NXT
Date:
September 4, 2014
Location:
Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators:
Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, Renee Young
Reviewed by Tommy Hall
It's
the go home show for Takeover II next week and we now have a main
event set. This week we're likely going to be setting the stage for
the fatal fourway next week with Adrian Neville defending against
Tyler Breeze, Sami Zayn and Tyson Kidd. We also have the finals of
the #1 contenders tag team tournament. Let's get to it.
Before
the opening sequence we hear about the card tonight, which will see
the tournament finals and all four men in the fourway in singles
matches.
Opening
sequence.
Alexa
Bliss vs. Charlotte
Non-title.
Charlotte
takes her down with a headlock but Bliss goes to the middle rope for
an armdrag followed by a headscissors. That's enough for Charlotte
as she chokes Bliss on the middle rope to take over. Bliss
rolls through a powerbomb into a sunset flip for two but walks into
Bow Down to the Queen for the pin at 2:22.
Bayley
comes out post match and says it's time Charlotte took her seriously,
because she's seriously taking the title at Takeover. She offers a
handshake but Charlotte shoves her instead. Charlotte walks over to
her and gets caught in a bad looking Belly to Bayley.
Breeze
says he'll win the title because he looks better than everyone else.
Kenta
debuts next week and will be wrestling under that name.
Sin
Cara and Kalisto say they have a great opportunity tonight and have
the heart to beat the Ascension.
Tye
Dillinger vs. Tyler Breeze
Dillinger
jumps over Tyler in the corner to start and runs him over with a
shoulder. Breeze gets all aggressive and stomps Tye down in the
corner before putting on a front facelock. Back
up and the Beauty Show is good for the pin at 2:40.
Kidd
says he'll win the title because he's been around the world and is
cocky and arrogant, but he's earned the right to be.
Enzo
and Big Cass at a beauty salon and goes in to see a friend of his to
get some hair removal cream (I hope it's Freebird brand) for the hair
vs. hair match against Sylvester LeFort next week. A very
effeminate man comes in and freaks them out so they get in an
argument over who should test the cream. They spill it on a dog and
the stylist freaks out as they look in shock and say the cream really
works.
Tyson
Kidd vs. Adam Rose
There
are far too many people here with names that start with Ty. Kidd
takes him into the corner for some knees to start. Rose comes back
with elbows to the face, only to walk into a suplex. We hit the
chinlock for a bit before Rose fights up with forearms and elbows to
the jaw. Kidd
dropkicks the knee out and puts on the Sharpshooter for the
submission at 4:11.
Rating:
D+.
This was a glorified squash and Kidd looked good throughout. The
fourway next week is going to be awesome and this was a good step to
get us to that match. Rose is done at this point save for comedy and
that's all he was ever going to become. Then again, it's not like
any of this matters on the main show as NXT is in its own world.
Sami
Zayn says he wants to beat Neville because Adrian is the champion.
The
Vaudevillains, in black and white of course, promise that they'll win
the tournament. Aiden insists that Gotch can move mountains and
Simon adds a hearty EXCELSIOR!
Sami
Zayn vs. Marcus Louis
They
trade wristlocks to start until Marcus gets him down into a chinlock.
Sami
finally fights up with a kick to the ribs and a clothesline followed
by a nice dropkick. He
easily takes Louis down and puts on the Koji Clutch for the tap at
2:59.
Enzo
and Big Cass run out and try to use the cream on LeFort's hair but
Sylvester escapes.
Adrian
Neville knows he doesn't have to be pinned or submit to lose the
title and he loves the challenge.
CJ
Parker vs. Adrian Neville
Non-title
again. Renee
accuses Parker of using REGULAR gasoline recently. Neville
spins around to start and takes Parker to the mat with a headlock.
Parker
fights back up with a spinwheel kick for two but misses a top rope
splash. Adrian scores with some kicks of his own and the Red Arrow
is good for the pin at 3:21.
Rating:
C-.
