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|  #1 Posted on 15.1.16 0944.10
Reposted on: 15.1.23 0944.11 | Alright, so, while this isn't technically the first NXT of 2016, this is the first NXT of 2016. A show to set the table for what's coming up throughout the entire year, really. So they need some big stuff on tap. Let's see how they do.
We start out at ringside with the commentary team, and Tom Phillips is back! Not, uh, quite what I had in mind, actually. Tom's here to let us know the end of year awards are going to be announced later in the show, but the real reason I mention Tom's return is because it actually feeds off of a story from the year in review episodes. I didn't go into it, but the interstitials with Cory and Rich Brennan had Rich becoming increasingly done with Cory's shit, and finally walking out on him and the show at the end of last week's episode. I thought it was just a joke, but it turns out that was a complete story, with a beginning, middle, and this week, a resolution.
That's right: This show did all that in it's extra time for the announce team, and RAW can't even get that for major feuds like the Wyatts vs. the Brothers of Destruction (for real, that was a bad feud). Tell me again which one's the main brand.
Okay, okay, enough of that. GM Regal is back! That's more like it! The crowd is thrilled to see him, and Regal looks genuinely touched by their reaction. He's here to announce tonight's main event, a battle royal to crown the new #! contender for the women's championship. He's also here to announce another return.
Sami Zayn's back! He figures he's been gone so long that the crowd could use a reminder of who he is. He also sticks with that band metaphor he's used before, and I don't like it any better now than I did six months ago. He says it was good to come back in London, but "There's no place like home!" Full Sail really likes that one. He also announces his plans to become the first ever 2-time NXT champion.
Of course, that don't sit well with everyone, and now Samoa Joe's back. Well, I mean, he never really left, but he was on vacation with everyone else. He's got villainous new mutton chops, and wants to point out that the last time Sami got a chance at the title, Joe had to save his life. Well, that's probably overstating it, Joe. Anyhoo, Joe just wants to threaten Sami because Joe still wants in the title hunt. That's...fair, I guess.
But not to Baron Corbin. Corbin? Uh, okay. Corbin says he considers himself the uncrowned champion, and I'd love to know how the math is supposed to work out on that one. He tells Sami to head to the back of the line, but Joe rightly points out that he already beat Corbin in Brooklyn. Joe tells Sami to know his place, but Sami's ready to fight. Joe opts to bail instead, but Corbin jumps Sami from behind. It only takes a minute for Sami to rally and nail Corbin with a Helluva Kick that knocks him out of the ring. Joe teases getting back into the ring, but he decides to stick with his first instinct and walks away. Sami stands tall!
Wow, I just wrote a lot of stuff there, but that opening segment was only about ten minutes long. That's economy of storytelling. If you can book this HHH, why can't you do it when you're the one in the ring?
Okay, I just want to point out that it's not so much that I'm mad at RAW right now (which really hasn't been half bad), so much as it is that I am just so damn happy that NXT's back from break.
Anyhoo, Bayley's backstage. She wants everyone to know that Nia Jax took a lot out of her in London, but she's looking forward to her next challenge. She even threatens to hug the winner of the battle royal tonight.
It's time for the year end awards. Only one big surprise here, as far as I'm concerned. Tag team goes to Enzo and Cass, despite them doing nothing of note and losing all of their big matches. Not really a surprise, though, because people love them. Female competitor is Bayley and male competitor is Finn, duh. Takeoever Brooklyn was show of the year, obviously, and in no real surprise at all, Finn takes overall competitor. The only shock to me was that the women's title match in Brooklyn somehow beat out the ironman match for match of the year. Like, they're both good matches, but I can't even understand that. Like, at all.
Okay, we're back to the ring for our first actual match of the night. Toyota Camry is up against jobber Danny Burch. Burch gets both chyron and an official announcement, so I'll go ahead and actually use his name here. During the match, my wife points out that I could have called Camry Tony Chopper, and this is why she would be better at this than I am. Anyhoo, Camry starts by working over Burch's arm and hand, but Burch is actually getting in some offense tonight. He comes back with a second rope missile dropkick, and follows it up with some nasty stomps in the corner. There's a botch in this match - an Irish whip that comes apart midway through. I can't tell who's responsible, and they both recover pretty fast, but it's still notable. Once they sort out the mess, Camry kinda, urinages Burch up onto the top rope and brings him back down with a hangman's DDT. Burch tries to recover with a hard right hand, but Camry goes back to the arm he was working earlier. Then he says, eh, fuck it, and starts punching the shit out of Burch. Camry picks up the win with a headstand that flips into an armbar. It's a little hard to describe, but it actually looks pretty cool as a finisher.
