Connie’s Revenge
Sol Ruca and Zaria’s Last Woman Standing match was everything I wanted. Violent, personal, dangerous, and emotional.
Matches like these are always hard to recap because they’re basically just two people beating the hell out of each other until one of them can’t move anymore. So instead of going through all of that, I’ll focus on the end.
The match made its way to the NXT perch, via the obligatory spot of both women
crashing through it. They stumbled to their feet and kept fighting despite clearly being spent. Zaria set up a table, Sol mounted a comeback, then she set up a table and put Zaria on it. Sol then climbed to the top of the perch with clearly one thing on her mind.
When she looked down, Zaria pulled a Batman and wasn’t there. She magically transported to right behind Sol. Sol leaped over Zaria’s telegraphed attack and the two battled in a very precarious position for what felt like 10 minutes straight. The tension and drama was all about which of them would fall over first. Which of them would push the other over the edge and truly break this sisterhood. Sol got the closest. In fact, she had Zaria dead to rights. But Ms. Ruca fell for her former best friend’s fake apologies.
Zaria didn’t want to go through two tables from that height—who would—so she immediately begged Sol to chill and apologized for everything. For a minute it looked like these two might get back to who they were and maybe they just needed to get this out of their system. Maybe they realized they went too far.
Nope, that’s not what happened. After an emotional embrace, Zaria revealed her true colors and pushed Sol into the tables below. Now, about those tables. I didn’t like how Sol landed. I think the spot called for her to crash through both tables but she only went through one. And from the angle on TV, it looked like her head caught a bit of the edge of the other table. I don’t know if her head actually bounced off the edge but the landing looked very rough. Hopefully she’s OK.
This was Sol’s last match in NXT and it was a doozy. Also the perfect way to go out. She closed one of the territory’s longest running stories in very dramatic fashion. Zaria gets to move forward and start her true solo career while Sol sees what she can do on Raw.
Very dope match on an otherwise standard NXT show.
B-Sides
- The end is nigh for DarkState. When one member of a team accidentally causes the other to lose, that’s usually the makings of a breakup. Prior to that ending, Dion Lennox and Myles Bourne had a hell of an opening match. This was a very physical bout that displayed Dion’s ruthlessness and Myles’ grit. DarkState interfered multiple times but Myles kept his composure. I questioned why he walked into this battle alone but it actually did a lot for the North American champ. It elaborated on the narrative of Myles toughening up. The fact that they gave him a back injury to nurse throughout the match—thanks to DarkState removing the ring apron and Dion slamming him into it—also helped. Funny enough, Myles truly is a better wrestler thanks to everything Ethan Page put him through. As for DarkState, Saquan is the one who gets the “rematch” with Myles while Dion will have to cheerlead, something Dion didn’t look too happy about. Like I said, the writing is on the wall in big bold letters.
- Joe Hendry is on his way to redder pastures, so he did the favors to Keanu Carver this week. That’s putting it mildly; Keanu won the match by knockout. That’s a hell of a write off for a guy performing in concert on next week’s Raw. It set up Keanu as a threat, thus making him a dangerous competitor.
- Tatum Paxley survived the second Women’s Casket Match in WWE history. I say survived because this was the battle it should’ve been. I didn’t like that so much of it took place during a commercial break, but that’s not their fault. Two things that stood out besides the violence:
- This is the first time since Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker in 1998 that a WWE championship was on the line in a casket match! That’s wild to me. So much so that I didn’t believe it until several people in Cageside, Inc. confirmed.
- Tatum pulled out the Dollhouse but that didn’t win her the match; it was, ironically, Blake Monroe’s diamonds. Blake pulled the bag out of the casket, dumped the diamonds in the middle of the ring, and found herself hoisted on her own petard. Tatum hitting the Cemetery Drive on Blake’s diamonds then axe kicking Blake’s stumbling body into the casket was poetry.
- Oh, one more thing: Blake’s vanity also cost her. If not for that fake championship lying in the casket, there’s a chance she defeats Tatum early. But after she tossed Tatum into the casket and closed the lid, Tatum used that fake title to stop the lid from shutting completely. More poetry.
- The Speed Championship still isn’t my thing but I’m glad Lexis King got the W. BirthRight needed a W to solidify them as a force. While it’s not the most prestigious title, it’s a start.
- Lizzy Rain debuts net week and I’m excited. Mostly because I love the look and love her taste in music. The Heavy Metal gimmick is very 1980s but as someone who listens to two ‘80s presets on SiriusXM, it’s clearly appealing to me.
- Izzi Dame is Lola Vice’s first challenger. How do I know? Because she interrupted the champ’s promo and jumped her. Lola won’t let that stand.
This was standard NXT fare but with key pieces like Jacy Jayne, Fatal Influence, Jaida Parker, and Kelani Jordan missing. It also officially sent Joe hendry and Sol Ruca packing. This brand shakeup will continue but hopefully things settle soon.
What say you, Cagesiders? Do you prefer the Casket Match or Last Woman Standing?