Neville has been a really good champion so far but I have no idea if
he holds onto the belt next week. That's the best thing you could
ask for going into a big match as it really could go wither way. I
love that Parker is now a lowly jobber as the fans absolutely could
not stand him and he didn't have the skill to stay at the level he
was on.
Tag
Team Title #1 Contenders Tournament Finals: Vaudevillains vs. Sin
Cara/Kalisto
The
Vaudevillains beat Bull Dempsey/Mojo Rawley and Enzo Amore/Colin
Cassady to advance while Kalisto/Sin Cara defeated Wesley Blake/Buddy
Murphy and Adam Rose/Sami Zayn to get here. Kalisto
spins English around to start and Aiden is quickly frustrated. It's
quickly off to Sin Cara vs. Gotch with the masked man being dropped
ribs first onto the top rope and out to the floor.
English
comes back in to hammer away in the corner, only to walk into a cross
body. A double tag brings in Kalisto for a headscissors to Gotch.
Something like the La Mistica faceplant gets two and everything
breaks down. Cara dives over the top rope to take out English,
sending him head first into the stge. Gotch catches Kalisto's cross
body but walks into the Salida Del Sol, followed by the Swanton from
Sin Cara to give them the title shot at 5:50.
Rating:
C.
This didn't have time to go anywhere but it did exactly what it was
supposed to do. I don't think anyone expected a different outcome
and that's the right way to go. The luchadors are on a roll heading
into the title match next week and there's a chance the titles could
finally change. Basic power vs. speed match here but it was fine.
Ascension
comes out for a staredown to end the show.
Overall
Rating: B.
This
was one of the best go home shows I can remember in a very long time.
Almost every Takeover match got some time and it set up the fourway
perfectly. I can't wait for the show now and based on the house show
reports, the fourway has the potential to be a classic. Throw in the
fact that all three titles could easily change hands and Enzo vs.
LeFort could be a very solid comedy match and Takeover II is shaping
up great.
Results
Charlotte
b. Alexa Bliss – Bow Down to the Queen
Tyler
Breeze b. Tye Dillinger – Beauty Show
Tyson
Kidd b. Adam Rose – Sharpshooter
Sami
Zayn b. Marcus Louis – Koji Clutch
Adrian
Neville b. CJ Parker – Red Arrow
Sin
Cara/Kalisto
b. Vaudevillains – Swanton bomb to Gotch
Remember to check out my website at kbwrestlingreviews.com and head over to my Amazon author page with wrestling books for under $4 at:
http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6
No matches near a "B" grade although the show gets an overall grade of a B? I'm confused.
ReplyDelete<3 Charlotte. Can't wait until she's dominating the women's division.
ReplyDeleteIt's the overall feel of the show, not just a sum of the matches.
ReplyDeleteBeen saying that for months.
ReplyDeleteTommy, what time do you feel comfortable posting the NXT reviews? I ask just because I am formatting a schedule.
ReplyDeleteNow that the man roster midcard is getting stronger, the whole main event from this show needs to get moved up and let the Kenta/Devitt/Steen group run things down here. Although i'd keep Zayn on double duty until he can have a big match with Steen.
ReplyDeleteRight after the show ends so 5pm EST. Keep in mind that next week is the special that airs at 8pm EST.
ReplyDeleteDo you have my email address?
This guy gets it?
ReplyDeleteAlso, Kenta's gimmick should be a crazy little wildman like Tajiri kinda was only he should only ever say "KENTAAAAAAAAA!!!!" in promos kinda like Groot.
ReplyDeleteI'd bring Breeze up as Miz's social media manager.
ReplyDeleteNah, KENTA is always best as a guy who murders you with kicks and shows no emotion.
ReplyDeleteStill anxious as to what Steen will be called. For some reason though I think they'll get Devitt right so I'm not worried about that.
ReplyDeleteRight. As someone pointed out yesterday, Taz and the Dudleys leaving at the end of 1999 and RVD being out injured for the first half of 2000 did a heck of a lot more damage to ECW than Mike Awesome leaving.
