The MVP of NXT – 4/29/15
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty
There’s something happening here, but what it is—ain’t exactly clear. Oh wait, it’s totally clear! Mark Adam Haggerty is back with another mind-numbing 900 words about this week’s episode of NXT. I hope everyone’s having a lovely week, as this HUMP DAY is almost over, and the weekend is well within reach. We’re back here at Cheap-Heat for another night of WWE Developmental action, and it’s time to declare another “MVP of NXT.”
This week’s installment of NXT had a number of impressive Superstars, not the least of which being the number one contender to the NXT championship, Sami Zayn. This was just the second week on television for the powerful Dana Brooks, the tag team champions were exciting as ever, and Alex Riley proved that his heart is perhaps heavier than his brain. But at the end of the show, I had no choice but to award the “MVP of NXT” to Kevin Owens—for the second week in a row.
The show opens on Kevin Owens en route to the squared-circle, where he’s prepared to call his nemesis—Sami Zayn—down to ringside. But instead of the familiar SKA stylings of Sami’s theme song, we’re met with the General Manager of NXT, William Regal.
Kevin Owens is mesmerizing when it comes to the cadence and delivery of his promos: “With all due respect, I don’t think I called you out,” he told Regal, “So I don’t really care what you have to say. I said with all due respect!” William Regal says that making the match between Owens and Zayn is one of the easiest decision he’s ever had to make, but Owens complicates things. He says that he has no problem wrestling Sami Zayn, but he’s not going to put the title on the line.
“What’s he done,” I’m paraphrasing Owens exact comments and questions, “What’s he done to earn a title shot? You attack people from behind and that’s how you earn a title shot? That’s how you earn title shots around here.” Owens is committed to his role as the most detestable villain on NXT programming, and cleverly overlooks his own journey to the gold—paved with the broken bones of the former champion. Kevin Owens refused to put his championship on the line, and leaves the ring, smiling with a smug sense of satisfaction.
Kevin Owens wasn’t very visible throughout the rest of the show, until the final segment, where he joined Byron Saxton, Rich Brennan and Corey Graves in the broadcast booth. The play-by-play and color commentators tried to call the action in the ring between Sami Zayn and Alex Riley, but Owens made it hard for them to focus. “You’ve got the NXT champion Kevin Owens sitting here and you want to talk about Alex Riley?”В
Owens is amazing when visiting the announce desk, because he isn’t afraid of filling dead air with subtle accents and nuances to further develop his character. All too often, wrestlers will join the broadcasters for a segment, and not know what to say. But Owens knows who he is and knows how to play his character. He SHOULD—it hasn’t changed in over a decade, because it’s a true reflection of who KEVIN STEEN is as a human being. He doesn’t talk about demons or being crazy; Kevin Owens is the champion because it means more money, and a better life for his family.
On more than one occasion, Byron Saxton and his colleagues would say something to incite the ire of the champion. Owens made statements and followed them up by ordering the broadcast team to agree with his sentiments: “Let’s all just agree with me. If you’d do that Byron, we’d all get along much better.”В
When the action in the ring spilled to the outside, Sami Zayn became the victim of another assault by Kevin Owens. He clotheslined Zayn and left him lying on his back in the middle of the steel entryway. As is becoming customary with Kevin Owens, the champion started to leave but changed his mind! He set his sights on Alex Riley and proceeded to deliver the devastating power bomb on the outside of the ring that he had planned the week prior. He laughed in the wake of the destruction, and left the arena with his championship held high, and his challengers laid out flat.В
For the second time in as many weeks, the NXT title holder is the most valuable player on the NXT brand. Until someone comes along to challenge the champion in terms of work in the ring—as well as on the mic—Kevin Owens will continue to dominate the “Proverbial Power Rankings,” that I've concocted in my head.
Until next week this has been Mark Adam Haggerty, reminding you to keep checking out my work here at Cheap-Heat and at Daily Wrestling News; follow me on Twitter via @TapeTraderz; and listen to the “B+ Player Podcast” available every Sunday night at Cheap-Heat.com
