Every Major Wrestling Debut TV Show Ranked From Worst To Best
3. WWE NXT’s USA Network Debut
To use an old video game reference, there was a touch of ‘blast processing’ about NXT’s debut on the USA Network; in lieu of any gripping emotional hooks, the black-and-gold brand went for the deafening sensory overload of pure excitement. From the first until the last minute, from the heavy Slipknot-penned theme to the (somewhat forced) chaos of the closing brawl, this was, albeit very unintentionally, the sort of show Cody’s dog Pharaoh would whimper at.
On that limited but astute premise—a mission statement more than a pilot—the show very much succeeded.
The Fatal 4-Way #1 Contender’s Women’s match was a rip-roaring, creative spot-fest; Velveteen Dream lost the North American Title—but not the ardent love of the crowd, despite an uneven performance—to Roderick Strong in a very good match that wasn’t a classic, but was received as one, regardless; the shock appearance of WALTER set up a dream match opposite KUSHIDA in an effective angle that was still lower case in its creativity; Lio Rush and Oney Lorcan stole the show with a lung-bursting (and face-bursting) sprint; and, in a hollow, “big” finale, the Matt Riddle Vs. Killian Dain Street Fight ended in a schmozz.
A reassuringly authentic introduction to the casuals, the show, odd sub-TakeOver format aside, was more than good enough to concern the competition—Kenny Omega specifically.