Match Rating: If You Like Watching Dudes Punch Each Other As Hard As They Can, This Is The Match For You.
Enzo and Cass are backstage, and they just want Dash and Dawson to know they haven't forgot about them. They probably should, though, as D&D beat them clean as a sheet in London. Enzo and Cass figure they've still got unfinished business, though, so it looks like this feud continues.
Billie Kay speaks! Actually, it looks like they're spotlighting all the competitors in the battle royal, just like they did with the men the last time they had one for the #1 contendership. After Billie, we get Deonna, who rightly points out that we don't know her as anyone besides the girl Asuka knocked out a few weeks ago, and good old Emma, who's once again feeling disrespected by all of this.
Regal's back in his office, and he knows how you solve things in NXT - In the ring. So Sami, Joe, and Corbin are in a threeway match in two weeks to determine which one of them gets to be #1 contender. It's a #1 contender-a-thon!
Back to the ring, the previously named Dash and Dawson are out to prove themselves against the Ascension. I know they're not great, but NXT has really disowned the Ascension in the last few months. Anyhoo, Viktor starts out by wailing on Dash, but Dawson distracts him long enough for the champs to get the advantage. They work him over good and proper for a while, but Viktor eventually hits his STO and makes the hot tag to Konnor. The Ascension were out of NXT back when it was the height of fashion, so Konnor takes this opportunity to finally pay tribute to Dusty with his variation on the Bionic Elbow. Things break down, and Viktor winds up taking a nasty bump all the way to the floor. Konnor's still in control, though, right up until Dawson accidentally makes a blind tag to Dash. This gives the champs an opportunity to set up the Shatter Machine (which Tom Phillips does not know the name of), and with Viktor still on the floor, this one's done.
Match Rating: Well Tom, Do You Think The Ascension Would Have Been As Dominant As They Were If NXT Had Literally Any Good Tag Teams At The Time?
Nia Jax is backstage getting looked after by the trainer. She's been sidelined following getting choked out by Bayley in London. This is a good call - it preserves her monster status a bit without wasting her in the battle royal. This is followed up by the only good bit Eva Marie has ever done. She tells Jax that she'll be fine, she just needs to rest up and she'll be back in no time. Then she very quietly celebrates behind Jax's back. And she does all of this in a tone of voice that sounds like an actual human being.
It's the very definition of faint praise, but that's all the praise Eva Marie's getting from me.
More comments! Carmella, Peyton Royce (who seems to be trying to affect a British accent for some reason), and finally, Alexa Bliss, who I want to remind people is great.
Elias Samson has a squash match with Some Jobber next. He don't get an announcement, so he don't get a name. For the record, the ladies of Full Sail love Elias Samson. A handsome, soulful, muscular musician? Man, I just don't get women. I'm looking forward to Samson's big elbow drop, but spoilers, he doesn't do it tonight. Instead, we do get a cool turnbuckle mule kick spot, and the new finisher is a very nice swinging neckbreaker.
Match Rating: The New Finisher Gets The Honky Tonk Seal Of Approval.
Afterwards, Samson gets on the mic to drop his catchphrase, but I think he should have called an audible here. The crowd is chanting for him to play "Freebird," and this was a golden opportunity for him to tell the crowd, "I don't do requests."
Finn Balor is backstage, and he gives full credit to Joe for the match in London, but that's the name of the game and the champ don't rest. Whoever wins the #1 contendership is going to find Finn Balor waiting for them.
Final batch of comments. Cameron says that people have been asking "Where's Cameron?" I don't know if that's wishful thinking or just a damn lie. Aliyah shows us her stuff, but if you watched Breaking Ground (do it if you've got time. It's kind of interesting.), then you know that she is terrible and shouldn't be allowed to talk. Liv Morgan, aka Jersey, wants to win it for Jersey, and finally Asuka keeps it simple: "Tonight, Asuka becomes #1 contender."
