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The Wednesday Night War Begins
A new era in the world of professional wrestling begins tonight as AEW and WWE are going head-to-head in the Wednesday Night Wars. NXT got a head start over AEW by airing two one hour episodes on the USA Network but the official 2-hour premiere takes places tonight. NXT has stacked the show as fans will be treated to a mini TakeOver special as the show will feature three championship matches. NXT will continue to broadcast live from Full Sail University and Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuiness and Beth Phoenix will call the action. Here’s what currently advertised for tonight’s show.
- NXT Championship Match: Adam Cole vs. Matt Riddle
- NXT Women’s Championship Match: Shayna Baszler vs. Candice LeRae
- NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Undisputed ERA vs. Street Profit
- Johnny Gargano vs. Shane Thorne
- The Velveteen Dream Experience
Matches and Segments:
NXT Championship Match: Adam Cole vs. Matt Riddle
Matt Riddle defeated Killian Dain in a Street Fight to earn a NXT Championship match. Cole confronted Riddle after the match and noted he’s not on the champions level. Riddle took exception and placed Cole in the Fujiwara Armbar as the rest of the Undisputed ERA ran down. The question is can The Original Bro put an end to Cole and The Undisputed ERA prophesy before it gets running.
Step inside the minds of @AdamColePro and @SuperKingofBros as they prepare to battle for the #NXTChampionship when a two-hour #WWENXT comes to @USA_Network THIS WEDNESDAY at 8/7 C with limited commercial interruptions! pic.twitter.com/zRm9MJDaqs
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) September 29, 2019
The prophecy will not end. #UndisputedERA #AdamColeBayBay pic.twitter.com/YbMv49DldJ
— Adam Cole (@AdamColePro) September 29, 2019
Amin’s Analysis: This should be terrific as Cole and Riddle will no doubt go all out to leave a lasting impression to show fans what NXT is capable of showcasing. It will be interesting to see the outcome because Undisputed ERA are the hottest act in NXT and I don’t think it’s time for Cole to lose the title. I wouldn’t be surprised if we get some sort of Dusty finish to keep this feud going. However, since this is the premiere episode on USA Network, I expect we will get a clear winner.
NXT Women’s Championship Match: Shayna Baszler vs. Candice LeRae
Candice LeRae defeated Bianca BeLair, Io Shirai and Mia Yim in a terrific Fatal-4-Way match to earn a NXT Women’s Championship match against Shayna Baszler. With the backing of Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir by her side, Baszler has dominated the NXT Women’s division and has held the NXT Women’s Title since last October. The question is can LeRae overcome the odds and end Baszler championship reign?
As we get closer to Wednesday’s title match between her and @QoSBaszler, @CandiceLeRae grows with aggression. #WWENXT #NXTStCharles pic.twitter.com/g2KLKBQqKf
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) September 29, 2019
Will @CandiceLeRae be all smiles after her match with @QoSBaszler on Wednesday’s #WWENXT? @USA_Network #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/dPi9Nfcftm
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) September 28, 2019
Amin’s Analysis: This is the match I’m guessing we will see a title change. My ideal scenario would be for LeRae to win and have my favourite wrestler Io Shirai challenge her. They can continue their rivalry after their awesome match at TakeOver: Toronto and have Shirai lead the women’s division. Baszler is ready should get called up to the main roster. The thinking could be Duke and Shafir aren’t ready for the main roster and that’s why Baszler is still in NXT as champion. It will be interesting to see what happen but I expect this to a good match.
Street Profit to challenge Undisputed ERA for the NXT Tag Team Titles
After a controversial finish at NXT TakeOver: Toronto, Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly became 2x NXT Tag Team Championship after defeating the Street Profit in August. The Street Profit have been missing from NXT as they having been making weekly appearances on WWE TV hyping up their flagship show RAW, NXT General Manager William Regal took to Twitter to announce the rematch. Just like Fish and O’Reilly, the Street Profit look to join the Undisputed ERA as the only 2x NXT Tag Team Champions
THEY'RE. STILL. N-X-T.
The #StreetProfits @AngeloDawkins & @MontezFordWWE battle #UndisputedERA's @KORcombat & @TheBobbyFish for the @WWENXT #TagTeamTitles THIS WEDNESDAY LIVE on @USA_Network at 8/7c! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/FFC2yrcQqC
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) October 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/MontezFordWWE/status/1178335407886471169
https://twitter.com/Wale/status/1179079667791335425
“There is something to be said about being the best,” and #UndisputedERA’s @KORcombat and @theBobbyFish plan on showing the world Wednesday on the two-hour @USA_Network LIVE premiere! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/97L4PXyCUI
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) September 27, 2019
Amin’s Analysis: With a great handful of tag teams in AEW, this is a great platform for both the Street Profit and Undisputed ERA to show just how good their tag team division can be if given an opportunity. I expect lots of action and this to be a very good match. Fish and O’Reilly are the best team in NXT and should remain the champions. One would think with the WWE Draft coming up and Street Profit making weekly appearances on RAW this could be their last match on NXT before getting officially called up to the main roster.
Johnny Gargano returns to action
After being left out of the NXT Breakout Tournament, Shane Thorne has took it on himself to make sure the spotlights shines on himself and wanted Johnny Gargano to take a walk. Johnny Wrestling responded by dropping Thore with a Superkick and noted he’s NXT “4 life.” The question is will Gargano show why he’s still one the biggest NXT stars or will the spotlight shine on Thore?
He IS right..
All it takes is just one kick.
See ya Wednesday on @USA_Network, Shane. https://t.co/tvODXff7Qe pic.twitter.com/omV5KaCj7d
— Johnny Gargano (@JohnnyGargano) September 27, 2019
Johnny shot first by I am the one who finishes things.
10/2 on @WWENXT we will see @JohnnyGargano one and done on the @USA_Network pic.twitter.com/yvP9kJTsDT— Shane Thorne (@ShaneThorneWWE) September 26, 2019
Amin’s Analysis: This will be Gargano’s first match since his 2-out-of-3 falls match with Cole at TakeOver: Toronto. Gargano is a terrific wrestler and I expect this to be a good match. I would like to see Gargano win and then have him move over to a bigger program especially with NXT being showcased on USA and going head-to-head with AEW.
Velveteen Dream to make an appearance on NXT
The Velveteen Dream will be appearing on the show to give the fans an experience and will likely respond to losing the NXT North American Title to Roderick Strong. What does former champion have in stored for both the NXT Universe and Strong.
Amin’s Analysis: Dream is one of the most charismatic superstars in WWE and this should be highly entertaining and likely set up a NXT North American Championship rematch.
The Big Takeaway from last week’s show
Keith Lee defeated Dominik Dijakovic in another terrific match. Riddle defeated Dain in a Street Fight to earn an NXT Championship match. Dakota Kai retuned to action and WALTER laid out KUSHIDA after he and Breezango defeated Imperium in a six-man tag team match.
Closing Thoughts
I expect this to be a terrific show and a great way to show new viewers how NXT is different compared to what wrestling fans usually see on Raw or Smackdown. I understand why they packaged the show because it’s the premiere two-hour debut on USA Network and it’s going head-to-head against AEW debut show. This will be a very interesting show to watch because it will be intriguing to see what angles come out of the show and where they go next because it would be hard to put on championship matches every week. I would also expect to see some longer video packages or promos to introduce the NXT stars to new fans.
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