Friday, March 29, 2024
EditorialNXT Takeover: The End Review and Match Ratings

NXT Takeover: The End Review and Match Ratings

64 views

TRENDING

So I had 2 choices tonight. Either watch Takeover or watch the Cavaliers and the Warriors. So, I did what any reasonable person would do, and that’s flip a coin. Heads were for NXT and Tails were for NBA. Tails won, but I thought the coin cheated, so I did best two out of three. Tails won one out of the next two times. Then I realized the Cleveland Cavaliers stink, so I went with this, and I’m counting on a great time. So, let’s get started!

Oh, by the way, major props for the vintage Armageddon music. Missed that.

Andrade “Cien” Almas def. Tye Dillinger

Andrade may be Cien, but that attire he was wearing was a flat out cero. He looked like a Pokemon character. I don’t know what it is about Almas, but his style just made me angry. The over-abundance of flippy-floppy acrobatics sort of masqueraded the wrestling a lot. There was little build-up to any of the big spots either in my eyes. There’s no doubt Almas can move and he does have talent, but I didn’t see a lot of wrestling here. The crowd was energetic and Tye got a pop, so they didn’t think it was bad, but this was sort of just lacking to me. It was really a warm-up for the crowd, so I guess I shouldn’t look into it too much and it may have been better suited towards the middle of the card as a match to begin the night. But I’ve seen much worse. Oh, and Almas, about that finisher? It needs some work. Like Rihanna. **

The Revival (Dash and Dawson) American Alpha (Jason Jordan and Chad Gable) def. NXT Tag Team Championships

You know, I can watch these two teams forever. These two teams displayed how a great tag team match is done. First and foremost, any aspiring wrestler, and even some on the main roster, needs to watch Jason Jordan execute a drop kick. The way he gets up in the air and contorts his body is how you execute a damn drop kick. Now, this match, in my opinion, was better than their Dallas match. What I love about these two teams is the natural chemistry that they have reminded me of the what Edge/Mysterio and Angle/Benoit used to have back in their Smackdown days. The way they can control the flow of the match and seemingly know each of the spots without it seeing forced was great to see. You had American Alpha beginning the match with their high energy moves and their double combinations of drop kicks and Ankle locks. You then had The Revival bring in their old school style heel tactics to take control of the match and wisely lower the pace until Jordan got the hot tag and picked up the pace again. Chad Gable’s belly to belly from the tag team move from The Revival by the way? Awesome sauce. I was surprised by the result, and I don’t know if this means they will get called up, but this match was awesome, nonetheless. And the post match beatdown and PAUL ELLERING managing what appears to be a version of The Shield that crashes every barbeque adds to the intrigue. This was 25 minutes of my life that I refuse to give to anyone. Even if my life was on the line. Incredible match, great performances by these two as usual. This should have been the warm-up to me. It’s also insulting to continue to refer to NXT as “Developmental” when this beats out any tag match the main roster puts out. Bravo. ****1/4

Shinsuke Nakamura def. Austin Aries

I was watching this with match with others in a wrestling chat room and a lot wasn’t impressed throughout the match, and I believe that was because they were grading this based on Nakamura’s match with Zayn in Dallas. However, I still thought this was a very well done match. I thought Austin Aries should have stuck with focusing on Nakamura’s legs like he originally did because Nakamura sort of uses his legs, like, a lot. I mean, that’s his finisher. The difference between this match and Nakamura’s match with Zayn was that the match in Dallas was a straight up wrestling match and a battle of attrition. This, to me, was a straight up brawl with some wrestling moves thrown in there. I mean, I was convinced that Austin was going to paralyze him, because his neck was the target of his attacks. And, DID YOU GUYS SEE THAT DEATH VALLEY DRIVER ON THE OUTSIDE? Good lord, man. Now, albeit I was expecting a bit more, because Austin is a tremendous worker in his own right, but I was still happy with this match. It was just….different. Sometimes different isn’t good, but sometimes different can be still good. This match was a very well done showing and another great outing from Nakamura. ****

Asuka (C) def. Nia Jax – NXT Women’s Championship

It looks more and more each match that Asuka is the female Brock Lesnar. She just has freakish strength and the force with which she executes her moves makes her look as though she has no real weakness. Nia Jax was the perfect opponent to showcase that aspect of her abilities. Now, as for the match, it was alright. I kept my expectations reasonable, because Nia is a big glass of water, and Jax is a brawler, and normally that isn’t a good formula, but Asuka and Jax made it work here. Jax obviously was playing up her dominant size and it was shown when Asuka tried to execute some of her submissions on her, but she was very big, so Asula just needed to out will and out power her and she used some gruesome kicks to do so. It was solid bout. ***1/4


Samoa Joe (C) def. Finn Balor – NXT Championship (Steel Cage Match)

So, um, yeah. Who’s bright idea was it to NOT put a camera inside the cage? Seriously, it was hard to focus because the camera kept shifting angles with every move. Who would have thought a simple thing would hinder my enjoyment of an NXT match? Anyways, the match in itself was well done as well as they utilized the cage. And I once again love that they used the old Armageddon theme to sell this match like it would be barbaric. This is probably the last we will see of Joe and Balor, so it was a good way to go our and Joe’s finish to the match was absolutely sick. Balor was motionless after the match, and while some part of me believed that he was injured what with the epidemic going on, I believe he was just selling it. This was much better than your main roster steel cage bout, so bravo to them in that regard. Now, as Joe presumably moves on to a different challenger, where does this leave Finn? Does he finally come to the main roster? That’s my hope. But aside from the camera angles a decent main event. ***1/2


Conclusion:

Another takeover, another great show. NXT really gets the quality over quantity stuff done right, because they only had five matches in two hours, but they filled up that slot well. While I believe Dallas was a better show, this Takeover certainly had great action with the tag team match being the clear match of the night and Namakura/Aries delivering some fun action as well. I’ve seen better better title matches from the Women and Men, but it certainly was good enough tonight. Another job well done, and thumbs up. Until next time.


- Advertisment -

LATEST NEWS

- Advertisment -

Related Articles