Tenken347
Knackwurst
Level: 115
   
Posts: 2692/3261
EXP: 16526216
For next: 285199
Since: 27.2.03
From: Parts Unknown
Since last post: 162 days
Last activity: 18 days
|  #1 Posted on 16.12.15 1710.43
Reposted on: 16.12.22 1710.45 | Okay, I lied. I wound up watching the show live after all. I'd rank it third best big show of the year, behind Brooklyn and Respect, but it was still a pretty good show after all. Some quick results:
Asuka beat Emma with a KO roundhouse kick. This was my most anticipated match of the night, and in my opinion, probably wound up actually being the best match. There was some really nice chain wrestling, and a bunch of Dana shenanigans, and Emma is one of the most underrated performers in the company, so this one came together really nicely.
Dash and Dawson retained the tag belts with an Atomic Shatter Machine. This was another really good match, but I did not see the finish coming. Now I really have no idea where they're going with the tag division, or what they've been doing these last few months.
Corbin beat Crews with the End of Days after a decent enough match. I'm okay with this - if they want to stick with Project Corbin, he needed a big win somewhere, and Crews is at a point where this doesn't hurt him too much.
Bayley beat Nia Jax with a front chancery choke-out after a damn fine match. It didn't wind up being Sting/Vader after all, but they told a great story where Jax was dominating with her power, but her inexperience and overconfidence led her into making a bunch of mistakes that cost her the match. Bayley is amazing.
Finally, Finn Balor beat Samoa Joe with the Coup de Grace. This was a good match that got great going into the last six or so minutes. Excellent back and forth, and ultimately Finn was prepared for the Kokina Clutch and the Muscle Buster, countering both repeatedly before finally X-ing out Joe. Both guys were pretty beat up after the match, but Finn must have told the trainer he was okay about a dozen times, so he's probably fine.
Again, a really good show that managed to fill up two hours really quickly. These things are always so breezy to watch, and this is a great way for NXT to close out the year.
Oh, wait! I almost forgot: They're actually closing out the year next week, when Sami Zayn returns! Gonna be looking forward to that. | Promote this thread! |             | Packman V2
Bratwurst
Level: 81
Posts: 1381/1451
EXP: 4784389
For next: 208481
Since: 16.3.04
From: Albuquerque, NM
Since last post: 947 days
Last activity: 483 days
| | | Y!: |  |
|
| #2 Posted on 16.12.15 1732.48
Reposted on: 16.12.22 1733.48 | If you watch the Premier League, then you know how creative the English can be with their songs. They felt the most over for Cass and Enzo, with each of them getting their own chant, not to mention the awesome "Which one's Dawson, which one is Dash?" chant. Their song for Bayley seemed to catch her offguard, getting her to break momentarily before her match with Nia.
I thought as a whole it was a solid show, but it seemed to lack the big moment that seems to accompany the other Takeover shows. | andy1278
Bockwurst
Level: 54
Posts: 182/546
EXP: 1161445
For next: 72432
Since: 11.1.02
From: Brunswick, GA
Since last post: 1272 days
Last activity: 1252 days
| #3 Posted on 16.12.15 1740.39
Reposted on: 16.12.22 1741.18 | I watched most of it live and enjoyed it. I kinda like having something cool and live on in the afternoon.
Kudos to the preshow crew (Renee/Tom/Lita). They made every match seem important. Lita talking about how she had to build up more for matches against men and Chyna made Bayley's battle seem even bigger, and that's what a preshow should do. And that's a point that NXT always hits... they make EVERYTHING seem important. Every match on this show had a story and meant something.
Also kudos for giving the show a different look. Like the last Takeover, the black ring mat made it feel special, not to mention having a different entrance set than the one we see seemingly endlessly on every other show. It felt fresh.
Asuka/Emma was great. It all just worked. Asuka looked like a badass, Emma showed she should probably be in the Divas Revolution instead of let's say anybody on Team Bella.
The tag match was good, but it felt like Enzo & Cass's last shot. They don't need the belts anyway, but it's time to move them up. New Day need somebody who can go toe-to-toe with them on the microphone, and nobody can do that like Enzo.
