At first glance, you might ask, “Who’s Angel Garza and why’s he in such a prominent spot already?” These questions generally rang true several times on Wednesday. Since the NXT Breakout Tournament, most of its participants have joined the gold standard of sports entertainment. But we still don’t know who any of them are; Cameron Grimes’ most defining characteristic is his hat. While building new stars is a process, you’d hope that these up-and-coming competitors would have more defined personalities by now. That’s especially true when the wrestlers are put into programs with some of NXT’s most recognizable names.
A solid chunk of Wednesday’s show demonstrated this pattern. Garza, Damian Priest and Isaiah “Swerve” Scott clashed with Ciampa, Pete Dunne and Roderick Strong, respectively. Of the trio of newcomers, Priest has received the most development so far. That’s not saying much because it’s still hard to get a read on his character. Likewise, Scott’s swagger during his entrance and his incredible in-ring work are his most distinct traits. Garza wowed fans with his ringwork during the tournament but, like his fellow competitors, doesn’t have a defined character yet. Yet all three men have been positioned against three top competitors. It’s sink or swim time; if these rivalries can develop Garza and Priest, NXT will have successfully crafted two new stars. If not, they could struggle to find success on the black-and-gold brand. (Scott doesn’t seem like he’s immediately destined for a feud with Strong. But during their match, “Swerve” certainly made a case for himself with a strong showing in defeat. Similarly, Kushida and WALTER put on a great match in the main event that made both men look like a million bucks.
Kushida’s rivalry with WALTER and Imperium has been one of the main stories since NXT moved to USA Network. Though their first match would have benefitted from a little more build, the contest did not disappoint. It was a classic case of David vs. Goliath as WALTER towered over Kushida and easily overpowered him. But Kushida made the leader of Imperium look vulnerable and almost made him tap out at a few points. One highlight included Kushida’s arm-bar slam off the top rope that shocked the crowd. With each passing near fall, it wasn’t clear how the match would end. When a ripcord lariat put Kushida down for the three count, it felt anticlimactic because the move is fairly commonplace. Still, there’s no denying that Kushida’s match with WALTER was a remarkable main event that left fans wanting more.
For the second week in a row, All Elite Wrestling Dynamite might have generated more buzz but NXT continues to stick to its proven formula. While both shows are competing in the Wednesday Night Wars, we should just enjoy the remarkable content, regardless of which side we support. As long as both shows keep producing a good product, isn’t that all we can ask for?
