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    Credit: WWE.com

    The time has come. After weeks and months of hints, the September 14 edition of WWE NXT presented the new era of the brand. NXT 2.0 would begin with a huge season premiere.

    After the surprise announcement of Samoa Joe relinquishing the NXT Championship, general manager William Regal moved fast to turn what was originally a No. 1 Contender’s match into a title bout. Tommaso Ciampa, Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne and LA Knight would fight to crown the new champion.

    Another wait was finally over. InDex were officially getting married. Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis had an odd but endearing love affair that would end with Johnny Gargano walking Indi Wrestling down the aisle to marry The Tortured Artist.

    After a brutal attack last week, Kayden Carter and Kacy Catanzaro wanted revenge on Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne. The two teams would clash in an intense fight between title contenders.

    The show also promised action from plenty of young up-and-coming talent. Ridge Holland and The Creed Brothers would compete in separate matches. B-Fab would make her in-ring debut.

    Tuesday’s show did not have a major card set from the outset, but it was clear it would be a special moment considering the hype surrounding the night.

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    NXT started with promos from Tommaso Ciampa, Pete Dunne, Kyle O’Reilly and LA Knight.

    When The Million Dollar Mega-Star finished talking himself up, Bron Breakker challenged him to a match. Knight accepted with noticeable arrogance.

    He found himself quickly at a disadvantage against the newcomer, though. Breakker’s strength was too much for Knight, who was caught with a gorilla press powerslam for the loss.

    Result

    Breakker def. Knight by pinfall.

    Grade

    C-

    Analysis

    While Breakker is a major prospect, he is a work in progress. This was an odd booking decision to set the tone of the night. He defeated Knight in less than four minutes on the same night his opponent would challenge for the NXT Championship.

    This immediately made Knight look less worthy of the title match to come, and it was not even a great showcase for the newcomer. Breakker could have at least gotten to show off more here before the quick win.

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    Josh Briggs talked up his tag team partner Brooks Jensen before the bell, and the two fought hard against a top tag team.

    However, Imperium used their speed and tag team chemistry to take advantage of mistakes by the new tandem.

    Fabian Aichner put this match away with a double underhook superplex.

    Result

    Imperium def. Jensen and Briggs by pinfall.

    Grade

    C

    Analysis

    While there was a serious possibility of another upset here, this was really just a squash to put over Imperium. Aichner and Marcel Bartel can make anything look good, but there wasn’t much time to make the most of the spotlight.

    The newcomer here, Jensen, did not seem ready for the moment. It is good to see NXT doing more with Briggs, but he may be paired with the wrong star to seriously succeed.

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    Hit Row put over B-Fab before her in-ring debut. Surprisingly, she was short on words, looking to focus on action in the ring instead.

    It wasn’t much of a match once the bell rang. B-Fab crushed Katrina Cortez, catching her with a bicycle kick and a neckbreaker for the win.

    B-Fab went off on Elektra Lopez after the bell, which brought up Legado del Fantasma. The two women were ready to fight, but Santos Escobar had Lopez wait for the right time to face B-Fab.

    Result

    B-Fab def. Lopez by pinfall.

    Grade

    D

    Analysis

    B-Fab did not look great in her first match. She was out of position a couple times in a short contest, and Cortez did not sell well. What mattered in the moment was to give B-Fab a victory, but she will need to keep learning before she can seriously challenge the top women in NXT.

    She and Lopez have a solid rivalry building, but they are not ready for the spotlight on their own. It is vital that these women are prepared for the moment before they have their first singles match.

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    Carmelo Hayes brought out a new friend in the form of Trick Williams. He explained that he needed someone to watch his back for a future title opportunity.

    Trick told Hayes to stop being humble and take his shot at the top. The two walked out of the ring with confidence.

    Duke Hudson interrupted as they walked out, disrespecting the man who beat him in the NXT Breakout Tournament. Trick and Hayes stomped Hudson into the mat before planting him with a springboard uppercut.

    Grade

    D+

    Analysis

    While it was a smart decision to pair Hayes and Trick, their first night together was uncoordinated. The promo missed its mark, and both spoke with limited confidence but could not seem to find a clear reason behind their words.

    This seemed to be a way to turn Hayes, but he was beating down on a heel with limited experience himself. Hopefully, WWE will give the two better material going forward to sell their dynamic much better.

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    Credit: WWE.com

    Before the match, Dolin and Jayne hyped up Mandy Rose’s new look, fueled by her injury at the hands of Sarray. Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter lost their smiles before the bell could ring, though.

    God’s Greatest Creation interfered quickly to cause a disqualification. The heels beat down the faces until Sarray made the save. And GM William Regal restarted the match as a six-woman tag.

    Rose looked dominant early as she threw around everyone in her path, particularly beating down Catanzaro. Escaping the grip of Jayne, Catanzaro escaped and got the hot tag to Carter, who ran over the heels. Sarray got involved and went after Rose.

    God’s Greatest Creation sent The Warrior of the Sun out of the ring. Rose then hit a bicycle knee on Carter to take the victory.

