It’s week 19 of the sports style combat scorecard of the Wednesday Night Wars. AEW has been on fire in recent weeks and seeks to sweep the month of February with a 4th win in a row. Original judge Matt Connolly is back for his monthly guest spot to join myself and Brum.
Form Guide:
Week 18 - AEW Majority decision.
Week 17 - AEW unanimous decision
Week 16 - AEW split decision.
Week 15 - NXT split decision
Week 14 - Majority Draw
Individual Judge Form Guides (week 17-13, L-R)
JCH - A-A-N-A-D
Brum -A- A -A -N -D
Guest -D- A -A -N -A
Rd 1 - Omega/Pac vs Dijakovic/Grimes + Reed/Dain
JCH: NXT did nothing wrong here and i’ve been really enjoying Cameron Grimes’ run. The interference was fine as it got us away from Dijakovic and Lee for a while and whilst I’ve loved their pairing lets see what else there is for big Keith. Reed and Dain was also fine, sadly these two are up against it this week.
PAC is in my top 5 wrestlers in the world. He is excellent as a heel, he does everything well and he makes every move he takes look like it hurt. Omega has been growing on me in the tag team and is a great worker in his own right. The story advancement in NXT nearly got me to go 10-9, but a cracking heated bout between Pac and Omega scores a knockdown round
AEW 10-8 NXT
Brum: NXT kicks off with a good match between Dijakovic & Grimes. I’m not really invested in either of these guys but they can both go & they delivered tonight. Similar story with the other NXT match in this handicap round; but just not quite as good.
Even with two matches in their back pocket, NXT don’t have a chance in this round. Bold choice to open the show with a 30 minute iron match but both lads knocked it out of the park. It was a slightly strange ending with PAC holding on to the submission for ages & then getting squashed in the sudden death bit. Maybe this is so PAC has an out by saying if the time limit hadn’t run out, he’d have won? I was expecting Bucks shenanigans here so was glad that there weren’t any.
10-8 AEW.
Matt: What an opening contest over on AEW. I was pessimistic whether a 30 minute match could work for TV but I'm an idiot because when you consider the talent involved of course it can work. I was hooked during this one. A story well told. The two NXT matches were good but neither were memorable and thus NXT doesn't come close here. First round AEW.
AEW 10-9 NXT
Rd 2 - Inner Circle/Jurassic Express vs Austin Theory/Tommaso Ciampa
JCH: More solid wrestling on AEW here as the Jurassic Express continue their slow build as Darby helped Jungle Boy score the upset win. ,however what a great match on NXT. I think that is the first proper Austin Theory match I’ve seen in a few years and I thought he was excellent. Nice touch at the end with Gargano beating up Ciampa on the Takeover Tampa sign. I stand by last weeks projection that that will be Loser Leaves NXT
NXT 10-9 AEW. 19-18 AEW.
Brum: Austin Theory is polished as fuck. He’s still only a 22 year old whippersnapper (the old English slang for youths, not Mikey Whipwreck’s finisher) so I’m sure he’s going to go far. This was a good match. I was worried about them going to the Gargano-Ciampa well again but if this is one last hurrah before Gargano goes to the main roster, I’m balls deep. The post-match was bloody great.
Fun match in AEW. This 6-man flew by & we got more build for Sammy vs Darby which is going to be a hoot this weekend.
NXT 10-9 AEW. 19-18 AEW.
Matt: Really fun six man tag on Dynamite. Just what was needed after that lengthy opener. Just a load of dudes doing moves and the variety of offence here with the big lad clearing house/heel work and flips and flops. Austin Theory is the future of wrestling. I know Ross Casey agrees. This match was really good. Ciampa eventually eeking out the win but once Theory gets up to speed on the lay of the land on NXT he is going to kill it. NXT pinch the round but credit AEW for a well placed match.
NXT 10-9 AEW. 19-19
Rd 3 - Butcher/Blade/Best Friends vs GYV/Forgotten Sons
JCH: Two decent tag matches, I’m not really as into the Best Friends as a lot of people on AEW, the Cassidy and Bunny stuff was good fun. I don’t hate the Forgotten Sons as much as some people in this column….but I’m not sure why they’re suddenly face either? Was it literally ‘ex-military’. Drake and Gibson continue to impress and NXT take this with the help of Nigel’s pro English commentary.
NXT 10-9 AEW. 28-28.
