NXT
Takeover: Unstoppable
Date: May 20, 2015
Location: Full Sail
University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Rich
Brennan, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves
Reviewed by Tommy Hall
It's another live two
hour special with a rare rematch for the main event. Tonight it's
Zayn vs. Owens II as Sami tries to get the NXT Title back from the
man who beat him by referee stoppage back at Takeover: Rival. These
shows are always worth checking out and there's no reason to think
this won't be the same so let's get to it.
The opening video
features a bunch of fans talking about why they love NXT and thanking
the promotion for giving them wrestling back. It transitions into a
regular opening video with clips of every match and soundbytes from
the wrestlers.
Four models, wearing
fur and talking pictures of themselves, walk the aisle like a runway
and I think you know where this is going.
Tyler
Breeze vs. Finn Balor
This was supposed to be
a triple threat but we get a clip of Hideo Itami being attacked in
the parking lot as he arrived. Kevin Owens is there and says that's
a shame. THANK YOU! This is one of those things you never get
anymore in wrestling and it drives me crazy. Itami is injured, so
why not give Owens (or anyone) credit for it instead of just saying
“yeah he's hurt. Too bad.” It's so nice to see. It's also nice
to see the full on Irish demon entrance for Balor again, complete
with dreadlocks, paint, the dragon style cape and spikes down his
back. He even has a huge yellow eye on his back.
Feeling out process to
start with Breeze looking disturbed (rightfully so) by Balor's
appearance. Tyler finally nails a big kick to put Balor on the floor
before choking with the boot in the corner. We hit the chinlock on
Balor and Tyler seems to have his own group of fans tonight. Balor
rolls up and tries a sunset flip but rolls through into a basement
dropkick. Another dropkick to the side of the head sends Breeze
outside and Balor hits a running double stomp to the back from the
apron.
Back in and Balor kicks
him in the head for two more. The Sling Blade gets the same but
Breeze stops a charge with a Supermodel Kick for a very close two.
Tyler unhooks a buckle pad but misses the Beauty Shot. Balor misses
a double stomp and gets rolled up for two before being sent into the
exposed buckle, setting up a Beauty Shot for two.
Balor rolls outside and
walks a bit (Fans to the referee: “YOU'RE NOT COUNTING!”) before
surprising Breeze with a running forearm. Finn goes up to the bottom
of the Titantron (Fans: “PLEASE DON'T DIE!”) for a big dive to
take Breeze down again. Back in and the Coup de Grace makes Balor #1
contender at 11:05.
Rating:
B. Great choice for an opener
here and Breeze continues his hot streak. Balor was just too much
for him here though and that's the right thought process. It's hard
to go with Breeze, who has gone from a comedy character to a serious
wrestler, over someone who is one of the best packages in all of NXT.
Balor vs. Zayn or Owens should rock the house too.
Owens
watches from the back.
Someone
from Game of Thrones and Stephanie McMahon are in the front row.
Clips
of the northeast tour.
Dana
Brooke/Emma vs. Bayley/Charlotte
That place is going to
erupt when Bayley finally wins the title. Bayley catapults Dana into
a clothesline from Charlotte to start and chases Emma to the floor.
Emma hides behind her partner on the floor but eats a dropkick from
around the corner. Back in and Emma gets in a blind shot to take
over on Bayley, setting up a neck crank. The Emma Sandwich gets two
and Emma mocks the Bayley high five. That earns her a suplex and
it's off to Charlotte who comes in with a double DDT. Emma's cross
body is countered into the Figure Eight but Dana makes a save, only
to walk into the Belly to Bayley. Natural Selection ends Emma at
6:38.
Rating:
C+. This was fine but a bit
short. It's a good move to not have Brooke take the fall as they're
probably setting her up for something bigger down the line. Bayley
not getting the pin keeps Bayley vs. Emma ready for later on and
hopefully then on to the title pursuit again. Nice little match here
but the time hurt it.
We
look at Sami injuring his shoulder on Raw a few weeks back. I'm
still not sure how legit that injury is and I love that I can't tell.
Some
NXT rookies are here, headlined by the still yet to be named Uhaa
Nation.
