Bodeen’s Top 5 Moments: WWE NXT (4/27/21)

While not quite to the standard of recent episodes of NXT, this week’s edition of the black and yellow brand still delivered a fun two hours of wrestling that helped advance several feuds within NXT as we continue to see the aftermath of NXT: TakeOver Stand and Deliver.

So with that in mind let’s not waste any more time and go straight into the top 5 moments that stood out on the black and yellow brand this week.

5. Dakota Kai faces Mercedes Martinez as Raquel Gonzalez watches on   

NXT would open the show with two of the most talented women in the NXT roster facing off against each other. Dakota Kai and Mercedes Martinez would put on a great opener with both women looking strong as they went back and forth with no women getting a true advantage in the match with the match, unfortunately, being ended early after the NXT Women’s Champion, Raquel Gonzalez attacked Martinez to cause a disqualification

Mercedes Martinez would start the match of aggressively trying to catch Dakota Kai off guard. However, Kai would be the first one to get the upper hand in the match, hitting Martinez with a DDT. Kai would then send Martinez to the corner and hit a low boot on Martinez. Martinez would then fight back late in the match and throw Kai outside the ring, leading to a confrontation with Raquel Gonzalez outside the ring.

This would lead to Raquel Gonzalez hitting a big boot on Martinez to cause a disqualification. Gonzalez would then continue to beat down Martinez as a hurt Dakota Kai watched on. Gonzalez would then finish her brutal assault by throwing Martinez into the barricade screen in the corner sending a message to Martinez as well as the rest of the NXT Women’s division.

4. Adam Cole speaks his mind after TakeOver Stand and Deliver 

After his brutal unsanctioned match against Kyle O’Reilly two weeks ago at Takeover: Stand and Deliver, Adam Cole would finally make his feelings known in a pre-recorded interview. Cole would start off the interview in classic heel fashion, showing his annoyance for being interviewed. Cole would then talk about how he felt Kyle got lucky at TakeOver: Stand and Deliver, telling fans that Kyle was not ready for the main event.

Cole would then talk about how he was still the biggest star in NXT and how he has carried NXT for the last four years and how we will soon see the best Adam Cole we have ever seen. Cole would then leave the interview as we sew Kyle O’Reilly watching the interview backstage, showing that the war between Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly is far from being over.

This was a short but sweet promo from Adam Cole as it showed off his cocky heel persona. This segment also did a solid job in setting up a future match between Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly in the future in what is sure to be another great match between the two men.

3. Bronson Reed takes on Austin Theory and The Way 

Despite falling short against Johnny Gargano during night two of NXT: TakeOver Stand and Deliver. Bronson Reed would have another opportunity to get into the North American Championship scene as Reed had to face off against The Way member, Austin Theory to get another chance as Johnny Gargano’s North American Championship.

Reed would get the advantage early in the match, only for Austin Theory to regain control after Johnny Gargano superkicked Reed outside the ring allowing Theory to hit a crossbody. However Reed would fight back against Theory and The Way, hitting Theory with a brutal chokeslam for a near fall late in the match.

Things would get out of hand late in the match as Dexter Lumis appeared to look for Indi Hartwell. This would lead to Theory hitting Lumis with an elbow, allowing Reed to take out Theory, with Reed then hitting the Tsunami on Theory to earn another chance at Gargano’s North American Championship.

2. Killian Dain and Drake Maverick put on an underdog effort against Imperium 

Before Killian Dain and Drake Maverick could take on Imperium, Maverick would state out his distrust for Killian Dain and his relationship with Imperium. Dain would then relax Maverick’s worried thoughts by telling to have some faith as both men got ready for their match. As the match started things would look bleak for Maverick and Dain as Maverick took most of the punishment early in the match.

Things would look even bleaker for Maverick and Dain as Imperium took out Dain as Maverick tried to tag in Dain, however despite Imperium’s best efforts, Dain would get the hot tag and fight back against Imperium. Things would then get interesting as Imperium distracted the referee, giving Alexander Wolfe a chance to hit Dain with a chair, however, Wolfe would then leave Dain alone.

Despite Maverick’s best efforts Maverick would fall short against Imperium as Imperium hit the uppercut powerbomb combo on Drake Maverick to pin Maverick with Dain feeling guilty after the match as he held a hurt Maverick. This was a great match with plenty of storytelling that helped set up a potential feud between these two teams.

1. MSK team with Kushida to take on Legado del Fantasma    

After a solid episode of NXT with no real big moments. MSK and Kushida would take on Legado del Fantasma in an exciting action-packed match that was a great way to finish the show. MSK and Kushida would show off their teamwork early looking like a strong trio as they pushed Legado del Fantasma early in the match. However, Santos Escobar would then powerbomb Kushida through the announce table effectively making the match a 3 on 2 handicap match.

Wes Lee would then be left alone in the ring as Legado del Fantasma dominated Wes Lee with the numbers advantage. Despite the best effort from Carter and Kushida to fight back Legado del Fantasma would get the last laugh as Mendoza and Wilde hit a double team on Carter for the win.

After the match, Legado del Fantasma would all hold the gold in a great match that set up future feuds with MSK and Legado del Fantasma for the NXT Tag Team Championship as well as a future feud with Kushida and Santos Escobar for the Cruiserweight Championship.

These were my top 5 moments from a solid episode of NXT this week. What were your top 5 moments from the black and yellow brand this week and what do you think of NXT’s recent form after moving to Tuesdays recently. Let us know in the comments down below.