Brum: : I thought I couldn’t hate the Forgotten Sons more & then they turned them face. This must be the pit of my Forgotten Sons despair? No. No, it fucking isn’t. Because they went and released a Forgotten Sons t-shirt. The H2H empresario himself, JCH, kindly shared this with me & on sight, I set fire to my own face. It’s horrible. Really really really horrible.
Match was OK. GYV structure a tag match so well, to the extent that they can get a decent match out of uber-bland shit-beard racist* babyfaces. I will rate this match more than it deserves because it looks like it’s leading to Zack Gibson getting a title match on a Mania weekend TakeOver [swoon].
* - I’m not saying the performers are racist, just the characters. Just look at them, they are definitely supposed to be at least a bit racist.
Fine match over in AEW. Not much to separate it from the NXT one apart from my love of GYV.
10-9 NXT. 28-28 so far.
Matt: The AEW tag was fine but I continue to be slightly frustrated by their use of BBB. I know they will probably get their time but there might come a point where the audience just relate to them as bums before we get there. The NXT effort was weird. Forgotten Sons as babyfaces? Nah. Not for me. Maybe in time. I can see Blake's style working and Ryker is a huge dude so crowds will pop for him but I still dont know what Cutler brings bar a service record. GYV impressive but I think I will give AEW the round because it involved Orange Cassidy and he is fun.
10-9 AEW. 29-28 AEW
Rd 4 - Yuka/Swole/Shida/Shanna vs Xia Li/Yim (w/Dakota)
JCH: XIa Li sighting, YEAHHH. AND A WIN. GO XIa, GO XIa. More of a Storyline advancement as Dakota and Gonzalez were the main focus of this segment, Nice to see Dakota calling back to the War Games. She has a reason to send Gonzalez after YIm. She still has Tegan to go next week though. Really fun 4-way on AEW, I enjoy all the workers in this match and I think Shida is great. Presuming she is being set up for the next challenger for Rose if she defeats Statlander on Sunday. Also she has a bit of history with Baker that they could go to as well. I think I’m going a draw as preferred the match on AEW, but NXT had some nice storytelling and I’m enjoying Dakota’s work.
10-10. 38-38
Brum: Xia/Mia was OK. I enjoyed the post-match as it calls back to the prior Mia-Kai beef. Though they can’t win because YUKA’S GOT HER MUSIC BACK. AYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY. The 4 way didn’t set the house on fire but was fun. Surprising winner. I expected a Swole win with Yuka as the outside chance but they’ve gone for Shida. I was also expecting Shanna (or maybe Shida) to take the pin but it was Swole. A bit weird really.
10-9 AEW. 38-37 AEW so far.
Matt: Never really a fan of just throwing four people in a match and hoping it works so the AEW match didn't do a whole lot for me. I had heard the AEW Womens division had improved but this just felt like there was no direction. Maybe I'm being harsh. As for NXT I had a similar feeling. I have never connected with Mia Yim and Xia Li, although impressive, hasn't got there for me either yet so I was pretty cold on this one aswell. Giant Gonzalez coming in and wrecking broads helped but I think the action on Dynamite was better.
AEW 10-9 NXT. 39-37 AEW
Rd.5 - Weigh in vs Belair/Flair
JCH: Hard segments to judge against each other, I’ve been critical of AEW for their multiple feud run ins in the past, but now they have me wanting to see all the matches I thoroughly enjoyed it. Jericho shitting on Mahomes was funny as well. I liked Belair and Flair, but I continue to worry for Bianca. This time she lost to a pretty weak looking Natural Selection. I did enjoy Charlotte continuing to beat up Belair when the music hit and not just stopping like an idiot. Good work Charlotte. However the Inner Circle Gracie Train takes the points.
AEW 10-9 NXT. AEW 48-47 NXT
Brum: Good main event in NXT tonight. I enjoyed the “You Don’t Go Here” chants. The match may have been slightly overshadowed by the Rhea run-in though. Firstly, props to Charlotte. I get annoyed when heels stop their attack while they wait for the save. Charlotte did the rational thing & just sped up. As for Rhea, there are arguments that the delayed run/walk-in could be on purpose but the commentary indicates that this wasn’t the case & it was just a fuck up.
As chaotic Inner Circle segments go, this wasn’t one of my favourites but was still a lot of fun. If it wasn’t for the post-match cock up, NXT would have taken this but going to go with honours even.
10-10. 48-47 AEW so far.
