3 Ups And 2 Downs From NXT (December 14)

Ups...

3. Show Structure

Though the positioning of the feud-ending Joe Vs. Nakamura match in the opener was slightly strange - it was if it was almost an inconvenience - the remainder of the show was structured in expert fashion. The objective was to ensure all four victors emerged as viable threats to Nakamura’s crown - and it was, in the main, a success.

Short exhibition matches, Andrade “Cien” Almas Vs. No Way Jose, Roderick Strong Vs. Elias Samson and Bobby Roode Vs. Oney Lorcan, while far from seminal, reinforced the main event bracket without making next week’s winner (too) obvious. All three matches were within the four to five minute range; consequently, it was difficult to separate Almas, Strong and Roode, all of whom were positioned, ahem, gloriously.

The qualifying matches were a minor triumph of episodic television. They were predictable by design; that predictability built towards next week’s Fatal Four-Way bout. The four men started the night on different points of the totem pole - but, as a result of booking as simple as it was impeccable, the field has been levelled.

Though Tye Dillinger’s tainted win against Eric Young, in contrast, was inauspicious in the extreme, it at least furthered an intriguing midcard subplot…