’s disappointing run in the main roster. Generally, this segment was quite decent, and they did a good job in hyping the fans for this match.

Rating: B

Mercedes Martinez vs. Kacy Catanzaro

They worked throughout this match with the aspect that Kacy Catanzaro is by far not that powerful as Mercedes Martinez but more acrobatic. However, after less than four minutes Martinez won this match after performing her finisher.

After the match, Cathy Kelly asked Rhea Ripley in the backstage area about Charlotte Flair appearing on NXT later that night, but the NXT Women’s Champion answered that she would be focused more on Bianca Belair at the moment.

Then, the Undisputed Era was again on their way through the backstage area when Ciampa appeared and took all out except Adam Cole with who he then brawled through the arena and the crowd. Strong, Fish and O’Reilly came back and then also Dunne and Riddle showed up as a massive brawl broke out in the ring. Referees and security came out to separate them and then also William Regal showed up who announced that tonight a match between these two groups would take place.

Opinion: Strong performance by Martinez and yet another brawl on NXT which leads to the typical match UE against Ciampa and some other faces.

Rating: C+

NXT Cruiserweight Champion Jordan Devlin vs. Tyler Breeze in a non-title match

Before this match started, Devlin already attacked Tyler Breeze. Also, in the match, the Cruiserweight champ showed some heelish moves. Breeze even had one or two near falls, but in the end, it was Devlin who took away the victory after the Devl-Inside.

After this fight, we saw how Charlotte got out of an SUV in the parking area of the arena.

Opinion: An entertaining match. It didn’t help to build up the character of Devlin, but it showed what a great performer he is.

Rating: B+

Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley

Bianca Belair came out to hold her promo which she opened by saying that she would be the next NXT Women’s Champion. Then, she called out Ripley, but instead Charlotte’s music hit and she came out. Charlotte told Belair that she is an amazing athlete and as she went on with her promo, Ripley’s music interrupted her and the champ joined them in the ring. It looked as Ripley and Charlotte would have a face-off, but Belair came between them and told Charlotte that she would face Belair at WWE’s WrestleMania. Charlotte answered that she should fix her braid while the champions talk. Ripley told the Queen that she shouldn’t disrespect NXT wrestlers. She added that even though she and Belair would fight each other at TakeOver: Portland, there is still a meaning in “we are NXT“. Belair attacked Charlotte and then Ripley and Belair performed a Double Electric Chair against the Queen. In the end, Ripley stood tall with her title in the ring while Charlotte went backstage.

Opinion: An interesting segment but I have in this case the same problem as I have with Brock Lesnar vs. Ricochet since in both cases it’s clear that the champs win their upcoming matches to look strong ahead of their WrestleMania fights. So, in both cases, the ending of the match is already now clear. Anyways, I have to give a huge credit to Belair as she was once more great on the mic while the other two women were clearly weaker.

Rating: C+

“Undisputed Era” Adam Cole, Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly (w/ Roderick Strong) vs. Tommaso Ciampa, Pete Dunne and Matt Riddle

All four members of the Undisputed Era made their entrance together, but suddenly got attacked from behind by Ciampa, Dunne and Riddle. Before the match started, Ciampa, Dunne and Riddle teamed up to take out Strong.

However, as the match was underway, Strong recovered and tried several times to get involved. In the final phase of this match, it got extremely chaotic and in the end, all men were lying at ringside while just Ciampa and Cole were left in the ring fighting. As Ciampa tried to perform the Fary Tale Ending, Strong entered the ring to attack him what led to a DQ win for Ciampa, Dunne and Riddle.

After the match, the UE destroyed all three of their opponents. In the ring, O’Reilly, Fish and Strong held Ciampa in place, so Cole could draw a yellow “X” on Ciampa’s back. As he wanted to perform the Last Shot, the lights went off and three flaming circles appeared on the big screen with the numbers two, five and 20 in them. The three circles then formed the Prince Third Eyeglasses and Velveteen Dream appeared on the top rope to attack the UE. He threw all men of the Undisputed Era out of the ring except Strong to then perform a Dream Valley Driver against him and then he posed as the segment closed.

Opinion: A strong main event and also a great return of Dream. He has a lot of opportunities now as he can feud with Strong again, go for the North American Championship or for the NXT Championship. In any case, it’s great to have him back as he’s one of the best characters of NXT.

Rating: A

Summary

As always, this was a great episode of NXT with several strong matches, but also with good promos and other segments. NXT does a good job in hyping the fans for the upcoming NXT TakeOver and I can’t wait for it what is definitely a sign that their plans work off.

Rating: B+