Top 2 things that went wrong on the Dec. 28 episode of NXT 2.0
This week’s episode of NXT 2.0 served as not only the final episode of 2021 but also the final episode before the second annual New Year’s Evil special. As such, WWE put most of the focus on the matches and segments that are scheduled for that show.
Some of the company’s efforts, in that regard, worked better than others, and since we’ve already discussed the positives from this episode, so let’s take some time to focus on the negatives.
These are the top two things that went wrong on the Dec. 28 episode of NXT 2.0.
CAN THEY CO-EXIST with Raquel Gonzalez and Cora Jade
As it turned out, WWE having Cora Jade hang all that lampshade about co-existing with Raquel Gonzalez once the two took on Io Shirai and Kay Lee Ray in the main event. This match replaced the advertised Jade and Gonzalez vs. Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne bout and carried the stipulation that the winners would face Mandy Rose in a Triple Threat match for the NXT Women’s Championship at New Year’s Evil.
Unfortunately, it looked like WWE left whatever the format was for Gonzalez/Jade vs. Toxic Attraction in place, as the finish to this one featured Gonzalez and Jade bickering over who would get the deciding pinfall, even though both would get the title shot no matter who picked up the win (Jade would ultimately get the roll-up win, continuing her fluky-framed push).
Against Dolin and Jayne, this would’ve been frustrating (as all “Can they co-exist?” stories are) but more in line with the story WWE was telling. But against Shirai and Ray, this became an illogical mess that WWE thrust upon to maintain their narrative.
Santos Escobar distracts himself and loses
It’s good to see WWE keeping Solo Sikoa’s unbeaten streak alive, but him getting a win over wrestlers who distract themselves en route to defeat doesn’t make the triumph feel as impressive as it should.
Next. NXT 2.0: Go-home show heading into New Year’s Evil. dark
As for Escobar, his decision to turn his attention away from his opponent to attack Xyon Quinn, who was merely standing outside the ring talking to Elektra Lopez, undercuts his aura as a shrewd faction leader. Plus, all of this happening to further the contrived Lopez/Quin romance storyline makes this all the more aggravating (just because the Indi Hartwell/Dexter Lumis story worked doesn’t mean this more lazily written one will).