These are thoughts more than reviews; that’s why it says “Happy Thoughts” even if I put a rating at the end. With the mechanical mess that is modern WWE there are only so many thoughts one can have about the same show and same people so many times, but even in the confinements of the Thunderdome they actually did something new here. Something new! SOMETHING NEW!!!
A (presumed) pilot for some kind of NXT India held on Republic Day provided my brain all sorts of delights, including Michael Cole wearing green, the fake pop for Paul Heyman saying Happy Republic Day, and Canyon Ceman’s little dirtbag recruiter soundbites. Little heavy on the “I am already very famous incredibly successful but here I am in WWE haha” gimmicks though.
1. Finn Balor vs. Guru Raaj
It’s Guru Raaj, the first ever Indian high-flyer! I dunno, Cole said it. The veteran vs. rookie dynamic is a wrestling classic, so it’s weird that WWE does it so…. never. This is a fun match with a few off spots from Raaj, but at this point I’d rather see Balor do the sunset flip roll-through to dropkick signature all slow than the polished one we see any other time he does it. **3/4
2. Rey Mysterio, Ricochet, Giant Zanjeer & Dilsher Shanky vs. Dolph Ziggler, King Corbin, Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro
It goes without saying what Giant Zanjeer’s deal is, but Dilsher Shanky is nearly as tall AND has a shirt with his name on it. Both hit what they needed to in a match where they were highlighted by Rey and a bunch of guys McMahon couldn’t make work. **
3. AJ Styles vs. Jeet Rama
Jeet Rama wears a singlet, does suplexes, looks like a man. He wasn’t seasoned enough to make the most of the big calf crusher escape spot, but did well enough as AJ gave him a whole match. The hesitation in Corey’s voice as he tried to say a Jeet win over AJ would make him an immediate superstar was great, a guy who knows that WWE doesn’t simply just “capitalize” on things anymore. **1/2
Canvas! Khali! Kavita!
4. Charlotte Flair & Sareena Sandhu vs. Bayley & Natalya
Sareena Sandhu seems capable and both Bayley and Natalya were game to work spots, though the whole approach to and layout of this match felt very celebrity guest hosty. **
5. Drew McIntyre & Indus Sher (Rinku & Saurav) vs. Jinder Mahal & The Bollywood Boyz
Ric Flair said some stuff before the match, though he’s really just giving the same energy to his promos as a Cameo at this point. The 6-man was serviceable, Indus Sher given a big re-introduction and throwing around the Boyz though also taking a weird amount of heat because that’s how WWE rolls. Really a weird quirk WWE has now where they only make effort at establishing new wrestlers when they are launching entirely new shows. **1/2
Happy Thoughts: No great match here, but the most interesting (and fun) thing WWE has done in a while. The environment cornered them into pairing rookies with vets, establishing new acts, and embracing the simple stuff – wait that’s just wrestling. 6/10
