WWE NXT Recap, Grades, & Opinion: September 11, 2019 -

WWE NXT Recap: September 11, 2019

A.K.A The One Where Rhea Ripley Became Legit

This episode of NXT is the last one before the show goes live on the USA Network next week. Four matches are slated to take place. The first is Damian Priest taking on Boa from the NXT Breakout Tournament. The second is now a dream match of mine as Pete Dunne is scheduled to face Angel Garza. Cameron Grimes is going one-on-one with Raul Mendoza in the third match. The main event of the evening is the highly anticipated non-title match between NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler and Rhea Ripley. All of that and more, tonight on WWE NXT.

Results:

Damian Priest def. Boa
Pete Dunne def. Angel Garza
Cameron Grimes def. Raul Mendoza
Shayna Baszler (c) def. Rhea Ripley via DQ

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Match of the Night: Pete Dunne def. Angel Garza

There will be no in-depth analyzing of this match as I normally do with the ‘Match of the Night’ because I genuinely want you guys to go out and watch this match.

These two put on a very entertaining match and was a contrast of personalities. Dunne was the bruiser and rugged badass while Garza was the playboy fun guy who was trying to hard to be flashy. Dunne won in the end in an unusual fashion, a result that makes sense because Roderick Strong is so winning the NXT North American Championship and Dunne is definitely going to challenge him for it.

Again, I won’t break down the match because I want you guys to seek this out. You really won’t be disappointed.

Three Thoughts:

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

Johnny Gargano has been pondering a major question since NXT Takeover: Toronto: stay in NXT or head to the main roster? Gargano came out to a massive ovation. Nobody will ever be as over with the Full Sail audience as Johnny Gargano. After a little bit of banter and narrating his thought process over the past few weeks, Shane Thorne came out to confront Gargano. Thorne has been vocal about Gargano taking time away from people more deserving of it. Thorne came out to usher Johnny Wrestling out of NXT after it seemed like he was going to announce his decision to move to the main roster. Instead, he Superkicked Thorne into oblivion and exclaimed that he was staying in NXT.

All we can say now is…

JOHNNY WRESTLING! 👏👏👏👏👏#WWENXT @JohnnyGargano pic.twitter.com/gA5lShbCOn

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) September 12, 2019

Gotta love Johnny Wrestling.

A New Foe Approaches

Rhea Ripley really made it seem like she was going to beat Shayna Baszler. While Ripley technically lost the match after smashing Baszler with a chair, she was made a huge star on this episode of NXT. The show starting with Ripley pulling up to the arena and walking into the building looking like the biggest badass. This was before the opening theme started playing.

NXT General Manager William Regal announced that if Rhea Ripley won this match, she would be inserted into the number one contender’s match next week on the first live episode of NXT on the USA Network. Ripley fared very well against Baszler and had the match in hand had it not been for the other two Horsewomen coming out to interfere and Baszler grabbing a chair. Baszler was sent running away, seeming like she was scared of Ripley. A job very well done at building Ripley as a star.

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The Prophecy Awaits

The Undisputed Era had a great video promo to end the show. The group vowed that on the first live episode of NXT their prophecy will be fulfilled when Roderick Strong wins the NXT North American Championship and Fish and O’Reilly retain against the Street Profits to give the group all of the gold. It showed how awesome the group is on the mic and especially showed how great Adam Cole is at talking. The group will win all of the gold next week and, quite frankly, they should hold it all.

4️⃣ Superstars. 3️⃣ Champions. 1️⃣ prophecy.

Will it finally be fulfilled?@AdamColePro @KORcombat @theBobbyFish @RoderickStrong #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/5T0BnE0AIb

— WWE (@WWE) September 12, 2019

Grade: B

NXT was fun this week. Damiam Priest came out for the opening match and let his presence captivate me and everyone watching. Velveteen Dream had a strange, over-produced promo package that really didn’t do anything for me but was made to help build the title match next week. I’m genuinely excited for that match. It could be one of the best matches of the year if given the proper time. The Johnny Gargano segment was a fun little look at how over Gargano is with the NXT crowd. I’m a fan of Shane Thorne so I’m excited to see that match when it finally does happen.

Pete Dunne and Angel Garza made me very happy so check it out, please. Cameron Grimes and Raul Mendoza was a throwaway play but I’m interested in this psycho hillbilly character of Grimes. Rhea Ripley was a huge star throughout the show and while it was clear that she and Shayna Baszler held back in their match for a bigger one coming down the road, it was still a good match. As always, NXT gets a great grade and you need to watch it. Class dismissed.

One More Thing:

The first live episode of NXT is absolutely stacked. Matt Riddle is facing Killian Dain in a street fight. Candice LeRae was added to the number one contender’s match for the NXT Women’s Championship so that is now a Fatal 4-Way that features Mia Yim, who I believe will win, Bianca Belair, Io Shirai, and Candice LeRae. Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly will defend their NXT Tag Team Championships against former champions the Street Profits. Finally, NXT North American Champion Velveteen Dream defends his title against Roderick Strong. Talk about loaded.

NXT #WomensChampion @QoSBaszler's next challenger will be determined NEXT WEEK in a #Fatal4Way during #WWENXT's 2-hour LIVE premiere!@MiaYim @CandiceLeRae @shirai_io @BiancaBelairWWE https://t.co/PWNgVmCrJf

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) September 12, 2019

Javier Melo is a writer of Pro Wrestling for Full Press Coverage and an Assistant Sports Editor for the Massachusetts Daily Collegian. Follow Javier @JMeloSports on Twitter.