The Best And Worst Of WWE NXT 2/28/18: 24 Hour Revenge Therapy


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Previously on the Best and Worst of WWE NXT: F*ck you, F*ckface Ciampa.

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And now, the Best and Worst of WWE NXT for February 28, 2018. I never felt like this before, I say that every hour.

Best: I Love You So Much It’s Killing Us Both

The frustratingly unexplained slide of underage wunderkind Tyler Bate down the card continues on this episode of NXT, as he squared off against the white-hot Velveteen Dream for a more-than-competent match that still left something to be desired. As it should, really: These two could conceivably be main-eventing pay-per-views on WWE’s main roster in a few years, so you don’t want to burn through your Rolodex of moves now.

Dream earned the victory, too, putting in good work throughout (that spinebuster was top notch). Yeah, he crotched Bate on the ropes to set up for the Purple Rainmaker, but that’s not exactly cheating, just taking advantage of the situation.

Given that the commentary team is playing into Bate’s losing streak coupled with the reveal of Bate teaming with Trent Seven in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic leads me to believe we’re in for another loss in that tourney’s first round, followed by a heel turn on Seven. If that’s where this is headed, okay; “turn heel” is one way to make a character exciting again. Granted, his theme music and current mannerisms wouldn’t fit and would make for some seriously awkward entrances (see also: Sami Zayn), but if they paired Bate up with Pete Dunne ala Zayn and Kevin Owens, there could be some magic to be made.

Best: Jinx Removing

It feels like I bounce back and forth on the Undisputed Era every other week, and that’s less because I’m a flip-flopper and more because their storyline has been agonizingly inconsistent and stop-started. But for those who have laughed at me calling them the mWo before, this week should shut y’all up right quick, as this was vintage nWo shenanigans. Adam Cole squares off against the considerably bigger and stronger Cezar Bononi but throws him off his game by inviting him to join his stable. Of course, it was a ruse, but the distraction gave Cole enough time to strike first, and to let his stablemates Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish get involved too.

Personally, I would’ve liked all three guys to just brutally beat down Bononi after the T-shirt swerve, before the bell even rang, but that’s just me. Either way, this felt like a step in the right direction for a somewhat-directionless faction.

Best: Do You Still Hate Me?

In a rematch of the Mae Young Championship finals, Kairi Sane goes up against the buzzsaw that is Shayna Ba(e)szler. It was a safe assumption Baszler was going over here, but they got there in a fun way, from Sane’s unusual rollup attempt at the top of the match, to Baszler delivering some stiff kicks, to Sane’s interceptor spear (which, let’s be honest, should just become the Pounce). It was good, healthy competition that didn’t feel like too much of a rerun from their previous encounter.

The only thing I didn’t love, though, was the ending sequence: Baszler goes for the Kirifuda Driver, which is a vertical suplex into a rear naked choke. But with Sane, there was no real impact with the suplex, as she just sort of fell to her butt, right into chokeout position. Ideally, I’d like to see this take the shape of Sasha Banks’ Banks Statement, where she connects with a Backstabber and immediately rolls into the submission. It looks way more fluid and natural than putting someone up for a suplex, gently putting them down, then choking them out. Next time, actually connect with the suplex, Shayna. (Also, please don’t murder me for suggesting you alter your finisher.)

Supplemental Best to Baszler putting the fear of God into (and possibly a little urine in the pants of) the announce team as she called out Ember Moon. Her “I’m either leaving with her title or leaving with a limb” line could have been cheesy in the wrong mouth, but she delivered it perfectly. Shayna Baszler is the reason I double-check my deadbolt before I go to bed each night.

Worst: Unfun

It’s been a while since Andrade “Cien” Almas has cut a promo in the middle of an NXT ring — 11 weeks, to be precise — but the streak … is over. Perhaps I should get one of those Smoky The Bear “___ weeks since our last forest fire” sign to hang up here at With Spandex HQ.

What I’m trying to say is NEVER PUT A MIC IN ANDRADE ALMAS’ HANDS AGAIN, THANKS.

Just a dreadfully underwhelming dud of a promo, the complete opposite of Almas’ in-ring skill. There’s a reason Zelina Vega does all the talking for him, and she should continue to do so, at least until he gets more comfortable with speaking English.

Aleister Black appearing out of the ether, mic in hand, ostensibly to challenge Almas looked awesome, though. The crowd was hella into it, too, so much so that when Killian Dain interrupted him, they were kinda like, “Wait, what? Oh, right, these guys had a thing the other week, I guess that has to pay off first.” The NXT Universe is ready as hell to see Aleister Black with gold around his waist. Can it be TakeOver: New Orleans yet?

Next Week: The 2018 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic begins, as TM61 fights Authors Of Pain. Winners advance, losers go home (or get called up to the main roster, possibly). See you then!

Last but not least: I’m gonna be at #NXTCleveland this Friday, and I’d love to meet any of you if you’re gonna be there! I look like this, so chat me up and tell me how wrong I am about Vanessa Borne or whatever.

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