    Result

    Catanzaro and Carter def. Dolin and Jayne by DQ; Rose, Dolin and Jayne def. Sarray, Catanzaro and Carter by pinfall.

    Grade

    B

    Analysis

    This was the first legitimate match on the card. While it took a restart to get to where it needed to be, the six-woman tag team match was quality. Rose especially showed out throughout.

    This was after the reveal of her hair change. Rose going brunette was not the big moment NXT made it out to be, but it at least seemed to fuel a change in personality. She was more aggressive in the ring and fit more naturally with Dolin and Jayne.

    It finally feels like the heel trio have found their rhythm together. NXT can use fresh heels even in a dynamic women’s division.

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    Ridge Holland showed no remorse in his vicious attack on Drake Maverick. He sent the smaller star flying out of the ring before finally taking him out with Northern Grit.

    Grayson Waller checked on his brutalized partner while Holland stood tall.

    Result

    Holland def. Maverick by pinfall.

    Grade

    C

    Analysis

    This was a perfectly fine squash that did nothing for either man. It was just another opportunity to give Holland a win. This would be OK if there was a clear direction for him, but all he is at the moment is Pete Dunne’s lackey.

    Maverick deserves better than he has gotten, but there is no way he is going far in NXT 2.0. He and Waller are a jobber tag team at the best.

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    The Creed Brothers simply enjoyed punishing their opponents before taking an easy victory.

    Brutus Creed made an impact before teammate Julius ended this with a rolling fireman’s carry into a low running uppercut.

    Malcolm Bivens put over the newest member of Diamond Mine, Ivy Nile. Kushida interrupted to challenge Roderick Strong to a match. Bivens made it official for next week for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship.

    Result

    The Creed Brothers def. local competitors by pinfall.

    Grade

    C

    Analysis

    The Creed Brothers are fun to watch but clearly unrefined. It will be interesting to see what happens when they are truly challenged in the ring. For now, we have only seen what they can do when their opponents just lay down for them.

    Diamond Mine continues to grow with an interesting addition in Nile, who has a unique physique for a women’s wrestler. Hopefully, she is not lost in the shuffle.

    Kushida vs. Strong has been built a while, and it is the rare feud that has carried over clean to NXT 2.0. Hopefully, the two get the time to shine.

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    Pete Dunne and Ridge Holland attacked Kyle O’Reilly in the locker room. The beatdown was too much for KOR to be able to compete, so William Regal replaced him with another new star, Von Wagner.

    Tommaso Ciampa cut a final promo, promising to get back his NXT Championship.

    Wagner held the ring early, but he got DDTed by LA Knight followed by The Bruiserweight nearly breaking his fingers. The big man got back into the fight, clotheslining Dunne out of the ring follow by a reverse side slam to Knight.

    Knight snuck in to plant Dunne with Blunt Force Trauma for a nearfall broken up by Wagner. Wagner got the Blunt Force Trauma for his trouble, but Ciampa took over. He nearly had Dunne with the Fairy Tale Ending, but the British wrestler turned it into the Bitter End.

    Knight got involved again followed by Wagner, who hit The Million Dollar Mega-Star with an Olympic Slam. In the ensuing action, Wagner hit a double underhook suplex on Knight then Ciampa ran in and struck the Fairy Tale Ending on Knight for the win.

    Result

    Ciampa def. Knight, Dunne and Wagner by pinfall to become the new NXT champion.

    Grade

    A-

    Analysis

    After a night of too many short squashes, this was a breath of fresh air. Even though Wagner felt a bit shoe-horned in, he definitely showed up in this match. He looked at home in a limited role fighting top talent. WWE still needs to work on his look and presentation, though.

    This came down to a fight between Dunne and Ciampa to become the veteran who will lead NXT 2.0 immediately, and The Blackheart won the battle. He is now a two-time NXT champion who can work with just about anyone NXT throws at him.

    Given how this first night has gone, it seems Ciampa will be fighting plenty of new stars in the coming months. It is just a question of who will dethrone him because that could come quickly if the brand wants to move away from the old stars.

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    Johnny Gargano, Odyssey Jones and Drake Maverick prepared for the wedding. Austin Theory arrived with Damian Priest, while Candice LeRae made sure that Indi Hartwell was prepared beforehand.

    Gargano had trouble giving away the spotlight. Theory revealed Ikemen Jiro had the rings. Indi Wrestling had some cute things to say in her vows. The priest questioned why Dexter Lumis had no vows and got knocked out with the Silence.

    Beth Phoenix stepped up to officiate. Andre Chase tried to get involved, but Odyssey clawed him back into his seat. The Tortured Artist finally spoke to say “I do.” The Glamazon ordained the wedding, and the two passionately kissed.

    Backstage, Tommaso Ciampa shook hands with Bron Breakker, who clearly had his eyes on the NXT Championship.

    Grade

    A

    Analysis

    This was everything it needed to be. It was just a massive, crazy wrestling comedy angle that did not actually go off the rails. Many stars got a chance to shine without overshadowing the central fun.

    Lumis and Hartwell are married, and their story can continue to grow wilder for NXT 2.0. It should be fun to watch her progression into the wife of The Tortured Artist as well as what happens with Gargano.

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