Baron
Corbin vs. Rhyno
Just a power brawl
here. Rhyno looks almost the same as he did back in ECW. Baron gets
sidestepped and clotheslined to the floor to start and Corbin is in
early trouble. Back in and Corbin knocks him off the top and out to
the floor as the fans think Cor-Bin Sucks. Rhyno tries to fight back
but gets thrown into the corner and stomped down until the referee
pulls him off. We hit the chinlock and the fans aren't sure who they
like more. Rhyno fights up and wins a slugout but Baron headbutts
out of a belly to belly. Instead it's a spinebuster for two on
Corbin but he blocks a Gore with a clothesline, setting up End of
Days for the pin at 7:13.
Rating:
C. Take two guys, let them beat
each other up for seven minutes, soak in the cheers. There
isn't much more to this one than that as Rhyno was brought in exactly
for this purpose: make other people look good and do the job at the
end, because he's an established veteran who is going to bounce back
from whatever losses he has. Good power match.
We
look at Owens beating up Cena on Raw.
Owens
is asked about his busy week, which he breaks down in detail. The
NXT Title is a real prize, unlike the US Title. He
has a bit of veteran advice for Sami: don't show up tonight, because
it's the last time anyone will ever see (insert You Can't See Me)
him.
Tag
Team Titles: Enzo Amore/Colin Cassady vs. Blake/Murphy
Enzo
and Cass are challenging with Carmella in their corner, who may or
may not have turned on them. Enzo
says Team Cottonelle is taking an L tonight because there's a bounty
on their head. In a nice
touch, Cass spells out the word and we cut to a SAWFT sign in the
crowd with the camera panning over each letter in time.
Enzo
takes Blake (with his hair
in ponytails) down to start
and it's off to Big Cass, sending the champs hiding in the corner.
Murphy's chop has no effect
on Cass so he throws Murphy hard into the corner for two. Enzo
adds a high cross body for the same but the champs cheat a bit to
take over, setting up Murphy for a backbreaker. Enzo
gets stomped down in the corner and
caught in a powerbomb into a Codebreaker for two more.
Back
to Murphy for a superplex but Amore fights him off and hits a tornado
DDT to set up the double tag. Cass
cleans house and gets two off the Empire Elbow before tagging a very
banged up Enzo for the Rocket Launcher. Cue
Alexa Bliss to jump Carmella, drawing Cass out before he can throw
his partner. Bliss crotches Enzo to give Blake the pin to retain at
8:48.
Rating:
C. Nice swerve here as Bliss
going after Carmella was teased a bit last week but it wasn't enough
to make you think it was going to happen. People were waiting on
Carmella to turn and then you get a nice surprise instead. Enzo and
Cass probably aren't taking the titles anytime soon and it might be
time to send them to the main roster.
Eva
Marie is here and is met with indifference.
We
look back at Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch. Banks took Lynch
under her wing and used her to retain the title. Becky shook
her off and has become #1 contender, saying it's her time to prove
that her career has all been worth it by becoming Women's Champion.
Women's
Title: Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks
Becky
is challenging and sporting a new look with orange
hair, a black coat, goggles
and shorts. The ring gear
is similar to Lita's look when she returned from her broken neck.
Becky cranks on the arm to
start and trips Sasha down into a rollup for two. We
hit a pinfall reversal sequence for some near falls each until Sasha
bails from an armbar attempt. Sasha
crawls away from a stomp on the apron and twists Becky's arm into a
faceplant on the apron. Fans: “LIKE A BOSS! LIKE A BOSS!”
Now
it's Sasha going for the arm and posing on the apron to mock Lynch's
entrance. We hit the
chinlock from the champ before
she switches to a double arm choke with her foot in Becky's back.
Sasha's double stomp in the
corner lands on the arm for two and Banks steps on the arm, bending
it all the way back to the mat with her boot on the wrist. Off
to a short arm scissors for
a bit before Becky rolls over and does her Backlund/Bulldog lift into
a slam to break the hold.
Becky
makes the one armed comeback and gets two off a missile dropkick but
Banks goes back to the arm for two. Sasha
goes for the arm again but they both wind up on the floor. It's
Becky going after the arm this time before throwing it back inside
for a suplex onto the arm. An armbar with the feet has Banks in
trouble and another suplex gets two. Fans:
“SUPLEX CITY!”
