Chase U (c) vs Nathan Frazier & Axiom for NXT Tag Team Championship | Grade: A
Match Recap: Two thoughts before the match started proved to be true... Ridge Holland is a superstar waiting to breakout and Nathan Frazier and Axiom might just be the best tag team in any of the brands. The high-flying action was intense from start to finish as Frazier and Axiom have overcome their recent singles-effort distractions and got it together to earn back their championships.
After the match though, Holland - who always seemed about to lose it at even the concept of Chase U despite his words - snapped. He attacked everyone, including a Redeemer of Andre Chase on the announcer's table, leading to a stretcher having to come out to collect him.
Takeaway: The NXT, thanks no doubt to Booker T's influence, is becoming a breeding ground for top tag teams. I expect the duo to hold on for a little bit until Triple H deems them worthy for elevation as a team and then they'll lose. Meanwhile, Holland is going to be pointed at one of the men's championships in short order.
Wes Lee vs Zach Wentz | Grade: A-
Match Recap: Wentz can't sell all that well, but he's got a ton of moves and combined with his former tag-team partner and best friend there was spectacular action in this match. The match spilled outside and the announcer's table collapsed but that didn't stop Lee from climbing to the top turnbuckle and teabagging Lee. He tried to grab a chair but Tre Miguel, the third member of the Rascalz stopped it, leading to Wentz getting the diving takedown from the ring apron. UFO Cutter for Wentz and a victory.
Takeaway: Can't help but think that Lee's heel turn is more related to having him move up to the next level, although I'm not sure his character is fully developed. Still, he could easily be a Carmelo Hayes type. As for Wentz, he and Miguel appear destined to compete for tag titles.
Kelani Jordan (c) vs Wendy Choo for NXT North American Women's Championship | Grade: B-
Match Recap: Choo has found her groove as a psycho heel and it's worked pretty well. Jordan is extremely athletic and a champion but something is missing from Ms. NIL. A couple of botches and the crowd wasn't too into things.
Takeaway: Tatum Paxley coming out at the end of the match to put a clutch on Choo was the most interesting thing happening here.
Oba Femi (c) vs Tony D'Angelo for NXT North American Men's Championship | Grade: B+
Match Recap: D'Angelo was rather impressive with his power and ability to match Femi slam for slam. Femi had to pull off back-to-back Power Bombs, the last a sit down, to finally put the Don away.
Takeaway: It certainly feels like the matches for Femi have put him through more turmoil than normal, and it feels like he's getting ready to get bumped u soon.
Roxanne Perez (c) vs Jaida Parker for NXT's Women's Championship | Grade: A
Match Recap: The size difference between the two is huge. There's a reason they created the Parker rib injury as a storyline. Parker is a physical specimen. She even caught her flying out the ring and walked up the steps with her. Perez did great work outside the ring, having Parker in pain against the steps. Perez had her stretched out and landed several elbows, but Parker fought back and landed a mean Power Bomb.
A Spinebuster almost got Parker a three-count, A sla and top rope Tear Drop wasn't enougn either. A hip drop took them both out the ring but a nissed one gave Perez a chance for a Pop Rocks. Both women barely made it back into the ring before the 10 count and then Perez landed a second Pop Rocks for the victory.
Takeaway: It wasn't Parker's time, but she did unveil enough fan appeal that shows she's ready for bigger things, perhaps pointing her at Kelani Jordan. After the match, Guilia emerged from the back with theme music to enter the ring and challenge Perez.
Ethan Page (c) vs Joe Hendry for NXT World Championship | Grade:
Match Recap: Trick Williams, the special guest ref was clearly the biggest star to begin. Page controlled the early action. An Ego's Edge onto the ring apron almost had Hendry counted out. Hendry finally stemmed the tide and laded his own Edge in the ring and got a two count. Hendry landed the Standing Ovation but Page's leg was out the ring and Williams stopped the count.
Hendry argued with Williams and Page ended up knocking the ref out the ring. Page then pulled off his own Standing Ovation and then a backup ref raced in to count but Williams kept him from the three-count. Eventually a low blow was missed, and another Ego's Edge wins the title defense for Page.
Takeaway: GM Ava announced before the match that the winner would defend the title on the first NXT on CW, and that looks like when Williams will get his rematch then. What's unclear is what comes next for Hendry. The Scot is clearly popular across brands and it's a question of whether or not he's going to remain in NXT or get a call up soon.
