Symphony of Destruction
There was an interesting moment early in this week’s main event that, when connected with another, made for nice storytelling. Moose, Oba Femi, and Je’Von Evans used a very reluctant Trick Williams as a weapon against DarkState outside the ring. Trick not only took out the crew but looked like his old babyface self for a second. He came back into the ring and, for the first time, looked like someone happy to be a part of the team. Contrast
that with earlier where he made it known he possessed Ls to hand out to each of his teammates as soon as this night ended.
When the match reached its climax, that same guy who looked like he found his old spirit reverted back to the person he is now. The TNA champ watched DarkState finish off the Young OG and did nothing when he could’ve lent at least two helping hands. That moment showed a man who might want to come back from the brink and be his old self, but just can’t get out of his way. It added complexity and humanity to one of NXT’s longest tenured wrestlers, something he’s lacked a bit in recent weeks.
The problem is I don’t trust NXT to go anywhere with that because it’s such an inconsistent show. The fact that DarkState was this episode’s main event entertainment illustrates that point perfectly.
The territory still doesn’t have a beat on DarkState. Are they NWO-lite or just another faction? Do they want to takeover NXT or do they just want to wrestle random matches against anyone? Are they a rebel group who management wants eradicated or are they no different than the rest of NXT’s violent offenders? When Oba addressed his tag partners, he noted this was their moment to get rid of the DarkState threat. I asked Oba (which I frequently do while watching tv) how are they a threat? Sometimes they’re on TV, sometimes they’re not. And when they are, their motivations are fluid. To say nothing of them supposedly being so hellbent on taking over NXT that they made a pitstop in TNA.
DarkState is a microcosm of everything in NXT right now. Because this show is basically TNA x NXT, wrestlers come and go. Things that seem important one week are dropped the next only to be a thing later on. There’s no momentum for anything because there’s just too much of everything else rather than telling concise stories that help the talent in Orlando. I can’t get emotionally invested when I know there’s a chance this wrestler or storyline goes nowhere or will disappear for far too long.
There’s a lot of promise on the WWE’s CW show, but it feels squandered right now because it’s unfocused. Which is ironic for a company with a group that calls itself The Vision.
Album Cuts
- No diss to Joe Hendry but what is NXT doing with Charlie Dempsey? No Quarter Catch Crew is essentially defunct and Dempsey is taking clean pins to guys who don’t even go here. The match was over before it really started. And when it ended, Chuck had no one to cling to but Wren Sinclair. I’m confused.
- Orlando wanted Josh Briggs to shut the hell up during his promo. He didn’t. Instead he called out his former partner who he thought was his friend. Josh, when two people you thought were your friend leave you hanging, maybe the problem isn’t them. Yoshiki Inamura heard his name and came calling. He kept his promo short and sweet, then they got physical.
- Once again, the champ takes a pin. I said a couple weeks ago that it’s one thing for that most beatable champion thing to exist but it’s another entirely for it to play out in the ring week after week. I understand the idea of creating multiple challengers for Jacy Jayne. She’s got heat from TNA, and now we can add Lola Vice and Kelani Jordan to a mix that already included Jaida Parker. But multiple challengers is compelling with a strong champion or even a slightly vulnerable champion. Jacy looks weak almost every time out. She took a pin in a tag match featuring her, Fallon Henley, and the aforementioned Lola & Kelani. Once again, with Fallon right there, why is the champ taking pins? It makes her weak and inept. She’s got a faction behind her and they’re good for nothing. Yes she needs work in the ring but like I said, put her in a position to win rather than a position to look dumb.
- Blame Canada! Chelsea Green and the Secret Hervice came to NXT to support fellow Canadian Ethan Page. Alba Fyre defeated who they thought was Tavion Heights’ pick to represent America, Kendal Grey. Tavion revealed his pick is actually Tyra Mae Steele. Tyra threw the Hervice in the suplex machine, and eventually got her hands on Ethan who suffered the same fate. This was a cool way to get Tyra over and create a natural connection between her and Tavion, who also wrestled in the olympics. Fun segment that did exactly what it set out to do.
- Another bright spot this week? Lash Legend vs. Nia Jax. This was a kaiju match about power vs. power. Lash took the L but she looked great. She withstood everything Nia threw at her while showing she could possibly match Nia in the strength department. I say possibly because it didn’t always work out for the former WNBA player. Lash got Nia in position for a Fallaway Slam on the announce table, but buckled under the pressure. Later, she almost put Nia down with a Power Bomb after grabbing her off the top rope, but just couldn’t finish the job. It took not one but two Annihilators to finish Lash, which only added to the shine on her after the match.
- Jasper Troy got a video package all about why he hates Ricky Saints and people like him. Meh
I didn’t like this show. The opening match set it off nicely and while the main event certainly had moments, I just have no connection with DarkState. They’re a symptom of a larger problem facing NXT right now, one I’m not sure how they fix. I understand the business reasons for this TNA connection but answering to so many masters is making a discombobulated show. As Geno said, it doesn’t seem like NXT knows what to do with anyone not named Oba Femi.
That’s not a good thing.
What say you, Cage Siders?
