Showdown
During the run up to this pretty big event, I lamented the lack of stakes. Bragging rights are cool but hardly that meaningful when TNA and NXT often mingle in each other’s backyards. Hence the Spaceballs reference in the title; this isn’t the last time these two brands will dance and thankfully no one presented it as such. But that lack of finality also highlighted
the lack of meaning here for the Team NXT vs. Team TNA four-on-four matches.
Unsurprisingly, those matches felt the least effective save for a few moments. And even on a show with both brands on the marquee, even with the road to Bound for Glory getting shorter by the second, Showdown dedicated most of its story time to NXT stories.
For starters, the special refs added nothing. Neither Jordynne Grace nor Joe Hendry did anything to make their presence necessary. No tension about their loyalties, no questionable calls or anything wildly out of bounds. Sure, Jordynne missed a Kelani Jordan pin attempt, but that was while doing her job to get The Inspiration to the locker room after they refused to leave once eliminated. And Vic Joseph backed up the point that Jordynne was doing her job and wasn’t at fault for missing the pin. I understand the desire to put them on Showdown and I agree that they belonged on the show. But integrating them this haphazardly and seemingly making both TNA teams forget they took umbrage with them being anywhere near their matches wasn’t the best look. Mike Santana and Kelani Jordan questioned Jordynne and Joe’s loyalty but had no problem with them being referees? I call shenanigans.
As for the matches themselves, they were a bit messy. Spots were missed and rules were inconsistently enforced but not in a malicious way that might make one look at a ref sideways. The most intriguing moment in either match, for me anyway, came when Leon Slater pinned Je’Von Evans. It was a nice prelude to their upcoming match and a continuation in the friendly rivalry that began on the last episode. Trick Williams walked out on Ricky Saints, possibly upset because Ricky tagged himself in earlier when Trick wanted to take over. Or because Ricky wasn’t there when Trick went for a tag he desperately needed. Of course getting dragged off the apron was the reason for the NXT champ’s absence, but Trick didn’t know that.
Trick trying to do the right thing for the team only to then realize there might not be an “I” in team but there is a “me” is a fun continuing thread. And seeing TNA booked rather strongly in the men’s match worked for me too. Myles Borne and Je’Von Evans went down rather quickly. Once Trick did what he does best, that put Ricky in a four vs. one battle. If he came out victorious in that situation, I was prepared to write “trash” as the one and only word for this recap. Luckily that didn’t happen. The NXT champ pinned Leon Slater and Frankie Kazarian, but Moose & Mike Santana were too much for him. Because, well, you’ve seen those two cats.
The women’s match worked in the reverse but in NXT’s favor. Mara Sade eliminated Jaida Parker, only for Sol Ruca to immediately return the favor and take out Mara. Then both Inspiration members went down for the count, which left Kelani Jordan all by her lonesome. The drama rested on the NXT side as it became an ego play for Jacy Jayne. She wanted the glory, which is actually something the territory seeded during the entrance as Jacy was the only one who didn’t show some camaraderie with her teammates. She eventually stole the pin from Sol and defeated Kelani to give NXT their first victory of the night.
What did that victory mean though? What did TNA’s victory at the end of the episode prove? The GMs for both shows were chuckling and chummy at the end of the episode, and Ava invited more TNA wrestlers to take part in next week’s NXT. Does TNA still have a chip on its shoulder about the way NXT treats them? Does the fact that TNA wrestlers hold the NXT Tag Team Championships change any of that? I suppose the biggest question is did any of this matter?
As of now, the answer is a resounding “nah.”
Album Cuts
- I know I’m not the first one to make this observation, but it’s crazy that the women’s Team TNA consists of former or current NXT wrestlers. Even in NXT’s arena, this was still a home game for TNA.
- The Hardys vs. DarkState was perfectly fine. I know what I’m getting from Matt & Jeff at this point in their careers. I also understand this is all set up to a bigger match: The Hardys vs. The Dudley Boyz for the TNA Tag Team Championships and the NXT Tag Team Championships. Bubba Ray & D-Von sat ringside with a clear eye toward that inevitable match. I hope DarkState’s potential tag team championship reign wasn’t sacrificed on that altar but part of me knows better.
- I love Mustafa Ali. I want all the good things for that man. Matches like the one he had with Ethan Page are exhibits A-Z for why I feel the way. Mustafa didn’t wrestle heel because, well, he went against a guy who calls himself “All Ego.” But also because this was about unfinished business. Mustafa said beforehand that he’s cursed; his whole career is defined by near misses. The match actually exemplified that as he did everything right to defeat the North American Champion. But when he had Ethan in his sights while positioned on the top rope during the third act, he noticed a mic chord tangled around his ankle. He tangoed with that, which gave Ethan just enough time to recover, push Mustafa to the flood, then finish him off with a Twisted Grin inside the ring. The worst part? The mic chord hooked up with Mustafa’s ankle because of an action he committed. He jumped out of the ring and hit Ethan with a Suicide Dive that crashed them both into the announce table. Good storytelling in what was easily the most interesting and compelling match on the card.
- Matt Cardona gets Josh Briggs next week. The former really wanted a match and the latter wants revenge for the former interfering in his match. That’s a very confusing sentence and I apologize.
- Lexis King, for basketball reasons, believed Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. was just Tavion Heights in disguise. So he talked a bunch of trash and the good Dr. extended a challenge to the Lexis. The King gets just what the doctor ordered next week.
Showdown was a let down. I wanted a bit more gravity and reason for the season. Mustafa Ali and Ethan Page rocked my world but nothing else came close to that. More importantly, this partnership continues and all is seemingly peaceful as it relates to NXT/TNA relationships. Once again, why even do this?
What say you, Cage siders? Is Mustafa really cursed?
