Tonight, the superstars of the World Wrestling Federation‘s NXT generation are at the WWF Performance Center in Orlando, Florida for live NXT action and we’re just days away from Halloween Havoc!
Ladies and gentlemen, Halloween is almost upon us, and that means one thing in the world of professional wrestling: it’s time to spin the wheel, make the deal, and hope somebody doesn’t end up spending the evening inside an unpleasant steel cage. Or maybe that’s exactly what we want!
And here at Titanquisitor Hall, we’re certainly no strangers to Halloween-related insanity.
Thalia has spent the better part of two weeks screaming about chainsaw hookers, some super crack exploding hookers to make a Frankenhooker, naked witches, and something involving a sacred bathtub that I have absolutely no intention of investigating. Meanwhile, Theia is desperately attempting to maintain some semblance of dignity in the film department, and Maddie has apparently started locking the archives after sunset.
Personally, I’m just hoping we can get through tonight without somebody putting a pumpkin on my commentary desk. And the site banner has been updated to include pumpkins, of course it has.
But enough about the lunatic asylum I call home.
We’ve got a North American Championship match, two Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic semifinals, a highly anticipated women’s debut, and several rivalries heading toward their final confrontations at Halloween Havoc.
Let’s see what’s happening in the NXT generation!
NXT North American Championship: Jackson Drake vs. EK Prosper
Jackson Drake will put the NXT North American Championship on the line tonight against EK Prosper, giving the challenger another opportunity to capture his first major championship.
Prosper has been attracting plenty of attention lately, and for good reason. He’s an exciting young competitor with tremendous athletic ability, but being impressive and becoming a champion are two entirely different things.
Drake, meanwhile, has been enjoying life as part of the Vanity Project, where championship gold has become something of a fashion accessory.
With Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes holding the NXT Tag Team Championship, Drake’s North American title completes a particularly impressive collection of hardware.
Unfortunately for the champions, there’s one little problem with carrying around all that gold.
Everybody wants to take it away.
Prosper came close to upsetting Grayson Waller in a previous NXT Championship opportunity, and tonight he’ll attempt to turn that experience into something more substantial.
Stinger’s View: I like this matchup, particularly because it gives a promising young wrestler an opportunity to prove himself against an established champion. Prosper has the athletic ability to make things interesting, and Drake has demonstrated that he’s more than capable of handling himself inside the ring. The biggest question is whether Prosper can avoid becoming distracted by the rest of the Vanity Project.
I’m predicting Jackson Drake retains, although I wouldn’t be surprised if Prosper gives him a much more difficult evening than he expects.
And if the champion needs his buddies to help him survive, well, I suspect we’ll be hearing plenty more about that.
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semifinal: Vanity Project vs. Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno
The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic reaches its semifinal round tonight, and the reigning NXT Tag Team Champions have an opportunity to move one step closer to winning the tournament.
Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes will represent the Vanity Project against Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno, with the winners advancing to Saturday’s championship final at Halloween Havoc.
The champions earned their semifinal opportunity by defeating Mini Vikingo and Chazz Hall, but their opponents have already demonstrated that they shouldn’t be underestimated.
Dar and Moreno eliminated Los Americanos before scoring an impressive upset over Fraxiom in the quarterfinals.
That’s a pretty respectable tournament résumé.
Now they’ll attempt to defeat the reigning champions themselves.
Stinger’s View: This is one of the matches I’m most interested in seeing tonight. I’ve always appreciated the Dusty Rhodes Classic because it gives tag team wrestling a legitimate competitive structure. Teams advance by winning matches, and every victory brings them closer to a meaningful accomplishment. Imagine that! Wrestling matches where winning actually matters!
The presence of the reigning tag team champions creates an interesting wrinkle. If Baylor and Smokes win the tournament, they’ll have demonstrated their superiority over much of the division. But if Dar and Moreno defeat them, they’ll have an excellent argument for a future championship opportunity.
I’m predicting Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno pull off the upset.
They’ve already knocked off some impressive opposition, and I like the idea of the champions having to confront a team that’s proven it can beat them.
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semifinal: Hank & Tank vs. The Wagner Brothers
The second semifinal features Hank Walker and Tank Ledger against AAA World Tag Team Champions El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. and Galeno.
