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WWE NXT 4/13: Rating and Ranking Every Match

by Robby Steven 0 Comments

Robby Steven
Latest posts by Robby Steven (see all)

TakeOver: Stand & Deliver is in the books and the future of WWE NXT is un-answered question. With NXT debuting on Tuesday nights, heavy focus to promote the brand has been in effect. After unifying the Cruiserweight Titles, undisputed champion Escobar Santos issued an open challenge. MSK defended their newly won Tag Team Titles against Killian Dain & Drake Maverick. The main event delivered in an 8-person tag team match and the men and women came together to do battle.

Every match on WWE NXT will include highlights, what the storyline progression is, and a final analysis. Each match will be given a star rating and be ranked from worst to best.

Matches Ranked from Worst to Best

5) Mercedes Martinez d. Jesse Kamea
Highlights: Jesse Kamea gets the better of Mercedes Martinez from the start but misses a flying crossbody. Martinez connects with a running knee strike before hitting a modified air-raid crash for the win. After the match, Martinez runs out of the ring to choke Robert Stone against the barricade. Martinez heads to the announce table and makes a challenge to Raquel Gonzalez.

Storyline Progression: Prior to the match, Mercedes Martinez got in the face of Robert Stone and demanded he pay back a debt. Jesse Kamea got in the middle of the argument and made a challenge.

Final Analysis: Quick match that is too short to rate, but it was fun enough. Skim It. [NR]

WWE NXT: Tag Team Title defense

4) NXT Tag Team Title Match: MSK d. Killian Dain and Drake Maverick
Highlights: Killian Dain uses his power to get the early advantage over Nash Carter before Drake Maverick tags in. Wes Lee gets the quick tag but is on the receiving end of offense from Maverick, including a two-count after a flying attack. Carter gets the tag as MSK double teams Maverick. Dain catches Lee on a suicide dive before connecting with a standing crossbody before the commercial. Back from the break as Carter makes the hot tag as he works over Maverick. Dane gets the tag but is quickly hit with a double team from MSK followed by a rotating splash by Lee that gets a near fall. MSK hit a blockbuster-heart attack combo on Maverick to get the win. After the match, Imperium appears and takes out Maverick and Dain.

Storyline Progression: MSK made history at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver by becoming the new tag team champions. Drake Maverick and Killian Dane have worked their way up the ladder and had their shot at the titles.

Final Analysis: Fun opening tag team match that let MSK shine while Maverick and Dain help their own. Good stuff. Worth a Watch. ***1/4

WWE NXT: Main Event

3) Bronson Reed, Dexter Lumis, and NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon d. The Way (Johnny Gargano, Austin Theory, Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell)
Highlights: Austin Theory and Dexter Lumis start things off before a tag is made to bring in Shotzi Blackheart and Candice LaRae. Lumis and Johnny Gargano find themselves in the ring as Gargano is knocked silly with an uppercut. Indi Hartwell causes a distraction in the ring as Gargano attacks from behind before a commercial. During the break, Theory works over Lumis as WWE NXT returns to find Bronson Reed crushing both Gargano and Reed with a Samoan Drop.

All eight wrestlers brawl as the match breaks down before LaRae dives onto Bronson who shakes it off. Gargano attacks Lumis on the outside but eats a suicide dive from Moon. LaRae then hits a suicide dive DDT onto Lumis as Reed toses Blackheart onto the crowd. Lumis locks in The Silence on Gargano but Hartwell fakes being knocked as Lumis picks her up and heads to the back. Back inside, Moon dives off Reed’s shoulders and hits a Total Eclipse cutter on Theory before Reed finishes it off with a top rope splash.

Storyline Progression: The Way has had various issues with the opposition. Bronson Reed and Dexter Lumis has had their individual problems with Gargando and Theory. Indi Hartwell has been attempting to get alone time with Dexter Lumis due to her apparent crush.

Final Analysis: This was a fun main event with a lot of action that played well into the storyline. Mixed tag matches are tough but they all made it work. Worth a Watch. ***1/2

WWE NXT: Neverending rivalry

2) Isiah “Swerve” Scott d. Leon Ruff
Highlights: Leon Ruff takes Isiah “Swerve” Scott down with a double leg before dropkicking him out of the ring. Ruff leaps from the apron and nails a single-arm DDT on the floor before moving the action back inside. Scott hits a stiff chop but Ruff bounces back with a flying boot before getting caught on a springboard. After a commercial break, Ruff makes a comeback with a series of closelines on Swerve. Swerve cuts off Ruff and heads up top but falls into a top rope hurricanrana. Both men have a strike exchange in the middle of the ring as Ruff gets a near fall off a roll-up. Swerve bounces back and finishes Ruff off with a cradle driver.

Storyline Progression: Isiah “Swerve” Scott and Leon Ruff have been in a heated feud for some time as both men clashed to put an end to their rivalry. Following the match, Ruff attacked Swerve in the locker room.

Final Analysis: Really good effort by both men as their chemistry is clear as day in the ring. Worth a Watch. ***3/4

A shocking win

1) NXT Cruiserweight Title Match: KUSHIDA d. Santos Escobar (c) (New Champion)
Highlights: KUSHIDA accepts the open challenge and dropkicks Santos Escobar before the match on WWE NXT. The bell rings as both men exchange a chain wrestling sequence as KUSHIDA works over the arm of Escobar before the commercial. During the break, KUSHIDA continues to target the arm but Escobar gets the upper hand and takes the fight outside. KUSHIDA is slammed into the barricade as Escobar stretches KUSHIDA around the ring post. Back from the break as Escobar brings KUSHIDA back outside and swings him into the steel steps. The action heads back inside and on the top rope as Escobar delivers an avalanche frankensteiner for a two-count.

KUSHIDA makes a comeback with a hip toss and a low-angle dropkick. Escobar heads up top but is caught by KUSHIDA who delivers a super double underhook suplex. KUSHIDA lands another with a bridge for a near fall as he attempts a hoverboard lock. KUSHIDA blocks Escobar’s defense with a heel kick as both brawl exchange strikes on the ground. Escobar attempts a Phanton Driver but KUSHIDA reverses it into a pinning exchange and gets the shocking win and the title.

Storyline Progression: Santos Escobar makes an open challenge after bragging about winning at TakeOver. KUSHIDA answers the challenge and rushes to the ring complete with new ring gear.

Final Analysis: KUSHIDA winning was a genuine shock but well deserved. Santos Escobar is a legit superstar who checks all the boxes to make it big time. Hopefully, he stays on the WWE NXT and gets a push to the next level. I cringe to think about how he would be used on the main roster. This was rocked on every level and is a Must-Watch. ****1/2

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