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Hot, Mid, or Trash?: A review for NXT 4/4/23

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WWE

Hot, Mid, or Trash?: A review for NXT 4/4/23

Opening Segment

Quick Hit: Indi Hartwell comes to the ring as the NXT Women’s Champion for the first time after securing the title at Stand & Deliver. Indi tells the crowd that the first person who will get a shot at her title is Roxanne Perez (To a course of boos). Almost immediately, Zoey Stark comes out and starts hating on the fact that Indi is the champion and asks her for a shot at the title, which Indi accepts.

Verdict: Trash

Editor’s Note: Since she’s a face, I guess Indi was obligated to give Zoey a title match after she came out hating on her, but in reality, she should have told her to “Fuck off” and go ask Shawn Michaels to give her a title match since she was in such a mood to run her mouth.

 

Tony D’Angelo and Stacks Lorenzo vs Pretty Deadly

Quick Hit: In a match born from a backstage segment between the two “teams”, Tony D’Angelo and Stacks did battle with Pretty Deadly. For the entirety of the match, the cohesion and tag team prowess of Pretty deadly was on display. Pretty deadly was able to get the win after they pulled off a form of “twin magic”, which led to Elton Prince bashing Tony D’Angelo’s head against a turnbuckle that was exposed earlier in the match. Prince then pinned D’Angelo for the victory.

Verdict: Mid

Editor’s Note: I already don’t buy Tony D’Angelo’s gimmick, I really don’t buy him in a team with Stacks Lorenzo. It all starts with D’Angelo’s gimmick. I love mafia movies so I know how this gimmick should work. Tony is supposed to be a mob boss but he only has one henchman and does all of his own dirty work. A mob boss gimmick is supposed to function almost like a “final boss”. He should have a stable under him that does all of his dirty work (Like fighting in tag team matches on his behalf). This guy only has one henchman and that henchman, for all intent and purposes is enhancement talent. He’s not even a heavy. If a boss only has one henchman, that guy better be menacing and dangerous and make fans ask, “Why is he following him?”. Other than that, I love Pretty Deadly and they should be on the main roster.

Dijak vs Odyssey Jones

Quick Hit: The two superheavyweights locked up in what should have been an highly anticipated match. The match lasted only a few minutes before Dijak put Jones down with a fireman’s carry slam and moonsault for the 1, 2, 3.

Verdict: Trash

Editor’s Note: I thought we were getting the rebirth of Dijakovic vs Keith Lee but all we got was a squash match. Jones got his ass beat and couldn’t even stay on his feet after the match. What a fucking let down.

Dragon Lee vs Nathan Frazer

Quick Hit: Before the match could get started, Noam Dar of all people, showed up out of nowhere with long hair and the Heritage Cup from the now defunct NXT UK. Dar told the competitors that he wants to see who deserved a shot at his Heritage Cup. After Dar’s antics, we were greeted with a fast paced, high octane match. The match featured some great spots by both Lee and Frazer. The match ended when Lee was able to put Frazer down with a running knee.

Verdict: HOT

Editor’s Note: Where the hell did Noam Dar come from? I’ve legit been asking, “What ever happened to Noam Dar”, for like 2 years. Dragon Lee, from his entrance, to his look, and his in-ring skills is a fucking star! Nathan Fazer is no slouch either, they both can go in the ring. Frazer needs one thing that Lee will never need, charisma on the mic. As long as Lee has the mask, he won’t need to be excellent on the stick. When you’re an extraordinary high flyer but can’t cut promos, you’re Ricochet. Honestly, I wasn’t tuning into NXT UK to know if Frazer can cut promos but I’ve never heard him talk until tonight and it was whatever.

Zoey Stark vs Indi Hartwell

Quick Hit: A very confident Zoey Stark took on Indi Hartwell for the NXT Women’s title. As expected, Zoey Stark started off the match strong as she looked to overwhelm Hartwell. Hartwell began to get in some offense but Stark kept finding a way to regain control. It looked like it was over when Stark with Hartwell with the half and half and the Z-360 but when Stark went for the pin, she got rolled-up and surprisingly loss. Tiffany Stratton came out to show that she wanted the next shot at Hartwell’s title, but that distraction allowed Cora Jade to attack Hartwell from behind.

Verdict: Mid

Editor’s Note: This match was OK. Zoey Stark could really help the main roster women’s division as her in-ring abilities would be too hard to deny.

Ivy Nile vs Tatum Paxley

Quick Hit: This was a hard hitting affair in the early portion of the match. Paxley tried to keep Nile grounded but Nile started to comeback with the strike game. Paxley tried to beg for her life but that didn’t stop Nile from making her tap with the choke hold.

Verdict: Mid

Editor’s Note: Look….I like Ivy Nile. No she isn’t the best wrestler in the world but I like her damn it! I feel like she is getting better in the ring.

Wes lee vs Axiom

Quick Hit: Just like the match between Dragon Lee and Nathan Frazer earlier in the night, the was a fast-paced affair. The match was extremely competitive and entertaining. Axiom went for the Golden Ratio but Wes Lee dodged it and hit Axiom with the Cardiac Kick then pinned him for the victory. After a post-match show of respect between the competitors, Scrypts appeared on the arena screen a made a cryptic threat towards Axiom. Scrypts then tried to attack Axiom from behind but ate a super kick.

Verdict: HOT

Editor’s Note: This match was a true banger. I expected Wes Lee to obviously win but the match was so well choreographed that I started to question who might win. Anyone who knows me will tell you how corny I think the Axiom gimmick is. The whole Matrix-like entrance is super corny. When Srypts aka Reggie, a wrestler whose gimmick is even cornier than Axiom’s, tried to attack Axiom and got his fucking head kicked off. I think it might have me turning the corner on Axiom.

 

Closing Segment

Carmello Hayes and Trick Williams came to the ring in celebratory fashion. They played the hits as HIM and Trick bragged about being the champion. Melo gave his Stand and Deliver opponent and former champion respect and asked him to come to the ring. Braun came out and played the part of a gracious former champion. Braun tried to leave and Melo called him back for another handshake. Braun ended up attacking Melo and Trick and left them laying to close the show.

Verdict: HOT

Editor’s Note: Thank god Braun turned heel!(I think). He needed that change. Now I’m looking forward to how heel Braun is used.

 

Overall Verdict for the 4/4/23 NXT: HOT

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