Sasha
flips out of a pumphandle suplex but gets pulled down into the seated
armbar, sending her crawling to the ropes for the break. Becky
gets kicked out to the floor again for a suicide dive but Lynch
catches her (mostly) on the
fly and drives the champ
into the steps. Back in and
Becky gets knocked off the top, setting up the Bank Statement (with
an additional arm trap) for
the tap out at 15:30.
Rating:
A-. I
know I say this every time, but I can't remember the last time I was
this into a women's match or most matches for that matter. These two
were beating the tar out of each other with the arm work going back
and forth making for a great story throughout. These
girls somehow get better and better every single time and they're
stealing all of the Takeovers. Great match.
Becky
gets a standing ovation.
We
recap Owens vs. Zayn. They were friends for years but Owens attacked
Zayn after Sami won the title at Takeover: R-Evolution. Owens said
he wanted to provide a better life for his family but has been using
that as an excuse to be an evil jerk. He beat Zayn for the title
last time but now Sami is coming in with a bad shoulder.
NXT
Title: Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens
Sami
is challenging. Owens comes
out wearing a John Cena The Champ Is Here shirt. After
the Big Match Intros, Owens bails to the floor as is his custom.
Sami gets tired of waiting and goes after him by sending Owens into
the steps and hammering away. He throws Owens into the barricade
before they spill into the crowd. Owens tries a powerbomb on the
concrete but Sami grabs a barricade to escape.
Sami
knocks him onto the concrete to take over again and they head inside
with the Blue Thunder Bomb connecting for two. The
half nelson/chicken wing suplex gets the same and Sami loads up a
tornado DDT, only to have Owens block it with a raised knee to the
back for a unique counter. The Cannonball misses though and the
t-bone into the corner rocks Owens again. He's able to roll away
from the Helluva Kick though and it's back to the floor. Another
exploder suplex staggers Owens but he catches a running boot and
powerbombs Sami onto the apron.
Cue
the referees to check on Sami but Owens keeps hammering away. Owens
stomps away as the fans want to let them fight. Kevin
throws Sami against the steps and punches him down again as the
doctor keeps trying to check on him. They
actually get back in the ring and I'm not sure if this match is still
going.
GM
William Regal comes out and calls Owens off, eventually ripping at
Owens' face, earning Regal a headbutt. Kevin
gets the title and a chair (the same weapon that started their feud
in ROH) but we've got music. Cue SAMOA JOE (with that name on his
shirt and called that name by Brennan) and the fans are stunned. Joe
gets right in Owens' face and the champ runs. We'll call the match a
no contest at about 12:00.
Rating:
B+. Heck of a fight while it
lasted but that's twice in a row now that Owens has knocked Zayn out
to beat him. It's one heck of a rub for Owens and the beauty of it
is that Zayn is going to be right back on top through pure charisma.
Joe vs. Owens is going to be a war and that's quite the way to have
him debut, even if it was spoiled.
Owens
comes back out but says he's done his job to end the show.
Overall
Rating: B+.
Somehow, this is a downgrade over their previous shows. Really
fun show this time with the girls making up for the angle disguised
as a main event. Joe debuting is a great moment as he's such a huge
name on the indy scene that the NXT fans are going to accept him with
open arms. This was another great Takeover and the future continues
to shine so brightly for this company's future.
Results
Finn Balor b. Tyler
Breeze – Coup de Grace
Charlotte/Bayley b.
Dana Brooke/Emma – Natural Selection to Emma
Baron Corbin b. Rhyno –
End of Days
Blake/Murphy b. Enzo
Amore/Colin Cassady – Blake pinned Amore after Bliss crotched him
on the top rope
Sasha Banks b. Becky
Lynch – Bank Statement
Kevin Owens vs. Sami
Zayn went to a no contest
Remember to follow me
on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of Complete Monday
Nitro Reviews Volume III at Amazon for just $3.99 at:
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Another truly great show. It's amazing how 4-5 years after ending the brand extension, they've managed to almost accidentally create another brand to sink your teeth into. These shows are clicking on all cylinders.
ReplyDeleteReally, really good show.
ReplyDeleteI had goosebumps on top of goosebumps when Joe came out. Owens/Sami has been one of the best booked feuds of all time.
ReplyDeleteAnd somehow this is probably the weakest.
ReplyDeleteEh, I'd say Fatal 4 Way was the least good of the NXT live specials so far.