Something I noticed with both matches that also worked... the referee. The refereeing seemed to matter. He threw Dana Brooke out, he actually noticed Dash & Wilder not being the right man in. Promote the NXT refs, the WWE refs can't even tell the Bellas apart.
Corbin needed the win more than Apollo, so that worked.
Bayley was, as always, magic. I sing the praises of the Boss all the time, but in the end Bayley is the one who is going to be THE biggest star if the company lets her be. Nia Jax worked well too, it was a well-done matchup. She's going to be big too one day once Bayley moves up and opens a new spot for a top face.
Main event was good too, but I wonder where they go with Joe from here.
As said, a breezy show. NXT never seems like it is dragging out for two hours. | SchippeWreck
Banger
Level: 109
Posts: 2789/2862
EXP: 13564595
For next: 395095
Since: 26.3.03
From: Glendale, CA
Since last post: 2282 days
Last activity: 352 days
| #4 Posted on 16.12.15 1818.33
Reposted on: 16.12.22 1819.34 | | Just started the show. Emma's outfit, with the powder blue and black, leather gloves, and aviator sunglasses, looks like Sexy Big Bossman and it's AWESOME. | wannaberockstar
Frankfurter
Level: 61
Posts: 720/745
EXP: 1845013
For next: 31594
Since: 7.3.02
Since last post: 2911 days
Last activity: 374 days
| #5 Posted on 16.12.15 1841.15
Reposted on: 16.12.22 1843.14 | Originally posted by Packman V2
If you watch the Premier League, then you know how creative the English can be with their songs. They felt the most over for Cass and Enzo, with each of them getting their own chant, not to mention the awesome "Which one's Dawson, which one is Dash?" chant. Their song for Bayley seemed to catch her offguard, getting her to break momentarily before her match with Nia.
I thought as a whole it was a solid show, but it seemed to lack the big moment that seems to accompany the other Takeover shows.
I mean the chant for Cass to the tune of Hey Jude was just amazing.
Also loved that, on a super card, we got two women's matches (that were announced as women's matches) that went for at least 20 minutes each.
Dash and Dawson are just all kinds of old school awesome. Just once I wish they could get a promo with Arn Anderson, passing the torch, if you will. Love Enzo and Cass but glad they won this one. | JustinShapiro
Scrapple
Moderator
Level: 145
Posts: 5425/5537
EXP: 37575637
For next: 28535
Since: 12.12.01
Since last post: 1940 days
Last activity: 1592 days
| #6 Posted on 16.12.15 1927.59
Reposted on: 16.12.22 1928.15 | | Asuka is something else, jaysus. A better Roman Reigns than Roman Reigns. | 2P4E
Boerewors
Level: 44
Posts: 361/362
EXP: 584382
For next: 26907
Since: 4.1.05
From: SE12, London, UK.
Since last post: 3196 days
Last activity: 828 days
|  #7 Posted on 16.12.15 1932.53
Reposted on: 16.12.22 1934.03 | Hi. I haven't watched much wrestling for several years or posted here for about the same length of time, but a friend had a spare ticket to this so I ended up going.
I enjoyed the variety of chants and it made me glad to be part of that kind of collective spontaneous thing. There was also a Sami Zayn vs Tye Dillinger match at the end which was nice. I was hoping for a brief Regal appearance at some point, but you can't have everything. It was a good show.
(edited by 2P4E on 17.12.15 0134) | Spiraling_Shape
Andouille
Level: 93
Posts: 1584/1961
EXP: 7909979
For next: 142861
Since: 2.1.02
From: PA
Since last post: 19 days
Last activity: 17 days
| #8 Posted on 16.12.15 2058.09
Reposted on: 16.12.22 2059.01 | Man I hated that crowd...I've read complaints about the Full Sail crowd paying more attention to themselves than the matches and *just* listened to Raven talking about it on Talk Is Jericho, but it felt like 75% of the show, the crowd was coming up with songs to sing rather than actually reacting to the matches themselves.
What was happening IN the ring was of course outstanding through and through.
