WWE NXT Review: Results, Analysis, and Grades for October 19

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 12:11 a.m. ET

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Source: WWE.com

Find out everything that happened on Wednesday’s episode of WWE NXT. The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic continues, and a big name makes his NXT debut.

Previously on WWE NXT, Shinsuke Nakamura made his return from injury to confront Samoa Joe. Apparently, the NXT Champion finally had enough of the destruction Joe brought to the roster. When they finally came face to face, it was Nakamura who got the upper hand quickly. Security was unable to keep the two apart as Joe was leveled with a Kinshasa.

In other action last week, the much-heralded debut of SAnitY finally happened. It’s not one superstar, or two, or even three – SAnitY is a stable of four competitors. Led by Eric Young, and accompanied by Nikki Cross, Sawyer Fulton, and Alexander Wolfe were victorious in their debut as a team.

Fulton and Wolfe defeated Bobby Roode and Tye Dillinger, although Roode’s involvement in the contest was somewhat limited. In fact, Roode never even took his robe off, leaving Dillinger to absorb a quick beating in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic first round match. Backstage, Roode verbally lambasted Dillinger, blaming his weakness for the loss.

What’s in store this week? The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will continue. WWE has announced two first round matches for this week’s show, including one for Austin Aries and his mystery partner. Who has a strong enough personality to hang with The Greatest Man That Ever Lived? We’ll find out as they take on Tucker Knight and Otis Dozovic.

In the other match, No Way Jose teams with Rich Swann to face Drew Gulak and Tony Nese. The cruiserweights always bring excitement to the ring, and Jose has the party. It should be an interesting contest.

Please continue reading to find out everything that happened on this week’s episode of WWE NXT.

No Way Jose & Rich Swann vs. Drew Gulak & Tony Nese

Result: No Way Jose & Rich Swann defeated Drew Gulak & Tony Nese via pinfall

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Serious question: did Gulak and Nese get put in a team together because they had ring gear with the same color scheme? Not complaining at all, but it really seems like that was it.

Nese and Gulak have displayed impressive chemistry in their limited time as an official team. Yes, getting an entrance video with both your names on it means you’re an official team. Tonight was no exception, but Jose and Swann also worked well together.

Seeing Jose as a giant in this match was interesting. He’s never really been portrayed as “super strong,” but in a match where the other three competitors are from the Cruiserweight division, you’re automatically at a size advantage. Watching him carry Nese around like a baby was a little surreal (especially because the dirty little secret is that Nese is likely still stronger).

I’ve never been a fan of a real tag team losing to a pair of wrestlers thrown together for the heck of it, but whatever. Jose and Swann are two of the most over superstars in NXT, and Nese and Gulak have plenty of time to do more work as a team in the future. Plus, Jose and Swann meeting the Authors of Pain in round two is going to be ridiculous.

Tye Dillinger Backstage

In the latest in the series “Why Bryan Wishes He Could Make It To Toronto for TakeOver,” Dillinger takes a break from icing his shoulder to challenge Roode to a match. It’s granted, and I’ve never wanted to make an eleven hour drive more in my life. Two great superstars with an actual, meaningful, well told story? More of this, please.

Source: WWE.com

Austin Aries Backstage

Aries refusing to discuss both his partner and the power of potassium? It’s all business tonight for A Double. Curious to see if the Itami feud is just put in a holding pattern until Hideo is back from his latest injury. Right now that seems to be the plan.

Bobby Roode vs. Sean Maluta

Result: Bobby Roode vs. Sean Maluta via pinfall

Rating: 2.1 out of 5 stars

Roode is on a different level in terms of character work right now. Part of it is where he’s fallen in terms of storylines, but he’s managed to deter the crowds who desperately want to cheer him and get the boos he should be getting. Going up against NXT’s biggest babyface Tye Dillinger makes it a little easier to get those boos.

But the sheer delusion Roode spews about the circumstances of Glorious Perfection coming into being is borderline sociopathic. Usually a deluded heel at least has some semblance of fact on their side, but not Roode. He is literally just blatantly lying.

Here, the match against Maluta is classic NXT “Step One.” Every set of tapings, the first episode or two is basically made up of mostly meaningless matches that get you to a post-match segment that moves the story forward. Roode beats Maluta with a finisher more befitting him than a pump handle slam (especially since he can work the pose into the move). That sets up Roode basically calling out Dillinger.

And right on cue, Tye comes out and the brawl is on. On a three hour episode of Raw, we get the same matches over and over, and the guys with matches at the pay per view are constantly fighting each other on free TV. Instead of “Kofi beats Cesaro on Raw, watch Hell in a Cell for The New Day vs. Cesaro & Sheamus,” why can’t we get like Cesaro beating Bo Dallas or something, and get the New Day in a post-match segment like here?

