Bradley Jay places the focus back on the in-ring product this week, and with perfect timing. This was a great week for it!

If you care more about what happens between the ropes than behind the scenes, then you came to the right place. This was a good week for wrestling.

6. Of all the wrestlers who got released, NXT’s biggest loss is Lio Rush. In my mind, he’s one of the 3 best cruiserweights in the entire company. Great in ring. Pound for pound, more “IT” factor than anybody else. Electric smile. He should be in the Cruiserweight tournament. That being said…

5. The Cruiserweight tournament so far is amazing. If you’re the fan who says wrestling without an audience is garbage, then you can stop reading. If you’re a fan of wrestling, this is must watch viewing. Tony Nese versus KUSHIDA was fantastic. KUSHIDA is so good, he made Nese less boring. This was almost as good as Tozawa-Scott from last week. But wait…There’s more.

4. I don’t know if the Drake Maverick thing is a work or a shoot. Don’t know if he’s released or furloughed. I do know they have made me care about his place in this tournament, something they could not have accomplished any other way. After one match, I went from “why is he here” to “he needs to make the finals.” If it is work, give him an Oscar and a lifetime WWE contract. 

3. I’m willing to give Candace Lerae another shot at being a heel, but they have got to do something about that horrible hair & makeup. Trish Stratus was a blonde heel. Alexa Bliss was a blonde heel. Charlotte, blonde heel. Why does every female NXT heel get the wacky makeover? 

2. Hi. I’m Damian Priest, the archer of infamy…only I can’t carry a bow & arrow because even for wrestling that’s really really dumb, so now I’m an archer with a police nightstick. And I suck so bad I don’t even get a picture in this column. Oasis will live forever. Damian Priest will not. 

1. This week’s That’s Why I Love Wrestling Award goes to…Shotzi Blackheart. I love watching wrestlers improve. When Shotzi came in, she was slow & choppy. Much like Swerve Scott, she has gotten better in every match. She looked very good in the gauntlet match a few weeks ago. This week was the first time I felt she was worthy of being in an NXT ring. She’s been focusing less on her intro and more on her in ring. Ms. Blackheart, well done. You are my daddy.