WWE NXT Results, Grades & Opinion: February 3, 2021

WWE NXT Results, Grades & Opinion: February 3, 2021

A.K.A. The One That Was Rated R

Results:

• Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez def. Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro to make the Dusty Rhodes Women’s Tag Tournament Finals
• Austin Theory def. Leon Ruff
• Legado Del Fantasma def. Lucha House Party to advance to the Dusty Rhodes Tag Tournament Semi-Finals
• Toni Storm vs Jessi Kamea go to a no-contest
• Santos Escobar (c) def. Curt Stallion to retain the NXT Cruiserweight Championship
• Timothy Thatcher & Tommaso Ciampa def. Undisputed Era to advance to the Dusty Rhodes Tag Tournament Semi-Finals

The Main Event: Edge’s Next Opponent?

NXT has it’s next Takeover, titled Vengeance, on February 14th. This week’s episode was all about the buildup to the show and it’s title matches.

For the first time since his return, Edge made an appearance on the black and gold. He came out with a lot of interest in the NXT Championship match at TakeOver between Finn Balor and Pete Dunne. He said that depending on the outcome, he may be interested in challenging one of them at Wrestlemania. While I still think Edge is on his way to facing Roman Reigns, but a match against Balor or Dunne would be interesting.

Edge also had a confrontation with Karrion Kross in the parking lot, who apparently is taking on all challengers now.

The Undercard:

Both semi-finals of the Dusty Rhodes Men’s Tournament are set. MSK will battle Legado Del Fantasma in one, and Timothy Thatcher & Tommaso Ciampa will face Grizzled Young Vets in the other. Afterwards, Thatcher & Ciampa had a showdown with GYV on the stage. Any of these teams could win, but the Thatcher/Ciampa makeshift team looks like a typical Dusty winner.

Bring on the Semi-Finals!!!@NXTCiampa & Timothy Thatcher battle #GYV @JamesDrake_GYT & @ZackGibson01 NEXT WEEK on @USA_Network! #DustyClassic #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/FrFEKVXRsZ

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) February 4, 2021

Dakota & Raquel have ended the Cinderella run of Kacy & Kayden is over. Now Dakota & Raquel will face either The Way (Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell) or Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart

Karrion Kross is coming for Santos Escobar. Lady Scarlett watched Escobar’s match against Curt Stallion, and Kross confronted him post match. What is Kross’ issue with Escobar, and who (if anyone) is the face here?

Run along, @EscobarWWE…

while you can. #WWENXT @Lady_Scarlett13 @WWEKarrionKross pic.twitter.com/GtqKGocCea

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) February 4, 2021

Toni Storm was supposed to have a match with Jessi Kamea, but was interrupted by both of her TakeOver: Vengeance opponents. Io Shirai defends against both Storm and Martinez at TakeOver.

Toni Storm & @RealMMartinez are in for one wild battle against @shirai_io for the #WWENXT Women's Championship at #NXTTakeOver: Vengeance Day! pic.twitter.com/TACsSRvgdG

— WWE (@WWE) February 4, 2021

The origin story of Tian Sha was given to us this week, and it is detailed and very cool. If WWE invests time into her for a while, they have a wrestler with long-term storytelling and character work ready to go for their Women’s Championship scene.

Grade: B-

The build toward TakeOver: Vengeance is good, even if the feuds aren’t at NXT’s normal excellent level. Edge adds an interesting wrinkle to the NXT Championship feud. Both tag team tournaments are getting to their conclusions and have been excellent so far. Still the show feels like it’s lagging in some areas. The NXT Women’s feud doesn’t have a ton of development, and big names like Undisputed Era & The Way seem to have nothing to do. A fine show, but they’ll need more leading into TakeOver.