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

2. Storyline Development

Dillinger Wolfe
WWE.com

Midway through the programme, Tye Dillinger addressed his future in an interview segment. It was a decent performance; his delivery was as earnest as it was engaging, and he generally came across as the likeable bloke he is.

He was soon interrupted by the SAnitY faction of Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe and Nikki Cross. Incidentally, the faction’s theme, CFO$’s ‘Controlled Chaos’, deserve praise, lost as it has been amid the gloriousness of, erm, Bobby Roode’s ‘Glorious Domination’. Those deranged time signatures capture the tone of the act perfectly.

The segment dragged on when Eric Young suggested that Dillinger join the group. “I know, I’m laying a lot on you right now,” Young said. That wasn’t strictly true; he more or less used ten sentences to deliver the same point. The endgame was predictable - it was obvious that Dillinger was going to refuse what Young then turned into a demand, only to receive a pummelling at the hands of Damo - but it was a logical development which set-up an intriguing midcard match at TakeOver: San Antonio.

The segment achieved its dual objective of capping Damo’s arc and reorienting the Dillinger character. The latter’s San Antonio match opposite Eric Young should bolster the undercard nicely - and unlike Andrade “Cien” Almas Vs. Roderick Strong, it hasn’t sprung from out of nowhere.

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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!