ReplyDeleteMy star ratings:
ReplyDeleteBreeze vs. Balor - ***3/4
Women's tag - **
Baron vs. Rhyno - **1/2
Tag titles - ***1/4
Women's title - ****1/2
NXT Title = ***3/4 (although with the Joe debut, this gets some thing like a thousand stars)
Also, the irony of all ironies that literally about 2 minutes before Joe debuted, TNA's cancellation from Destination America starting making the rounds on Twitter.
ReplyDeleteBreeze/Balor: ***
ReplyDeleteWomen's tag: **1/2
Baron/Rhino: **1/2
Tag match: ***
Banks/Becky: *****
Sami/Owens: ****1/2
Which is hardly an insult.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed this show, but I have to agree that there was just something missing that put it a notch below the others. And that is an amazing statement considering you had the Women's MOTY, and Samoa F'n Joe debut.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I think the missing piece was that 2nd **** (or A) match we've seen previously. But I'm not complaining one bit.
You could replace any top guy other than Cena, Rollins, and Lesnar right now with the top five in NXT and have a better show.
ReplyDeleteSasha and Becky were amazing. The Coup de Grace is such a sick finisher. Breeze, even in defeat, is such an amazingly improved wrestler. Working the smarts by having Joe take indie bookings is the type of intricate move that makes me smile.
This show is so good that the earnest attempts to have look-first wrestlers like Corbin and Brooke actually learn their craft on the show suddenly feels out of place.
Joe! Joe! Joe! Glad to see he gets to be the Samoan Submission MACHINE... Also, sara del Rey's work with the NXT ladies has been awesome and just shows that women's wrestling can be entertaining and show stealing... I think HHH gets that, Vince on the other hand, not so much..
ReplyDeletePrediction time: The first time Balor will hit the real Bloody Sunday is as the finisher that wins him his first belt in either WWE or NXT. Considering he's getting fast tracked to the main roster and Joe looks like the next champion after Owens, that title win for Balor probably won't be in NXT.
ReplyDeleteJust finished watching Sasha/Becky, which I think is the best NXT women's match yet
ReplyDeleteBut, this is the problem with NXT. It's supposed to be developmental. These matches aren't going to happen in WWE. So, what's the point? I shouldn't be cynical, but I'm feeling frustrated for Sasha putting on these matches show after show. And then you have smark bait with Joe and Owens. What is this show supposed to be?
Of course. Every single NXT live special, from Arrival all the way up through Unstoppable, has been in the ultra high B+ territory (Fatal Four Way, Arrival, Takeover 1), to the A- to A area (Unstoppable, Rival), to the god tier A+ category (R-Evolution, which I still maintain is the best non-Wrestlemania WWE show of the past decade, finally toppling Money in the Bank 2011 after 3.5 years of that holding the title). NXT is on a roll people didn't think WWE could get on anymore, and it doesn't look like that momentum is dipping at all.
ReplyDeleteDevelopmental is the people you don't see working every day at the Performance Center. NXT is a TV show that is designed to entertain you.
ReplyDeleteSolid and never boring. I personally didn't care for the Tag titles match, but it's clear that feud is continuing, so as long as there's a decent payoff, I won't really care.
ReplyDeleteI thought Tyler Breeze might go over since we just had Finn as #1 contender, but when you get down to it, Finn is in Owen's league, and Breeze isn't just yet.
Becky Lynch looked awesome in her steam punk ring gear. Eva Marie, meanwhile, just looked like a robot.
A lot of people are totally stunned by Joe's debut, but is it really that shocking? Rumors have been flying for so long, I just expected him to show up and he didn't disappoint.
It's pretty clear that NXT is going to be the middle ground between actual developmental and the main roster. It's also HHH's awesome little e-fed that he plans to take on tours nation- (and possibly world-)wide, which is why you have smark bait like Samoa Joe. Samoa Joe will sell tickets in the ECW arena. Blake and Murphy will not.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Owens only beat normal dude Balor, not demon Balor. I hope they use that.
ReplyDeleteIt's a win for Joe too. He will be constantly been in their view. Never know when creative might come up with a gimmick that he would be perfect for.
