2/24/2020: WWE NXT Review and Results

Feb 27, 20217 min read

Updated: Apr 9, 2021

Wednesday night is the best night of wrestling, and this week's episode of NXT is just additive proof of this notion. Welcome to N...X...T!

The show begins.

The night begins with a video package hyping up the impending No Disqualification match between Karrion Kross and the NXT Cruiserweight Champion, Santos Escobar. We'll be discussing that match later on. We also hear that Adam Cole will explain his actions - referring to the break-up of the Undisputed Era via Superkick. All of that and more, tonight!

Non-Title Match: Johnny Gargano (c.) vs. Dexter Lumis

Hot off his kidnapping spree, Dexter Lumis is in singles action against the NXT North American Champion, Johnny Gargano! Gargano's confidence was high in this match-up. Throughout this match-up, The Way (Indi Hartwell, Austin Theory, and Candice LeRae) were all getting involved. LeRae attempted a hurricanrana in blatant view of the referee, which Lumis reversed. Despite attempting to disorient the Tortured Artist of NXT, Indi Hartwell found herself entranced in the reality that is Dexter Lumis. Later on in the match, it was set up for Austin Theory to hit Dexter Lumis with a steel chair, but he found himself incapable of doing so... as if he was in a trance-like state. Lumis locked in The Silence and Johnny Gargano passed out in 13 minutes and 37 seconds.

Overall, this match was enjoyable and I had no issue with any moment. I'm interested in seeing where they take the Indi-Austin-Dexter thing. This dynamic sets up a lot of possibilities for the future of NXT story-building.

Result: Dexter Lumis defeated Johnny Gargano via Technical Knockout in 13:37.

Match Rating: 3 Stars

The 2021 NXT Men's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic winners, Nash Carter and Wes Lee, were set to conduct an interview backstage when they were attacked by Grizzled Young Veterans, Zack Gibson and James Drake. It looks like this feud isn't over yet.

Tyler Rust vs. Leon Ruff

Tyler Rust was set to face-off against Leon Ruff, but this match did not come to fruition. In the midst of Ruff's entrance, Isaiah "Swerve" Scott attacked Leon, leaving him medically incapable of competing in this match. Malcolm Bivens celebrated Tyler Rust's "victory," and the segment ends.

Overall, this is a fine segment. I haven't seen much of Tyler Rust's work so I'm interested in seeing him work - but I'm happy to see a greater edge out of Isaiah "Swerve" Scott. (Sidenote: I'm not rating this match, as the bell never rang.)

Backstage, we see Cameron Grimes (who has recently stumbled across a large sum of money due to his GME investments.) Grimes approaches a WWE official asking him to do a Million Dollar Man-esque challenge, requesting the official to bounce a basketball ten times in a row for an amount of money. However, Grimes did not kick the ball out of the official's hand as Ted DiBiase did, and Grimes lost the challenge.

This segment was pretty funny, and I love Grimes' comedic timing!

Non-Title Match: Zoey Stark vs. Io Shirai (c.)

This was an interesting match. As someone who has never witnessed a Zoey Stark match, and is not a huge fan of Io Shirai bouts - this one was going to be a doozy. Admittedly, Stark managed to impress me.

Stark took the action to Shirai and impressed me in the early going with the overwhelming onslaught of offense! In the end, Stark dropped Shirai with a German Suplex, but could not put Io away. An attempted second German Suplex is reversed by Shirai, leading to a knee strike and a Moonsault. Io Shirai pins Zoey Stark in the middle of the ring in 8 minutes and 15 seconds.

This match was very enjoyable, and I believe it was a great first impression for Zoey Stark on NXT. I hope to check out more Zoey Stark matches in the future. This match just reminded me of how many other women I'd rather see carrying the NXT Women's Championship right now.

Result: Io Shirai defeated Zoey Stark via Pinfall in 8:15.

Match Rating: 3 Stars

As Io Shirai was raising the hand of Zoey Stark in victory, Toni Storm makes her way to ringside and says that the NXT Women's Champion can't beat her one-on-one. She may be right, but only time will tell.

We see The Way backstage, where Theory tells the group that he views Lumis as "misunderstood." Indi Hartwell backs this idea, going as far as referring to Lumis as "hot." LeRae and Gargano are appalled and said they would be sending Theory to therapy for him to get over his Stockholm Syndrome.

