NXT Highlights 3-4-20
- Sean Covington
- Mar 4, 2020
- 3 min read
Dakota Kai vs Teagan Knox
Steel cage match
Hot crowd for some great spots, Kai and Knox deliver yet again. Starting off the show with one of the cage matches was a strong move and the right move. I was pretty sure Knox was gonna win so that the rubber match could be at Takeover Tampa but Raquel Gonzalez proved to be the difference maker in this match yet again. This is gonna end at Takeover.
Shotzi Blackheart vs Chelsea Green
Qualifying match for #1 contender’s ladder match at Takeover Tampa
Robert Stone looks the part and plays the part well, as does his client Chelsea Green. Green gets the win over Shotzi which is a surprise because I thought Shotzi was the one getting a big push. Shotzi is the ultimate underdog so perhaps that’s the build of her they are going with. The match was ok, nothing electrifying but if you’re going to beat one of your rising stars maybe it should be. Green needed the win pretty badly so this all works out nicely.
General Lee
Keith Lee addresses the contenders for his North American Championship and names the top guys, all except Cameron Grimes who seized the opportunity to let Lee know that he has a match with his next for the title. There was some excellent crowd participation, helping mold/shape Grimes into the heel he should be. Being the veteran that he is, Lee played right into the crowd’s hand, making the segment even better. A lot came across in the time the two spent in the ring, a lot more will come out in the match. I’m hoping for a fatal 4 way.
Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch vs Undisputed Era
Things broke down quickly, with the match briefly turning into a tornado tag. Lorcan was an interesting hot tag, taking out both Fish and O’ Reilly until they hit him with a high/low to end the match. I thought Burch and Lorcan were due for a big win like that but the UE might have needed that win even more. Fish and O’ Reilly drop a promo, staking their claim for their lost titles so the Broserweights came out to propose a rematch but Drake and Gibson beat their asses on the ramp to let both teams know that they (the Grizzled Young Veterans) are the ones that are taking the titles away from the Broserweights.
Swerve vs Theory
Gotta love Swerve’s new music, it’s serious and puts him in the right light, the guitar is a nice touch as well. This match could have used picture in a picture, there was a commercial break that stole a bit of the match’s juice. Sweve showed Theory who’s house it was but Theory would not be denied, beating Swerve with a one-handed finisher. There looked like a lot of bad blood between the two, this match was brutal. Swerve got pissed, showing a side of him we haven’t seen before.
Roderick Strong vs Velveteen Dream
Roddy may have been knocked out of his shoes but his wife made up for it with some much needed assistance, introducing a kendo stick into the match then scurrying away. Roderick Strong was thrown out of the cage by the Dream! The Velveteen Dream planned to be alone with Undisputed Era all along, the cage match was all a setup. Dream took out all of the members then locked himself inside with Adam Cole. Roderick Strong managed to climb back into the cage but only to watch as the Dream held the title up and revealed his true motives, to become NXT Champion.
Honorable mentions
Finna Balor vignette, be on the lookout for Balor in NXT UK.
Rhea Ripley vignette detailing her career, documenting her journey and previewing her match at WRESTLEMANIA!
Gargano interview with Mauro Ranallo gets unhinged. Johnny Gargano lost his shit and I was unconvinced until he really got in Mauro’s face and sold the HELL out of his emotions.
In closing
I am all here for whatever changes Gargano is going through, he sold me with that sit-down interview. The North American Championship title picture is as contentious as ever with some heavy hitters waiting to get their shot. So much going on, it’s a ride that doesn’t end with NXT. The ending was an incredible swerve that isn’t used often, last time I saw it used was years ago when Daniel Bryan was with the Wyatt Family. Velveteen Dream is the chosen one, NXT has teased a new champ, lining up great competitors at each turn but the Dream is the man who will dethrone Adam Cole. Excellent stuff from the best brand in the business.
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