#NXTMVP: Heavy Machinery (Week of 3/26/2017)

This week’s go-home episode of WWE NXT was a crucial show for a number of reasons. On one hand, the show needed to finalize the build for TakeOver: Orlando, which it accomplished to somewhat mixed results by promoting both the NXT Championship and NXT Women’s Championship using only pre-produced video packages without any fresh appearances from the wrestlers in front of the crowd. On the other hand, NXT achieved their secondary promotional goal with roaring success: getting fans excited for what the brand will look like after the traditional post-WrestleMania talent call-ups.

This week’s #NXTMVP act reflects the personality of the show: it doesn’t have anything to do with TakeOver: Orlando, but it offered an enticing view of coming attractions. With their impactful win over Jonathan Ortagun and Mike Marshall, Tucker Knight and Otis Dozovic, the team of Heavy Machinery, earned this week’s #NXTMVP honors.

Like the Authors of Pain, who took home MVP honors two weeks ago, Knight and Dozovic are already a better big man tag team than anything that’s been seen under the WWE umbrella this century. Their blend of time-tested monster moves and contemporary athleticism makes them ideal dance partners for wrestlers of all sizes, shapes, and styles. As they captured their first win on NXT TV, Heavy Machinery showed incredible potential to work as both babyfaces (thrilling the crowd with their “that shouldn’t be possible” feats of athleticism) or heels (terrifying the crowd with their “that looks extremely painful” feats of girth), a talent that could net both them and their employers big bucks.

Both Knight and Dozovic shone in the ring Wednesday night. At the opening bell, their unique look and charisma allowed them to turn an extended bearhug (arguably the most “boring” chant-inducing move in wrestling) into a crowd-pleasing shine spot. Their uncanny mobility was also on display, as they moved around the ring nimbly to find and position their opponents, rather than standing in the middle and letting the job guys run at them to top take bumps.

Fans who lived through the extended WWE pushes of the Harris Brothers know well that two strong, agile big men can still be boring as all heck without the right signature moves. Heavy Machinery proved this week that they have no shortage of innovative, devastating moves to subject their opponents to. Their coordinated headbutts and tackles were crisp, and even their double belly bump was executed with such enthusiasm that what could be a lower card comedy spot actually came off as a big move. When the time came to prove that they’re deadly serious competitors, Dozovic dropped an elbow on Jonathan Ortagun that had the flair of Abdullah the Butcher and the heavy impact of JBL. Their finish, which saw Dozovic slam Knight onto Ortagun for the win, was both an impressive feat of strength and a key visual reminder of what makes Heavy Machinery different from every other tag team in NXT or the WWE as a whole.

For Tucker Knight in particular, this victory felt like a culmination. After two years spent sporadically appearing on TV to do jobs, the former All American wrestler looked and wrestled like he was ready for the win. His trend of steady improvement across each television appearance continued, offering a glimpse at what may come over the next year for NXT.

In spite of not appearing on the card this week’s edition of NXT was primarily designed to promote, Heavy Machinery walked away from the show as the most memorable, imagination-stimulating act of the night. If that’s not a show-stealing #NXTMVP performance, then what is?