NXT this week was all about the build to TakeOver in Tampa that will take place the night before WrestleMania. The six-woman number one contender Ladder Match scheduled for that event has the capacity to steal the show. Heading into tonight we only knew one person involved in this upcoming opportunity and that was Chelsea Green. After tonight we have two more competitors announced.
Tonight had two qualifying matches. The first was the advertised Dakota Kai vs. Mia Yim. Kai had her back-up in the form of Raquel Gonzalez. Despite Gonzalez’s best attempts to keep Yim down behind the referee’s back, it didn’t seem enough for Kai to pull out a win. Yim comes out with a win and becomes the second entrant in the six-woman Ladder Match.
The second qualifier involved Kai’s recent rival Tegan Nox as she faced Deonna Purrazzo. Much unlike Kai, Nox was able to pick up a victory and advance as she joins Yim and Chelsea Green for TakeOver. Nox nor Kai interfered in each others matches which makes one wonder if the end of their feud was last week in the steel cage. Many expected another big match between the two as a second women’s match in Tampa.
Personally, the Kai vs. Yim match sold more for me then the Nox vs Purrazzo. However, this was the change to give Purrazzo that push and they didn’t pull the trigger.
Other than the two matches we did see another confrontation between Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley. This was slightly better than the brief moment on RAW. Instead of just a one and done punch, the two actually brawled and Flair got the advantage by placing Ripley in a Figure Four around the ring post.
Let’s discuss the Winners & Losers of the week.
WINNER: Tegan Nox
After falling twice to Dakota in both the Street Fight and Steel Cage matches, Tegan needed this win. Although it wasn’t fully expected without knowing if Tegan vs. Dakota is still a feud or not.
Tegan’s road hasn’t been easy. Having injuries to both of her knees before even following her footing hasn’t been the best start to anyone’s dream career. Although she has been receiving losses more than wins, her push is inevitable. She could very well win the Ladder Match at TakeOver.
WINNER: Mia Yim
Mia picking up a win is good for her now that we know that Tegan is in the match. If the Tegan match was on first, I would have 100% thought that Dakota would enter the match as well. Since it was done the way it was done it was a huge advantage to Mia.
She has an advantage as well as she has been recently in a ladder match just a few months ago. She lost that match, but mainly due to the fact of Kay Lee Ray‘s interference.
LOSER: Deonna Purrazzo
This was Deonna’s chance to receive a push and enter into her first TakeOver match. Much like Chelsea, Deonna could use more exposure. Tegan and Mia are seen weekly and both have had TakeOver matches. Deonna was a big miss to not allow her to move forward.
What did you think of this week’s show? Who were your Winners & Losers? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
