Welcome to NXT Future Five on Last Word On Sports, where each week we analyze the latest episode of World Wrestling Entertainment Network’s hottest program, NXT and rank the five performers who made the biggest impact.
Highlights of the Night
- Opening Video Package: NXT’s production team was on point again tonight with an opening video that rivaled their big brother WWE counterpart. It opened with the American Dream Dusty Rhodes and proceeded to tell the story of the important matches that evening. It was the perfect way to kick off the event and get the adrenaline flowing
- Finn Balor & Samoa Joe vs Dash & Dawson: What a fantastic opening match between two of the best singles competitors in the company today, and one of the best tag teams in the company today. The best part of the match was the beautiful storytelling where Dash & Dawson focused on Finn Balor’s leg throughout the match, leading to a very dramatic finish where Balor (against his partner’s protests) risked further damage by performing his Cou DeGrace finish. In the end, our NXT Champion was right, earning the pin fall victory, but everyone was left wondering if he would be able to compete later on.
- Jason Jordan & Chad Gable vs Baron Corbin & Rhyno: This was a great night for tag team wrestling because it demonstrated how varied the art form can be if given the chance. What folks will likely remember most about this match was the incredible reaction given to Chad Gable, who clearly has a special place in the hearts of the Full Sail University At one point the crowd was singing Kurt Angle’s theme song, using only the name Gable as lyrics. It was surreal to say the least. The cheers he received during his big comeback were thunderous, but the silence after his loss was deafening.
- Apollo Crews vs Tyler Breeze: One of the best fought matches of the night. Both men brought their A game and both men looked like a million bucks. Crews showed off way more than we have ever seen before, and to his credit, even Prince Pretty looked like he was pulling out a few new tricks himself. They did their best to steal the show and nearly got away with it. No matter who won that contest, both men ended up getting over, which is a skill in itself. Maybe the best match either man has had so far in NXT.
- Finn Balor/Samoa Joe vs Baron Corbin/Rhyno: The match itself continued to tell the story of the heels focusing on Balor’s leg and the heroes fighting from underneath. The match itself was good enough, but the part most fans will remember was the post-match presentation of the Dusty Rhodes Classic Cup to Balor and Joe by the Rhodes family. Everyone was on their feet and there was a true sense of honor for the late American Dream, and when Cody Rhodes spoke of his legendary father, you could have heard a pin drop it was so quiet. It spoke volumes of respect and love that Dusty commanded, not just of the performers, but the fans as well. It was a beautifully emotional moment, one of the best of the year.
- Sasha Banks vs Bayley: It is inevitable that people will compare this match to their contest at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn. As fans, it is something we just naturally do when there is a match we love and it gets an encore. Personally, I don’t know which match is better. What I do know is that in my opinion, this battle not only lived up to the hype, but exceeded it by giving us something fresh from both women. It was a great representation of NXT because it took an old formula and presented its own style attached to it, with great results. Without question it was the match of the night, with too many highlights to name. I thought the emotion of the Dusty Rhodes Classic Cup presentation couldn’t be topped, but I was wrong. The post-match celebration featuring not only Banks and Bayley, but the entire NXT locker room paying their respect to these two women athletes, was nothing short of incredible. It was a moment in time that had to be felt to be believed.
The Future Five
5. Baron Corbin & Rhyno: Despite the fact that this unlikely pairing didn’t win it all on this week, they still made it to the finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Tournament by defeating one of the hottest up and coming tag teams in the world. Who would have thought at the beginning of this tournament that these two would go all the way, and come within inches of winning it all? I thought these two would end their night with the cup, and even though they didn’t, they still left more valuable than when they first came in.
4. Asuka: When I wrote my predictions for this match, I said I was hoping to see Asuka decimate her opponent Dana Brooke and look like a striking monster. That isn’t quite what happened but she did manage to win her debut match in convincing fashion and leave an impact on the NXT Universe, which in the end is what matters most. Even though she might not have guzzled her fit foe, the crowd reacted the Asuka like she was a monster. In the business of professional wrestling, perception is reality. If the crowd believes you are dangerous, then you are dangerous. Even my wife, who merely tolerates my professional wrestling obsession, commented how much she liked Asuka. A ringing endorsement if there ever was one.
3. Apollo Crews: This week was the biggest challenge ever for Crews, who had been beating enhancement talent week after week with little to no resistance up to this point. Takeover Respect proved that Apollo could be vulnerable, but still have the heart to come back and win big. It was exactly what he needed to take his game to another level. I was already a fan of Crews heading into this match. After it was over, I liked him even more. As long as Apollo can continue to stay on the fan’s good side, the future is very bright for Crews.
2. Samoa Joe & Finn Balor: Winning two matches in one night would be enough to put you high on the five this week, and winning the Dusty Rhodes Classic Cup in top of it would clinch it. That was definitely the case with the dream team of Joe and Balor. Throughout the entire night these weaved a story with multiple layers. They told the story of a man taking great risks to win, his partner’s reluctance to go along with that plan, and of a team bent on making history. Sometimes they were telling these stories with nothing but a glance, or a single gesture. That kind of artistry is difficult to find in the pro wrestling industry, but we watched two masters paint a masterpiece over the course of one fantastic evening.
1.Sasha Banks & Bayley: If this was any other week, Finn Balor & Samoa Joe would have the top spot, no questions asked. It just so happened that this week they were followed by a stunning rematch featuring two of the best talents NXT has to offer. It was impossible for me to choose just one of these ladies for the top spot, as their magnificent performance this week truly was a team effort, and both women managed to elevate themselves during the match. Not only was their match entertaining from an athletic standpoint, but the drama and emotion are what truly made this contest a classic. Both women deserve the credit, which is why both women have the top spot this week.
Final Thoughts
What a show this week! While it is certainly too early to say where Takeover: Respect ranks among the NXT live specials they have produced, it certainly will deserve a second look when that discussion comes up in the future. If there was one word to describe this event, it would be emotional. This was an event not only to be seen, but felt as well. At this point, the only question remaining to ask is where does NXT and it’s characters go from here? Personally, I’ll be anxiously tuning in next week to find out!