Originally posted by Tenken347
Dash and Dawson retained the tag belts with an Atomic Shatter Machine. This was another really good match, but I did not see the finish coming. Now I really have no idea where they're going with the tag division, or what they've been doing these last few months.
Two words: Jordan. Gable. | Tenken347
Knackwurst
Level: 115
Posts: 2693/3261
EXP: 16526216
For next: 285199
Since: 27.2.03
From: Parts Unknown
Since last post: 162 days
Last activity: 18 days
| #9 Posted on 16.12.15 2117.06
Reposted on: 16.12.22 2121.28 | Originally posted by Packman V2
I thought as a whole it was a solid show, but it seemed to lack the big moment that seems to accompany the other Takeover shows.
Well, compared to last year, you had a year of solid shows culminating in (R)Evolution, the breakout show of the year. This year, they kind of high-barred themselves at Brooklyn, so there was just fewer places for them to go at this point. Everything was satisfying, but I basically agree with you.
Originally posted by andy1278
Something I noticed with both matches that also worked... the referee. The refereeing seemed to matter. He threw Dana Brooke out, he actually noticed Dash & Wilder not being the right man in.
For sure. That ref was the biggest face on the card. Well, maybe number 2.
Originally posted by Spiraling_Shape
Originally posted by Tenken347
Dash and Dawson retained the tag belts with an Atomic Shatter Machine. This was another really good match, but I did not see the finish coming. Now I really have no idea where they're going with the tag division, or what they've been doing these last few months.
Two words: Jordan. Gable.
I'd have no problems with that, but it's weird then that they transitioned the belts off of the Vaudvillains and onto D&D, when you could have moved the belts straight to Jordan and Gable, and still done the heel turn with them. Like, I don't mind Dash and Dawson (although the measurable difference between when they care about a match - like tonight - and when they don't care is pretty off-putting), but I don't see why they're the champs right now, booking-wise. I thought the point was to set them up for Enzo and Cass because of the injury angle, but now I'm outta ideas. | wannaberockstar
Frankfurter
Level: 61
Posts: 721/745
EXP: 1845013
For next: 31594
Since: 7.3.02
Since last post: 2911 days
Last activity: 374 days
| #10 Posted on 16.12.15 2119.06
Reposted on: 16.12.22 2121.48 | Originally posted by 2P4E
Hi. I haven't watched much wrestling for several years or posted here for about the same length of time, but a friend had a spare ticket to this so I ended up going.
I enjoyed the variety of chants and it made me glad to be part of that kind of collective spontaneous thing. There was also a Sami Zayn vs Tye Dillinger match at the end which was nice. I was hoping for a brief Regal appearance at some point, but you can't have everything. It was a good show.
(edited by 2P4E on 17.12.15 0134)
Sadly Regal had to leave the tour because of his neck issues.
https://twitter.com/RealKingRegal/status/676854909342490624 | yamcharulez
Mettwurst
Level: 32
Posts: 131/165
EXP: 193008
For next: 13436
Since: 6.1.02
From: chicago
Since last post: 2335 days
Last activity: 1434 days
| #11 Posted on 16.12.15 2224.12
Reposted on: 16.12.22 2229.01 | The worst part of the show was the London crowd. They just kept singing during the matches, I have no idea what they were singing but props to the wrestlers for not getting distracted by them.
I don't get the logic of the tag match , why build up how this was Enzo and Cass's big moment, they had to win, and then they lose. The only thing I can see happening is Cass turns on Enzo since Enzo is the one that keeps losing the matches.
| BigDaddyLoco
Scrapple
Level: 147
Posts: 5287/5690
EXP: 39094835
For next: 343360
Since: 2.1.02
Since last post: 503 days
Last activity: 503 days
| #12 Posted on 16.12.15 2241.17
Reposted on: 16.12.22 2242.09 | Corbin telling Crews to go back to Ring of Honor may have been the highlight of the night for me. He hates all these Indy jackoffs the same and can't be bothered to learn all of their tiny shit hole promotions, so screw it they must all be from ROH and wrestle in gyms. That line did more for his character than anything I've seen this past year.
