OPENING SEGMENT: ALEISTER BLACK
Black plays up his win over Lars Sullivan, but is interrupted by Tommaso Ciampa! Ciampa definitely got in Black’s head here, which is not easy to do, since Black seems to be unflappable to this point in his NXT career. I could really see Ciampa being the one to dethrone Black then Johnny Gargano beating Ciampa for the title. That would be the ultimate moment in the history of NXT. Really good work here by Ciampa, so-so mic work by Aleister but he did a really good job of playing up his aggravation with the situation.
Tommaso Ciampa Promo Rating: Six Roddy Pipers
Aleister Black Promo Rating: One Sid
Segment Rating: Six This Is Your Lifes
KONA REEVES VS. MAXIM UMBERTO
It’s been a little while since we’ve seen Reeves. He’s just been annoying to this point. I never want to see anyone fail so hopefully something clicks for him, but I don’t see it with this gimmick. In addition to the bad gimmick, he really doesn’t look that great in the ring. I did like his reverse diving elbow. He’s pretty bland and boring though. A quick squash that didn’t do anything for me.
Match Rating: One Gold Medal
CANDICE LeRAE VS. LACEY EVANS
This seems like an odd match at this time, because I don’t think either woman should lose right now. The best thing that can happen is Lacey getting herself disqualified or counted out to avoid taking a clean loss. Maybe I’m overthinking this because I guess neither’s push is halted with one loss, but I still think a DQ finish or non-finish is the best way to go. Lacey Evans is ruthless. She would be getting heat anyway in a match with Candice, but in her case that just enhances it because she’s already over as a heel. Candice hits some pretty awesome moves and finishes it off with a lionsault for a clean pinfall. I guess it’s not the worst thing in the world for Lacey, and it gives Candice a quality win to start what’s likely a singles push in the women’s division. I’d like to see her and Kairi Sane in a number one contender’s match soon.
Match Rating: Eight Gold Medals
Johnny Gargano needs a rubber match with Tommaso Ciampa. FUCK YES! Gargano will wrestle EC3 next week.
MUSTACHE MOUNTAIN VS. DAVE DIXON & CARL AXELROD
Nope. Undisputed Era beats the shit out of Dixon and Axelrod on the stage, and are about to attack mustache mountain when Ricochet comes out to even the odds.
MUSTACHE MOUNTAIN & RICOCHET VS. THE UNDISPUTED ERA
Tyler Bate is awesome, so athletic and so much fun in the ring, he is great at entertaining the crowd. He’s a perfect babyface. Kyle O’Reilly seems really upset because he was going to take his tag team belt to school for show and tell. Now he has to take his pet frog instead. Ricochet somehow got Roderick Strong to DDT O’Reilly while Ricochet gave Strong a neckbreaker. That shit was AWESOME. Trent Seven is getting his ass beat by the entire Undisputed Era until he turns Cole inside out with a lariat. The crowd chants for Ricochet and they get him. In fact, they get everyone as all the competitors pile into the ring and chaos ensues. Everyone is fighting everywhere. Ricochet cleans house with INCREDIBLE athleticism. It’s easy to run out to adjectives to describe him. The 630 splash will never stop amazing me. Heel tactics and a numbers advantage by the Undisputed Era gets Adam Cole the pin on Ricochet.
Match Rating: Nine Gold Medals
Overall Show Rating: Eight Gold Medals
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