ReplyDeleteOne of my best friends, who actually trained to wrestle for a while before realizing it just wasn't for him, told me about that match years back and I swear I thought he was just fucking with me. He eventually showed me the video on YouTube or Daily Motion or whatever and I STILL thought it was an elaborate ruse. Japan is fucking weird, man.
ReplyDeleteHe told me about it in the most amusing way possible, as he does a really good impression of the overzealous Japanese wrestling announcer. "EXPRODING ANUSOOOOH!"
I thought NXT aired at 9 on the network?
ReplyDeleteThat would be a good idea. Miz having an entourage would be entertaining
ReplyDeleteBefore the thing with Sandow, I thought having Breeze as Miz's understudy would be a good idea
Not for a few weeks now. In theory they're clearing the spot for Smackdown next month.
ReplyDeleteThe Dudleys were a HUGE draw for me and my friends. We loved going to the shows and watching Bubba start shit
ReplyDeleteBayley in a title match YAY!!!
ReplyDeleteThe Vaudevillains cruelly shafted for a boring lucha team BOOOO!!!!!!
I'm not one of the "WWE does nothing right" guys, but I will say there is a delicate balance in using/overusing Brock at this point. His appeal is based on the "special attraction" feel. While I can appreciate wanting the dominant champ to actually be on TV more, I feel like they should avoid him doing more than one or two RAW matches (if at all). Every appearance risks making him "just another guy".
ReplyDeleteJoan Rivers rip, one funny fucking lady
ReplyDeleteI'd be surprised if they didn't just call him Kevin Steen. A vocal minority knows who he is.
ReplyDeleteJoan Rivers could actually be the funniest female ever
ReplyDeleteThere is a Shield doc? Is it any good? That sounds like a band putting out a "greatest hits" after being around for like two albums.
ReplyDeleteHe'll be too expensive to get over used I think.
ReplyDeleteThey'll never trademark a real name again.
ReplyDeleteBrock isn't top heel?
ReplyDeleteI'll have you know Kalisto is not boring in the least good sir!
ReplyDeleteAnd I hope he gets called up soon. They need a new Hispanic wrestler on the main roster to replace Del Rio and Rey.
He is, but he only wrestles three times a year. Rollins is as close to a top heel as they have who's an active wrestler who appears on TV every week. I suppose you could make the argument for Orton, but I feel like Rollins has more heat right now.
ReplyDeleteThe Bengals could be the 2007 Patriots and I still would pick them to lose a playoff game
ReplyDeleteWishfully thinking, one Raw match could be awesome without hurting his appeal.
ReplyDeleteIf I gave you a list of generic attributes for each team the one you pick as the best would be the Bengals. As you noted, they are the Bengals so they gets no love. Dalton is crap but you don't need a qb to win anymore. Don't tell anyone but Russell Wilson is just okay.
ReplyDeleteThe Smark Jr. Rant for WHY TRAMPOLINES SUCK.
ReplyDeleteIt basically tells their story up to Summerslam, it's only an hour, it's exactly what they should be doing with the Network
ReplyDeletere: Rollins/HHH....I still think all the "this is HHH's pet project, he's watching it closely" is counterintelligence by Dunn. Leak something is his baby right before the wheels come crashing to make him look like an idiot.....Sin Cara, Kong, tag teams....all three heavily touted(fuck Tout) as HHH projects
ReplyDeleteMichael Sam will win whatever
ReplyDeleteYou're not the boss of me.
ReplyDeleteA well-advertised RAW match with good build-up and a quality opponent would be cool. It would make RAW feel special.
ReplyDeleteThey never did to begin with. You cannot trademark a person's real name. That's what Bryan Danielson is Daniel Bryan.
ReplyDeleteKurt Angle, Brock Lesnar, John Cena, and so on.
ReplyDeleteYeah, not enough chain wrestling.
ReplyDelete:eye-rolly:
Seeing as the goal was to use him to sell the network and product in Japan, I don't think it's "he got them to let him use the name Kenta" as much as "they never planned on calling him anything else."
ReplyDeleteZuh?
ReplyDeleteLet me clarify, they won't use someone's real name anymore because they CAN'T trademark it.
