Isenberg Reacts: WWE NXT “Last Woman Standing Showcases Excellent Storytelling”

June 29, 2017

Last Woman Standing

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It started in NXT and now has taken the RAW and Smackdown Live shows by storm. The Women’s Revolution was so good that they had to bring up Charlotte, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch all at once to make a big impact. WWE NXT featured Asuka vs. Nikki Cross in a Last Woman Standing match for the NXT Women’s Championship. Results below via WZ’s Lovell Porter and his live coverage:

Towards the end of this 25 minute match, Asuka tries to suplex Cross out of the ring onto a pile of chairs. Cross fights out of it and powerbombs Asuka on the pile of steel chairs! Asuka struggles and manages to get to her feet at the count of nine! Asuka tries to German suplex Cross off the ramp but Cross counters. Asuka knocks Cross off the stage with a right hand. Asuka hip attacks Cross off the stage! Cross gets to her feet. Asuka tries to kick Cross but Cross ducks. Asuka ends up kicking a light post. Asuka falls to the ground clutching her foot. Cross picks up Asuka and drapes her on the barricade. Cross hits a neck breaker off the barricade. Asuka somehow manages to get to her feet at nine! Cross screams in frustration. Asuka lands a spinning back fist. Cross picks up a ladder and hits Asuka in the gut with it. Cross sets up a table. Cross slams Asuka head first into the table. Cross sets up a ladder. Cross lays Asuka on the table. Asuka gets to her feet as Cross climbs the ladder. Asuka climbs the other side of the ladder. Cross and Asuka fight on the top of the ladder. Asuka suplexes Cross off the top of the ladder through the announce table! The referee counts both superstars as they both lay prone on the destroyed announce table. Just as the referee gets to 10 Asuka gets to her feet before collapsing.

Talk about intensity and a great main event between two excellent performers! I loved this booking and thought it made Nikki Cross an even bigger star in the eyes of everyone. Asuka brings the best out of everyone, but Nikki has proven to be just as good in the ring and even better in her gimmick than Asuka. The champion and the challenger showed us that they can still make the week about them. They might not have the controversy around them, but the talent and this overall story was built so well. It really helped keep a few down weeks from the men interesting and important. Cross’s three neckbreakers and being thrown into chairs showed her aggression, as well as Asuka taking a powerbomb and then delivering a suplex off a ladder and through the table, were some of the bright spots of the night. Say what you want about the women on RAW and Smackdown, but this match trumped what we have seen over the past month. Excellent night for these women and an excellent finish (possibly) for Asuka and Nikki Cross.

WZ 8.5

@JoshIsenberg4 on Twitter. WWE NXT Rating:

WZ 7

Josh controls most of the creative writing and ideas for the show on a weekly basis, as well as an on-air talent.

Aside from working with WrestleZone, Isenberg began his career in Broadcast Journalism interning at ESPN and worked with CBS Radio for three years. He has also had the opportunity to interview some of the best athletes and performers alive, including Andrew McCutchen, Ben Roethlisberger, Chris Jericho, Billy Gunn, Karl Anderson, Matt Hardy, Steven Strasburg and others.

Currently, Josh Isenberg works for Major League Baseball in their Advanced Media Productions. He grew up in Pittsburgh and went to Point Park University, which is where Chair Shot Reality is filmed each week.

His life outside of his obsession with wrestling include being a savant for Seinfeld, NFL, NBA, MLB and many television shows. He also has an undying love for musicals, which includes many shows he was a part of in high school. Some of his favorite wrestling moments can be linked to such superstars as Edge, The Rock, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels and The Great Khali.