Emma-Asuka was my favorite match. The ending sequence wasn't executed as smoothly as they had probably hoped, but it had strong enough storytelling and action leading up to that point that it didn't take anything away. I love Emma and I am glad she rebounded from the *demotion*. I was worried they broke her and she was never going to be the same. I think she got better. Dana has turned into a solid second outside the ring as well.
Bayley-Nia was also a good time. It was nice to see the women work a totally different style match. Cool finish.
Originally posted by Tenken347
I'd have no problems with that, but it's weird then that they transitioned the belts off of the Vaudvillains and onto D&D, when you could have moved the belts straight to Jordan and Gable, and still done the heel turn with them. Like, I don't mind Dash and Dawson (although the measurable difference between when they care about a match - like tonight - and when they don't care is pretty off-putting), but I don't see why they're the champs right now, booking-wise. I thought the point was to set them up for Enzo and Cass because of the injury angle, but now I'm outta ideas.
Dash and Dawson continue to roll through the division because they are a couple of no nonsense wrestling machines who want fatter paychecks sounds like a good plan to me. To be honest I'm not sure what you do with Enzo and Cass with or without the titles.
Joe-Finn was good. It didn't suck me in, but I might have a weird disconnect with Balor. I like him, know he is good, but I don't ever feel invested in what he is doing. Perfectly fine match tonight though.
The big loser tonight was the production team. Shoddy camera work all night long. It was rough most the night, but brutally bad for the main event. Shakey, missed spots, cut aways all over the place and action not even framed right. That has to improve.
Overall it was a good show, but probably not a memorable one. It was a fun two hours.
(edited by BigDaddyLoco on 16.12.15 2345) | thecubsfan
Scrapple
Moderator
Level: 153
Posts: 5678/6203
EXP: 44561222
For next: 762285
Since: 10.12.01
From: Aurora, IL
Since last post: 1123 days
Last activity: 503 days
| #13 Posted on 17.12.15 0052.19
Reposted on: 17.12.22 0052.45 | Originally posted by BigDaddyLoco
Overall it was a good show, but probably not a memorable one. It was a fun two hours.
This is basically my entire post. That and affirming Asuka is awesome. Guessing we're going Asuka versus Jax at the next Takeover (Rumble), and then maybe Asuka versus Bayley at the WrestleMania NXT? That's, like, as big a match as will be on the Sunday card. Not as sure what they do with Bayley, unless they just switch opponents and Bayley gets Dana or Emma.
yea let's NXT WrestleMania fantasy book
- Bayley (c) vs Asuka
- Balor (c) vs Zayn
- Jordan & Gable (c) vs maybe Dash/Dawson, maybe Enzo/Cass (definitely not Hype Bros) or maybe a multiway or maybe save the Jordan & Gable win for that long?
- Samoa Joe versus Crews? (Baron Corbin having been called up for a nonsense main roster role by now, obviously)
- something we don't see coming right now
The actual thing I meant to be posting is unless they start ordering the sound tech to turn down the crowd noise and have the announcers cut negative promos on the fans for singing, that singing/chanting is going to be as much part of NXT as much as bringing signs to RAW. It probably won't be as well joined as it was on these shows, since that behavior is more common at sporting events in Europe, but the Full Sail crowd is doing already and all the other NXT crowds use them as the template how to act. I genuinely believe the people were doing it not because they were trying to get themselves over, but because they actually thought it made the show better and they were helping, but it really doesn't matter why they do it. This is just where the fan culture, especially for the type of fans who go to NXT, is at in 2015 and I hope the people who don't like it can still find a way to tolerate it. | El Nastio
Banger
Level: 105
Posts: 2341/2576
EXP: 11900519
For next: 361781
Since: 14.1.02
From: Ottawa Ontario, by way of Walkerton
Since last post: 219 days
Last activity: 10 days
| | ICQ: |  |
| |
|  #14 Posted on 17.12.15 0652.31
Reposted on: 17.12.22 0654.05 | Baron Corbin has improved by millions bazillions and out of all the people who will get called up, he's one of the ones going to be can't miss. He's got the look they like, he's got an insanely great finisher, he can hold his own in the ring. Dollar signs.