Matt: What a great idea from AEW to have a weigh in. It doesn't make sense really but within this world it does. I liked the multiple feuds getting some build and it did it's job of hyping me for Saturday night. NXT put on a main event that I was buzzing for. It didn't meet my lofty expectations but that was a time issue I think. I enjoyed it whilst it lasted. I'll edge toward NXT here but both segements were really good.
NXT 10-9 AEW. 48-47 AEW.
Rd 6- The rest
PAC/Cassidy, Hager backstage, Dark Order, JR/Elite vs Balor/Imperium, Tegan, Dream, Undisputed Era, Weird Apocalypse tease, Priest
JCH: Whilst I enjoyed Pac’s post match promo and attack on OC and Dream, Nox and the Era were all solid, this comes down to 2 segments for me. Balor and Imperium vs the Elite sit-down. I enjoyed the Balor v Walter tease and loved the fact that Imperium actually won a 2 on 1 beatdown without Walter, the forearm as Balor went for Jon Woo was excellent. However my regular readers will know that I am loving Adam Page these days. The Bucks are just dic enough to make you wonder exactly who will be the heel in this. Everyone presumes Page will turn on Kenny, but Omega is a bit of a dic. Nearly always takes the Bucks side, agrees with them and if there is anyone the Elite could turn heel on it could be this red-hot Hangman Page. Points for AEW
AEW 10-9 NXT
Brum: NXT’s backstage segments as solid as ever, but it’s AEW with the main talking points this week. Firstly PAC vs OC = win. Secondly, does the Dark Order “obsolete” reference chime as a red herring? If so, it’s a pretty bold move as will just piss off fans wanting Hardy. Finally, I bloody loved the Elite interview. Page’s facial expressions were spot on. I was surprised about how heelish the Bucks were. This weekend is going to be interesting. I don’t think we’re going to get Young Bucks/ Golden Lovers level of tag team story telling but should still be a banger.
10-9 AEW.
Matt: PAC vs OC. Inject this in my veins. What a banana's match that is going to be. AEW continue to maximise Hager's potential by having him do so little. Dark Order stuff felt perfunctory. I loved the sit down with The Elite guys and I am 100% behind my boy Hangman. Young Bucks were such knobs here and Kenny sitting on the fence made me angry. I hope it's buckshot lariats ALL ROUND at Revolution. Also shoutout to AEW on a great recap package on Cody/MJF for people like me who dont watch every week. As for NXT, I don't care about Balor at all. I think it's my stubborn refusal to except a tweener. All the other promos were fine but AEW smoked them in this area for me
10-9 AEW
.
Overall
JCH: I thought NXT was a better show than it has been the last couple of weeks, I really dug that Theory/Ciampa match and there were some nice story movements, however it’s still not enough to topple AEW. I went with watching AEW first this week as I’ve been enjoying it more and it has me hyped for the PPV on Saturday. I’ve ordered it already (this may come out after the PPV). AEW continues to roll here for me.
AEW 58-56
Brum: AEW’s roll continues! I didn’t enjoy this as much as prior weeks but it was still the better show & Revolution is set up to be fan-bloody-tastic. NXT is still an enjoyable watch but there isn’t as much going on as late last year. I’m hoping as the build to Tampa ramps up, the weekly show quality will ramp up with it.
58-56 AEW.
Matt: AEW is such a tight show right now. NXT has solid in ring work but it wasn't even as close as the scores suggest as to which show I dug more, which shouldn't be taken as an insult to NXT but more wild praise to AEW
58-56 AEW
Winner by Unanimous Decision - AEW
The streak continues as AEW sweeps again. I think this is the first time ever that all 3 judges have had the same scores (although there were a couple of differential segment scores). NXT is reeling and the gap is down to one!
Next week we hope to welcome back Dallas’s own Sal to join Brum and myself for week 20.
OVERALL SCORECARDS
NXT - 8 (by split decision - 4, by majority decision - 2, by unanimous decision - 2)
Draw -4 (3 majority draws, 1 split draw)
AEW - 7 (by majority decision - 3, by unanimous decision -2, by split decision - 2)
INDIVIDUAL SCORECARDS:
JCH: NXT - 9; Draw - 3 AEW - 7
Brum: NXT - 6; Draw - 5; AEW - 8
Matt C: NXT - 5; Draw - 1; AEW – 5
Ross : NXT - 3; Draw - 0; AEW - 1
DVD: NXT -0; Draw - 1; AEW - 1
Sal: NXT - 0; Draw - 0; AEW - 2
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