Xia Li vs. Kacy Catanzaro

I am not incredibly educated on the build for Xia Li, Boa, and Tian Sha. However, I do know that I loved every single thing I saw on NXT television Wednesday night. This darker and edgier side of Xia Li is incredibly intriguing and entertaining to me! Despite Kacy Catanzaro's COVID-iot status, I have to respect everything she does in the ring because I always leave her matches feeling impressed. This match was short and to the point. Li sent Catanzaro into the steel steps and the referee stopped the match, awarding the victory to Xia Li in 4 minutes and 41 seconds.

This match served its purpose in getting Xia Li over, and I'm very excited to see where it goes next!

Result: Xia Li defeated Kacy Catanzaro via Referee Stoppage in 4:41.

Match Rating: 1.5 Stars

Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake and Zack Gibson) vs. Drake Maverick and Killian Dain

I am an absolute mark for Drake Maverick and Killian Dain. It radiates the same energy as Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn's tag team run on WWE SmackDown; the serious brooding big man and the squirrely small man is a great tag team dynamic and suits my liking to a tee. I enjoy the pre-match promo from Grizzled Young Veterans where Gibson likens Dain and Maverick to Shrek and Donkey. Classic! This match is pretty simple and ends with a Ticket to Mayhem and a one... two... three. Grizzled Young Veterans defeat Killian Dain and Drake Maverick in 4 minutes and 50 seconds.

I liked this match. It did the job. I hate to see my boy's Dain and Maverick suffer a loss, but I hope they finally do something with Zack Gibson and James Drake rather than relegating them to "second place winners every single tournament" performers.

Result: Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake and Zack Gibson) defeated Drake Maverick and Killian Dain via Pinfall in 4:50.

Match Rating: 2.5 Stars

No Disqualification Match: Karrion Kross vs. Santos Escobar (c.)

Finally... finally a professional wrestling bout that showcases the abilities of Karrion Kross. As a fan of his IMPACT Wrestling run, I've been waiting to see what The Artist Formerly Known as Killer Kross could do in NXT. Now, fans have the opportunity within this match-up against the current NXT Cruiserweight Champion.

Kross attacked the rest of Legado del Fantasma, allowing Escobar to attack him from behind. This match is less Kross vs. Escobar and more Kross vs. Legado del Fantasma for a bit. There are a lot of incredible spots within this match, and I could not do it justice by explaining every single intricate spot and detail. Go out of your way to watch this match. It is completely worth your time. If you're looking for a reason to have faith in the former NXT Champion, Karrion Kross, this is your moment to believe. Karrion Kross landed a Doomsday Saito Suplex on Santos Escobar and pinned him in the ring in 15 minutes even.

Result: Karrion Kross defeated Santos Escobar via Pinfall in 15:00.

Match Rating: 4.5 Stars

Finally, in the last segment of the show, Adam Cole addresses the elephant in the arena - why, Adam, why?!

The former NXT Champion explained that he was tired of watching Kyle O'Reilly get multiple opportunities for gold when all he did was blow his chances. He admitted that he was disgusted by the person whom he had become. Cole apologized and said he would like to fix this in-person. Maybe the Undisputed Era isn't broken after all? After this, Roderick Strong came out. He was furious and demanded answers. He knew that O'Reilly would be coming for blood when he returned, and Strong would not be capable of saving anyone from his wrath.

Finn Balor then rushed the ring seeking vengeance. Strong seemed conflicted on whether he would help his stablemate, or stay out of the way. Despite this conflict, Strong brawled with Balor and allowed Cole to superkick Balor. Cole apologized to Strong and begged for things to return to the way they used to be. Strong clotheslined Cole but refused to do anything more to him. They embraced, filled with emotion and passion, in the middle of the ring.

Cole then dropped Strong with a low blow and landed a superkick on the Messiah of the Backbreaker. Adam Cole has laid out a second member of the Undisputed Era.

This last segment was emotional, heart-wrenching, and gripping in every aspect. I absolutely loved it, and I'd say it was one of the best segments I've watched in professional wrestling this year. Go out of your way to watch this segment!

Final Grade: A-

The mark of a quality professional wrestling product is its ability to make me feel something. The distinction between a good and a great professional wrestling product is its ability to make me feel every emotion under the same. This show made me feel most of them. From the mystery surrounding Xia Li, to the intrigue in the Dexter Lumis persona, to the comedy of Cameron Grimes, to the intensity of the No DQ match, to the pain and anguish of the Undisputed Era segment - the range of emotions this episode evoked earns this episode an A- rating.

And that? That is undisputed.

Did I miss something? Do you agree/disagree with a take of mine? Let me know in the comments below or reach out on Twitter @BladeJobPW!

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