8 Ups And 0 Downs From WWE NXT (Sep 7)

7. The Legado Numbers Game Pays Off

You'd be forgiven for seeing the title of this particular Up and rolling your eyes at what has become an increasingly tired trope in the land of professional wrestling. However, in the case of last night's use of the nefarious tactic during Santos Escobar and Carmelo Hayes' entertaining throw down, it actually worked a treat for all concerned.

The 2021 NXT Breakout Tournament winner proved that he could hang with the experienced likes of the former Cruiserweight Champion here and then some, fighting out of Escobar's trademark ability to grind out his opponents with stifling submissions and snug strikes by flipping and springboarding into the driver's seat. Hell, he even flipped out of a pin into a superkick at one point!

Even when it looked like Hayes had bitten off more than he could chew, eating a nasty Boston crab on the steel steps and being caught with a stiff knee mid-springboard, the newcomer found a way to stay in it. Yet, the minute the action found its way to the outside on the back of Hayes' signature jumping DDT to the apron, Legado del Fantasma were always expected to strike. And strike they did.

Only this time, instead of Wilde and Mendoza doing Escobar's dirty work, a powerful Elektra Lopez went out of her way to slam Hayes into the floor behind the ref's back. One Phantom Driver later, Escobar had successfully dodged the Hayes-shaped bullet, Lopez had shown off her freakish strength, and Hayes had an understandable reason for not overcoming the odds on this occasion.

Well played.