WEEKLY OVERVIEW – NXT (thru 3/21): Top stories of week, major show lineups, live event results, schedule of live events, noteworthy social media posts, more

By Robert Doherty, PWTorch Contributor

NXT Photo credit Scott Lunn (@ScottLunn)

SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...

The following is the latest in a new series of weekly in-depth articles exclusive to PWTorch which will help put in perspective major wrestling promotions with a weekly overview, looking at news and roster developments, results, future line-ups, social media activity, key interviews, plus a timely commentary at the end. We will be featuring similar features on other promotions each week and each will be updated weekly.


•Top Stories of the Week

  • The main event for NXT TakeOver:New York is set with Johnny Gargano taking on Adam Cole in a 2 out of 3 falls match for the vacant NXT Championship. Adam Cole defeated Ricochet, Matt Riddle, Velveteen Dream, and Alesiter Black in a fatal five way for the right to face Gargano at TakeOver.
  • WWE continues its pilfering of the independent wrestling scene with the signing of DJ Z. PWInsider was the first to report the signing and he will be reporting the WWE Performance Center under an NXT deal.
  • The main event on next weeks show will be the finals of the Dusty Rhodes Classic Tournament. Aleister Black and Ricochet will face The Forgotten Sons and the winner will go on to battle The War Raiders for their NXT Tag Team Championships at NXT TakeOver:New York.

•NXT Live Event Results

March 15 Venice, Fla.

  • Oney Lorcan beat Cezar Bononi
  • The Forgotten Sons beat Albert Hardie Jr and Trevor Lee
  • Mia Yim beat Marina Shafir
  • Brandan Vink beat Nick Comoroto
  • Humberto Carrillo and Raul Mendoza beat Matt Lee and Jeff Parker
  • Eric Bugenhagen beat Luke Menzies
  • Sean Waltman/XPac came out and thanked fans
  • Deonna Purrazzo beat Rachael Ellering
  • Matt Riddle beat Adam Cole via DQ

(Results courtesy of wrestling-news.net)

March 16 Ocala, Fla.

  • Raul Mendoza beat Luke Menzies
  • Deonna Purrazzo beat Kacey Catanzaro
  • Fabian Aichner beat Sam Shaw
  • Mansoor beat Saurav Gurjar
  • Jessie Elaban and Kairi Sane beat Karen Q and Rachael Ellering
  • Kassius Ohno beat Albert Hardie Jr.
  • Dominick Dijakovic beat Babatunde
  • Mat Riddle, Punishment Martinez, and Mia Yim beat Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong and Marina Shafir

(Results courtesy of wrestling-news.net)


•Upcoming Major Show Line-up: NXT TakeOver New York

NXT TakeOver New York
April 5, 2019
Brooklyn, NY (Barclays Center)

Projected Lineup:

  • War Raiders (NXT Tag Team Champion) vs. Winner of Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Tournament
  • Shayna Baszler (NXT Women’s Champion) vs. Bianca Belair vs. Io Shirai vs. Kairi Sane
  • Velveteen Dream (NXT North American Champion) vs. Matt Riddle
  • Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole 2 out of 3 falls match for the vacant NXT Championship
  • Pete Dunne (NXT UK Champion) vs. Walter

•Upcoming Events

Thursday Mar. 21 – Sanford Civic Center (Sanford, Fla.)
Friday Mar. 22 – University Area CDC Gymnasium (Tampa, Fla.)
Saturday Mar. 23 – Havert L. Fenn Center (Fort Pierce, Fla.)
Thursday Mar. 28 – Midtown Cultural and Educational Center (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
Friday Mar. 29 – Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center (Gainesville, Fla.)
Saturday Mar. 30 – Mark Lance Armory (St. Augustine, Fla.)
FRIDAY APR. 5 – BARCLAYS CENTER (BROOKLYN, NEW YORK) NXT TAKEOVER BROOKLYN
Friday Apr. 12 – Minnreg Hall (Largo, Fla.)
Thursday Apr. 18 – Lakeland Armory (Lakeland, Fla.)
Friday Apr. 19 – Maxwell Snyder Armory (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Thursday Apr. 25 – Orlando Live Events (Casselberry, Fla.)
Thursday Apr. 25 – Ralston Arena (Omaha, Neb.) JUST ADDED
Friday Apr. 26 – Rivercenter (Davenport, Iowa) JUST ADDED
Saturday Apr. 27 – Turner Hall Ballroom (Milwaukee, Wis.) JUST ADDED
Saturday Apr. 27 – Dade City Armory (Dade City, Fla.)
Saturday April. 28 – Roy Wilkins Auditorium (St. Paul, Minn.) JUST ADDED


