8 Ups And 2 Downs From WWE NXT (Aug 31)

2. Roderick Strong Sends A Message

The Diamond Mine hasn't experienced the best of times in the wake of former member Tyler Rust being given the unceremonious boot and some inconsistent booking following that departure. However, the latest episode of black and gold fun seemed to hint at brighter things once again for Malcolm Bivens' squad.

Alongside the acquisitions of The Creed Brothers, towering over and watching on throughout, Strong was able to put on a clinic against a plucky, but ultimately unsuccessful Ikemen Jiro. Your writer will say it again, though, the jacket-sporting ball of charisma is an utter delight whenever he's given some time to shine, and that was the case once again last night; his jacket-assisted punches were a personal highlight.

However, once Strong had dropped his opponent onto the corner of the steel steps spine-first, the end result was pretty much a formality. Jiro attempted to fire back, but was absolutely massacred by two sickening suplex-backbreakers from the former UE star, with Strong quickly turning his attention to Cruiserweight Champion KUSHIDA as he closes in on his title shot.

Diamond Mine needed a shot in the arm, and this match/booking/recruitment provided them with just that.