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

2. Awesome Video Packages

Roode Regal Naka
WWE.com

Bobby Roode, Shinsuke Nakamura, DIY and the Authors of Pain did not make an appearance on last night's episode, but their services weren't required. NXT's excellent production department compensated for the inauspicious hype by producing two cracking video packages.

The tape hyping the tag Team Title match was marginally the better of the two. The Authors of Pain often struggle, even in short matches, because they are unable to engage crowds outside of their basic power move repertoire - but re-contextualised in a devastating highlights video package, in which Paul Ellering was astutely cast as a sermon-spouting godly leader, they looked supernaturally devastating. Unstoppable. And, contrasted beautifully with DIY's uplifting and arduous journey, ominous.

If Johnny Gargano and Tomasso Ciampa can make them look even half as good as they did here, they might overtake The Revival as the best tag team on the planet.

There was one incredible touch in the NXT Title bout preview; as the orchestra began to swell, building up to Roode's 'Glorious Domination' theme, it was brought to an abrupt halt when footage was played of Nakamura sticking his hand in Roode's face. It planted the idea, with some subtlety, that Nakamura is set to similarly quell Roode's ascendancy on Saturday, making the prospect all the more enticing.

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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!