ReplyDeleteIn his sitdown with Graves to do last-minute hype for the show, HHH said that he's shooting for the day where women headlining a card is no big deal and if they're the ones stealing the shows, they're the ones headlining them. I think he's got a lot more work ahead of him than he could possibly accomplish in a lifetime to make that a reality on the main shows, but could you imagine Vince saying that, even as lip-service that the company is TOTALLY #GivingDivasAChance? Pfft.
ReplyDeleteIt would be awesome to have a triple threat between Balor, Owens and Joe at the next Takeover.
ReplyDeleteA combination developmental (for people like the girls, who have grown by leaps and bounds) and a holding tank for people like Zayn, Owens and Balor.
ReplyDeleteAs for the girls, I feel sorry for them too as they'll be sacrificed on the Bellas altar because Nikki and Brie need to prove themselves or something.
I barely put Wrestlemania XXX above it, though being in the arena that night had a lot to do with it. Neville vs. Zayn was my match of the year last year.
ReplyDeleteBest womens match to ever come out of North America?
ReplyDeleteI loved it but it's a bit too soon to say that. You have to let it simmer for a bit. Outstanding stuff though.
ReplyDeleteAnd a key aspect of that is not overexposing the product. 45 minutes a week, and quarterly 2-hour specials mean that we don't have to see the champ jobbing in non-title or tag matches every week to fill up time, or deal with 20-minute opening promos.
ReplyDeleteFor pure fighting spirit, I still go with Trish vs Mickie from NYR.
ReplyDeleteYou have to let it SHIMMER for a bit. Can't really comment without adequate knowledge of that promotion.
ReplyDeleteThe point is for Triple H to establish his kingdom.
ReplyDeleteBingo. That's why I want to scream at anyone that wants this show expanded. It doesn't overstay its welcome and it leaves you wanting more while always setting up the future. It's perfectly balanced that way.
ReplyDeleteBetter than Nattie/Charlotte at I think one of last years shows that everyone was calling the best match to ever come out of NA?
ReplyDeleteIt was certainly the best WWE women's match since either Trish vs. Lita in 2004 or Trish vs. Lita in Trish's retirement match.
ReplyDeleteGod, 2003-2008 was a godsend for North American women's wrestling. Between WWE finally giving a shit about their women again to Kong and Gail Kim constantly stealing the show in TNA, to even the rise of SHIMMER around the same time as all this, it was just great if you really like good women's wrestling.
I'll take special enjoyment out of people complaining about guys names and speculating on what stupid name they would give Joe (Even though Kevin Owens was a perfectly acceptable name as was Finn Balor) and then Joe comes out with the name plastered on his shirt and the announcers calling him that.
ReplyDelete::youtubes Bloody Sunday:: It seems optimistic to say that the WWE'll allow that.
ReplyDeleteHow can it be the best women's match since Trish/LIta when NXT puts on these types of matches with their women every show. I feel like every show everyone comes in here and somehow forgets about the previous shows awesome women matches. As you mentioned TNA was in a groove with their Knock Outs Division there for a while Melissa, Gail, Kong mixed in with the Beautiful People it was good stuff. NXT is right there I'm not sure if they are better but its close.
ReplyDeleteI'm not terribly high on Owens as a surname for him.
ReplyDelete"I did this for my family, for my wife, my son and my daughter."
"What's your son's name?"
"..."
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2qw1lp_samoa-joe-debut-on-nxt_sport
ReplyDeleteNot a bad debut, all he needs is a better theme.
Don't be nitpicky. The women's match was all that
ReplyDeleteA+
Every women's match on these live specials has gotten better and better. It's not that we forget the previous matches; it's that a new one comes along and dethrones the old one. Think of it like this: John Cena's year-long reign in 2006-2007 was the longest WWE Title reign since Hulk Hogan in the 80s. Then CM Punk came along and the 434 days broke Cena's record.
ReplyDeleteYou want a cookie?
ReplyDeleteAlso, the Banks-Lynch match is at least a half star up from the fatal 4 way at Rival, which was already like **** by itself. The Charlotte-Natalya match from Takeover was around the same rating. This match from tonight was better than both of them. It was PPV main event quality.
ReplyDeleteI'm not big on triple threats. I prefer straight up one on one for top titles.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyable now.
ReplyDeleteSo what's next?
ReplyDeleteWe got Joe eyeing Owens
Balor is #1 contender
I'm assuming zayn will now take time off for real....
