The inaugural night of WWE NXT Revenge was a spectacle to behold, with a star-studded lineup of matches and a focus on revenge as the central theme. The event took place at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, and drew a packed crowd eager to see their favorite Superstars get their revenge on their competitors. But did the event live up to the hype, or was it a case of too much, too soon?
Three Things We Loved
The Main Event: Cody Rhodes vs. Damian Priest
The main event of the evening saw Cody Rhodes face off against Damian Priest, and it was a match for the ages. The two Superstars put on a clinic, with Rhodes’ quickness and Priest’s brute strength making for a thrilling combination. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as Rhodes took down Priest with a series of high-flying moves, only for Priest to respond with a vicious kick that sent Rhodes crashing to the mat.
In the end, Rhodes emerged victorious, pinning Priest with a picture-perfect Cross Rhodes. The crowd erupted in cheers as Rhodes celebrated his win, and it was clear that this was a moment that would go down in history.
“It was a match that had been building for months, and to see it come to fruition like that was incredible,” said a WWE source close to the situation. “Cody and Damian have a great chemistry in the ring, and it showed in their match. They’re both top-tier talents, and to see them go head-to-head like that was a real treat for the fans.”
Rhea Ripley vs. Zoey Stark
Another standout match of the evening was the women’s bout between Rhea Ripley and Zoey Stark. Ripley, fresh off her recent feud with Liv Morgan, was looking to prove herself as a dominant force in the women’s division. And prove herself she did, taking down Stark with a series of vicious powerbombs and a near-fall with a Ripley Driver.
Despite a valiant effort from Stark, Ripley emerged victorious, pinning her opponent with a second Ripley Driver. The crowd was on their feet as Ripley celebrated her win, and it’s clear that she’s a force to be reckoned with in the women’s division.
The Return of Finn Bálor
One of the biggest surprises of the evening was the return of Finn Bálor, who made his highly-anticipated comeback after a lengthy absence. Bálor, who has been out of action due to injury, looked like he never left, taking down his opponent with a series of high-flying moves and a vicious Coup de Grâce.
The crowd went wild as Bálor celebrated his win, and it was clear that he’s back and better than ever. Bálor’s return is a huge boost to the men’s division, and it’s going to be exciting to see where he goes from here.
Three Things We Hated
The Midcard Matchups
While the main event and women’s bout were definitely highlights of the evening, the midcard matchups left something to be desired. The matches felt a bit rushed, with no clear direction or storyline to speak of. It was clear that the focus was on the main event and women’s bout, and the midcard matches suffered as a result.
One of the biggest disappointments was the tag team bout between The New Day and The Usos, which felt like it was going through the motions. The two teams have a long history of great matches, but this one felt like a missed opportunity.
“It was clear that the focus was on the main event and women’s bout,” said a WWE insider. “The midcard matchups felt like an afterthought, and it showed. The Usos and New Day are two of the best teams in the company, and to see them go out there and not give it their all was a shame.”
The Booking of The Miz
The Miz, who has been struggling to find his footing in the company, was booked to face off against LA Knight in a midcard match. However, the match itself felt like a mess, with The Miz coming out on top after a series of cheap shots.
The problem was that The Miz’ victory felt unearned, and it was clear that he was trying to get by on his name rather than his in-ring ability. It’s a shame, because The Miz has the potential to be a top-tier Superstar, but his booking has been all over the place.
The Lack of Buildup
One of the biggest issues with NXT Revenge was the lack of buildup leading up to the event. With a focus on revenge as the central theme, it would have been nice to see some more storylines and feuds built up to the event.
Instead, it felt like the matches were just thrown together at the last minute, with no real direction or purpose. It’s a shame, because the potential was there for something truly special.
As NXT Revenge came to a close, it was clear that the event was a mixed bag. While there were certainly highlights, there were also some major disappointments. However, with the return of Finn Bálor and the emergence of Cody Rhodes and Rhea Ripley as top-tier Superstars, there’s no doubt that NXT is on the rise.