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Trick Williams gets more challengers, Lola Vice gets what she wants, and one crew gets a new member on this week’s NXT.
Separate/Together
HERE WE GO
It will be a Fatal 4-Way for the NXT Championship at #NXTHeatwave!!!#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/Ce4ezKOL2V
— WWE (@WWE) June 26, 2024
Keeping it completely real, I’m more interested in NXT’s Women’s division right now than the humans with xy chromosomes. It feels like there’s more drama, there’s a new belt, and frankly, the women are more aggressive. We’re even getting a street fight next week between Jaida Parker and Michin. That said, the NXT championship picture fascinates me if only because there’s a lot of new and even more moving parts.
From the top of my curly hair to the tips of my toes, I believe every championship reign needs a defining feature. Often, that means a big feud that makes the champion’s life a living hell while pushing them forward. Or just an incredible story.
We’re a few months into Trick Williams’ time propping the territory on his shoulders, and the one thing that comes to mind is transition. No, not that he’s a transitional champ; far from it actually. But it’s the overall story of a fluctuating locker room new faces in newer places. It also means throwing as much at Trick as possible, even if it doesn’t always logically line up.
Shawn Spears threw his proverbial hat into the actual ring this week when he wrestled Trick in the main event. Before that, the show reestablished Je’Von Evans’ friendship with Trick, and tension between Shawn and Ethan Page. Of course they put that tension aside for beating up Trick when the moment called for it. We got a moment where Je’Von offered his support during Trick’s match with Shawn, but the champ wisely declined.
He alluded to his past with Carmelo Hayes, noted how the championship puts people on their worst behavior, and offered the Young OG some sound advice. That’s a great character moment that showed growth on his part. He learned from his battles with and against Melo, and doesn’t want to repeat his or anyone else’s mistakes. But the advice part at the end keeps him and Je’Von on the same page and makes Trick come across as a wise champion rather than just a guy with a belt around his waist.
Then the match happened and in the third act, we got some shenanigans featuring Brooks Jensen:
Now, here’s where I scratch my head. Ava saw all of that chaos yet still added Shawn to the championship mix in a Fatal 4 Way for Heatwave. While I’m fine adding Shawn, I don’t understand how a GM sees one wrestler get hit on the head with a piece of the announce table and takes the challenger’s victory serious. The champ can’t lose clean, so no issues there, but I don’t understand rewarding the other guy after the obvious interference. To say nothing of her no-selling someone jumping out of the stands and threatening the main event on her show. There’s some dissonance that I can’t square.
Compounding matters is the Oro Mensah factor. Oro told a heartfelt story earlier about why Meta-Four matters to him and why getting his hands on Ethan is paramount:
It’s your time Oro!!!
With @NoamDar out due to an injury, @OroMensah_wwe is ready to step up and show what he’s all about #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/bmMuyVqrmt
— WWE (@WWE) June 26, 2024
So we get that, then we get Oro attacking Ethan during the main event, and still no match between these two? From Ava’s standpoint, why not make the match? But does that fall on Oro? Everyone goes to Ava for matches, or in Jaida Parker’s case, some just get in front of a camera and demand it happens. What’s stopping Oro from doing that same thing?
The long and short of all this, leaning more to the longer side at this point, is that I don’t completely understand the established rules for the universe. And that’s really apparent in the men’s division. It just feels like booking for convenience rather than consistency. At times, the convenience makes sense and I understand why it’s necessary. Mostly though, it’s just a pain in the butt and more than a tad confusing.
This is one of those times.
B-Sides
Twisted
They did it! #ChaseU has won Tag Team Turmoil and is headed to #NXTHeatwave!!!#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/KKALwz1w8d
— WWE (@WWE) June 26, 2024
Tag Team Turmoil is always a fun kickoff for any show. This week proved no different as four teams got it on for a shot at the NXT Tag Team champs at Heatwave. It started with New Catch Republic vs. Edris Enofe & Malik Blade, and ended with Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne vs. Chase U. The most notable part for me came when Chase U got the W. I figured New Catch vs. Axiom & Nathan Frazer was the match, considering the former’s pedigree. But Andre Chase & Duke Hudson raises my eyebrows considering Chase U’s internal drama. And, of course, Ridge Holland’s underhanded tactics, which showed up once again unbeknownst to Mr. Chase.
What are the chances Ridge pulls similar moves at Heatwave when it really matters? Very high. That puts the territory in a fun spot. Either let Chase U win through cheating and let Andre find out over time while defending those belts, or he catches Ridge red-handed at Heatwave and everything goes side ways.
I’d go with the first choice.
Either way, the wild thing here is that for my money, the actual tag team champs are the least interesting thing about this reign.
The Strong
We are all tied up!@TonyDangeloWWE has responded in IMPRESSIVE fashion #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/iXTWf5GScK
— WWE (@WWE) June 26, 2024
Speed vs. Strength. That was the story for the five (!!) round Heritage Cup match between Tony D’Angelo and Nathan Frazer. I loved them establishing that early with both men picking up very quick Ws in the first two rounds. Nathan used his speed running the ropes then caught The Don in a quick roll up. That took about 40 seconds. The champ responded with a hellacious spin buster for the pin in round 2, which rocked Nathan and set the stage for the ensuing action.
They battled to a standstill for three more rounds, each narrowly missing a shot at finishing the other. And fittingly, they both kept going to their respective strengths to finish each other. Nathan went for high risk maneuvers multiple times but couldn’t keep the champ down. Sadly for him, he came closest when time ran out of the fourth round. The Don finished it at the top of the fifth with a top rope belly-to-belly suplex, followed by another spine buster.
I really into this match, and the opening 40 seconds helped me get there. Nathan and Tony D work really well together, and I wouldn’t mind seeing them dance more in the future. This might be my favorite Heritage Cup match so far.
Singles
Roxanne Perez made semi-quick work of Karmen Petrovic, then caught a backhand fist from Lola Vice. Vic Joseph threw a stray shot Roxanne’s way when he notes that’s how you do that, alluding to whatever Roxanne tried doing last week. Lola demanded a match for the championship at Heatwave and she got it.
Tavion Heights defeated Damon Kemp, meaning he’s now the newest member of the No Quarter Catch Crew! Congrats, Tavion. Hope they gave you some sort of prize for that.
Sol Ruca looked good defeating Arianna Grace, previewing her match with Kelani Jordan at Heatwave. They’re going for a drama-free match between two friends, but Sol eyed Kelani’s championship like it owed her money. I wonder if this friendship stays intact.
Jacy Jayne, Jazmyn Nyx, and Fallon Henley are scheming on Sol. They said they wanted changes in the division, so let’s hope they actually do something about it soon.
Wes Lee defeated Joe Coffey. Oba Femi showed up afterward but didn’t say anything new.
My issues with the overall logic following the main event notwithstanding, this was a very sound and fun episode. It started hot, carried that momentum through the Heritage Cup match, and they did their best to make every match meaningful. A lot of story, plot development, and, as usual, just a lot happening on a very busy two hours. But I’m pleased and like the build going into Heatwave so far.
What say you, Cagesiders? Do you share similar issues with the main event scene? Sound off!
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