Battle royal time! All jobbers (including Where's Cameron) start in the ring. Real contenders get entrances, and Asuka upstages Eva Marie right in the middle of hers. It's pretty great. All eyes are on Asuka to start, so she knocks out Eva Marie, who rolls out of the ring without being eliminated, and we all see where this is going now. The rest of the women jump Asuka, then it breaks down into a more traditional BR. In order, the eliminations are: Aliyah, Deonna, and then Cameron and Jersey at the same time. This is where Carmella goes out of the ring without being eliminated, and now we really know where this is going. Alexa Bliss gets a surprise elimination here, getting dumped by the three Aussies. Two of those Aussie, though, turn on Emma, and she's the next one out on her ass. Billie and Peyton are doing a number on Asuka, who rallies and knocks them both to the apron, and then both to the floor with a double hip attack. Asuka thinks she's won, because she hasn't been paying attention like we have, and of course, Eva Marie dumps her. But Eva Marie also hasn't been paying attention like we have, and Carmella exploded into the ring behind her, dumping her for the real, actual win.
Match Rating: BayMella Explodes?
Afterwards, Bayley does indeed come out with a hug for her bestie. It's all smiles and friendship now, but what will happen when the title is on the line?
This was a damn good start to the year. Not the best wrestling you'll ever see on this program, but it moved the right people forward, set up a minor feud for the women's title, probably a bigger feud between Eva Marie and Asuka, and began the story that, let's be real here, is going to pit Sami Zayn against Finn Balor, likely leading to the invasion of the Ballor Club in a couple of months. I can safely say that's we're all on board for that one.
| Promote this thread! |             | BigDaddyLoco
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| #2 Posted on 15.1.16 1025.35
Reposted on: 15.1.23 1025.35 |
Battle royal time! All jobbers (including Where's Cameron) start in the ring.
Sort of unfair. To build a Women's Division you need a variety of diffent women. We didn't know Becky and Bayley one time either.
I really thought the Battle Royal was a lot of fun and progressive as I don't ever remember a Woman's Battle Royal being an over the top deal. Carmella winning is cool as it shakes things up a little she really needs to slow everything she is doing way down, but Becky was that way once too. Sad Deanna got knocked out so early, because she can go a little. Botched powerbomb aside everyone was solid tonight.
The rest of the show was good too. I've come around on Corbin especially if he keeps hating on Indy nerds.
(edited by BigDaddyLoco on 15.1.16 1125)
(edited by BigDaddyLoco on 15.1.16 1126) | lotjx
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| #3 Posted on 15.1.16 1033.24
Reposted on: 15.1.23 1033.24 | | Why do I think its more when than if that Eva Marie injures Asuka. Joe needs to move up to the main roster. | Tenken347
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| #4 Posted on 15.1.16 1145.00
Reposted on: 15.1.23 1145.00 | Originally posted by BigDaddyLoco
Battle royal time! All jobbers (including Where's Cameron) start in the ring.
Sort of unfair. To build a Women's Division you need a variety of diffent women. We didn't know Becky and Bayley one time either.
No, it's fair. I'm not saying these girls aren't going anywhere. In NXT, you work your way up. Blake and Murphy started as nobodies, so did Dash and Dawson, so did Jordan, and Danny Burch looks like he's moving up the ladder right now. Some are going to be rockstars eventually, but right now, today, these girls are jobbers. | BigDaddyLoco
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| #5 Posted on 15.1.16 1251.42
Reposted on: 15.1.23 1259.01 | Originally posted by Tenken347
Originally posted by BigDaddyLoco
Battle royal time! All jobbers (including Where's Cameron) start in the ring.
Sort of unfair. To build a Women's Division you need a variety of diffent women. We didn't know Becky and Bayley one time either.
No, it's fair. I'm not saying these girls aren't going anywhere. In NXT, you work your way up. Blake and Murphy started as nobodies, so did Dash and Dawson, so did Jordan, and Danny Burch looks like he's moving up the ladder right now. Some are going to be rockstars eventually, but right now, today, these girls are jobbers.
