All Good?
I’m somewhat at a loss for words when it comes to this feud between Grayson Waller and Tony D’Angelo. Maybe after typing a few words, I’ll find my way to some semblance of a point. Then again, the story itself mirrors my current aimlessness.
Geno called this creatively bankrupt and I agree. It started with Grayson visiting Tony’s home…and doing nothing. Just
to play mind games. Tony showed up late, then the action moved to the Don’s old hangout: the restaurant. While I liked seeing the old place, it ended with the champ leaving a “note” for his challenger. That note, which he apparently wrote on parchment, instructed Tony to meet him where it all started. That meant the Performance Center where they treated us to a nice pull a part brawl but nothing else.
Grayson is an agitator so I’m not surprised at him trying to get under Tony’s skin. This just seemed to piss him off more though, which is the opposite of what I assume he wants.
There’s just nothing interesting here. I don’t know if it’s the talent, the story, or an unfortunate combination of both that’s falling flat. Tony and Grayson can mix it up in the ring but they both have a ceiling. And that ceiling doesn’t elevate them beyond mid-card guys. Tony’s Don persona had more personality. Grayon’s schtick hasn’t changed since he first left NXT. Both need revitalization but this story is doing them no favors.
I can’t remember being less interested in a Men’s NXT Championship match.
B-Sides
- I still miss Meta Four. I will keep repeating that until they give Noam Dar new music.
- I like Noam & Romeo Moreno going over. They’re the Cinderella team and need that cup a lot more than Vanity Project. I have fond memories of Noam holding a cup in the past. He’s awesomely arrogant when he gets even a little bit of notoriety. This was a fast paced tag match that established both teams worthy of a win. It could’ve gone either way but the underdogs just wanted it a big more. Fun opening match that hopefully propelled Noam & Romeo to another level.
- Chantel Monroe, Blake Monroe’s kin, made her NXT debut against Lizzy Rain. But this wasn’t the usual debut squash; me thinks they’re setting up a feud between these two based on the ending. I’ll get to that in a bit but Chantel looked good. She’s got the personality and a strong foundation on which to build. I don’t know if Lizzy’s fully established herself to be in a feud with someone just starting when she’s still finding her footing. Chantel picked up the cheap W using the ropes for leverage, so yeah, this isn’t over. Oh, if there’s one thing I don’t like about Chantel, it’s her music. Let’s change that ASAP. Thanks!
- Saquan Sugars had a different vibe this week. More serious and harder edged. It didn’t help him against Sean Legacy, but that’s part of the story. Saquan’s taking multiple Ls and running in place. This is a guy who wants to challenge for the Men’s NXT World Championship, yet he can’t defeat cats who are nowhere near ready to challenge for said championship. Losing streaks like this usually tally to something meaningful. I say usually because NXT’s consistency is inconsistency.
- It’s a Weapons Wild Match! Tavion Heights and Myles Borne, separated by security, talked a ton of trash to each other. Tavion’s big line? He’ll deliver an ass whooping that Myles can hear. The delivery was sometimes cartoonish between both men but I got the point. Danhausen, Halloween Havoc’s host, showed up but only through voice. His words echoed throughout Orlando when he told the druids to spin the wheel since this match clearly needs a stipulation based on the boiling bad blood.
- There were a lot of inserts during matches this week. Too many.
- We heard more from Izzi Dame. She continued peeling back layers of Zaria’s persona. She detailed how she hid behind instruments and different hair colors as a kid as a result of not fitting in…until she came to NXT and found Sol. Then we know what happened with that. I don’t find this effective. The big story is that Zaria was an awkward kid who eventually found herself and then found a friend? How diabolical. I understand Zaria trying to forget her awkward teenage years because, well, who wouldn’t? But it’s not the most heelish behavior from Izzi nor are the revelations shocking. Meh.
- Hank & Tank shocked the world! They defeated El Hijo del Dr. Wagner, Jr. & Galeno in the semifinals to set up a Dusty Cup Final against Noam & Romeo. I didn’t see this matchup coming at all but it’s rewarding seeing guys like Noam, Hank, and Tank get to this point after toiling in NXT for years. That they won with high flying splashes also surprised me since, as Vic Joseph noted, these two rarely lead their feet to that degree. Right now, my gut says Hank & Tank take the cup next week.
- Kelani Jordan was at Raw recently. She went from sitting in the audience to walking to the locker room to bother the world’s worst GM. Why not just hang in the locker room, champ? Anyway, IYO SKY interrupted her shouting match with Adam Pearce, so I expect these two to hook up soon. In fact, I wouldn’t be shocked if this is the beginning of the end of Kelani’s time in Orlando. This segued into Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair fuming over Kelani being herself. I’m picking Wren to go over on Saturday.
- Zilla Fatu has to deal with Birth Right. The big man showed up to spin the wheel only for the crew to attack him. That’s burying the lede; they attacked his injured hand with a shovel. It will happen at Halloween Havoc.
- Speaking of people who need to fight and get it over with, Mr. Stone informed Dion Lennox that if he and Cruz Santana really want each other, it will be in an unsanctioned match. Both men have to sign off on it and of course they will. It happens next week on what NXT is hoping is a stacked episode. Even John Cena will be there!
- Jackson Drake is a beast. Legitimately a beast in the ring and he has his persona locked down. He defeated EK Prosper to retain his North American Championship, but with a lot of help from his crew and…Kam Hendrix. Which, yeah, that should happen since he’s a heel and they need to protect EK. We got Kam vignette earlier, very similar to one of those Mr. Perfect vignettes from back in the day. I still don’t see it with Kam but I appreciate the effort in trying to make fetch happen. As for EK and Jackson, I’d love to see them do this again with higher stakes.
Meh. NXT is a very middle-of-the-road wrestling program. Halloween Havoc hopefully elevates beyond that.
What say you, Cagesiders?
