Howdy Folks! Going forward, NXT Weekly will be shifting format. Rather than focusing solely on breaking down the matches and events of the weekly NXT Broadcast, Pro Wrestling Post will be looking at events that transpired in and outside of the ring through the past 7 days. Here is the NXT Weekly for 06/08/20.
The Voice of the Voiceless?
Unfortunately for the wrestlers of NXT, CM Punk is unable to help with this one.
Much speculation has been made surrounding the working conditions of the live “audience” being used during WWE tapings. This past week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter shed a bit of light on the situation.
The Observer first states that WWE took several weeks to pull the trigger on having NXT talent play the role of the audience for all televised shows. According to the Observer, this was because the company didn’t want to be seen to be copying the AEW format. AEW have been utilizing wrestlers to fill in seats from the beginning of the “empty-arena” era.
Tapings on May 25 and May 26 were 12 hour days, and those in the audience were forbidden to sit down unless it was between matches. Furthermore, many talents were said to have lost their voice during the first day due to the strain of keeping the energy up for such a prolonged period of time.
NXT Weekly for 06/08/20
Lio Rush Speaks Out
With the current volatile situation surrounding the death of George Floyd and worldwide protests demanding conversation and changes to institutionalized racism within the police system and society in general, Lio Rush has taken to Instagram this week to share an e-mail he wrote to WWE officials back in 2018 surrounding his discomfort in certain things requested of him.
Rush reveals his concerns regarding racial insensitivity, and his complicity in remaining silent for too long.
On This Day: June 7th, 2010
10 years ago yesterday, the original 8-man Nexus faction made their debut. The stable featured all 8 contestants of the very first season of the very first iteration of NXT. The Nexus debut remains one of the most impactful moments in WWE history. With the chaos portrayed and the destruction of the ring and surrounding area having never been seen before.
NXT Weekly for 06/08/20
Drake Maverick Has A Job
On this past week’s NXT Broadcast, Maverick came up short in his chase for the Interim NXT Championship when he was distracted by the masked assailants. These assailants have been wreaking havoc in the Performance Centre parking lot over the past few months. The masked goons entered the actual building for the first time when they entered the arena during the main event. Maverick dived into the mysterious men, which allowed El Hijo del Fantasma to capitalize on the distraction. With the distraction, Fantasma secured the victory and the Title.
Maverick was then greeted on the entrance ramp by Triple H who presented him with a new NXT Contract.
On a personal note, I have been openly critical of this entire angle from the get-go, and the resolution has done very little to change my perception that the entire thing was incredibly tasteless and did no one any favors.
Breaking down the list of casualties from this debacle…
El Hijo del Fantasma won the title in the most heelish way possible, despite the heavy investment in him by NXT as a babyface. Maverick looks like an idiot for allowing something to distract him from his “last shot”.
And finally, the viewers are now presented with the narrative that WWE is a magnanimous company that has done a great and generous thing by giving Drake Maverick a contract; when in fact there was absolutely no reason to fire him in the first place since WWE reported record quarter earning shortly after the layoffs. Furthermore, Maverick is now most likely signed to a contract that is a fraction of what he was originally making.
Using the reality of a worldwide pandemic on a performer’s ability to make a living, when in fact the company in question is the sole reason for the performer being in this situation in the first place is absolutely disgusting and there should be much more backlash to this angle than there actually is.
NXT Weekly for 06/08/20
In Your House Fallout
NXT Takeover was an excellent event that concluded feuds, introduced future stars, and crowned a new Champion.
Keith Lee was able to retain his NXT North American Championship against Johnny Gargano, valiantly fighting through an eye injury inflicted by the challenger.
Finn Balor defeated Damian Priest despite a terrific showing for Priest.
Shotzi Blackheart, Mia Yim, and Tegan Nox defeated Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzalez, and Candice LeRae. This was after Yim and LeRae took themselves out of the match by wandering into the back.
Adam Cole retained his NXT Championship against Velveteen Dream in a Backlot Brawl. He extended his already lengthy reign. In doing so, ensuring that Dream may never challenge for the NXT Title while Cole is Champion again.
Karrion Kross defeated Tommaso Ciampa in his Takeover debut. Kross dominated Ciampa throughout and was made to look like an absolute monster.
And finally, in the main event of the evening, Io Shirai defeated Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley to win the NXT Women’s Championship for the first time. This ended Flair’s 12th Championship reign and solidifying herself as the face of the Women’s Divison.
Coming off the heels of a Takeover, next week’s NXT is sure to deliver many memorable moments in and out of the ring. Stay with Pro Wrestling Post for all your NXT News!
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