WWE NXT Review: October 23, 2019

After a little video package was shown which showed the highlights from last weeks episode, the actual show kicked off with the fight between Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair. As you would expect from two such incredible performers the match was worked well and besides, they got enough time to show their talent. After about 11 minutes Io Shirai came out to take revenge for last week and attacked Ripley while the ref was distracted. Anyways, Candice LeRae suddenly also appeared and took Shirai out. Ripley had the opportunity to hit Belair with the Rip Tide for the win while LeRae positioned herself on the stage to applaud her.

After that, we saw a video in which Kathy Kelly interviewed Pete Dunne at the outside of the arena. Dunne was accompanied by Tyler Bate who took after this segment place in the crowd at ringside. Kelly asked Dunne about his last week’s attack on Killian Dain, but he just said that he wouldn’t care about Dain and walked away.

Next up was the match between Matt Riddle and Cameron Grimes. Since Grimes picked up a lot of wins within the last weeks to look strong, it was his first big opponent. In light of this, they wanted to let Grimes look strong even though Riddle is currently way more over. The fight took about five minutes with both superstars showing their physical power, but also their technique. Besides, we saw some innovative moves and both men worked well together.

The match came to an end as Riddle countered Grimes Standing Double Stomp into a Powerbomb and then hit his opponent with the Bro Derek for the win. The Original Bro asked Grimes for a fist bump who refused and then shoved Bate who was still at ringside in the crowd. The first-ever NXT UK Champion hit him afterwards with his Bip and Bop punch. A well-worked match with a good segment afterwards.

Then we saw a video of William Regal who announced that the winner of this night’s match Dakota Kai and Tegan Nox vs Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke would face next week Asuka and Kairi Sane for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.

Next, the match between the Forgotten Sons and the team of Breezango and Isaiah Scott was scheduled. The match took about nine minutes but then Scott hit Steve Cutler with the Killshot Kick. Jaxson Ryker once more looked great, but Cutler and Wesley Blake are just not on his level. I’m still not sure where they want to go with Breezango. Will they stay a funny team for the midcard or are they going for the tag team gold?

Then a little segment of Killian Dain was aired in which he said that Dunne tried to break his fingers, but he’ll break Dunne. So, here we have the somehow answer of Dain on the opening scenes of Dunne. Really looking forward to this match which has got a lot of potential.

After that, the match between Angel Garza and Gentleman Jack Gallagher took place while Lio Rush was on commentary. Garza defeated his opponent after about four minutes and then jawed with the NXT Cruiserweight Champion who was at the commentary table, so we’ll surely see a match between these two men within the next time.

Next, the team of Tegan Nox and Dakota Kai took on Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke to declare who would face the Kabuki Warriors for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. The match was very short and ended after not even four minutes as Nox performed the Shiniest Wizard for the win. After that, Asuka and Sane appeared on the big screen on the stage, talked in Japanese and finished the segment by saying that Nox and Kai have no chance.

In truth, it was a short match to declare the number one contender and it didn’t let the winners look strong or confident. However, the NXT fans now how great Nox and Kai are in the ring, so in light of this, the match against Asuka and Sane could be awesome. Besides, it will be interesting to see how Sane works as a heel on NXT, but in general it will be great to see both Japanese women back on the show where they became big superstars.

Then it was time for the main event. Roderick Strong had to defend his NXT North American Championship against Keith Lee and Dominik Dijakovic in a triple threat match. As you would expect, this fight was absolutely awesome and took about 15 minutes. They worked throughout the match with the aspect that Strong is the small fighter against two big men. However, Lee and Dijakovic once more showed incredible moves for their size. In two or three situations the three performers nearly botched or worked unclean, but always somehow solved the situation due to their great in-ring abilities.

Lee performed in the final phase a Super Spirit Bomb on Dijakovic, but suddenly Strong came out of nowhere and hit Lee with a Basaika Kick to the head and picked up the victory via pinfall. After the match, Bobby Fish, Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly entered the ring to celebrate with Strong and all four men held up their titles. Tommaso Ciampa made his entrance with his crutch weapon and joined the UE in the ring. Jonny Gargano also came out and positioned himself next to Ciampa in front of the Undisputed Era.

As if this hasn’t been enough, Finn Balor’s music hit, and he also entered the ring. The Undisputed Era faced off with the three men, but suddenly Balor hit Gargano with a Pele Kick. Due to that, the UE got their hands on Ciampa and Cole hit him with the Last Shot Shining Wizard. Meanwhile, Balor sent Gargano at ringside into the barricade with a Shotgun Dropkick followed by a Bloody Sunday on the entrance ramp.

After that, all members of the Undisputed Era were in the ring posing with their UE hand sign while Balor stood on the ramp struck his double shooter fingers at Gargano before the show went off air. A surprising ending and likely the heel turn of Balor. I totally expected them to build up a feud between the UE vs Ciampa, Gargano, Balor and maybe Velveteen Dream. However, it came different and such surprises are great.

Anyways, you shouldn’t forget how awesome Lee and Dijakovic worked in this main event. Even though it was the expected ending since these two fought each other and Strong somehow stole the win, the NXT North American Champion didn’t look weak at all and proved in the whole match why he is the champ. Lee and Dijakovic deserve to be in such a big match since they always deliver when they enter the ring. All in all, a very good episode of NXT with a good main event and an even better segment at the end.