While I expected Mason Rook to actually look good in tonight’s tag team match, where he teamed with fellow newcomer Kam Hendrix against NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo and North American Champion Myles Borne, I didn’t expect to also really be impressed by Hendrix. I used to be considering to myself because the match rolled on that I hope the creative for Hendrix is pivoting to him going up against Borne, quite than him continuing to attack D’Angelo, and with the finish of the match, that thankfully looks like where we’re headed, especially after Rook laid out Hendrix for considering he could call his shot against D’Angelo later within the night.
I liked that this tag team match opened the show. I wasn’t sure where it could fall tonight, with each champions being involved. But I assumed it was a fun solution to open things up, especially with the group so hot with their chants for Rook. And, while he didn’t body slam anyone’s dad tonight, he looked really impressive. He went toe-to-toe multiple times with D’Angelo, and at the start, just absorbed the champion’s punches. I also knew he was speedy for his size, but that is the primary full Rook match I’ve ever seen, and I used to be still impressed. D’Angelo needed to work hard to get Rook off his feet, and it took Borne to assist him get the large man up for a suplex.
I also liked that it was Tavion Heights that mainly cost Borne the match, so it kept the champions looking strong, while the brand new guys still scored the victory. I do not necessarily need a Borne vs. Heights match, but I’m not going to complain about it if and when it happens. It also is sensible to do this first if Hendrix is not immediately going after Borne.
Rook did the wonderful (and I still think unnamed?) move of his where he put Borne across his shoulders, then hit a cannonball into the corner, nailing him off the second turnbuckle pad. Hendrix then tagged himself in, and I assumed perhaps that is where we might see the strain between the 2 heels, but nope, Rook just let him pin Borne, one, two, three.
The stress got here in a while within the night, when Hendrix was interviewed within the ring and said he wasn’t trying to challenge Borne, but to go for the highest gold. That did not sit right with Rook, who laid him out for failing to acknowledge it was he who won the match. I could have dealt without that, and Hendrix could have just pivoted to Borne without sort of burying the NA Championship, but I believe we’ll get back there, eventually, now that Rook put him in his place.
Written by Daisy Ruth