NXT needs another heel that is an actual threat to everyone. Breeze is great but it's Owens and nobody else. Balor/Joe/Zayn on the face side. Maybe we count Corbin? I DONT KNOW (Luger).
Could the next special be Owens vs Balor and Joe vs Corbin?
i don't expect headlining WM or anything (even if I have seen some great worthy matches from Japan) but you get this feeling Vince immediately thinks of the Fabolous Moolah (way past her prime) and not the athletic, well trained wrestlers that are blowing roof off in NXT (Sara del Rey magic)... And unfortunately Vince appears to love the Bella's, and I am afraid they are not the ones who can carry the match to NXT levels...
ReplyDeleteI think of developmental as high school to NXT's college. Basic skills vs. learning how to work.
ReplyDeleteSo who gets to be Joe's first victim?
ReplyDeleteEmma/Paige was pretty close. Sasha/Charlotte as well.
ReplyDeleteI prefer one on one also, but I don't want Finn to be just the stop gap feud again (not that there really was much of a feud at all last time), and I'd like to see Owens handle two opponents instead of just one. Plus, it seems like the kind of thing Regal might set up after getting headbutted out of the ring.
ReplyDeleteHow come everyone always forgets Trish/Victoria, they actually had a couple really good matches.
ReplyDeleteThinking Corbin could be good, or breeze.
ReplyDeleteNXT needs another big time heel
ReplyDeleteI think Corbin is who they have in mind as there big heel. Gable and Dillinger are both really good and could move into such a role at some point though.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised they didn't just use the opening riff Joe had in ROH and most of his TNA career, pretty sure it's open source.
ReplyDeleteConsidering he's still the champion, I don't see Owens winning the US Title at Elimination Chamber. It'd be dumb as fuck to have Cena beat him in their first match, but he's still NXT Champion and for whatever reason they don't want to have one guy holding a main roster and NXT belt at the same time, which I think would be an excellent idea honestly. My fantasy booking of the situation:
ReplyDeleteZayn's going off to get shoulder surgery most likely, meaning he'll be off TV for a while. Balor's got the title shot now, so what I see happening is Joe challenges the winner of Balor vs. Owens at the next Takeover special, although the guy Joe *really* wants to face is Owens. Owens wins that match, but then loses the NXT Title to Joe at the next Takeover, and if he has the US belt then there's your way of getting him out of NXT and off to the main roster permanently.
When Sami returns, he'll most likely be on the main roster permanently as well, which means you can have Owens do basically what he's been doing in NXT on the main roster as the US Champion: kill bitches dead and run Sami down at every opportunity. Sami returns like the night after Battleground or whatever the pre-Summerslam PPV is, kicks the shit out of Owens, and you book Owens vs. Sami at Summerslam for the US Title. Who'll win that match is unknown to me right now, as it'd be smart money to have Sami chasing Owens but it'd be a perfect moment and capping off of their year long history to have Sami finally beat Owens for a belt at Summerslam and they finally go their separate ways after a rematch the next month that Sami also wins. Potentially have the rematch be a stipulation too just to further cement that it's their final match of this program.
Perhaps a ladder match will do...
Just watched the main event and HOLY SHIT WAS THAT AWESOME.
ReplyDeleteBest part was how the announcers KEPT THERE FUCKING MOUTHS SHUT during the staredown.
Honestly haven't seen gable and Dillinger much yet. I need to check them out.
ReplyDeleteBull Dempsey,
ReplyDeleteGreat way to get them
ReplyDeleteBoth on the main roster.... I don't think the U.S. Title will even be on the line at chamber. And if it is. Maybe zayn costs Owens the match. Then zayn heads to main roster after he takes a little time off. Owens claims he chased zayn away..... Months down the road you can have Owens show up and cost zayn a match and the feud continues on Mondays
As far as I know, Owens vs. Cena is non-title at this point.
ReplyDeleteYeah one of those Reese's Peanut Butter Oreos if you got it.
ReplyDeleteTrish vs. Victoria vs. Jazz at Wrestlemania 19 was damn good.
ReplyDeleteYou can't kayfabe a sons name? Use his sons middle name? I get what you're saying and maybe its not the best surname for him but I would assume he chose it. However the name Kevin Owens is a perfectly acceptable name is what I was getting at.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right. Seems to be a lot of confusion about it, though.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair Ross used to shout over "staredowns" all the time and I don't think anyone ever bitched. I think there are a few Rock/Austin stare downs that Ross is all "bah gawd its gonna be a slobber knocker at random ppv 49320". And since technically we don't know who the fuck Samoa Joe is I wouldn't have minded them explaining who he was.
