Hola NXT fans and welcome to this week’s NXT Redux. Josue here and I’ll be covering NXT for Matthew this week. The ongoing rivalry between Nikki Cross and Bianca Belair rages on and with there being no winner in their last bout, these Superstars will go one-on-one once again in what is being dubbed a ‘double main-event’.
.@QoSBaszler. She's very dangerous. #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/qUUr8cCpRO
— WWE (@WWE) October 18, 2018
Enter the ring. Win. Leave. #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/HQqJjjeaiM
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) October 18, 2018
Before we get there, let’s first check in with Shayna Baszler who is in action this week against Britt Baker. Baszler is looking to build up momentum ahead of NXT Women’s Championship rematch between Kairi Sane at Evolution. After a fireman takedown, Baszler targets the arm – wrenching and stomping over it. Enough damage is done for the referee to call for the bell thus ending the quick match and awarding Baszler with the win. As Baker tries to head to the back, Baszler charges in with a knee strike that takes Baker down once more.
Time for our main event:
The bell sounds off and Cross charges after Belair, taking her down with a running crossbody. Belair rolls through for the ground and pound but the action spills to the outside. Belair tosses Cross to the ring apron and tries to then send her to the steel steps but it backfires when Cross reverses.
When the action returns back in the ring, Cross stays in control with a Monkey Flip and a dropkick. She charges after Belair but Belair is ready this time and catches her midflight for a fallaway slam. Belair keeps Cross grounded with a fury of stomps and then locks in a neck submission. Cross fights out of it, ducks under a clothesline and takes Belair down with a head scissors. Belair replies in a big way with a dropkick and a standing moonsualt for a two count.
Belair lifts Cross into an elevated double chicken wing but Cross escapes with a roll-up. After connecting a running shoulder tackle, Belair climbs the top turnbuckle but Cross stays on her trail, knocking her off the apron and into the Tree of Woe. After multiple kicks to the midsection, Cross takes Belair down with a bulldog and then hits a crossbody from the top turnbuckle for a near fall.
Tremendous show of strength from @BiancaBelairWWE!
?? https://t.co/ePt5TzD6sU pic.twitter.com/3nndbKEm1u
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) October 18, 2018
Belair creates some separation with a strong forearm and then a spear but Cross kicks out each time Belair goes for the cover. Belair switches gears and deadlifts Cross for a sitout powerbomb but Cross continues to stay alive! Belair meets Cross at a corner and orders that she stay down. Belair scoops Cross up to a military press, showcasing her strength but Cross slips out of it and counters with a DDT. Another near fall.
?? https://t.co/ePt5TzD6sU pic.twitter.com/DlEIlmFOhW
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) October 18, 2018
Cross goes to the top turnbuckle again but Belair hair whips Cross in the midsection. Belair attempts a top turnbuckle attack of her own but Cross meets her there and takes her down with a Superplex. Both women go down when suddenly the lights go out! When they come back on, a returning Alister Black is sitting in the middle of the ring… much to Cross’ amusement. She slowly approaches Black, whispers something in his ear that sets him off in a rage to close out the show.
Thoughts: WOW!!! What a main event match! I know many of us have already said it but Bianca Belair IS a star and Nikki Cross is just incredible! Now, I can admit to being one of those fans who was upset that Cross was left behind while her SAnitY team members were called up to the main roster but with matches like this and Cross being the secret keeper behind Alister Black’s whodunit mystery, I’m glad she has had more time to stay in NXT. I would love to see either, or even both, women in the title scene.
I would rib Black stopping such an action paced match but at least, for now, this can allow for Belair and Cross to continue their feud… maybe even have a Round 3 match at Evolution? We know that the NXT Women’s Title match between Kairi Sane and Shayna Baszler is already set but what about the rumors that other NXT Superstars in Bianca Belair, Io Shirai, Jessamyn Duke, Candice LaRae, Dakota Kai, and Marina Shafir being at the show as well?
With WWE’s track record following this week’s Raw and SmackDown, it wouldn’t surprise me if they decided to just throw the NXT Superstars in their own Battle Royal just to add up the numbers of their promise of 50 women being featured. And that’s not even including the NXT UK Women’s Title match that has yet to be announced! Will it still be defended at Evolution? *Sigh* As someone who was ecstatic at the announcement of WWE’s all-women PPV and as a fan who is attending Evolution, this is not how I was expecting things to play out in the final weeks before the event. Who knows what next week’s set of Evolution go home show from WWE’s programming will bring but please surprise us with something good WWE. Please?
What did you think of this week’s NXT? Would you like to see Bianca Belair and Nikki Cross continue their fued? Who are you rooting for at Evolution? Let us know in the comments below!
