7 Ups & 0 Downs From Last Night's WWE NXT (Feb 14)
5. High Stakes
There was no sign of Johnny Gargano, Zelina Vega, or Andrade 'Cien' Almas in Center Stage Theater last night, but we were treated to a typically excellent recap package from WWE's video production team, building up their upcoming NXT Championship rematch, which will apparently take place next week.
Nobody expects them to recreate TakeOver: Philadelphia's five-star classic within the confines of a TV studio, but it's still a mouthwatering proposition. This feud doesn't need video packages to build excitement, yet NXT still succeeding in raising anticipation levels last night, such was the recap's effectiveness.
There were short snippets of all that's happened between Gargano and Almas lately, focusing primarily on last week's confrontation, which saw Vega effectively goad 'Johnny Wrestling' into a 'Loser Leaves NXT' bout. Granted, those who read the spoilers already know the outcome, but it's the perfect stipulation. Gargano is the most universally beloved wrestler on the brand. Nobody wants to see him go away, and the threat of that nightmare becoming a reality guarantees investment.