Before this week’s episode of NXT even made it to the air on The CW, WWE was putting out an announcement that Mason Rook is not medically cleared and would not be able to challenge Grayson Waller for the NXT championship in the main event of the show. To address the situation, General Manager Robert Stone booked Waller in an open challenge.
That means literally anyone could answer the call and get a free match for the NXT championship, a title Waller has made it his personal mission to give some credibility
to.
The open challenge can work, under the right circumstances, but the concept itself is a bit silly. The idea that anyone can get a shot at a title of any importance by simply saying “yes” goes against the idea of having championships at all. If it’s given, it isn’t earned. That’s the entire point here.
Then, the way they actually got to who answered the call almost made me question how I feel about the gimmick:
On the one hand, this is exactly what should happen. The guys backstage are aware a free shot at the NXT title is up for grabs and all they have to do is be first in the ring to get it, so they all haul ass trying to fulfill that condition.
On the other hand, how goofy is that? Maybe I’m being a little too old fashioned here but I don’t love the idea of awarding a shot at the top title on the show to a guy who wins a footrace. That’s the kind of thing you do for the Hardcore or 24/7 title.
But, again, I applaud using basic logic and reasoning.
And the open challenge does leave the door open for exciting surprises that can make the silliness worth it.
I really don’t know how I feel about it anymore.
Help me out?
By the way, it was EK Prosper who won the race and ultimately lost to Waller via pinfall.