I think the modern use of the term jobber has changed a lot. I think of Rusty Brooks or Barry O when I think of jobbers. Today I think it just means somebody you don't know or Cesaro. Generation gap. | J. Kyle
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| #6 Posted on 15.1.16 1415.28
Reposted on: 15.1.23 1422.50 | Originally posted by Tenken347
We start out at ringside with the commentary team, and Tom Phillips is back! Not, uh, quite what I had in mind, actually. Tom's here to let us know the end of year awards are going to be announced later in the show, but the real reason I mention Tom's return is because it actually feeds off of a story from the year in review episodes. I didn't go into it, but the interstitials with Cory and Rich Brennan had Rich becoming increasingly done with Cory's shit, and finally walking out on him and the show at the end of last week's episode. I thought it was just a joke, but it turns out that was a complete story, with a beginning, middle, and this week, a resolution.
I don't blame Rich. What if that gift was expensive?
Originally posted by Tenken347
This was a damn good start to the year. Not the best wrestling you'll ever see on this program, but it moved the right people forward, set up a minor feud for the women's title, probably a bigger feud between Eva Marie and Asuka, and began the story that, let's be real here, is going to pit Sami Zayn against Finn Balor, likely leading to the invasion of the Ballor Club in a couple of months. I can safely say that's we're all on board for that one.
If the Bullet Club isn't headed straight to the main roster I kind of get the feeling Sami will end up helping Finn defend against the bitter friends who feel like they got left behind, a situation Sami is familiar with. | Greymarch
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|  #7 Posted on 16.1.16 0725.12
Reposted on: 16.1.23 0729.01 | | (image removed) | Doctor Mom
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|  #8 Posted on 16.1.16 1101.54
Reposted on: 16.1.23 1104.55 | Originally posted by Tenken347
Elias Samson has a squash match with Some Jobber next. He don't get an announcement, so he don't get a name. For the record, the ladies of Full Sail love Elias Samson. A handsome, soulful, muscular musician? Man, I just don't get women. I'm looking forward to Samson's big elbow drop, but spoilers, he doesn't do it tonight. Instead, we do get a cool turnbuckle mule kick spot, and the new finisher is a very nice swinging neckbreaker.
Match Rating: The New Finisher Gets The Honky Tonk Seal Of Approval.
Sampson is sexy sexy sexy. A man who can play the guitar, kick some ass, and look good while doing it? This is a real step up from Jeff Jarrett, Rockabilly, and Honky Tonk Man. I may be happily married, but dayummmm!
Whos gonna be the bad guy between Carmela and Bayley? i wanna see it be Bayley. | CruelAngel777
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|  #9 Posted on 16.1.16 1321.27
Reposted on: 16.1.23 1322.38 | Originally posted by BigDaddyLoco
Originally posted by Tenken347
Originally posted by BigDaddyLoco
Battle royal time! All jobbers (including Where's Cameron) start in the ring.
Sort of unfair. To build a Women's Division you need a variety of diffent women. We didn't know Becky and Bayley one time either.
No, it's fair. I'm not saying these girls aren't going anywhere. In NXT, you work your way up. Blake and Murphy started as nobodies, so did Dash and Dawson, so did Jordan, and Danny Burch looks like he's moving up the ladder right now. Some are going to be rockstars eventually, but right now, today, these girls are jobbers.
I think the modern use of the term jobber has changed a lot. I think of Rusty Brooks or Barry O when I think of jobbers. Today I think it just means somebody you don't know or Cesaro. Generation gap.
Jobbers is jobbers is jobbers. Everybody is a nobody until they have that match or have that promo that grabs people's attention and separates from the crowded bottom. That's just how it is. Nothing wrong with it, Brooklyn Brawler and Ryder make a career out of it and even Austin jobbed to Mikey goddamn Whipwreck before becoming a legend.
I don't get Elias Sampson. Heel, face, complex Raven-like doom sayer, grunge Johnny Cash? What's the pathos here? Women squealing for him reminds me of the late Lemmy Kilmister quote:
"This guy just came to school one day with a guitar and immediately worked like a charm. He couldn't even play it. He just had one, which was enough in those days."
