The Great American Bash event for WWE NXT proved to be enjoyable across the board. The matches were well-executed, featuring impressive lockups and engaging storylines that would satisfy even the toughest wrestling critics. While there weren’t many unexpected elements on Saturday’s NXT lineup, the surprises orchestrated by Shawn Michaels and his team were compelling enough to keep the Atlanta audience engaged for two hours, apart from some awkward moments related to the Darkstate faction.
Using the term "hated" might be a bit extreme; however, there’s certainly some confusion surrounding the Darkstate. Personally, I’m not against them, but it’s unclear what their purpose is. Their presence feels somewhat unsettling, and it seems they’re just playing mind games without making a real impact on the fast-paced and diverse NXT. They seem more like a group of people hanging around with little direction, which isn’t necessarily negative—after all, everyone goes through transitional phases—but I question their place in NXT.
The Darkstate initially made an impression with a strange glitch message during an opening backstage segment featuring Zaria and NXT’s female North American champion, Sol Ruca. I even joked about their undetermined role, wondering, "What are they doing?" Although they didn’t interfere in Ruca’s title defense against Izzi Dame, there were strange vibes suggesting a possible connection. It raises the question: what’s the purpose of these strange segments?
Darkstate’s antics continued through the TNA contract signing involving Trick Williams, Joe Hendry, and Mike Santana, where they were somewhat more involved as they attempted to corner Hendry and Santana. But again, their role seems unclear. If they are indeed feuding with these characters, why not wait until the TNA chaos is resolved to give their storyline the attention it deserves? Time and resources are essential for effective storytelling, and I’m puzzled as to why NXT feels thinner as it tries to incorporate Darkstate into various segments.
Fan Take: The presence of Darkstate brings both intrigue and uncertainty, highlighting the importance of clear storytelling in wrestling. For fans, figuring out where factions like Darkstate fit into the overall narrative could greatly influence how storylines unfold and the audience’s emotional investment in them.