ReplyDeleteAhhhhh, that makes more sense.
ReplyDeleteRanger Ross
ReplyDeleteI didn't even remember Awesome being in the WWF. He didn't need the system to make a living so God bless him.
ReplyDeleteIs the handshake thing still going on? You know, you would think that one of the veterans in the back that had an ounce of common sense would just say "fuck this stupid shit, nobody has to shake my hand every time I walk through the locker room." I can see Undertaker walking around and perpetuating that nonsense but I hope he would be cooler than that.
ReplyDeleteI always want to believe that it's a rib but I'm starting to accept the fact that this is serious stuff. I'm not much of a social guy. I nod my head when I walk by so I wouldn't last three seconds in Stamford.
ReplyDelete99.9% of the time the talent are the ones that comes up with their new name.
ReplyDeleteThey've changed bigger stars' names in the past. He ain't keeping Steen.
ReplyDeleteThis was the first ECW show I ever saw. 3pm on a Sunday afternoon. This match blew me away. I didn't give a damn about production quality and lighting and all that horseshit. I just knew this was what I always wanted wrestling to be.
ReplyDeleteZayn and Steen need to team together.
ReplyDeleteWell he better start showing emotion or he'll never get called up.
ReplyDeleteTying storylines together is one thing... and this match did that very well... but the match itself is not very good. That'll get you ***.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad she passed but she is not even top 5 imo
ReplyDeleteLucy
Mary Tyler Moore
Roseanne
Tina Fey
Christa Miller
It's just sloppy garbage that was cool at the time for being sloppy garbage.
ReplyDeleteWWE's trademark only applies to the US.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a sick bump. All of the other table breaks are more impressive, but you just know that one hurt.
ReplyDelete+1 if the futurama reference was intentional
ReplyDeleteThis was my first ECW show and I still got everything that was going on. Dreamer's struggle with Raven, Alphonso's reign of terror. Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteHe won the Hardcore title by powerbombing Rhyno on a ladder backstage, I think, and he and Lance Storm had a short feud with Edge and Christian, then he pretty much stood in the background.
ReplyDeleteThose 2 will be in a mask vs mask match by WM 22.
ReplyDeleteFat Cat
ReplyDeleteSmith Kevin.
ReplyDeleteLol so silly.
ReplyDeleteThis is not a good clip though. It ends with Dreamer coming in. Totally misses the Alphonso and 911 angle.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, the tag team one got some better mileage than the other two did.
ReplyDeleteIs it purely generational though? I'm 35 and only really remember her for being a frankenfaced meany. Never really sought out her stand up and was too young for her Carson guest spots/hosting.
ReplyDeleteI remember during the Invasion when Bradshaw or whoever would be giving a speech to the WWE troops, thinking that pretty much everyone sitting there was stale. They could have swapped 90% of the WWE midcard with WCW/ECW's and I would have been happy.
ReplyDeleteSorta like how Punk/Ryback TLC was built for a good week or two and it actually felt like a pretty big deal.
ReplyDeleteSame here. I probably still have the VHS of it somewhere.
ReplyDeleteHmm hmm hmm hmm hmmmmmm…..chomp chomp, chomp chomp
ReplyDeleteHHH is in position to become the patron saint of the IWC if he gets rid of Dunn when Vince croaks.
ReplyDeleteI guess, I still think that's debatable though. (and really, the other two weren't his fault, just flaked out) But even when "HHH is backing tags" there were too many random pairings, break ups with nothing planned for either guy, lazy-ish "lets throw Kofi with someone" booking
ReplyDeleteApparently shit breaks out when the students and teachers are gone during the day and the 9-5'ers reign supreme
ReplyDeleteI was very disheartened by how the Natural Born Thrillaz and a bunch of the younger WCW guys got used. The only one who came out of the Invasion better was Helms
ReplyDeleteFuck all that. "Silent Japanese killer" is an overused stereotypical gimmick. Not very compelling to watch.
ReplyDeleteThis guy (finally) gets it!
