The Good, The Borne, and The Beast: NXT
05/06/2025
– A Tale of Titans, Turncoats, and Title Dreams
Lo and behold, upon the hallowed grounds of Orlando did the warriors of NXT gather to wage war—not merely for pride, but for legacy. With Battleground on the horizon, this week’s chapter was naught but a proving ground draped in steel and ambition.
The Good:
Giants Collide, Queens Rise: Jordynne Grace and Giulia offered a masterclass in brutality and brilliance. Grace, all strength and suplex, roared through the storm and felled the Stardom queen with backfists and Beast Mode thunder. The crowd rose, the barricades shook, and Stephanie Vaquer’s entrance post-match sealed the prophecy: the title match to come shall be glorious.
The Unexpected Victor: Myles Borne, once a background footnote in the No Quarter Catch Crew saga, emerged as the sole survivor of a 25-man battle royal teeming with chaos, eliminations, and surprise returns (Elijah, anyone?). His triumph—clean, emphatic, and against the odds—sets the stage for a potential seismic shift in NXT’s top ranks.
Jaida Parker, Certified Problem: Her hip attack finishes are vicious, her post-match promos venomous, and her upward momentum unmistakable. Give it six moons, and she shall grace the main roster stage.
The Bad:
DarkState Wins, But At What Cost? The six-man opener was chaotic fun, yes—but this faction still feels like an unsorted deck of cards. Interchangeable parts with no clear face cards. Trick Williams’ interference with Joe Hendry made sense narratively, but the actual winners? Forgettable.
Petrovic’s Plateau: Karmen Petrovic has the moves, the look, and the platform—but her matches now echo past iterations. She's in danger of becoming NXT’s designated enhancement talent in fancy gear unless something shifts dramatically.
The Ugly:
Split-Screen Sabotage: Once again, WWE insists on cutting to fast-food commercials mid-match, sacrificing momentum for mozzarella sticks. Even State Farm pigeons can’t save this one. Ye gods, let us watch our battles in peace!
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Final Thoughts:
This episode was a strong squire to last week’s knight. Grace vs. Vaquer is the women’s match to watch. Hendry vs. Trick—TNA title included—is an audacious first. And Borne? He might just be the uncut gem of this era, with Oba Femi looming large as his test of destiny.
A tale well told, with more yet to unfold. What say you—shall Myles Borne rise, or be stretched into obscurity?
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly – WWE NXT Edition
04/29/2025
Sami Zayn came out and cooked Seth Rollins like a backyard brisket. He questioned the faux revolution brewing under Seth, Bron Breakker, and their shady handler Heyman, asking the million-dollar question: “How are you any different from Roman or Punk?” Cue existential crisis.
Jey Uso vs. Logan Paul build-up was classic stuff: cocky heel YouTuber versus the heart-of-gold babyface who hugs kids at ringside and drops Yeets like it’s 2023 again. Logan plays the slimeball perfectly, and Jey finally has a feud that doesn’t revolve around family therapy.
Lyra Valkyria shined on the mic and in the beatdown department. Her promo against Becky was the best she’s ever sounded, and the post-segment attack felt heated. A potential career-making moment, and Becky sold it like a pro.
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The Bad
Seth's Super Team Is Still Just Seth’s Ego Trip
Seth Rollins keeps saying “This isn’t like The Bloodline,” but man is it exactly like The Bloodline. He’s got a new monster, a Paul Heyman mouthpiece, and he’s giving guys the “join us or get stomped” ultimatum. All that’s missing is matching t-shirts and Solo Sikoa.
Paul Heyman and Bron Breakker are glorified mannequins this week. Why bring them out if they’re just gonna stand there like they’re waiting for a bus? Give us something, Paul—this alliance is supposed to matter.
Gunther’s indefinite suspension sounds serious… until you remember WWE “indefinitely suspended” Brock Lesnar one time and he came back three weeks later looking more rested than punished.
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The Ugly
Sami Zayn Got Sacrificed to Establish Stakes—Again
Bron Breakker didn’t just beat Sami. He ran through him like a Taco Bell order on cheat day. Spear after spear, ending with a ref stoppage which, last we checked, isn’t how WWE matches usually end unless someone’s literally combusting.
And then Rollins Stomped a defenseless Sami for good measure. This was more mafia than main event—“It’s not a threat, it’s a favor,” said Seth, probably while stroking an invisible cat.
The crowd? Half-hearted. A few “CM Punk!” chants, some barks for Breakker, and a “One More Time!” chant from folks who thought they were watching ECW in 2006. The detachment is real.
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Final Thought:
This week’s Raw gave us competent storytelling and decent stakes but wrapped it in reheated leftovers. Seth’s faction feels like diet Bloodline with zero calories of actual menace (yet), while the crowd seems unsure if they’re supposed to cheer, boo, or go make popcorn. Luckily, Sami Zayn still delivers truth bombs better than half the roster delivers promos.