{"id":100097,"date":"2021-09-08T15:41:06","date_gmt":"2021-09-08T19:41:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=100097"},"modified":"2021-09-08T15:41:06","modified_gmt":"2021-09-08T19:41:06","slug":"nxt-looks-ahead-last-episode","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2021\/09\/08\/nxt-looks-ahead-last-episode\/","title":{"rendered":"NXT Looks Ahead on Last \u2018Black and Gold\u2019 Episode"},"content":{"rendered":"

By now, all of the conjecture about changes at NXT <\/em>are not rumor, but fact. Its new<\/a>, paint-splashed logo, heralded by rapper (and diehard pro wrestling fan) Wale\u2019s<\/strong> new song, debuted on August 27. Its new direction, whatever that proves to be, debuts on NXT\u2019s upcoming installment on September 14. This news has seemed like the end of a beloved chapter in WWE\u2019s history for fans of NXT in its present incarnation. Just what is the \u2018secret sauce\u2019 of the black and gold brand? In The Tale of Genji, <\/em>Japanese novelist Murasaki Shikibu wrote that fiction displays both the best of human nature, and the oddest. So, too, did NXT make a home for the best WWE had to offer of pure athleticism in pro wrestling, but also some of its oddest characters. Whatever is up ahead, the best and the oddest is what NXT had on offer on September 7\u2019s episode.<\/p>\n

NXT Looks Ahead to New Era<\/h2>\n

First, the oddest. The Indi Hartwell\/Dexter Lumis <\/strong>romcom angle is marching toward the altar. Indi Hartwell\u2019s bachelorettes decided to spy on Dexter\u2019s bachelor party. Lumis, de facto future father-in-law Johnny Gargano,<\/strong> Drake Maverick, Odyssey Jones, Cameron Grimes,<\/strong> and a zombie referee who\u2019s apparently been hanging around decomposing since Halloween Havoc<\/em> enjoyed a day of ax throwing and laser tag. After Lumis\u2019s \u2018particular set of skills\u2019 helped Johnny along at laser tag, the two finally bonded-which, an eavesdropping Indi got to see for herself. It was a good day for The Way,<\/strong> and another wholesome installment of a surprisingly charming comedic storyline.<\/p>\n

September 7\u2019s episode was also heavy on hard-hitting matches, as per usual for NXT. Its been, by her own admission, a hard three months for Ember Moon.<\/strong> She and tag partner Shotzi <\/strong>lost the NXT women\u2019s tag team championships, then Shotzi decamped to the main roster and formed a new team with LeRae\u2019s former partner Tegan Nox<\/strong><\/a> on Friday Night SmackDown.<\/em> Singles matches have largely not gone Ember\u2019s way, and September 7 was no exception when she faced former NXT UK <\/em>women\u2019s champion Kay Lee Ray. <\/strong>The contest was a close one, and Moon fought hard. Victory came close but eluded her when she reversed Ray\u2019s attempt at a superkick, trapping her leg, rolling it over her shoulder, and hitting a powerbomb, covering for a pinfall win. But, Ray stayed alive, to Moon\u2019s visible frustration, and got the win instead. Interviewed backstage by McKenzie Mitchell,<\/strong> Ember alluded that it was time for a change in tactics, one of the many moments on September 7\u2019s show that seemed to look ahead to upcoming storylines-it remains to be seen if these angles will be followed up on given the brand\u2019s change of direction.<\/p>\n