Otis Dozovic & Tucker Knight vs. Austin Aries & Roderick Strong

Result: Austin Aries & Roderick Strong defeated Otis Dozovic & Tucker Knight via pinfall

Rating: 2.3 out of 5 stars

It had been speculated for a while, and confirmed at last week’s NXT tapings, but Roderick Strong finally made his on-camera debut tonight. Strong joins the likes of Aries, Bobby Roode, Samoa Joe, and others who made a big name elsewhere and got to bring most of their history with them to NXT.

I just want to point out quickly that thus far, just about every match in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic has been fairly competitive. With the exception of The Bollywood Boyz against the Authors of Pain, no team has been badly outclassed. Knight and Dozovic looked really good tonight, holding their own against Aries and Strong.

I’ve been one of the biggest proponents for Knight every time he’s appeared on NXT in the past. Hopefully, this team with Dozovic gives him the chance to clear the hurdle from “random enhancement talent” to “midcard tag team standout” and beyond. And Dozovic has some agility for a big man, not to mention ridiculous strength.

The round two match between Aries & Strong and TM61 will be an interesting one. It’s not likely that Strong won’t be a part of TakeOver, likely in the semifinals of the Dusty Classic. TM61 is in dire need of a big victory, though. With Hideo Itami on the shelf, Aries has nothing else going on at the moment. I can’t wait to see how this goes down.

Andrade “Cien” Almas Backstage

Almas, via interpreter, claims that he tried to do things the right way with respect. But since he hasn’t been shown any respect, he doesn’t care about that anymore. From here on out, Almas is all about Almas. So, the heel turn is complete yet again? This was kind of an unnecessary segment, since nothing has changed.

Source: WWE.com

Nikki Cross (w/ SAnitY) vs. Danielle Kamela

Result: Danielle Kamela defeated Nikki Cross via disqualification

Rating: 2.0 out of 5 stars

So many good things in this segment. First off – and I didn’t talk about this much last week – having Nikki Cross in the SAnitY stable is great. Too often (like almost always) a stable is either all male superstars or all female superstars. Why not mix it up? Why shouldn’t Cross be aligned with Eric Young and the rest of SAnitY? It opens up great avenues for future storylines.

Second, when was the last time you saw a women’s match end via castigo excesivo? (Castiga excesiva?) Cross wins the match convincingly, but – after possibly some prodding by Young – decides to go back to punish Kamela some more. Multiple officials can’t pull a suddenly rabid Cross off her downed opponent, so the decision is reversed. It’s excellent. Unpredictability is a wonderful thing, especially for all of us who think we know everything that’s going to happen.

Two weeks in and I’m liking SAnitY. In fact, the only thing I don’t like is the annoying capitalization when I’m writing about them. I AM NOT A GREAT TYPER, NXT CREATIVE TEAM, STOP MAKING ME GO TO THE SHIFT KEY SO MUCH.

Liv Morgan Backstage

Kudos to Peyton Royce and Billie Kay for sparing us from a Liv Morgan promo. I know she needs to develop, but her mic skills need more seasoning off camera right now.

Also, Royce and Kay threw down the challenge to all the women in NXT, including Asuka? Haha, what? Ignoring the weird facial contortions from Royce, I can’t wait until Asuka demolishes both women in like four seconds.

Shinsuke Nakamura Addresses The NXT Fans

The match has already been announced – Nakamura and Samoa Joe have their rematch at TakeOver: Toronto. But NXT is all about showing the fans the entire journey – going from point A to Z, and actually hitting B-Y as well. So we get this quick little segment where Nak tells Joe to come get him.

But the real story is the quiet confirmation that Patrick Clark’s new gimmick is “NXT Prince.” Not royalty, but the late rock and roll legend from Minnesota. The Purple Rain guy. In 2016. Corey Graves dropping “1999” in there just solidifies it.

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Personally, I think it’s a bad idea for a variety of reasons. But let’s focus one the big one – Clark is doing a gimmick where he’s literally trying to be someone else. Ask Damien Sandow how that went for him. Sorry, ask Aron Rex how that went for him, at least until TNA goes under.

Granted, Clark isn’t shooting to be the face of NXT yet. But look at all the top guys from WWE’s history, and show me one who got himself or herself over by cosplaying someone else. Steve Austin wasn’t ripping anyone off. Neither was The Rock, The Undertaker, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, etc. etc. etc. NXT is a place to grow a gimmick, not work out your stand up comedy impression gig.

Anyway, Nakamura is disgusted by the appearance of Clark, he briefly gets distracted by Joe, but not so badly he can’t knock Clark out with a Kinshasa. Nak is back, and the march to TakeOver: Toronto officially begins.

What did you think of this week’s episode of WWE NXT?

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