Welcome to this week’s edition of Ringside Intel’s NXT Recap! Every Thursday I’ll bring you a rundown of what happened on NXT the night before, with a bit of my own insights and commentary thrown in. Without further ado, let’s get into it!
After a rather lackluster post-TakeOver episode last week, NXT has returned to Full Sail arena and its usual self. I mean, who doesn’t like it when a show opens with a mysterious backstage attack?
BREAKING: #SAnitY has been ATTACKED outside @FullSail!!! #WWENXT@KillianDain@TheEricYoung@TheWWEWolfe@WWENetworkpic.twitter.com/rAcSEDWYsC
— WWE (@WWE) August 31, 2017
Alright, maybe it wasn’t all that mysterious. SAnitY was also attacked at TakeOver by Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish, so it would only make sense that they’re the culprits. But a solid and intriguing opening nonetheless!
Drew McIntyre’s Mission Statement
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r8Rm96rV8E]
The show officially opened with new NXT Champion Drew McIntyre (who also has my new favorite entrance music) putting the entire locker room on notice. McIntyre specifically called out O’Reilly, Fish, and Adam Cole – who attacked him following his defeat of Bobby Roode at TakeOver – but made it explicitly clear that he’ll fight anyone so long as they challenge him like men.
And challenge him like a man Roderick Strong did.
Strong vowed to beat McIntyre for the NXT title after he finished with Roode. I’ll be honest, Strong’s promo felt clunky and rehearsed, but I believed him nonetheless. He very much seems like the scrappy underdog to McIntyre’s prodigal son, and it’s always easy to root for an honorable, scrappy underdog.
But I’m a McIntyre fan. Sorry, Roddy.
Peyton Royce (w/ Billie Kay) def. Ruby Riot
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpPgZsfmpTg]
This match was okay. I personally haven’t seen anything from either Ruby Riot or Peyton Royce that gives me a reason to care about or root for or against either of them, but maybe this feud will change that. Billie Kay gave Riot a devastating big boot to the face outside the ring, so it’s pretty clear that Riot will have to recruit someone to help her defeat the Iconic Duo. The question is who – and the answer to that question will either make or break my interest in this storyline.
Although, I will say that Riot’s reversal of a kick from Royce into a powerbomb was pretty neat.