Tonight’s show finds us in NXT’s home base of Full Sail Live for the fourth episode from a taping (spoilers from which are here) that builds out from TakeOver: Chicago 2.
Here’s what to expect.
The Headliner(s)
When she steps into the ring with Kairi Sane and Candice LeRae for a Triple Threat which will determine who faces Shayna Baszler for the Women’s Championship in Brooklyn next month, it might be the last we see of Nikki Cross on the black-and-yellow brand. If this is her farewell, she heads to SmackDown (where she’s been working house shows lately) leaving a NXT women’s division she anchored for much of the last two years in the best shape it’s ever been.
I can already hear folks saying, “Wait just a minute there, blogger man! Are your forgetting about The Four Horsewomen? And Nikki’s cohort of Asuka, Peyton, Billie and Ember?”
No, to both the hypothetical questions I just put in your virtual mouths. But the difference between both those excellent versions of WWE’s Wednesday night women’s scene and the one we seem to be embarking on now is twofold. The roster is deeper, and creative appears determined to spend more time building more characters than ever before.
All the episodes from the last taping have centered around a promo Baszler gave claiming she doesn’t have any competition. Unlike when Asuka made similar claims and even her past and future rivals walked a tightrope of paying their respects to The Empress and arguing they deserved a(nother) chance to defeat her, this time around the focus has been on all the wrestlers lining up to respond to The Queen of Spades with some version of “uh, excuse me?”
Three of those women will face off in tonight’s main event. Triple H and team are so high on a fourth, Bianca Belair, they announced her for the match even though she was off on her honeymoon during the taping, then removed her due to a kayfabe injury just so they could make sure fans know she’s a main eventer. Don’t worry, Trips. We know.
But there’s also Dakota Kai, who’s being established as an underdog babyface threat after an earlier program with Shayna. And her opponent this week, Lacey Evans, is a wrestler improving in every appearance while working a heel gimmick that should piss off everyone for the wrong reasons - but thanks to Evans’ charisma has us booing her for storyline ones. Last week’s episode gave a spotlight to Vanessa Borne, who looked quite good putting over Sane.
Then there’s the incoming Mae Young Classic group, headlined by Io Shirai and Kacy Catanzaro. If rumors are true, Jinny and Toni Storm are getting ready to go from the MYC to anchor NXT UK’s women’s scene. And that doesn’t even get into folks who haven’t been given a chance to feature yet, like Tegan Nox.
It’s a really good time to be a women’s wrestling fan. And if you’re Triple H, a good time to run a second women’s tournament and possibly be planning an all-woman WWE Network special.
The Title Scene
We’re a week away from seeing their match (and hours away from it being taped) but Tommaso Ciampa didn’t wait to get his hands on NXT Champ Aleister Black. Minutes after a not-all-there Johnny Gargano warned Black about his former tag partner, Blackheart attacked and sent the champ to a local medical facility. We’ll likely get an update on his condition tonight.
Last Wednesday was a very Undisputed ERA-focused affair. Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong ruthlessly regained the Tag Team Championship by attacking the injured leg of Moustache Mountain’s Trent Seven until his partner Tyler Bate had to throw in the towel. And North American Titleholder Adam Cole made a strong statement with a clean win over Danny Burch.
Other stuff to keep an eye on:
- NXT’s player/coach Kassius Ohno will be in action tonight, probably putting over one of those singles stars who could feud with the North American Champ soon. Someone like EC3, Ricochet or Velveteen Dream.
- Presuming Trent and Tyler are taking whatever issues they have with them back to NXT UK, War Raiders would now seem poised to come after the tag straps.
NOTE: Spoilers are out there for these pre-taped broadcasts (including here), but many Cagesiders don't partake. If you are going to post or discuss spoilers for this show before they happen, or results of future shows, please use the spoiler bar in your comment.
See you tonight for NXT, Cagesiders!