NXT FEUD TRACKER: Brandler’s look at top feuds and evaluating their progress including the state of challengers Grayson Waller and Kelani Jordan

This week’s edition of NXT gave us two title matches and a six-match match to determine the number one contender for the men’s NXT Heavyweight Championship. It also gave us some future directions for other title contenders.

NXT MENS HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE:
Men’s Champion: Grayson Waller

Prior to the main event, both teams teased dissension amongst its members. Tony D’Angelo & Mason Rook & Saquon Shugars vs. EK Prosper & Cruz Montana, & Keanu Carver, was a hard-hitting match which made everyone look good. As soon as a new member tagged in he went on offense. There was surprising, good teamwork until Carver and Montana had a miscue. This led to both fighting on the outside. Inside the ring, D’Angelo and Rooks had words which led to Rooks placing Tony D in a Fireman’s carry. He turned that into a cannonball move onto Prosper. Rooks then hit his finisher for the win. Next week: Tony D. vs. Mason Rooks vs. Saquon Shugars. The winner will be the number one contender for Grayson Waller’s title.

Brandler’s Bit: This match was solid. It accomplished the task of figuring out potential contenders and probably set up a match between Cruz Montana and Keanu Carver. Tony D’Angelo is the odds-on choice to win next week since he needs his rematch for the title. Mason Rooks has gone from wrestling in a filler match to main event status in two weeks’ time, so he is on the way up. Saquon Shugars or as Booker T annoyingly and repeatedly calls him “the Sugar Man” has little or no upward mobility.

NXT WOMEN’S TITLE:
Women’s Champion: Kelani Jordan
Kelani Jordan vs. Jaida Parker for the Women’s NXT Title

This match was a great contrast in styles between the highly athletic Jordan and the powerful Parker. Jordan looked confident and strong. Kelani was able to use her high flying, gymnastics background to hit moves and avoid Parker’s power. Late in the match, Jaida was able to use the “Rings of Saturn” for a near tap out. Jaida went to hit her “Hipnotic” finisher, but Kelani got out of the way. She followed up with her “One of a Kind” split legged moonsault for the successful title defense. After the match, an angry Kendo Stick swinging Wren Sinclair showed up. She pasted Jordan and the ref. Wren stated that she was sticking up for her best friend Kendal Grey who was put out of commission by Jordan at Heatwave. Later in the show, Wren was suspended by General Manager

Robert Stone for her post-match actions.

Brandler’s Bit: First, a great match between Jaida and Kelani. According to Vic on commentary, Jaida and Kelani are tied with two wins apiece. Will we get a tiebreaker?

Also, with Kelani appearing on Raw on Monday night in a Triple Threat match for a spot in the Money in the Bank match, does that mean her stay in NXT will be shortened?

I am excited by the new fiery personality for Wren Sinclair. On Tuesday, she was no longer the very supportive sympathetic sidekick. She was a woman with revenge on her mind. Love it!!

ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…

Check out the latest episode of “PWT Talks NXT” with Kelly Wells and Nate Lindberg, part of the PWTorch Dailycast line-up: CLICK HERE to stream (or search “pwtorch” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)

NXT MEN’S NORTH AMERICAN TITLE:
Champion: Jackson Drake

Jackson Drake vs. Tavion Heights for the NXT North American Title. This match had the backstory of former champion Myles Bourne’s turn on Heights. In a social media video, he says that he overreacted and feels bad for his actions. A fired-up Heights initially took over with high impact throws and suplexes. Drake then took over on offense complete with interference from Baylor. At some point in the match, Drake suffered an “ankle injury.” This was an elaborate injury complete with Drake taking off his boot and socks. He worked the rest of the match in that fashion and overcame the injury. Jackson hit a running knee strike into a 450 splash for the successful title defense.

Brandler’s Bit: The Bourne vs. Heights soap opera is playing out. We have Heights who loses way more than he wins and appears to be about to boil over. The fact that he continues to lose almost explains Bourne’s turn. However, Bourne says he has remorse and will publicly apologize next week.

Jackson Drake is one of Booker T’s “fave fives” and at 23 years old is an amazing talent. However, his selling of the “ankle injury” in this match was unrealistic. How can anyone with an injured ankle do the following things: climb the ropes to do a 450 splash, run during a match, or do any dozen other things that he did? Either sell the injury and modify your offense or don’t have the injury.

NXT WOMEN’S NORTH AMERICAN TITLE:
Champion: Zaria

Tonight we had promos for the North American title. Zaria stated that she is going to show everyone why she is the most dominant NXT North American Champion. Izzy Dame returned. She was situated on the platform above the ring. She used some psychological head games to create doubt and fear in Zaria. Thea Hail came out which ultimately chased Izzy to the back. Zaria and Thea had some back-and-forth trash talk. This confrontation led to Hail putting Zaria in the Kimura Lock. Zaria tapped out.

Brandler’s Bit: Nice old school segment. Ric Flair in his day as NWA champion put over a new challenger many times using the same “playbook.” The visual tap out by Zaria to the Kimura tells us that Hail could win a match between the two of them despite their tremendous size differences. It’s nice to see Izzy Dame back in the North American title picture. A Dame vs. Zaria match is a big money match.

MID-CARD MATCHES

There was a backstage segment between William Regal, Findlay and Birthright. The elders instructed the second generationers to take what they feel they deserve. This led to a great promo by Charlie Dempsey. Dempsey stated “…. We are getting tired of being pushed aside by former football players who want to be wrestlers. We are wrestlers and deserve respect….” He called out Zilla Fatu again. He and Findlay’s son, Uriah Connors, told him that Fatu had no choice but to join Birthright. Fatu emphatically stated, “Hell No.” This led to a five on one beat down in which Birthright power bombed Fatu through the announce table “Shield Style.”

Brandler’s Bit: Great Promo by Dempsey. He had a very Bret Hart-like delivery and tone. It was very serious, very firm, and very direct. Promos like these show that if Dempsey is allowed to be a serious wrestler, he could move up the card.
There was only one Mid Card match. It involved the Creed Brothers Julius and Brutus taking on Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno. This occurred because of a post-match attack on Dar and Moreno by the Creeds. This match was a great contrast between the babyface highflyers who were seeking revenge vs the powerful established tag team. As a result, this contrast led to a great match. The ending came when Julius and Brutus double slammed Dar for the pinfall win.

Brandler’s Bit: The Creeds are real life brothers. Julius is 32, Brutus is 30. They are incredibly talented wrestlers. The Tag Team division is in transition, so the timing of the Creeds coming in now is perfect. Moreno is 24 years old and he is going to be a great singles performer that the fans can get behind. At 33 Dar has been wrestling for 18 years so he is the perfect partner for the youthful Moreno. NXT has three very solid tag team contenders for the current champs, The Vanity Project, in the Creeds, Moreno & Dar, and DVD & Legacy.

NEXT WEEK ON NXT

• Triple Threat Match to determine the number one contender for Grayson Waller’s Men’s Heavyweight title: Tony D’Angelo vs. Mason Rook vs. Saquon Shugars (Will Tony D get a rematch in a singles match?)
• Lizzie Rain vs. Kali Armstrong(these two are on the next rung for championship matches)
• Dark State vs. Sean Legacy & Dorian Van Dux (DVD) (Is the Dark State push over or are they retooling?)
• Myles Bourne will apologize to Tavion Heights (Really?)