NXT might only have like 3 good shows a year but MAN are they good shows.
Kickoff Show was a whole lot of stuff. The stars of the past coming back was pretty fun, but not much outside of Neville’s bum mic.
Incredible, unique intro to TakeOver proper. Just made me think though, Is there a demographic that this Agent Orange thing is like REALLY working for? I wonder about that. TakeOver was a lot about the past. I thought about the past.
Would have I at some point in my life be completely moved by this? Would I, a young man, be captured by the wrestling at this very moment? Are the young generations of John Cena fans being introduced to something special? Is WWE on the pulse? Or, is this just WWE forced multimedia shit?
Either way, rocking intro.
Every match here had the right start. Johnny/Almas feel-out, Authors/SAnitY brawling before the bell, Itami/Black immediately going at it with kicks, Ember going right after Asuka. Just thought I’d mention it.
1. Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas w/ Zelina Vega
I thought this would be fun but didn’t think they’d go full G1 finals. This was a high-quality, high-impact, big action and near fall and pop-filled match in front of a game crowd. It was also a special performance by Johnny Wrestling. This guy, man. Is Johnny Gargano a star? Or would a SmackDown run completely end him? I don’t know, but this match was two parts: one, Johnny Gargano being the best pure babyface in professional wrestling, and two, an absolutely insane kickout-fest of a finish that never once felt like overkill.
Part One: Almas was a fine dance partner but this was all about Johnny Gargano not just being a really good professional wrestler but getting in all the extra little things that make someone an awesome professional wrestler. Spinning around before taking the shoulderblock, his mind-melting cradle spot getting an ovation and JOHN-NY WREST-LING chants, his selling of the arm in between moves, the stiff-ass lariats, the gorgeous tope.
Part Two: Oh my god. The first slingshot DDT near fall that kicked it into gear. Almas’ catch of the slingshot spear. I swear, Vince McMahon saw the camera shot of Almas’ face reacting to kickout of the tornado reverse DDT and decided to call him up. Johnny’s headscissors crossface, stiff-ass superkicks, the god damn LAWN DART into the turnbuckle. Johnny’s solo #DIY finish setup and Vega throwing the #DIY shirt at him for the dirty finish was the cherry on top. This was SO FUCKING GREAT. ****1/2
HUGE POP FOR COREY GRAVES.
Hey, it’s the Teenage Mutant Authors of Pain.
2. NXT Tag Team Title: The Authors of Pain [c] w/ Paul Ellering vs. SAnitY (Killian Dain & Alexander Wolfe) w/ Eric Young and Nikki Cross
Where did this thing come from? Crowd brawl, dive train, a lady getting involved – this had all the tricks and was a lot of fun. They kept it moving, everything was physical as all hell. Plus it was a good showcase for the young fellas… Wolfe had himself an impressive hot tag run and hit a big frankensteiner and dive, while the Authors did some sweet double teams. Nikki Cross took a god damn INSANE car crash table bump too. A wild fun match. And now SAnitY are champs, I mean it worked tonight but fuck. ***3/4
Holy FUCK was the O’Reilly/Fish REAL debut awesome. Love when two fellas come in with some STEAM. A nice surprise and they kicked some ass.
Neville’s serious face in the crowd = awesome. Nakamura doing LUCHA LUCHA = awesome.
Guest commentator deal was cool – Corey and JR were past commentators in the building, why wasn’t Renee Young calling Ember/Asuka?
How did I watch Ibushi vs. Naito and Itami vs. Black today with the same commentator?
3. Aleister Black vs. Hideo Itami
First of all, the Aleister Black live intro was phenomenal. The bass guitar guy just screaming as Black walked past him was awesome. You know what I like about Black? He doesn’t play to the crowd. At all. Ever. Dug both guys getting in each other’s faces and shit-talking pre-bell, wrestling needs way more of that. Anyways – this was Aleister Black’s busted face battling a reinvigorated Hideo Itami. Not going to say the Itami beatdown lit the world on fire but there was a lot here that was awesome. Everything was so stiff but more importantly so intense. Black kicked the damn KENTA out of Itami.
The big kick-filled open was the right call, and though it stalled at times as Itami tried and failed to get some heat with chinlocks, they always kept it interesting by throwing in a nasty kick or having a staredown. Finish was so nuts, with both guys upping the ante on the strikes. Those BACKFISTS, man. Black’s spin kicks of death. The crazy-ass slap exchange. Even little things like Itami’s straight knee right to Black’s gut. With a bit trimmed off this is epic, as it was it was really great. Also, did Black introduce his own Undertaker sit-up spot in this match? ***3/4
4. NXT Women’s Title: Asuka [c] vs. Ember Moon
First of all, both of these two looked like STARS. Dug Ember’s hood, Asuka’s mask. As a wrestling match, this was great. Fast pace, hot crowd, and lots of fun spots. Had a fun start – Ember going right after Asuka was righteous, as was her cannonball plancha. Then, Asuka went to work like she had been watching Minoru Suzuki tape. An nasty beatdown + smiling and mugging for the camera = incredible. The stompfest in the middle there was wild too. All of it did a great job of building sympathy for Ember. Then, they pulled off some massive near falls off the Eclipse and Asuka holding the trunks. Ember laid in an INSANE superkick before Asuka just caught her in the AsukaLock like a crocodile snatching prey. Great match, even greater dramatic finish. The Era of Asuka continues. ****
Is there any stupider chant than ‘WOMEN’S WRESTLING’?
5. NXT Title: Bobby Roode [c] vs. Drew McIntyre
The bodyslam to the apron sure was wild but this was the weakest match of the show. They did all the right stuff Fun House Show Match-wise – kept it moving, did some cool stuff. But there was no extra – a big time babyface, spectacular finish, insanity, intensity – to get it anywhere near the other matches. I mean we got the sit-up belly-to-belly but it wasn’t against Oney so it was only half as cool. They tried a strike-fest towards the end and it was neat but it was like the fourth best strike-fest of the evening. Drew’s headbutt and Claymore was a nice finish, but this was a lower-end really solid main event. ***
Who cares though? We all thought it was over, and then ADAM COLE. They did something! NXT finally had a big-ass angle!!! Fish and O’Reilly just appeared in the corner, and ADAM COLE debuted with all the buzz in the world and destroyed the World Champion. Awesome. So awesome. Wrestling rules.
Awesome show, amazing wrestling and a big time angle, plus some sweet live music as a bonus. 9/10
