4 Ups & 3 Downs From Last Night's WWE NXT (Jan 24)

2. Combustible Elements

After cutting the best promo of her NXT run on last week's show, Women's Champion Ember Moon was thrust into another character-driven segment this week, as she and Shayna Baszler conducted a sit-down interview with Percy Watson. Did it deliver? Absolutely.

Though her expressions still feel a tad over-the-top, Ember came off well. Playing her up as a fiery babyface determined to hold her spot against the cold, malevolent 'Queen Of Spades' is smart, and shows Moon in her best. Here, she criticised Shayna for shortcutting her way to the top, contrasted this with her own arduous journey, then promised to thwart the division's new menace.

Baszler was on another level, though. Her NXT run has proven divisive thus far, but in our eyes, she came off exactly like the uncaring badass she's supposed to be throughout this pre-taped segment. Shayna doesn't care about Ember's dreams, nor her journey. All she wants is the glory, and if the NXT Universe don't like her, they're just going to have to get used to her.

We could've done without the daft B-movie soundtrack music in the background, but this was a complete success in furthering both womens' characters ahead of their TakeOver bout. Let's hope it delivers.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.