Who else is can't miss? Apollo Crews. Current difference is Corbin will be called up sooner, which is why he got the win.
Dash & Dawson as a throwback team is great, although I'm not sure how that will translate onto the main roster. As for whose next? Hype Bros. (which will lead to a Ryder heel turn) then building to Jordan/Gable. Easy peasy. | lotjx
Scrapple
Level: 130
Posts: 4352/4785
EXP: 25334874
For next: 395772
Since: 5.9.08
Since last post: 1857 days
Last activity: 1696 days
| #15 Posted on 17.12.15 0701.39
Reposted on: 17.12.22 0701.41 | I am not sure if its a good idea to have two tag teams go after the titles and each time, one of the partners turns heel. I think the laziest IWC booking is turn someone heel. WWE more than other company and probably why its still around relies on face champions. Minus a few heel wrestlers, its been a steady stream of faces as the most over guy in the company. NXT is right where WWE likes to be with a popular face champion taking on types of challengers. Instead of a guy, its Bayley.
(edited by lotjx on 17.12.15 0701) | andy1278
Bockwurst
Level: 54
Posts: 183/546
EXP: 1161445
For next: 72432
Since: 11.1.02
From: Brunswick, GA
Since last post: 1272 days
Last activity: 1252 days
| #16 Posted on 17.12.15 0727.06
Reposted on: 17.12.22 0729.01 | I enjoyed the crowd! It was different.
Watching back the Bayley-Jax match, I'm really impressed with Nia Jax. They/she are doing little things with her character that add on to the badass thing they are going for. Walking up to Asuka and staring at her worked for her. She also had some very good facial expressions during the match, which help her as a character. A lot of the NXT-bred women - Bayley, Sasha, Alexis - add so much with their facial expressions. Compare it to some of the main roster women, such as the Bellas and their two faces (bitchface and less bitchface) and it adds so much. | Reverend J Shaft
Toulouse
Level: 75
Posts: 1189/1235
EXP: 3822734
For next: 4187
Since: 25.6.03
From: Home of The Big House
Since last post: 1614 days
Last activity: 28 days
| #17 Posted on 17.12.15 0809.43
Reposted on: 17.12.22 0809.43 | I loved the crowd. I loved them serenading Bayley at the beginning of the match. Nia Jax should not do any leg drops or at least get someone to show her how to do one.
Asuka was awesome, as usual, though I thought the ending was a little overbooked. Corbin/Crews was better than I thought it'd be. Man, that crowd LOVES Enzo/Big Cass. I thought Joe/Balor was meh. They looked very disjointed at the beginning.
The best part for me was the black mat and how dark they made the crowd past the first few rows look. Gave me a NWA mid-80s vibe. | Stefonics
Frankfurter
Level: 64
Posts: 748/825
EXP: 2148823
For next: 65286
Since: 17.3.02
From: New Jerusalem
Since last post: 2572 days
Last activity: 437 days
| #18 Posted on 17.12.15 0850.32
Reposted on: 17.12.22 0859.01 | Originally posted by Reverend J Shaft
I loved the crowd. I loved them serenading Bayley at the beginning of the match. Nia Jax should not do any leg drops or at least get someone to show her how to do one.
Asuka was awesome, as usual, though I thought the ending was a little overbooked. Corbin/Crews was better than I thought it'd be. Man, that crowd LOVES Enzo/Big Cass. I thought Joe/Balor was meh. They looked very disjointed at the beginning.
I was going to pick and choose from different posts in the thread to outline my feelings about the show, and then you go ahead and sum up exactly how I felt. That saved a lot of time, so thank you.
I had zero problems with the singing. Maybe it's because I spent the last 3 years in football (soccer) culture, maybe it's because the songs weren't done to get themselves over and seemed like legitimate reactions to what was happening in the ring. They were creative and supportive (or in Corbin's case, properly unsupportive). That Bayley song was a thing of beauty and she cracked when she figured out what they were doing before the match. Great vibe.
