3 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE NXT (Jan 25)

Downs...

2. No Way Is Jose Remotely Entertaining

No Way Jose Kona Reeves
WWE.com

As promised last week - "promised" is a cruel word, in this context - No Way Jose squared off against Kona Reeves to settle their dispute.

It was, as you might expect, the forgettable and mediocre comedy match with which Jose has become synonymous. Inoffensive for the most part, it did raise the hackles when Jose again positioned himself as the dumbest wrestler on the planet. He bought Reeves' feigned olive branch and danced with him before eating the obvious elbow to the face. Traditional babyfaces barely work in the current landscape. A stupid babyface stands no chance. We're being given zero reasons to care about No Way Jose. His act is received with detached mirth by the all-too-ironic NXT crowd - but that they approved of Bull Dempsey just underlines that they are no reliable barometer of an act's popularity.

Even more dispiritingly, Jose's victory celebrations were interrupted by the toneless dirge that is Elias Samson's singing. That is also an accurate description of his entire act.

NXT, at its best, embodies the future of its marketing slogan - but this stand off, between a dancing dolt and a drifter troubadour, captured the zeitgeist about as well as Thurman 'Sparky' Plugg and Phantasio did in the dark days of 1995.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!