A lot of people predicted a clean sweep for the Undisputed ERA at NXT TakeOver: Toronto. While Adam Cole was able to lengthen his championship reign, his stablemates weren't successful. This week's episode gave the ERA another chance at fulfilling part of their prophecy by pitting Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish against the Street Profits for the NXT Tag Team Championships.
Let's cut straight to the chase. Everybody felt the wrong team won at NXT TakeOver: Toronto. However, The ERA wasted no time in correcting that by winning the titles just three weeks after. In the process, Kyle O'Reilly now holds the distinction of being the only three-time NXT Tag Team Champion.
I've always said that the Golden Era they're pushing for should come to fruition. It raises the legitimacy of both the group and of the titles they hold because they're such great performers. This could also help usher in NXT's move to the USA Network as they build a story that is engaging—a whole roster trying to topple a championship faction.
Meanwhile, the Street Profits won't really lose much without the titles. In terms of exposure, they're pretty much covered by their main roster stint. In fact, they can freely compete on RAW now without making NXT look weak. They can win or lose on the main roster and it wouldn't have an effect on the black-and-yellow brand now.
This episode also provides a rightful challenger to Shayna Baszler's NXT Women's Championship in the form of former NXT UK Women's Champion Rhea Ripley.
I was never in it for Mia Yim vs. Shayna Baszler. I thought it was the weakest of all the matches on NXT TakeOver: Toronto because I didn't think Yim was in the right spot yet. Ripley carries the subtle intensity that Yim lacks. I actually think she's a perfect match for the champ. Just watch that promo and see what I mean.
Lastly, the other two matches didn't do much for me. It's sad that the Dominik Dijakovic/Keith Lee match had little effect on me because, a few months back, everybody had their eyes on these two behemoths. Fast forward to a few injuries later and now, we're just following Lee's losing streak. I'd hate to see Lee get cut from NXT but it'll be hard to bounce back from a storyline like this.
Grade: B+
Not-So-Full Sails
- Roderick Strong should really win the NXT North American Championship. He now runs the risk of being tagged as the weakest link in the team.
- Would the Street Profits really be making their in-ring debut on RAW soon? Rumors suggest that WWE will be beefing up the tag team division for NXT's USA Network debut so the likelihood of them staying is still high.
- Predicting the next NXT TakeOver card matches, we'll likely get Shirai vs. LeRae (again) and Ripley vs. Baszler.
Would you like to see the Undisputed ERA hold all of NXT's gold? Do you think the Street Profits are really leaving NXT? Sound off in the comments section below.
Photos and videos from WWE
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Miguel “The Migz” Llado is your supposed style icon and NXT reviewer at the Smark Henry offices. A lover of everything music, wrestling, videogames, and food, he lives his life tweeting his mind off (@the_migz) and ‘gramming random food items and locations (@tha_migz) as he sets on his journey to completely do things spontaneously. You can also add him on PSN (MigzLlado) to show your WWE2K19 (or any PS4) skills. When not being a smark, he lives his life being (and trying to be) an awesome architect, musician extraordinaire and armchair fantasy booker.
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