Snap Thoughts: NXT CW Debut October 1st 2024

Hello all as I try out a new article type as my various intrusive thoughts (and my mountain or puro I have waiting) have lead me to do a quick and dirty breakdown of my thoughts on the NXT debut. This is very informal and I’m trying not to step on the toes of our own Tommy as he will assuredly deliver a much more in-depth and detailed review, but these are just my brief Good, Bad, Meh thoughts on the debut of NXT on CW!

Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Giulia – NXT Women’s Championship

MOTN as Roxanne and Giulia clearly had some learning curves to overcome, but Roxanne is a top-tier worker and Giulia is a top-tier wrestler and they managed to figure something out. There were clunky bits but it felt like a big deal and I definitely want to see them lock up 1-2 more times at the very least. Also pleased that I called the Cora Jade interference win and while I’m not a Cora Jade fan, I like the booking decision and I’m glad Giulia is debuting on her back foot, she’s a person who thrives in ugly conflict, not an Asuka-esque winning streak.

This was Good.

We got some various skits that were of a mixed bag, Fraxiom teasing dissent again before A-Town Down Under is fine, but Nathan Frazer remains incredibly unlikeable. I have no idea who the babyface is in all of this but I guess it was acceptable.

This was Meh.

Wes Lee vs. Zachary Wentz – Street Fight

Way too spot-heavy for what they were going for, and also way too long, but when you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Wes winning is the right call, and he makes sense as an opponent for something that’s upcoming, but overall I think this feud has failed and NXT has a serious midcard issue for their men’s division.

This was Bad.

Now we get Miz TV with…well the Miz and also Oba Femi and Tony D’Angelo to set up their North American Championship rematch. Oba is very good on the mic and super over with the crowd, as his casual arrogance did very well. Tony got What’d and recovered well, but honestly the Miz added very little. His broad make ’em laugh charisma wasn’t a good addition here, but I’m into the Oba vs Tony deal and this promo advanced that.

This was Good.

Jaida Parker and Lola Vice vs. Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley and Jacy Jayne)

Pretty regular sloppy tag-match with Jaida and Lola repeatedly teasing dissent before Jaida walks out and Lola gets beat. I’m glad FI got a win for once, but having Jaida tease a heel run while Lola stays face is not the right call, at all. Bad match with backwards booking. We got the gift of Kelani Jordan on commentary throughout the match, and she was very not good. Post-match we had a brawl with Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair equalizing and honestly it just makes the NXT women look small-time.

This was Bad.

We then get a promo where Randy Orton kinda puts over Je’Von Evans but mostly just says he’s looking forward to delivering a tremendous RKO to the rookie. I absolutely support this and that’s 100% the right way to build the match cause we know Evans is losing.

This was Good.

Ethan Page (c) vs. Trick Williams – NXT Championship

So we had CM Punk as special guest referee, and he immediately made everybody look small potatoes as he told the wrestlers what’s what and was the most charismatic man in the match. The bout itself was slow, sloppy (from Trick) and bland (from Ethan). Just two guys doing stuff and then Punk made himself very notable at the end and Trick won. Everybody but Punk looks worse after the match and I’m starting to have real questions about Trick as a singles wrestler. He is not good and he’s only had like…one good match match since his push has begun, obviously that matters less for WWE, but it does still matter and he needs to at least appear like he’s a big star when the bell rings. As to Punk, I have no idea why he would do this and him immediately destroying Page post-match only helps make everybody look like garbage.

This was Bad.

Overall this closer to a bad Takeover than what I like from NXT, which is the bizarre random sketches the very cohesive backstage atmosphere. I get them touring as a debut to make them appear like big deals, but this was not an impressive showcase and I hope NXT goes back to its small ball roots. Better luck next week.