Reviews by Dave
By David E Houston II
Show air date: February 15, 2022
Pete Dunne defeated Tony D’Angelo
in a Weaponized Steel Cage Match
Imma pretend that whole opening with Clearance Rack The Beautiful People didn’t happen and NXT’s “Vengeance Day” episode opened with Tony D’Angelo and Pete Dunne settling their feud in a Weaponized steel cage (meaning they had a bunch of stuff in the cage).
This feud hasn’t been anything close to what I hoped it would be and this match summed it up perfectly: the people who run NXT now don’t understand Dunne so they don’t get his best use is as a technical brawler and D’Angelo seems to be the same so they make this about a bunch of bullshit and nonsense. When Dunne was competitive while having his hands tied behind his back, I was out. Dunne won.
Considering the time they’ve invested, Raquel Gonzalez and Cora Jade are easy to pick winners of the Women’s Dusty Cup.
Who TF decided to let either Creed talk with Malcolm Bivens there? He should do all the talking for now.
Toxic Attraction defeated Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta
for the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship
After some just phucking tragic Sexy Walking (Gigi Dolin looks so uncomfortable and Jacy Jayne looks ready to trip with each step), Toxic Attraction successfully defended their NXT Women’s tag titles against Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta, a matchup that shows how hard they’re hurting for tag teams.
The match is pretty good. Everyone puts in a good effort, it’s set up where the more experienced and talented members of both teams (Dolin and Hartwell) are always in the ring and it’s not given too much time.
A string of uninteresting backstage skits with Amari Miller (good to see her on TV again), Wendy Choo, Brooks Jensen, and Josh Briggs. Fast Forward.
They’re still doing LA Knight-Grayson Waller (with his own Wardlow). Fast Forward.
Tommaso Ciampa cuts a good promo on his current situation with Dolph Ziggler. That should be a good match if nothing else.
Carmelo Hayes defeated Cameron Grimes
for the NXT North American Championship
North American champion Carmelo Hayes was successful in his defense against Cameron Grimes. Good match. I still think Hayes has a brighter future as a face than heel but he’s doing fine right now and the best faces have been at least “good” heels.
The Creed Brothers defeated MSK
Dusty Tag Team Classic Finals
In the finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, Julius and Brutus Creed of the Diamond Mine beat last year’s winners, MSK, to win the tournament and earn a shot at the NXT tag titles, currently held by Imperium (Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel). A match-up of young, big grapplers and the well-traveled high flyers with both teams playing to their strengths. Julius Creed really shined.
Expect More as WrestleMania Gets Closer
Imperium–with GOONTHA (spelled phonetically)–then down talked them in some lackluster mic work only to be interrupted by Solo Sikoa, who calls out GOONTHA and to show he’s “edgy” is the first to say he’s going to make someone his “bitch” on WWE TV for 2022. Expect more as WrestleMania gets closer.
I have no interest in Nikkita Lyons. There will never be another Nikita in pro wrestling, with one or two “k”s and her vignettes look ripped straight from WOW.
Main Event: Bron Breakker defeated Santos Escobar
for the NXT Championship
Santos Escobar (with Raul Mendoza, Elektra Lopez, and Joaquin Wilde, who looked like he was now a Blood ringside) came up short in his challenge for the NXT title against the champion, Bron Breakker, making his first defense. It was okay, a clear step down from the previous matches. Even with everyone in his crew helping and Dolph Ziggler trying to help (bringing out Ciampa), Esco still lost clean when Breakker stopped being a Steiner and became the Son of Goldberg and hit his Two Moves of Doom (a spear and a press into a power slam) to secure the win.
If this show was a sandwich, it would be one with some okay bread but very good meat in the middle.
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Reviews by Dave is the best wrestling review on the internet! It’s written by David Houston II, who writes about WWE NXT 2.0, AEW Dynamite, and IMPACT Wrestling.
