NXT Minus 6: Strong? Stronger.

Bradley Jay’s check in on the black and yellow experience includes not wanting Roddy to be Strong–but Stronger–plus Swerve-Bronson, Xia Li, and more!

6. Meet the new Roderick Strong. Same as the old Roderick Strong. If a wrestler gets a makeover, make them over 100%. It was a nice twist that Strong added a submission finisher. That’s not enough. This looks like the Undisputed Era with different guys. He should even try a different style of tights. I don’t want him coming back Roderick Strong. I want him Roderick Stronger.

5. As soon as the bell rang, I knew Dakota Kai was taking the pin. There could have been 10 teams in the match, and Kai still would have taken the pin. Don’t they know how to make Raquel Gonzalez look strong without making Kai look like a total geek? 2021 is her punishment for carrying the division through the pandemic. If this doesn’t end with her capturing the title, then IDK WTF they are doing. Remember when Dakota was the best wrestler in the best woman’s division on the planet? I do. 

4. I am willing to wager large amounts of money that MSK versus the Toothless Blackhearts will kick all the asses at the Great American Bash. I’ll be shocked if it’s not match of the night and a MOTY contender. Nash Carter showed some moxie and got kissed for his trouble. Great stuff. Both teams have been on fire this year, and there is zero chance this one isn’t an inferno. 

3. Did Adam Cole really take a jab at Kyle O’Reilly’s wife? That was random. And pointless. And did nothing to get me excited for their upcoming match. You might say it was one small line in a big promo, but all you need is one toenail in a pot of soup to lose your appetite. Honestly, any match this soon after their epic, unsanctioned, fire in the rain, brutal, historic, epic…did I say epic? match at Takeover: Stand & Deliver would feel like a letdown. And if you listen closely, Cole’s new music might break the walls down.

2. I don’t want to make light of Mercedes Martinez’ injury. It was scary & ugly when it happened, and I hope she’s ok. But this is wrestling, and they need to use it to push Xia Li to the moon. Earlier this year, I wrote, “I am fully and deeply committed to the notion that Xia Li is the baddest person in the entire NXT locker room, male or female.” True then. True now. Dump Tian Sha. Dump Boa. Xia needs to be un-Li-shed. 

1. This week’s That’s Why I Love Wrestling goes to…the Fans (that’s them in the background). Swerve Scott & Bronson Reed have both been great this year, so it’s not surprising that their match was fantastic, 4.5 stars. The crowd interaction really put it over the top. The competing chants of “Let’s go Bronson” “Lets’ go Swerve” added so much to the atmosphere. It was a great reminder that wrestling doesn’t have to tell us who to boo and who to cheer. Let the wrestlers do their thing and we’ll decide who we like. Because good things happen when you Let Wrestlers Wrestle.