Hank & Tank have been enjoying an impressive tournament run, including last week’s upset victory over the Creed Brothers.
That was no small accomplishment, and it established the former NXT Tag Team Champions as legitimate contenders to win the entire tournament.
Their opponents, however, bring a considerable challenge.
The Wagner Brothers have championship experience, tremendous physical ability, and a proud family wrestling legacy behind them. Their quarterfinal victory over Birthright demonstrated that they can handle themselves against NXT competition, and they’ll be looking to add the Dusty Cup to their collection.
With two powerful teams competing for a place in the final, this should be a physical encounter.
Stinger’s View: Now this is my kind of tag team wrestling. Four competitors who can throw their weight around, two teams with something important to gain, and a tournament final waiting for the winners. I enjoyed Hank & Tank’s victory over the Creed Brothers last week. An upset like that makes the tournament feel unpredictable, and it gives fans a reason to invest in the underdogs.
But the Wagner Brothers are going to be difficult to beat.
I’m predicting the Wagner Brothers advance, setting up a final against Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno.
And if I’m wrong? Well, that’s why they wrestle the matches instead of simply asking Stinger to pick the winners.
Lizzy Rain vs. Chantel Monroe
Chantel Monroe will make her official NXT singles debut tonight against Lizzy Rain, and the newcomer certainly hasn’t been shy about introducing herself. And we certainly haven’t been shy about looking at her. What a hottie we have here. Can she wrestle? When you look like that, who really cares? Of course, this is a wrestling publication, so I suppose we’re contractually obligated to discuss her actual wrestling ability. Damn paperwork.
Monroe spent much of last week’s broadcast approaching members of the NXT roster and asking whether they’d seen her promotional material.
Apparently, she considers herself rather impressive. And why wouldn’t she? Just look at her!
Lizzy Rain, however, wasn’t particularly interested in listening to Monroe advertise herself, and their confrontation led to tonight’s match.
Now Monroe will have an opportunity to demonstrate whether her abilities inside the ring match her confidence outside it.
Rain brings more experience to the contest, and she certainly won’t be interested in serving as a convenient stepping stone for the newcomer.
Stinger’s View: First of all, I’m glad NXT actually advertised a women’s match in advance this week. I’ve complained about that before, and I’ll continue complaining until the division consistently receives the advance promotion it deserves. As for Monroe, I don’t mind an arrogant newcomer making a big entrance, especially when she looks like that. Wrestling has always had room for larger-than-life personalities, and confidence can be an entertaining character trait.
But sooner or later, you’ve got to back up the talking.
I’m predicting Chantel Monroe wins her debut, although I hope Rain gets enough offense to make it a competitive contest.
A new wrestler doesn’t need to demolish everybody in thirty seconds to make an impression. And no, I certainly wouldn’t expect Chantel to demolish anyone. Look at her!
Saquon Shugars vs. Sean Legacy
Another match listed for tonight features Saquon Shugars against Sean Legacy.
Shugars has been developing his presence in NXT, while Legacy brings the athleticism and determination necessary to make this an interesting contest.
Neither man will want to lose momentum during one of the most important weeks on the NXT calendar, particularly with Halloween Havoc providing an opportunity for wrestlers to make themselves noticed.
Stinger’s View: This is the sort of match that can surprise people.
With so much attention focused on the championships and the Dusty Rhodes Classic, these two have an opportunity to steal a little attention for themselves.
I’d like to see a competitive encounter that gives both wrestlers a chance to demonstrate their abilities.
Prediction: Sean Legacy, although I wouldn’t consider either outcome particularly surprising.
Halloween Havoc: Grayson Waller vs. Tony D’Angelo
The biggest championship confrontation awaiting us Saturday night will see Grayson Waller defend the NXT Championship against former champion Tony D’Angelo.
Waller captured the title from D’Angelo at Heatwave, thanks in part to interference from Cruz Montana, and the former champion has been determined to reclaim what he believes belongs to him.
D’Angelo earned his rematch by defeating Myles Borne earlier this month, finally securing the opportunity he’s been pursuing.
Now the two men are preparing to meet again, with the NXT Championship hanging in the balance.