We've never seen him play it but the effect is the same. I don't get women either. | Toast Jr
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| #10 Posted on 16.1.16 1544.34
Reposted on: 16.1.23 1544.59 | Originally posted by Doctor Mom
Sampson is sexy sexy sexy. A man who can play the guitar, kick some ass, and look good while doing it? This is a real step up from Jeff Jarrett, Rockabilly, and Honky Tonk Man.
Let's you and I be BFFs. For real, Sampson's gimmick appears to be wrestling embodiment of Soul Asylum (or is it Collective Soul? I mix them up a lot). For real, I know I harp on it often, but I'm pretty sure the men of NXT exist only to fufil all my nineties high school fantasies. I wouldn't keep going on about it if it didn't seem to be so specifically targeted.
Originally posted by CruelAngel777
We've never seen him play it but the effect is the same. I don't get women either.
He played at NXT London.
I am salivating at the idea of Finn and the Balor Club vs. Zayn. I would also take Finn and Zayn vs. The Bullet Club, but they just did that angle and you can't keep selling those sweet Balor Club shirts. Besides, we might get the return of amazing comedy heel stooge AJ Styles. Special thanks to Tenken in the other thread for reminding me that I did really enjoy him then.
| dMp
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|  #11 Posted on 17.1.16 0449.08
Reposted on: 17.1.23 0451.25 | Did Sampson audibly play in London? I don't remember that.
I do think his fingers actually making chords when he was strumming, I was looking for that.
I liked the BR a lot. I don't remember ever having a female BR where they actually had to go over the top rope?
Carmella winning is nice, she's actually come a long way from being just annoyingly in between Cas & Enzo.
The match itself was well done too. The bigger names endured the longest but it wasn't extremely obvious. The new ones got some spots in, the semi-new ones (The 2 aussies) got more spots i And then Asuka kicking ass and everyone being afraid of her at the start was good too. Only Emma had the guts to attack (from behind)
Eva must be in Asuka's targets now, right? Which means Asuka will feud with Nia sooner than later (and then a Triple Treat with Bayley at the next Takeover?)
Sami and Joe is something I want to see. Corbin hopefully can hang with them which will make him look good. He's slowly improving from being the 10-second monster.
Cas & Enzo's promo actually made sense. I liked that they used that "we got zero pounds cos we always get up" thing again and that they've learned from their mistakes.
A good serious promo which worked well. And then I saw Enzo's leopard print hair clip and I couldn't stop laughing.
| Doctor Mom
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| #12 Posted on 17.1.16 0908.38
Reposted on: 17.1.23 0920.22 | Originally posted by Toast Jr
Originally posted by Doctor Mom
Sampson is sexy sexy sexy. A man who can play the guitar, kick some ass, and look good while doing it? This is a real step up from Jeff Jarrett, Rockabilly, and Honky Tonk Man.
Let's you and I be BFFs. For real, Sampson's gimmick appears to be wrestling embodiment of Soul Asylum (or is it Collective Soul? I mix them up a lot). For real, I know I harp on it often, but I'm pretty sure the men of NXT exist only to fufil all my nineties high school fantasies. I wouldn't keep going on about it if it didn't seem to be so specifically targeted.
Yeah, lets be BFFs but you're not touching my nails.  My hands are insured
NXT is a continual wet dream for everyone. My twin girls are in love with Sami Zayn and the Vaudevillans. My son is Bayley's other biggest fan. And...well, I don't know about the toddler, thou.
My poor husband, having to live up to my expectations after watching Sampson on TV. He's my best friend, a successful lawyer and a fantastic provider...he can play the guitar, but, mmmm...he's not Sampson.
(edited by Doctor Mom on 17.1.16 0912) | J. Kyle
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| #13 Posted on 17.1.16 1147.50
Reposted on: 17.1.23 1157.14 | Originally posted by Toast Jr
I am salivating at the idea of Finn and the Balor Club vs. Zayn. I would also take Finn and Zayn vs. The Bullet Club, but they just did that angle and you can't keep selling those sweet Balor Club shirts. Besides, we might get the return of amazing comedy heel stooge AJ Styles. Special thanks to Tenken in the other thread for reminding me that I did really enjoy him then.
Balor Club vs Zayn/Itami/WhatevertheyrenameNakamura will be the best WWE trios match since Shield/Wyatt Family. | | ALL ORIGINAL POSTS IN THIS THREAD ARE NOW AVAILABLE |
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