5 Biggest Takeaways from NXT (July 13th, 2021)
I like to keep things as positive as possible.
I like WWE.
I like AEW.
- Mr. Money in the Bank… Finn Balor! - November 28, 2023
- A Quick Fix: 3 Changes to Make with AEW Programming - November 4, 2023
- And The DEVIL is….. - November 2, 2023
Wow! What a show coming off the Great American Bash. NXT returns to top form with a brilliant episode where every segment and match from top to bottom had a driving force towards stories and feuds. With so much happening in this show, it was very hard to narrow down just 5 Takeaways.
The Cameron Grimes/LA Knight vignettes were absolutely brilliant. Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly have confirmed – it’s not over. Bobby Fish confronted Roderick Strong and the ground work has been layed for what will undoubtedly be one of the most brutal matches of the year with Tomasso Ciampa/Timothy Thatcher vs Pete Dunne/Oney Lorcan. We even saw what appears to be the end of the Robert Stone brand in a satisfying segment. To think that with all that happening and none of it making the cut tells you just how fantastic and packed the July 13th edition of NXT was. So with that said, lets move right on in to!
5. Return of Index
It seems like we got a little bit of a break from this angle as Dexter has been missing most weeks while Indi was doing her thing with the Tag Titles. With appearances here and there, he’s back in the ring this week. We saw Indi and Beth Phoenix have a brief encounter in the backstage area where Indi informs us Dexter acted as a gentlemen last week but still seemed unsure of where to go from there. Beth let her know that “sometimes, you just have to take a chance.” Indi seemed to take that advice to heart because after taking a loss to Santos Escobar, with the help from the other members of Legado Del Fantasma, Dexter found himself laying on the ring apron. Out comes Indi to try and emulate Dexter’s actions from last week by carring him to the back. After a few feet, she dropped him and found herself in a very favorable position. As the two inched in close for their first kiss, it was foiled by Candice who then forced Indi to the back leaving Dexter behind once again. We’re gonna get that kiss and it’s gonna happen when Indi slaps Candice and leaves The Way. They have done a pretty good job at stretching this thing out without it feeling like it’s being milked. The fans will absolutely erupt when the moment happens where these two lovebirds lock lips and form the duo of Index. If I had to put a timetable on it at this point, I would give it two weeks which would set up a match at Takeover between Indi and Candice in some capacity.
4. Mandy Rose?
In a strange turn of events, Mandy Rose made an appearance last night on two separate occasions. What is she doing there? We will have to wait and see because she gave no kind of hint as to what her plans were. She came out to view the Sarray vs Gigi Dolin match, where she stayed on the ramp to watch the match and then once more during a backstage segment with Franky Money, Aliyah and Jessi Kamea. Dressed in a business suit(that was barely there), it would appear as if she was looking at future opponents or prospects for a partnership. My guess would be the latter. But does that mean she is now a part of the NXT roster? Is she scouting talent to bring up to the “main roster” for a faction? The mystery upon the first week arrival is welcomed because it makes people want to tune in next week to see where it’s going. This is the kind of material that we get on NXT that we don’t get on Raw or Smackdown, which is why I have placed this show above them for awhile now. Even if it isn’t a prime time player, it shows that every spot on the roster/card/show plays an important role. I think Mandy has struggled to find something for herself that works. Hopefully this is the role she needs to take her to that next level and cement herself as a true player in the women’s division.
3. Hit Row vs Legado Del Fantasma
It has been teased almost since the formation of Hit Row. Swerve and Escobar both had their eyes on the North American title. Escobar failed to capture it and Swerve succeeded. Even though Escobar wasn’t able to capture the belt, he made it very clear that his pursuit of the title wasn’t over. We have two highly praised stables with loads of talent that are on a collision course. How long this pans out is anyone’s guess but it would have been really fun to see this feud come to head at War Games. The big question here is which sides play the roles of face and heel. At the time, both are seemingly heels and where as that could work in this feud, I don’t think it allows fans to truly get emotionally invested in either group. Swerve is coming off a fresh heel turn, so turning him back with the rest of Hit Row seems soon but could happen. Escobar has shown us how fantastic he is as a heel with his Cruserweight title run so a turn might be a refreshing take for him, and allow him to show a different side of himself. Whatever decision they decide to take, I’m all in. Six man tag match feuds can be done with the right group of people and chemistry.
2. Dakota Waits in the Shadows
Dakota Kai picked up a clean victory over Ember Moon. It was the first time since her turn on Tegan Nox to be exact. How does she celebrate? She doesnt, because before she has time to let it sink in and enjoy the moment, Xia Li storms to the ring and gets in Raquel’s face to challenge for the title. Raquel accepted without hesitation and Xia Li exited. As this is happening, you could see the look on Dakota’s face change. The expression goes from happy to confused to disappointment. How much longer can she sit back and watch Raquel get all the glory, while Dakota does the grunt work to help her retain. How much longer does Dakota stay in the background, knowing that she is the one that brought Gonazelz up to the show? The seeds seem to have been planted last night in a very lowkey moment that some probably didn’t even notice. The question here is does Dakota cost Raquel the title or is she going to be the one that dethrones her? As of now, it looks like she’ll be waiting for her moment to make her move as another seed has been planted for a story that will surely unfold over the next month.
1. Samoa Joe Has Been Provoked
The moment we have been waiting for since Joe returned to NXT. Pete Dunne. Adam Cole. Karrion Kross. All face to face confrontations that have been teased, but unsure of whether or not they would happen due to Joe’s medical situation. We’ve seen him get physical with Cole but the guy we’ve been begging to provoke Joe is Kross, and last night it happened. They’ve had interactions each week and with Karrion Kross defending his title against Johnny Gargano with Joe being the special referee, things finally reached their boiling point. Prior to the match, Joe warned Kross. During the match, Joe had to stop Kross from crossing the line twice, with one of those instances involving Joe getting physical with him. Towards the end, Karrion teased the forearm to the back of Joe while checking a downed Gargano, only for him to give a little smirk before returning his attention to Johnny and finishing him off. As Samoa Joe was exiting the ring, Kross found his spot and attacked. “Unless provoked! Unless provoked! You brought this on yourself Joe!” Kross yelled out as he choked Samoa Joe out. The show came to a close with a lifeless Joe lay in the ring.
We all know Joe has been begging to be provoked. This means one of two things. Triple H is trolling us in the most cruel way possible or the more likely and hopeful scenario, Samoa Joe has been cleared for in ring return and we are about to get a lot of match ups that the fans have been clamoring for. Of the fresh crop of opponents that Joe has to wrestle in NXT, Kross it the one that makes the most sense for his in ring return. It’s been nearly 2 years since Joe’s last match. He’s gonna have some ring rust. Having him get in the ring with a smaller guy would surely highlight that glaring fact a lot more than having him get in the ring with a guy like Kross who has a much slower and methodical style that can help mask the ring fatigue that would kick in. And on top of that, everyone else on the brand is dwarfed by Kross so at least Joe would have the look of a believable threat to go along with his credibility. And with Karrion on his way to the main roster sooner rather than later, the time for him to drop that title is running out. Tick tock. So here’s to looking forward to a clash at Takeover: Las Vegas. Samoa Joe challenging Karrion Kross for the NXT Title. Fingers Krossed.
About Author
