4 Ups & 3 Downs From Last Night's WWE NXT (Jan 24)
Gargano takes Center Stage.
Last night saw NXT finally wave goodbye to Atlanta's Center Stage Theatre after four hours of fantastic weekly programming, and while not as stacked as their last few offerings, WWE's developmental brand delivered a solid go-home show ahead of TakeOver: Philadelphia.
The night was built around Johnny Gargano vs. Velveteen Dream. Having risen to Zelina Vega's challenge one week prior, the ex-DIY man put his guarantee NXT Championship shot on the line against the surging rookie, but would the bout hit the same heights as recent clashes with Pete Dunne and Kassius Ohno? Chances are you already know the answer.
There were developments in the women's division as Ember Moon and Shayna Baszler clashed in a taped interview segment, and The Authors Of Pain were back to their destructive best on the tag scene. Elsewhere, we got another TM61 video package, an excellent Aleister Black vs. Adam Cole highlight reel, and squashes for Bianca Belair and the returning No Way Jose.
A good show all round, but it's hard to shake the feeling that NXT could've done more to get us hyped for Philly. Still, only fool would bet against TakeOver delivering these days.
Let's dive into it...