Nia Jax is terrible and I don't know why she's getting love and support for plodding around the ring and throwing extra-shitty, extra-lazy leg drops. I know she's new, I get that she's green. But if those are the first two characteristics everyone identifies about her, maybe hold off on having her fight for the championship until she figures out this whole wrestling thing a bit more? If they're going for Samoan Awesome Kong, it's going to be a long and winding road. I mean, there's room to grow. She's not a lost cause. But man, that was the worst "big time" women's match I've seen from NXT.
Enzo and Cass losing let the air out of the place, fast. I know they don't need the titles and as Big Daddy Loco said, I'm not sure where you go with them with or without the titles. I hope as lotjx said that it's not the lazy direction of "turn Cass heel" because, blah. Dash and Dawson, for me, are just there. It's a good story; here are these two unremarkable guys who look like random people from your neighborhood who are probably placeholder champions, yet they keep winning because all they do is wrestle. I like that. But to think they will have any success on the main roster with such a nuanced gimmick is delusional. Keep them in NXT for as long as possible otherwise they will get booked like shit and forgotten about it two weeks, turned into a joke, and never heard from again.
The only thing that worries me about Corbin is the fact that he is balding. Badly. And the Lone Wolf with a shaved head looks like a Disciple of Apocalypse. To showcase that he really doesn't give a fuck, he should shave the top of his head and leave the rest long. Super Uncle Cut. I'm only 1/4 kidding. Regardless, the line about Ring of Honor was perfect for the reasons Big Daddy Loco said.
Loco also summed up my feelings on Balor. He's good, he's over, his entrance and crowd interaction is awesome, but there is nothing compelling about his character outside of, "when shit gets real, he paints his face and body and becomes The Demon." You're the champ. Why isn't shit serious to you all the time? And why should I care if you only put your "best" out there for the big shows? For me, there's nothing there other than, "handsome Irish guy who can kick, jump, has a great body and (sometimes) wears cool paint." I'm not hating on him; I want to love him. I just don't have a lot of reasons to right now.
Originally posted by lotjx
WWE more than other company and probably why its still around relies on face champions. Minus a few heel wrestlers, its been a steady stream of faces as the most over guy in the company.
Recent WWE history says, "hi".
(edited by Stefonics on 17.12.15 0953) | lotjx
Scrapple
Level: 130
Posts: 4353/4785
EXP: 25334874
For next: 395772
Since: 5.9.08
Since last post: 1857 days
Last activity: 1696 days
| #19 Posted on 17.12.15 0942.40
Reposted on: 17.12.22 0943.44 |
Originally posted by lotjx
WWE more than other company and probably why its still around relies on face champions. Minus a few heel wrestlers, its been a steady stream of faces as the most over guy in the company.
Recent WWE history says, "hi".
(edited by Stefonics on 17.12.15 0953)
And what finally popped the rating this week? | Heims
Linguica
Level: 20
Posts: 73/76
EXP: 42164
For next: 275
Since: 19.8.13
Since last post: 2791 days
Last activity: 2791 days
| #20 Posted on 17.12.15 1006.31
Reposted on: 17.12.22 1007.19 | If you combined the best aspects of Ultimate Warrior and Daniel Bryan… you’d have Asuka. Wow.
Dash and Dawson are great. I think the act they’re going for is “those jerks with no lives who take your after-work softball league way too seriously and usually win.” The dweebs who pretend (or sincerely believe) their shameless cheating means they're playing the game the right way. That’s challenging to get across in wrestling, it’s kind of subtle by WWE standards, but they’re getting there. Dawson in particular has the character down cold - it’s just a matter of getting it over with the crowd. All the tag teams with zany midcard gimmicks turn themselves face within a couple months. It’d be good to have at least one over heel team that’s impossible to root for.
They’re totally saving Enzo and Cass’ title win for the Full Sail crowd.
Main event was awesome. I don’t even know what else to say about it. Super climactic finish this time.
(edited by Heims on 17.12.15 1107) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Pages: 1 2 Next