Gargano does the one thing he has not done in NXT; LeRae’s time to become champion is quickly approaching
Johnny Gargano kicked off the first Halloween Havoc in 20 years by becoming the first two-time NXT North American Champion. Johnny Wrestling has done just about everything in NXT except for becoming a champion as a heel. Damian Priest has also become an absolute star since winning the five-man ladder match at Takeover: XXX. The key for him has been the simple fact that he has been allowed the freedom to express his currently authentic self. Priest has found his niche in the professional wrestling business over the last two years in NXT, and there are big things in his future over the next two or three years.
Candice LeRae was not as fortunate on this night, but the writing is seemingly written on the wall for The Gargano Way to prove effective at least in the short-term. Io Shirai is not the most compelling character from a storyline standpoint, but she is one of the most talented performers in the world. Candice took about five bumps in this match that were absolutely horrific.
Pat McAfee will benefit Pete Dunne, Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan perhaps more than anyone else on the NXT roster by giving them all an injection of charisma to make whatever segment they are involved in each week must-see TV
It was an extremely intelligent decision by Shawn Michaels and Triple H on who they elected to align with Pat McAfee because they chose three performers who most likely needed a little bit of assistance in the charisma department. Oney Lorcan, Danny Burch, and Pete Dunne are incredibly gifted physically, but all three men need a slight injection of another layer in their particular storyline that will give fans a reason to care about them and get legitimately invested in their characters. Pat McAfee will provide them with that extra layer because he is extremely active on other platforms aside from WWE.
McAfee had his breakout performance in his debut match at Takeover: XXX in a losing effort to Adam Cole of The Undisputed Era. He then paid Ridge Holland to attack Adam Cole, and subsequently bring his lifeless carcass out to the ringside area during Kyle O’Reilly’s NXT Championship match. Unfortunately, this plan was derailed when Holland was injured not too long ago. McAfee then approached Lorcan and Burch with the same offer, and they originally said no, but after losing a number one contender’s match for the NXT Tag Team Titles to The Undisputed Era they really thought through the offer and said yes.