•Latest TV Highlights: 3/20 NXT TV Report

  • Triple H in ring promo announcing fatal 5 way main event for right to fight Johnny Gargano at NXT TakeOver:New York (1:03 – 8:03)
  • Cathy Kelly locker room interview with Kona Reeves and The Forgotten Sons (9:10 – 10:50)
  • Tommaso Ciampa surgery video package (16:06 – 17:45)
  • Cathy Kelly backstage interview with Kairi Sane, Io Shirai, and Bianca Belair (20:08 – 24:24)
  • (1) Adam Cole beat Ricochet, Matt Riddle, Velveteen Dream, and Aleister Black (32:47 – 47:33)

(Check out PWTorch’s NXT TV Report 
HERE.)


•NXT in the media

  • On the Wrasslerap Podcast with Emilio Sparks, former WWE Creative member Kazeem Famuyide discussed a certain NXT superstar who has moved the needle on NXT ticket sales like no one else. “Ricochet is the first person in the history of NXT who, when he signed to the brand, there was a literal uptick in ticket sales to NXT.” Check out the podcast HERE.
  • Deadspin recently wrote a column on the rejuvenation of the manager position in WWE. NXT’s recent signing of Stokely Hathaway was their shining of example of WWE returning to the glory days when managers were big parts of storylines. Check out the column HERE.

•Latest NXT Podcast – “PWT Talks NXT” PWTorch Livecast

In this episode, Kelly Wells, Harley R. Pageot, and Tom Stoup cover the necessary evil of a new challenger for the NXT Championship, the work to be done to build a new feud with two weeks to go, the face/heel dynamic of NXT, and more.

-On Tune In Radio HERE
-On Apple Podcasts HERE
-Or search “PWTorch” or “Pro Wrestling Torch” on your podcast app of choice


•Top NXT Tweets of the Week

Last edition of Ciampa tweet of the week, and I couldn’t have said it better myself.

https://twitter.com/ProjectCiampa/status/1108535819546046466

Be careful what you wish for……

The main event is set and it’s his time, BayBay.

I agree, because she isn’t pinning Baszler for that title…unfortunately.


•Thoughts and Comments

  • Adam Cole is finally getting the NXT Championship match he’s deserved since debuting with the company nearly two years ago. He was the star of the fatal five way #1 contender match this week, and I think a champion Cole being chased by a face Gargano could be the feud that lasts through the summer – and I’m all in for that.
  • I find it very interesting that Dunne/Walter was added to the NXT TakeOver New York card. With a lineup featuring Velveteen Dream/Riddle and Cole/Gargano, I predict this match will be the one everyone will be talking about the next morning. Walter’s entrance is one of the best in WWE.
  • With the increasing amount of signings reporting to the Performance Center, it’s becoming clear that WWE is eventually positioning NXT to become its third live brand once the TV deal with Fox kicks in.
  • Jaxson Ryker needs to be a singles competitor immediately before he’s completely wasted an entire year as the third wheel on The Forgotten Sons. What are they waiting for?!?
  • Ciampa’s injury still sucks. If you are looking for a stomach churning moment in your life, watch the quick video on this week’s NXT where they are putting a metal plate in Tommaso’s neck. Get better soon, champ; we are all more entertained with you in our lives.

NOW CHECK OUT OTHER WEEKLY OVERVIEWS HERE.

OR JUMP TO LAST WEEK’S WWE OVERVIEW: WEEKLY OVERVIEW – NXT (thru 3/15): Top stories of week, major show lineups, live event results, schedule of live events, noteworthy social media posts, more

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