7 Ups & 3 Downs From Last Night's WWE NXT (Oct 23)

In which NXT gives AEW hell at long last.

by Michael Sidgwick
Finn Balor
WWE.com

NOTE: Some ‘Ups’ are far more meaningful than certain ‘Downs’.

NXT has settled into itself—for the better.

It’s no longer the reactionary, desperate show that diminishes the prestige of an otherwise main event-worthy Championship match. Adam Cole Vs. Matt Riddle was a banquet of intensity, physicality and conditioning fought at 100mph—but it felt somewhat hollow because it was clearly promoted to spite AEW’s big premiere. This in no way helped the emerging vibrant babyface versus stale tweener narrative that has enveloped this Wednesday Night War.

This week’s show followed last week’s less showy but more foundational programme, the benefit of which is a better long-term serial. NXT has reverted to the formula that best serves it. There remains an emotional disconnect from too many of the characters, one informed by the way in which the angles are framed. The formula is thus:

Wrestler X wins match. Wrestler Y lays them out with a brief, one-sided beat-down and “stands tall”, main roster-style.

Or, alternatively: Wrestler X wins match, motions to retreat up the entrance ramp. Wrestler Y emerges with entrance music to stare them down in a very civil, staged confrontation—an IRL match graphic that just…sort of…ends.

NXT literally impaled that cynicism last night.

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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!