ReplyDeleteBreeze loses enough the way it is for a guy that has potential I'd rather him not get fed to another babyface.
ReplyDeleteTitle on the line or not I think I'd be stunned if Owens beats Cena in his debut match.
ReplyDeleteYea they haven't been on tv much, but I've seen them plenty at Orlando NXT house shows and they both are quite good both wrestling and playing their heel characters.
ReplyDeleteNo announcers, no Joe music to play us out. Just let it play out naturally.
ReplyDeleteWait are you saying it was WWE ppv main event quality? I don't think a match has to be a certain number of stars to be a ppv quality main event. I also wouldn't care how many stars a womens match was I've never seen a story between two women that to me was worthy enough of main eventing the smallest of ppvs. Just my opinion of course.
ReplyDeleteBasically. He's proving himself to be a capable booker and establishing a rapport with his own crew.
ReplyDeleteBetween The Shield and the NXT 5, can we call Triple H one of the businesses best talent scouts yet?
He's also responsible for Sin Cara.
ReplyDeleteHis first two hires were Sin Cara and Kharma
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, Kharma got preggers. Can't blame him for that.
ReplyDeleteGreat show, though I have to take issue with the non-committal ending of the main-event. Either have Owens win by knock-out or stoppage, or Owens loses by disqualification or for hitting the GM, whatever; Owens still could have continued the beat-down after the match, and Joe still could have made the save. Instead, all of this happened without any type of answer to "Who Will Win?", and the match just kinda kept on going in the background of everything else. I think it's still technically going on.
ReplyDeleteI know that I'm nitpicking, but stuff like that really bothers me. Have the match, and then have Joe debut, don't sacrifice the match for Joe's debut.
Other than that, though, great show, definitely wipes the floor with "Payback".
Would not be shocked to see joe make an appearance during the Owens/Cena match
ReplyDeleteAwesome show. Awesome women's title match. Awesome Joe surprise. I would have paid standard ppv prices for that event, I was so entertained.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, "R-Evolution" was one of the best WWE shows of all time.
ReplyDeleteThey could sacrifice Murphy or Blake in a singles match, I would think.
ReplyDeleteWhich by the numbers were great hires.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest draw in Mexico?
ReplyDeleteThe eventual plan is to have two NXTs, in a sense: the A-level crew will tour nationally (and probably get most of the TV time) with the B-level crew learning in Florida house shows.
ReplyDeleteBecky Lynch is my choice for most attractive woman in wrestling.
ReplyDeleteNobody can beat DEMON BALOR!
ReplyDeleteThe Godzilla theme? I thought he got into trouble for using it?
ReplyDeleteKrispin
ReplyDeleteOn tv anyway. Owens beat Demon Balor at a house show.
ReplyDeleteNo, you're thinking of Mistico.
ReplyDeleteD'oh, I always do that.
ReplyDeleteI forgot that Mistico retired to Tijuana to help El Generico with those orphans.
NOPE!
ReplyDeleteDIDN'T HAPPEN!
hey Sin Cara is doing alright, hell be in the tag team elimination chamber match.
ReplyDeletewasnt a huge fan of the orange hair but she is hot.
ReplyDeletePut his son under a mask too.
ReplyDeleteWe didn't bitch because JR was staggeringly passionate and King/Heyman usually shut up and let Ross sell the moment. Hell, if JR hadn't lost his mind at WM 17 would anyone watching have thought Austin was the heel?
ReplyDeleteThe opener was also an A, at least. I guess the main event "match" wasn't A+ but the angle sure as fuck was. Your opinions Tommyhall are completely subjective, yes, but wrong.
ReplyDeleteRight that's what I'm saying though it can't be said "I'm glad they shut up during the staredown" and then go around and say "jr helped sell the moment when he did that" did anyone explain who Joe was? 2hat he was doing there? Or was it just "samara Joe I'd here"
ReplyDeleteBuck. Buck Owens.
ReplyDeleteHeee-heee heee heeeeeeee heeeeeeee hawwwwwwwww!
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