3 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE NXT (January 18, 2017)

Neither glorious nor inglorious.

by Michael Sidgwick
Tye Dillinger

NXT, by the very nature of the programme, is in a constant state of flux - but, unlike the brand’s apex year of 2015, the winning conveyor belt formula is in danger of spluttering.

TakeOver: Brooklyn, on August 22, 2015, was headlined by Finn Bálor Vs. Kevin Owens - a ladder match battle between two of the most fawned-over indy darlings on the planet - but it wasn’t even the best thing on the card. Match Of The Night - arguably Match Of The Year - honours went to Bayley and Sasha Banks’ gripping and emotional Women’s Title bout. Observing the action at ringside was Asuka. The conveyor belt cycled along with perfect momentum.

The plight of the Women’s division - which is so thin on over acts that the creative team has been compelled to hang a lantern on the lack of competition - crystallises the gradual decline of what was the most beloved wrestling (operative word) brand on the planet.

That this week’s episode of NXT failed to deliver too much in the way of entertainment value, even without an appearance from the X-Pac heat generators that are Billie Kay and Peyton Royce, underscores that the rot makes no concession to gender…

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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 current Undisputed WWE 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!