Would Itami get as much time on RAW?

In 2014 NXT gained a reputation for being WWE’s best weekly show. RAW was too long and burdened with filler material, SmackDown was mostly inconsequential, and Main Event and Superstars were entirely skippable. This rep must have been great news for the separate roster that competes on NXT. But at the same time you do have to wonder why something categorised within WWE as a developmental programme, somewhere for people to learn their craft, is so routinely thought of as being better than a show that features the likes of Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Bray Wyatt and John Cena, the supposed A-listers of the wrestling world.

This was one of the best regular episodes of NXT in some time (which is not to downplay the show’s usual high quality). Bálor versus Kidd and Zayn versus Neville both would have been acceptable main events and the women’s match and Bull versus Baron both would have been logical inclusions on the next special. Basically we were spoilt, and this is an excellent episode for people to start out on the show with.

Tyson Kidd v Finn Bálor

Tweet 1:
November
X-ray
Tango
India
Mike
Echo
SHIELD!!
Tweet 2: Roar of the crowd and so forth.
Tweet 3: Charles Robinson looking confused. Great opening shot.
Tweet 4: Calgary, dramatic pause, Alberta, Canada.
Tweet 5: Bálor versus Kidd as the opener. I'm down with this.
Tweet 6: Bálor is wearing trunks made from Christmas wrapping paper.
Tweet 7: A-Ry's changed his tune on Bálor. It's almost like he's been told off for running down a guy clearly going places.

CATS!