Reviews by Dave
By David E Houston II
Show air date: April 26, 2022
NXT’s month-long streak of good-to-very good shows came to an end with their 667th episode. I could appreciate them giving so much time to their women’s division even if only one good match came out of it.
Nikkita Lyons defeated Lash Legend
Nikkita Lyons is the Hot Prospect among the NXT women but if there was one thing I would stop would be her own bad Sexy Walking. Way too much arm swinging and she’s going to dislocate a hip trying to switch that hard. She had a rematch with Lash Legend and again, a solid bout. There was a HORRIFIC moment of some awkward rope running (Lash shouldn’t hit the ropes) but they worked as a brawl without trying to do too much or be too cute and it worked out well. Lyons won with an enzuigiri to Legend’s chest.
There was some after-match stuff with Natalya running in to jump Lyons with some weak-looking kicks and Cora Jade making the save and somehow, even armed with a skateboard, got beat up by Nattie and needed saving herself. The match? Good. The rest? I’m good.
A Bad Segment with Roderick Strong
A bad segment with Roderick Strong showing why he was never the leader of the Undisputed Era, booking his Diamond Mine comrades–Julius and Brutus Creed–in a match with the visiting Viking Raiders. They really dropped the GM role for this??? Not good and the Creeds got more words than Malcolm Bivens (a huge fail every time) but Bivens got a lot more done with his eyes than any of them did with their words.
Von Wagner defeated Tony D’Angelo
Tony D’Angelo was supposed to face Xyon Quinn but Quinn wasn’t cleared to wrestle (must have hurt himself kicking the shit out of Draco Anthony the other week) so he faced Von Wagner (with The Robert Stone Brand). I didn’t care so fast-forward (FF).
I did see Legado del Fantasma come out and D’Angelo’s Full Blooded Italians knockoff. Son, Tony Mamaluke, and Guido Maritato are available.
The NXT women have a lounge where they book their own matches. Guess they don’t need a locker room. Mandy Rose books a non-title match against Roxanne Perez for later.
Then I Saw…
I saw Chase University–my favorite thing in all of WWE now that Veer isn’t beating up Dominik Mysterio anymore. I saw this Nathan Frazier guy. Then I saw Grayson Waller. FF.
NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament
It’s nice they have new faces for the Women’s Breakout Tournament but all of their vignettes were terrible and cliche and damn, you’re still getting over the new faces you just brought in and you have new ones already??? Not for nothing, Kiana James is doing the old York Foundation gimmick. Didn’t get that group over and won’t work in 2022.
Kayden Carter and Katana Chance defeated Yulisa Leon and Valentina Feroz
Kayden Carter and Katana Chance (the most random name they’ve ever come up with) beat Yulisa Leon and Valentina Feroz in an okay match that felt mad long. Good effort by everyone but nothing special as a match with a lot of bad dancing going on.
I Guess They Remembered
Kay Lee Ray got a new name: Alba Fyre. And just like that, “Katana Chance” isn’t the most random name. I guess they remembered, “Alundra Blayze” was taken.
Legado del Fantasma defeated Josh Briggs and Fallon Henley
The two-week babyface push of Legado is over as they suspected of attacking Brooks Jensen, who of course didn’t see who it was and doesn’t know shit, before the six-person match with Joaquin Wilde, Cruz Del Toro, and Elektra Lopez beating Josh Briggs and Fallon Henley in a handicap match. Briggs is a veteran and a good one so when he was in with the Legado guys, it was pretty good but Lopez and Henley were not good, the opposite of Legend/Lyons as they were doing too much for their experience level and it looked it. Robert Stone admits the attack, and I have no idea what match that sets up anyone wants to see.
Nattie and Legend do some tragic backstage interview talking.
Solo Sikoa defeated Trick Williams
North American champion Cameron Grimes had to watch Solo Sikoa beat Trick N Andy. I didn’t. FF.
The Viking Raiders defeated Malik Blade and Edris Enofé
Malik Blade and Edris Enofé did the job to that script and then for the Raiders. I do like Enofé’s cape though.
Main Event: Mandy Rose defeated Roxanne Perez
It was a little heartbreaking watching Perez work in slow motion so Rose could keep up in the main event match. As a match, it was okay. Rose with a clean win with a nice-looking knee strike. Wendy Choo and her water gun made the women’s champ and tag champs run like she had real pistols and then a Bugs Bunny cartoon broke out. I wish I had hit FF after the pin. Cora, Katana, Kayden, and now Roxanne are all doing the same character.
Nevermind…
There was some stuff with Joe Gacy at the end, doing his bad Bray Wyatt impersonation and Rick Steiner showed up and then Bron Breakker showed up… never mind. See you at Dynamite.
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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.
