6 Ups & 1 Downs From Last Night's WWE NXT (Jan 31)

5. Percy Ups His Game

Percy Watson Commentary
WWE

He's nobody's favourite announcer, but Percy Watson deserves credit for how he fared in Nigel McGuinness' absence this weekend. Typically the 'third man' in NXT's booth, he was tasked with stepping into the Englishman's sizeable shoes as a colour commentator, and while his performances won't have Nigel worrying about his position, Watson did a fine job.

Commentary is only bad if it actively detracts from the action. This is rarely the case with Percy, whose contributions are usually too rote and mundane to leave any sort of impression, but he raised his game over the weekend's tapings. Complete respect to him for jumping into the breach.

Watson's successful transition shows that the problem isn't the individuals, but the format. Three-person booths are redundant. Those in the Percy Watson/Byron Saxton role have nothing to say, and spend most of their time sitting idle, yet when given the opportunity to work a bigger role, they usually succeed. So why persist with crowded teams? Only WWE have the answer.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. 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.