On Tuesday’s episode of “WWE NXT,” Tatum Paxley put her “WWE NXT” Women’s North American Championship on the road against Blake Monroe in a Casket Match, and it was a killer contest.
Before I begin to beat a dead horse with these death-related puns, Paxley and Monroe’s match was genuinely a stand-out match, even amidst a card stacked with talented showings from Zaria, Sol Ruca, Myles Borne, and Dion Lennox. In WWE’s first-ever title-related Casket Match since 1998, Paxley and Monroe left no stone unturned of their do-or-die fight for Paxley’s title. This match had all the pieces: interesting use of weapons, crazy women, and a complete lot of symbolism to sell the story.
Tuesday’s match saw weapons that you just seldom — if ever — see in a hoop. I knew this match was going to be awesome when Paxley pulled out a dollhouse from underneath the ring. While I’m a bit upset Monroe didn’t find yourself going through it, I quickly forgot about it when Monroe literally picked up the dollhouse and smashed it over Paxley’s back. I do know that individuals critique WWE for not innovating enough, and while I’m not saying a dollhouse in a Casket Match is the top of innovation, I’m saying that no person in recent memory has done that before. Even other than the dollhouse, though, we got loads of lesser-used weapons. The fireplace extinguisher all the time looks great, and Monroe’s diamonds are iconic, if rare. It was also great to see these two use the casket itself in capacities greater than “let’s slam her head against the wood.” Spanish Fly off of the casket? They’re performers after my very own heart.
I like women who’re all the time somewhat bit hysterical. Obviously, Paxley is a nutcase (that is a compliment). Paxley’s insanity, nonetheless, was great at pulling out similarly unhinged reactions from Monroe. We have seen glimpses of “The Woman From Hell” in “NXT” thus far, and while I all the time think Monroe might be somewhat crazier, she looked essentially the most unsettling she has been shortly. It only is smart that Paxley was the one to elicit that out of her.
The symbolism! Obviously, the dollhouse and diamonds are clear nods to every woman’s gimmick, but I loved the detail of Monroe initially failing to note her title within the casket. For a girl so obsessive about this title, it’s odd that she would not notice her baby was gone. She really desired to hurt Paxley. This wasn’t an ego-fueled feud: this was personal. Her custom title being the one thing that stopped her from claiming the actual thing? Vanity might be Monroe’s downfall. Vanity will bring Monroe to her demise.
Even in a stacked card, Paxley and Monroe killed it tonight.
Written by Angeline Phu