Stinger’s View: This is a strong championship rivalry, particularly because D’Angelo has a legitimate grievance about the circumstances surrounding his original defeat. Waller is an excellent antagonist. He’s arrogant, irritating, and capable of making fans desperately want to see somebody knock that smug expression off his face. And Tony D’Angelo is exactly the sort of competitor who might oblige.
I’d like to see both men use tonight’s broadcast to build anticipation for Saturday without giving away too much of the physical confrontation.
Save the real fighting for Halloween Havoc.
Kelani Jordan vs. Wren Sinclair: The Women’s Championship Is at Stake
NXT Women’s Champion Kelani Jordan will defend her championship against Wren Sinclair at Halloween Havoc, and the circumstances surrounding the match have been anything but ordinary.
Sinclair earned her opportunity by winning a 20-woman battle royal while disguised as AAA wrestler Lady Shani, following a suspension that had temporarily removed her from competition.
General Manager Robert Stone subsequently reinstated Sinclair and confirmed her championship opportunity, despite Jordan’s objections.
Now the champion must prepare for a challenger who has already demonstrated a willingness to go to extraordinary lengths to get what she wants.
And adding another wrinkle to the situation is the return of Kendal Grey, whose presence could complicate the relationships surrounding the championship picture.
Stinger’s View: I’ve enjoyed the creativity behind Sinclair’s championship opportunity, even if disguising yourself as another wrestler to enter a battle royal isn’t exactly something I’d encourage at the local wrestling school. The more important question is whether the match itself can live up to the storyline.
Jordan is a talented champion, while Sinclair has demonstrated that she can compete at a high level.
I’m hoping tonight gives both women an opportunity to make their final arguments before Saturday’s championship encounter.
And preferably without somebody needing to wear a fake mustache to get into the building.
Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal!
Of course, it wouldn’t be Halloween Havoc without a little old-fashioned stipulation madness.
Zilla Fatu and Charlie Dempsey are scheduled to meet Saturday under a stipulation determined by the infamous Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal concept.
Meanwhile, Izzi Dame and Zaria have their own confrontation scheduled, while Shiloh Hill prepares to face Naraku.
And overseeing the Halloween festivities will be Danhausen, whose presence practically guarantees that the evening won’t be entirely normal.
Stinger’s View: I have a soft spot for Halloween Havoc, and particularly for the old Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal concept. It reminds me of an era when wrestling promoters weren’t afraid to embrace a little theatrical nonsense, provided the matches themselves delivered. The wheel can produce some wonderfully entertaining situations, although I’d prefer that the stipulations actually suit the rivalries involved.
As for Danhausen hosting the festivities, well, that’s certainly a choice.
I wonder if he’d be interested in taking Thalia off our hands for a weekend. No, never mind. The resulting chaos would probably violate several international treaties.
Stinger’s Final View: One Last Stop Before Halloween Havoc
Tonight’s NXT has a strong lineup, particularly with the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic reaching its semifinal round.
Both tournament matches should be worth watching, and I’m particularly interested in seeing whether the reigning NXT Tag Team Champions can advance or whether Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno can score another upset.
Jackson Drake’s North American Championship defense against EK Prosper also has plenty of potential, while Chantel Monroe’s debut gives the women’s division another personality to watch.
And with Halloween Havoc only four days away, there’s every reason to expect the championship rivalries to become increasingly heated.
Most Anticipated Match: Vanity Project vs. Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno, although I’m keenly anticipating a certain Chantel Monroe in sweaty action.
Potential Show-Stealer: Hank & Tank vs. The Wagner Brothers
Biggest Question: Can EK Prosper finally capture championship gold? And for an even bigger question, can Chantel Monroe wrestle even half as good as she looks?
Stinger’s Prediction: Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno advance to the Dusty Cup final.
WWF The NXT Generation airs tonight at 7 PM Central on The CW, live from the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.
Until next time, this is Stinger, signing off from the rafters of Titanquisitor Hall.
Making Internet Fun Again — One Three-Count at a Time!
And if somebody could please tell Thalia that Halloween Havoc doesn’t need a chainsaw hooker division, I’d greatly appreciate it. Although, it would be pretty sweet so long as it’s Chainsaw Chantel and not Chainsaw Charlie.
