Hey Scott,
I just got done watching NXT: rival and Is it just me or is NXT trying to incorporate Puroresu, with even the announcers saying "he seems to have the fighting spirit" during the Itami match? Or do you think it's more of a one time thing they did to play off the fact he's japanese?
I think it's just playing off the Japanese thing, although it's a given that both Albert and Graves would be paying attention to what NJPW's been doing lately.
On a larger point, I do think it's interesting that WWE has essentially created their own indy promotion with NXT, except that they control everything and they can now make "indy stars" who work WWE style. If that's HHH's ultimate goal, it's kind of brilliant, because they get all the benefits of the indy cred without all the "bad habits" they hate so much.
NXT is clearly a better Ring of Honor than Ring of Honor right now. Shades of 2007 or 2008, but nowhere near the 2005-2006 level.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, they're not really working WWE Style. It's this great Indy/Japan/WWE mix that the main roster just doesn't do, at least not regularly.
ReplyDeleteWatching that 75 minute Daniel Bryan showcase on Smackdown really solidified it for me, when even a ring master like Daniel has settled into a 5 moves of doom/taunts/ring entrance/finisher routine you know the main roster guys are wrestling with handcuffs on.
Gotta start running VFW halls if they really want to be indie ish.
ReplyDeleteEvolve/DGUSA is also a better ROH right now.
ReplyDeleteIt really is stunningly genius, since they're also creating their own territory system. They could send a guy like Swagger or Cesaro to freshen them up. Cycle guys in and out like the territory days of old. It's already given a bit of a second wind to Tyson Kidd's career. Not a huge boost, mind you, but something.
ReplyDelete"If that's HHH's ultimate goal, it's kind of brilliant, because they get all the benefits of the indy cred without all the "bad habits" they hate so much."
ReplyDeleteIf I recall correctly, this is HHH's vision for NXT, including why he's not angling to sign guys like Styles or Shelley, right down to the letter.
That's how I described NXT to someone, that it's RoH with NWA-style stories, and WWE production values.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of sending guys to nxt when they get stale. Having a guy like Kane would mean so much more there than on the main roster. He's not going to have the best matches on the card, but guys would learn a lot from him. Then, if they do make the main roster, they've got a guy they know how to work with, and who knows them.
ReplyDeleteHoly fucking shit, dont let Kane ruin NXT as well. We need LESS Kane, not more!
ReplyDeleteSadly, nothing exept maybe retirement will prevent Kane from being stale
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be interested to see how they NXT stacks up on the road versus the b-show team. For instance, I live in DC suburbs on the Virginia side and while Raw and Smackdown go to the Verizon Center, the Patriot Center in Fairfax (capacity 10,000) gets house shows. We had one in December with Bray Wyatt vs. Dean Ambrose headlining, the Usos, and Big Show were the other draws. I'm thinking the place had about 4,000ish there? It was barely half full if that. I'd like to see NXT come to the Patriot Center and see what they draw.
ReplyDeleteIt would be TNA house show-like, 250 tops.
ReplyDeleteIt worked for Tyson Kidd.
ReplyDeleteDMV represent. I wonder if they could just do nxt guys with one headliner.
ReplyDeleteA nice little niche for NXT:Less entertaining than WWE, less athletic than NJPW.
ReplyDeleteLove him or hate him, you can't argue that HHH is the smartest man in the room.
ReplyDeleteWhy should he? I'm amazed they brought Steen in.
ReplyDeleteSo does the NXT 'style' supplant the current wwe style once Vince goes to the great carnival in the sky? Assuming he doesn't become some sort of carny archlich that is.
ReplyDeleteNo. The NXT 'style' isn't gonna be doable for the WWE road schedule.
ReplyDeleteYou'd definitely have to tone the crazy spots down some, I absolutely agree.
ReplyDelete#kaneruinseverything
ReplyDeleteI Like the ideas of veterans going down and working with them. Know who I think who'd do wonders down there working with those guys?
ReplyDeleteGoldust.
Yeah, I agree. Dolph Ziggler taking his "showoff" thing down to NXT to see what all the fuss is about. Gets overly cocky and assumes he deserves an NXT title match, puts over whoever the champ is. Does a series, trading wins. Good for both guys
ReplyDeleteI think it would be great for Ziggler, Kofi, and Cesaro. Maybe a guy like Big E too
ReplyDeleteWWE is entertaining?
ReplyDelete*More entertaining than WWE
ReplyDeleteThe cerebral assassin baby!
ReplyDeleteSigned,
#1 HHH Mark on the planet
I have noticed they do that "I hit you, you hit me" thing back and forth where nobody sells like in Japan.
ReplyDeleteI saw recently the RVD timeline video and he was talking about when he first joined the WWE he started complaining to Tajiri that he was only given 10 minutes a night to wrestle, and couldn't do all his ECW spots, with Tajiri replying "uh, shorter, better". Then after about a month of wrestling 4-5 times a week he said he could absolutely understand where Tajiri was coming from and there's no way you could wrestle the ECW style on a WWE schedule.
ReplyDeleteI think you'd be surprised. They have to pick their spots but I think they can draw 4 figures in a bunch of places. It's basically turning into an Indy allstar promotion. An Indy show with Steen, PAC, Prince Devitt and Generico would draw pretty damn well. Throw in a few established names.... No reason the WWE versions of these guys can't sell tickets.
ReplyDeleteThe NXT style is great when you're working two or three shows a month. Once the start working four or five shows a week, the talent will be begging for WWE style.
ReplyDelete