WWE presents the first live NXT episode on the USA Network (and the WWE Network), and Greg DeMarco gives it the Three Stars treatment!

WWE broke new ground for NXT, as it was live on September 19th, a night that will forever be remembered as the USA Network debut. Yeah, they’ve done it before, but it was a one-off. This was the real deal, and it delivered.

The Third Star for WWE NXT: The Production Team

I know, it sounds dumb. But go back and watch the open, where Mauro Ranallo welcomed us to NXT on the USA Network. Full Sail holds around 400 people, and “The NXT Arena at Full Sail University” looked HUGE. We know Vince McMahon, Kevin Dunn, and Triple H missed both Raw and Smackdown this week. Well, it should be obvious where they were–Full Sail University! The show looked great, and they owe that to the crew behind the scenes. The product was fitting of a major cable outlet, and that says it all.

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The Second Star: Pete Dunne

I absolutely loved the match between Pete Dunne and Arturo Ruas. In a rare miscue, Mauro Ranallo called it a clash of styles. Really, they were complimentary styles that played over each other well. And Dunne emerging victorious was the perfect way to introduce him to a bigger audience (depending on how many USA Network viewers jumped over to the WWE Network).

The thing about Dunne is how believable he is in the ring. Roderick Strong, who I am mentioning in a moment, it truly a ring general for NXT. But Pete Dunne brings a certain realism to everything he does, unmatched in the business today (in my opinion). I know many might not like the comparison, but Dunne is basically a shorter Randy Orton, methodically picking his opponents apart to ensure he gains the victory.

With NXT likely moving to six Takeover events in 2020, I can see Pete Dunne getting the call to main event opposite Adam Cole for the biggest prize on the yellow and black brand. If you’re going to build the legend of Adam Cole, a feud with Dunne will provide many moments to remember.

Must Listen:
Greg DeMarco Show: Triple Decker Bullsh*t Sandwich

The First Star for WWE NXT: Roderick Strong and Velveteen Dream (tie)

A major opportunity was thrown the way of both Roderick Strong and Velveteen Dream, and both men showed they belonged in the first ever live NXT main event on the USA Network.

This match had major moments, but it was the little things that really sets it apart. We had a Takeover quality match in the ring, and Velveteen Dream really showed me something. He’s starting to come into his own. Don’t get me wrong, he’s been amazing for some time now. But on this night, he delivered in the ring.

The moment of the match, for me, was when Roddy had Dream locked in the Strong Hold. The crowd of 400 sounded like 10,000, worked up to a fever pitch for both men. And they surpassed that at the false finish, and the finish. No one booed at the fact that The Undisputed Era got involved, they popped for Roderick Strong’s win.

NXT has arrived to the masses, and it was delivered by Velveteen and new North American Champion Roderick Strong.

Who are your Three Stars of WWE Raw?
Comment on social media @ChairshotGreg, @theCHAIRSHOTcom,
and use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

In hockey, a game’s “Three Stars Of The Night” represent the top three performers of the night. For more clarification, I defer to this Pittsburgh Gazette explanation:

“The tradition dates to the 1936-37 season, when Imperial Oil became the principal sponsor of Hockey Night in Canada radio broadcasts and was seeking a way to promote one of its products, Three Star gasoline. The idea of doing so by selecting the top three performers in a particular game purportedly came from a Canadian advertising agency.

Many clubs do recognize the player with the most three-star selections with an award or trophy, usually in conjunction with a corporate sponsorship, at the end of the season (or sometimes, each month). All six Canadian franchises, for example, have an affiliation with a well-known brewery.

The NHL keeps track of its own Three Stars Of The Night selections, but that is done on a league-wide basis. The league employs a system that awards 30 points to a first star, 20 to a second star and 10 to a third – a running total can be found on the league’s website – but it does not present an award based on them.”

In hockey tradition, the first star represents the best of the three, but all three are considered to be receiving a high honor.