My gravest apologies; I am utterly, completely swamped this week, so I won't be able to give the show the full write-up it deserves. However, this wound up being a pretty big show, so I'm putting some quick hits up here.
Number one, most important, holy shit. I was so, so disappointed at Sami being taken out of the title match at Takeover, but over the last week I started to think about what sort of consolation matches would make it up to me. I wound up guessing correctly - Sami Zayn will be taking on a debuting Shinsuke Nakamura, in what is likely to be Sami's last NXT match. This is a big deal dream match, and I am no longer disappointed by the lack of Sami/Finn.
Hype Bros beat Some Jobbers. Not hype at all.
Road report from the Arnold Classic.
Emma and Dana talked some shit at Deonna Perazzo, then Emma beat the shit out of her in a match. It looks like they've been building up Emma so she can make Asuka look good in the match they're going to have next week, as, unsurprisingly, Asuka was named #1 contender for the women's title later in the show.
Speaking of guys getting built up, Tomasso Ciampa (they're sticking with that name, I guess) got a solid win over Jesse Sorensen. If they're going to keep his name, they should at least change his finisher from that weak-looking armbar.
Bayley and Asuka got a decisive win over Eva Marie and Nia Jax, when Eva Marie ate a Belly-to-Bayley.
Austin Aries phoned in a pre-tape bit talking up his match with Baron Corbin. Highlight: "It's going to be a great day to be great, and a bad day to be you."
Finally, American Alpha secured their #1 contender position by defeating the Vaudvillains in what was probably their best match together to date. If nothing else, you owe it to yourself to watch Chad Gable hit the biggest, most beautiful bridging German suplex I've ever seen on Aiden English. He knocked him out of his boots on that one. There was a bunch of other really great stuff in there, too, but ultimately it was a blind tag and a Grand Amplitude that sent American Alpha on to Takeover.
Again, I'm sorry this isn't a full recap, but I'm up to my neck in work this week. I promise I'll have something better for you guys next time.
"As you may have read in Robert Parker's Wine Newsletter, 'Donaghy Estates tastes like the urine of Satan, after a hefty portion of asparagus.'" Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock
Gable broke out the Chaos Theory suplex(as seen in the gif)?! There is audible gasping and there is howler monkey screaming at my monitor. Unlike that suplex it was not pretty.
I continue to be way to into the progression of Eva Marie. Remember when she would sell getting knocked down as if she was lightly stretching on a pile of pillows? Those days are long gone as Asuka was attempting to kick her tits off. Her selling has gotten really good, there is hope for her yet.
Bayley v. Asuka will be match of the night guaranteed (even over Nakamura and Zayn) and it'll be Face versus Face! What a concept! I honestly don't know who to cheer for in that match. Just have them both be co-champions with a cracked belt like LayCool had.
Speaking of Nakamura debuts and it's against Zayn! Even if the conclusion is obvious I can't believe I'm seeing Shinsuke competing in WWE. If only Hideo was healthy I'd be getting my Puroresu dream match but I guess I'll have to do with one of NXT's most over wrestlers.
Buy the WWE Network for NXT Takeover, stay for Wrestlemania or whatever.
Cole: "Yeah, thanks to Kane. You should buy Kane a Rolex watch for what he did for you."
Rollins: "Oh don't be silly, Kane doesn't wear watches."
Thread rated: 5.31
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