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

by Michael Sidgwick

1. A (Just About) Good (Enough) Main Event Segment

Roode Regal Naka
WWE.com

The heavily-hyped contract signing main event segment, setting up Bobby Roode’s San Antonio challenge of Shinsuke Nakamura’s NXT Championship, delivered - in spite of itself.

It started gloriously enough, even if the TakeOver: Dallas ticket stub presented to Nakamura last week was a retconned MacGuffin. Bobby Roode was in fine form, distancing himself from the universal praise bestowed upon Nakamura from all angles. “I’ve followed your career in Japan,” he surmised. “I never really thought you were worth my time,” he added, to searing heat.

That heat was doused when the segment degenerated into the sort of playground mudslinging which has smeared RAW in sh*t for years. As funny as it was, Roode’s mimicking of Nakamura’s hair and mannerisms was hardly fitting of a serious, high stakes main event series. He poked fun at his outfit, too.

What is it with WWE and clothes? What does the company find so funny about them? Nakamura’s red leather jacket was treated with the same disdain as Chris Jericho’s scarf. How does one man making fun of another man’s clothes build hype for a wrestling match?

It ended well enough - Nakamura’s “I’m gonna kick your head off” capper drew the required gasps - but the oddly comedic tone very nearly undermined a segment that really should have written itself.

Star power saved it - but, ominously, that star power is in short supply elsewhere.

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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!