In the song Moment Of Clarity by Jay-Z, the lyric “Dumb down your audience to double your dollars” Is all I can think of after this episode. It’s not that the episode had changed the NXT format at all. I just watched the show with my cousin and uncle, and it never became more clear on why WWE is a giant money making machine.
It’s on so many levels too. I’m not sure where to start. First I complain a lot about seeing the same matches and segments on Raw every week. We complain about replays of replays of segments that we hear about during other segments. How people only have one name; Cesaro, Rusev, Neville, Charlotte, Paige. I’ve realized that this is all done to make it so the casual fan can retain basic information.
I can’t tell you how many times my cousin will call Rusev ‘Rufus’, Daniel Brayn ‘Dan O’Bryan’, Sami Zayn ‘Zaggy Zag’, and now Eva Marie is ‘Eve’. I get why Antonio Cesaro was shortened to Cesaro; easier to chant, easier to remember. That’s why all names are about 3 to 4 syllables.
There was a replay package of Takeover:Brooklyn and my family was confused until the end of it. The end said Takeover:Brooklyn now on demand. After that my cousin goes, “oh I thought that was gonna be next week.” That was the moment I discovered, if you go below the surface, a lot of people won’t go with you. It’s the difference between Family Guy and King of the Hill. On the surface it’s both a cartoon comedy. Dig deeper and Family Guy gears jokes towards people who don’t have to pay attention to get the punchline. Anybody can watch any episode and it works the same. King of the Hills comedy works with a first time viewer, but truly works when you get to know the characters and their convictions.
Raw is the product of the art of wrestling, NXT is the art of wrestling. That’s why Raw is on ‘watch, replay, redo’. The idiom about how it’s harder to steer a big ship rings true. When the world is watching, not everyone hangs on WWEs every word like you and I. With NXT WWE knows their appeasing just the hardcore audience. Even if you casually view NXT you, or someone you know have the network. Casual fans don’t have that, that alone gives NXT more room to be smarter, because the fan base is already determined to be slightly more than casual.
Let me know if you agree or disagree, I would like to talk about this more.
As I type this. A helicopter circles my block.
NXT Opening-
Video package saying NXT is starting the Dusty Rhodes Classic tonight.
The Ascension vs. Baron Corbin and Rhyno
As the Ascension comes out the crowd seems somber. I think Full Sail is still licking their wounds after Kevin Owens unleashed his verbal fury a few weeks ago. That does not last long though, they are Yah’ing in no time. ( Yah’ing is where the crowd says Yah every time Konnor from the Ascension hits his opponent.)
I really don’t know who will win. Graves says Rhyno and Corbin respect each other after the matches they have had.
The Ascension double teams Corbin and look like a fluid team. It’s night and day with NXT and WWE. Good thing I covered that earlier.
The announcers put over how much this tournament means to all those competing, because winning this is like a tribute to Dusty Rhodes. Knowing how much Dream affected these talents, adds a lot of gravity to this tournament. That makes me wonder if the finals will have a Dusty Finish?
It’s nice to see how much Konnor feeds off the crowd. His body moves to their every noise. Konnor sets Rhyno up for the Fall of Man, but Corbin distracts Viktor and Konnor ends up eating a Gore from Rhyno for the loss.
And I’m Like.. That was surprising. It was nice to see The Ascension back home in NXT.
Neville and Crowe promo- Neville says he is gonna win and thinks the chances of winning are high. Crowe is turnt up to 11 and says “he is callin his shot like Babe Ruth BAM! calling the win.
There is a Nia Jax promo again.
Alexa Bliss vs. Blue Pants
As Alexa comes out my cousin says “she’s so hot” and I’m all ugh. This is how the general audience thinks though. Their looks will cover a lot of their mistakes. It’s like how music got worse once MTV came around. Look at music artists post-MTV and pre-MTV. Lots of uggo’s in the early part of the century. Then it becomes, if they are nice to look at they don’t ha ve to be that talented.
Blue Pants is announced from the Clearance Rack and Graves calls her the Discount Diva lol.
This arm lock is like 80% of the arm work done by the people on NXT. That must be the foundation move for arm rest holds.
Blue Pants is obviously leading the match, she is in a hurry up and wait for Alexa to hit her spots mode. Alexa is too slow at the moment, she needs more seasoning. Bliss hits a handspring knee splash followed by The Sparkle Splash for the win.
And I’m Like… My cousin says “God, she is hot, that was a good match.” That upset me, just cause in my heart I worry that the Diva Revolution will not happen for years because of that mindset.
Tyler Breeze found out his partner is Bull Dempsey next week in a match against Johnny Gargano and Tomasso Ciampia .
Emma video package about her winning the fatal four way. My cousin said he thought Emma was not supposed to win, everyone looked shocked. Emma says there wouldn’t be a revolution without her and Paige.
Apollo Crews vs. Martin Stone
Apollo is from Stone Mountain, Georgia. Same as Jerry Blackwell and Jake The Snake Roberts , those are some shows to fill.
After Crews and all his talents hit a dropkick and says “too easy.” I feel like I was the only one disappointed in his debut. I am just not into him yet. His demeanor feels forced to me, not organic or original. Maybe if we were supposed to boo him I would like him? I don’t know, like if I know it is supposed to piss me off, I can deal with it. Is wrestling weird or is it just me?
And I’m Like… Apollo wins and I am still indifferent.
Gable and Jordan say they will win the tournament. Gable asks Jordan to say his name. Jordan says it but also says he will deny it. Gable says he can’t it is live TV.
Why is Corey Graves always bring up someone’s attractiveness? Because, he is a heel announcer and supposed to upset me? Ok.
An all girl chant breaks out for Eva Marie. My cousin “She’s hot she should be Sister Abigail.” After a leapfrog by Eva my Uncle says “She is really good.” After a suplex my Cousin says “yeah she’s real good” my Wife says “this is terrible, Corey Graves sucks. Eva can’t be considered good, she forgot to kick out and the ref had to stop counting, how could Eva be considered good when she forgot she was supposed to win. My Cousin “it’s probaby her dork trainer Brian Something .
And I’m Like… With the crowd here BOOOO!
They talk about partying in New York. Enzo and Cass look to be annoyed with the Hype Bros.
Neville and Solomon Crowe vs. Gable and Jordan
Nevilles ovation is outstanding, look how into it his crowd is. It’s weird that your memory is rewarded on this show.
As I watch Jason Jordan, I can’t help but think of Shelton Benjamin . I feel like he is the most complete star of this match. That’s saying something too cause Gable is from ‘S ota. Graves said Jordan is as quick as Neville.
I’ll give Crowe credit by being the most entertaining guy in a rest hold on NXT. He has great grunts and grimaces. Rich Brennen says Neville looks miffed at Crowe. Graves says that’s a word his grandmother uses. “You know your approaching her age Rich. You look like your grandfather” Rich says that he and Graves have the same haircut. Corey says “trying to look like me and failing” that is some of the worst commentary I’ve heard.
Neville was rocking and rolling. He gets beat up a bit and Crowe tags himself in and goes for a
Rolling Yoshi Tonic
and as you can see above, Jordan reverses it into a over the head belly to belly suplex. Followed up by
And I’m Like… That was a fun match, I don’t know of a team I have more fun watching wrestle.
I feel like I wrote a lot. That was a revealing episode! Ya’ll like and share and stuff.
Have a good one.
-Jake