ReplyDeleteThat would be really funny in this match. The four of them just start busting out wristlocks.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I doubt any of them even know how to do a wristlock.
This season seems rather predictable in terms of division winners, but there's always one division where the top dog craps out and a horrible team (Bucs?) rises back to the top.
ReplyDeleteQotd could be great. If it were a column. With content. Not just a look at me I'm cool I can copy your responses and people will read it shit show it's become. Sometimes I long for meekin. At least he tried to make it interesting
ReplyDeleteAnd that is what we will get.
ReplyDeletePolll up at 8pm
I don't even regard him as a great promo guy, actually. Perfectly aware that I'm in the minority here, but I just find him fingernails-on-blackboard grating. I know he's supposed to be obnoxious, but there's no need to overdo it....
ReplyDeleteOh my favorite match is probably Austin vs. Hart from WM13 which has the least chain wrestling ever in a Bret Hart match. This match is just trash and spotz. If four geeks were doing this in a VFW hall nobody would care. But it's 1995 ECW so it's hallowed ground.
ReplyDeleteWhy does he have to post that shit? I say cut the fucker. He can post links on his own boards begging for hits and listeners.
ReplyDeleteDetails? I'm interested. Who'd he rape why'd he do it and how'd you find out.
ReplyDelete95% aren't funny though
ReplyDeleteThe "Fat chick thriller/70's guy" phase is particulary sad for what it reveals about WCW at the time. It actually had a lot of incredibly promising talent in it's last couple of years, but saddled them with such idiotic gimmicks that it killed any impact they could have had right off the bat.
ReplyDeleteKev Rogan
ReplyDeleteComedy-wise I'd rank her below Victoria Jackson.
ReplyDeleteThey told a story. In fact, they included elements from like six stories. It's a very complex match that enhances at least three different angles.
ReplyDeleteIt was fast paced, got everyone over, never lagged. The matches were nothing special but it was certainly a show that would make you want to see more. That's my take, anyway.
ReplyDeleteProbably the dumbest thing I have read today. Maybe this week.
ReplyDeleteI'm blocked from the site from school. The reason is this place is linked to pornography. I didnt even know there was porn here.
ReplyDeleteSure there were some negatives, but the positives far outweighed IMO.
ReplyDeleteTeam Hell No, The Shield, The Wyatt Family, The Rhodes Bros, the Uso's, the Real Americans; all these teams shined in one way or another during the span of 2012 to 2014, giving us one of the better tag team divisions in years. I'm sure it'll pick up again sometime soon. It just happens to be in a down period at the moment.
I'm super excited to see what a bad-ass practicer he is!
ReplyDeleteSchool network filters are the biggest piles of idiotic shit ever imagined.
ReplyDeleteMarvin Lewis is still their coach
ReplyDeleteFUCK the stupid handshakes. Holy Christ I can't believe that is a thing.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of Brock swinging Bryan around by the "neck halo"....seeing as to how Heyman is his manager and all, it would be a nifty callback to ECW when that happened to Pitbull 2. Would definitely be a "Holy shit!" moment. They've had so FEW of those lately, too.
ReplyDeleteChubby Topanga was HOT. It suited her.
ReplyDeleteAmazing atmosphere and heat for sure. It'd almost be better in clips though, since it's basically 'spot, spot, spot'. If the Pitbulls got the timing on those double team reversal spots better that would have looked even cooler. Also, quite the Russo-riffic finish, no?
ReplyDeleteGotta love that crowd though and Raven got brutalized a bit in that one.
Throws rubber chicken.
ReplyDeleteKENTAAAA what's his finisher going to be?
ReplyDeleteI see what you did there....
ReplyDeleteOh damn, I like that idea a lot.
ReplyDeleteThe build to the chokeslam was great, too. This may be the one time in ECW where the payoff to a storyline was completely worth and surpassed the build.
ReplyDeleteNot ashamed to admit that I smile and think of this match every time Frankenstein comes on the radio.
ReplyDeleteRaven would; the decent worker back in the day.
ReplyDelete