Before we get into the show, I would like to share a bit about my day. Last night I was going to write while I watched but after the first match I got too engrossed in the show. I re-watched it today while at work. Well, I watched most of it while at work. See we are a small town restaurant in a city of 18,000 people. We tend to get alot of characters and different types of people. Lately, there have been some homeless teens we have been feeding and let sleep at the tables when we are not busy. Before it became too comfortable for them, we asked that they help out a bit with busing tables and after hours cleaning. We found out today that one of the teens is enrolled in the local High School. I had my niece play truant officer and drive him to school, turns out he was suspended. She cut a deal with the principal and will now drive him to and from school everyday. He brought his homework in today and some regulars at the restaurant helped him finish his assignments.
My dishwasher decided to bring his guitar in today, he is a 57 year old war vet and is quite talented in music. We set up a chair and sign for him to play out front. That attracted one customer who told us our Chia Seeds were actually maggots , I’m expected him to write a review of the restaurant and I don’t expect it to be good. We also had a gentlemen that I had to give a stern talking to for licking his magazines. He likes to talk to the magazines which is acceptable, but I don’t tolerate licking.
We do have a cast of characters, but we all try to help each other. The reason I wrote this is because, while today was happening, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of a high from helping people. It made me realize that that is why I love wrestling and more specifically NXT. NXT is about helping wrestling as a whole, and making dreams come true. NXT gives us characters to relate to or videos of the wrestlers that share their real feelings. You see that its a roster of people trying to better themselves and the people around them, it’s a community that cares, and when they say “We Are NXT” it gives a certain wrestling fan a place to call home.
Takeover:Respect
The show opens with a video package that in the first 10 or 20 seconds already gave me chills. It’s an image of Bayley holding her newly won NXT Women’s Championship at Takeover:Brooklyn. As that image is shown you hear the crowd chant “you deserve it.” Next is an image of Daniel Bryan, Eddie Guerrero, Edge, Booker T, Mankind. All people who were Champions of the people and wrestlers deemed “ours”. The hard workers who would ‘never make it’, it really resonates. That’s just 10 seconds in.
We see videos of the greatest rivalries in wrestling and how the people involved grew to respect their adversaries. HOLY SHIT that’s the storyline for the team of Rhyno and Baron Corbin. The final part of the video takes us to Bayley and Sasha, Dusty Rhodes words close the video “Get a dream, hold on to it, and shoot for the sky.”
Finn Balor and Samoa Joe vs. Dash and Dawson
Finn is a F’n STAR, he is it! I’m not a huge fan personally, but damn. Dude even makes a leather jacket look legit. He has the best entrance and entrance music with or without the face paint. His eyes too you guys, they are soft and menacing at the same time.
Oh and did I mention his entrance? The fans get to participate.
Then we got cool as hell Samoa Joe just being Hip-Hop. He has such an energy that makes it feel like business is always about to pick up.
Dash and Dawson haven’t been able to show much character, but they are a tag team yo, once these Divas revolutionize their division, I feel like these two will rejuvenate the tag divison.
They are the tops at teamwork though, like this move here.
Like Al Madril and Bugsy McGraw in 1982.
Dash and Dawson wrestles with such intensity and ferocity, I want to give them a name, like the Carolina Bulldogs or something. Maybe something small and dynamite like. The match is told very well.
Dash and Dawson can’t take these dudes one-on-one, if Joe is in the ring he dominates, same with Finn. Once Dash and Dawson screw up or get move in. It turns to tag wrestling and Joe and Balor get decimated. If Dash and Dawson keep Finn and Joe separated they got a chance.
Dawson hits a chopblock and they wrecking crew Balors knee. WOW!!! Carolina Wrecking Crew? Yep that’s gonna be the name from here on out. Plus CWC is way easier to type than Dash and Dawson. CWC does great work as a team, which can’t be stated enough.
Dawson will have Finn’s leg in the rope and Dash will go over and kick the leg a bit. They utilize the five count too! Just old school as hell. Dash pulls Joe off the apron so Finn can’t tag.
A bit later Dawson gets thrown back into the ring by Wilder to get a tag in to stop Finn from the hot tag.
Balor finally tagged Joe and shit fell apart for CWC. Joe does his 5 moves of doom and reluctantly tags Finn Balor in. Joe hits the Muscle Buster, Finn hits the Coup de grais for the win.
And I’m Like… surprised. It’s a tag team tournament, and the one of the two legit tag teams just got eliminated. The match was great though, Finn sold his leg the whole time and it seems like it will play a part later in the night. I was expecting a Joe heel turn to challenge Finn later in the year, guess later?
Jordan and Gable vs. Rhyno and Baron Corbin
Poor Jason Jordan, he is great but the crowd is All Gable All the Time. The crowd F’n chants “Gable”
to Kurt Angles theme song.
Rhyno is in a Blake and Murphy T-shirt!!! Baron is in his Lone Wolf vest.
I’m hoping the crowd doesn’t chant for Jordan and Gable, only for the fact that Baron Corbin’s story is that he loves to defeat the indie guys and fan favorites. Gable and Jordan are fan favorites, Joe and Finn are indie guys. Gable is amazing though! He has a giant head so that adds to facial expressions, he chain wrestles, has strength and speed, he is humorous, can take an ass beating, and most importantly is from Minnesota.
This match is very much Jordan and Gable being competent singles guys who, when are able to cut the ring off, are dominate. Baron and Rhyno are a team of explosive power. If they do quick tags they can impact the match tremendously.
Gable desperately goes for the tag but Corbin grabs his hair and pulls him back. Crowd chants “Save TheGable”. Rhyno misses a splash and Jordan hot tags into a frenzy. He is lighting Rhyno and Baron up, Byron says “It’s when adrenaline meets focus.” There is a sweet sequence of tags and big moves with very good nearfalls.
Everybody is on the ground as the crowd surrounds them with chants of “NXT” Gable hits a victory roll pin on Corbin but continues to roll it into a German Suplex. As the crowd chants for Gable, Corbin ends his day. What a beautiful End of Days.
And I’m Like… Boo’s you guys… Actual Boo’s. That is so so hard in NXT, if you are a good talent, regardless of alignment, you get cheers. To be able to have a fully formed character that can put on an interesting match and have him boo’d, that is amazing. Good job everyone, good job NXT with your work on Baron Corbin.
Asuka vs. Dana Brooke
This is a showcase for Asuka so let’s showcase. Dana and Emma are cocky and that’s about it.
Ok, first for Asuka entrance song is top notch . High energy and intense. Her entrance involves creepy mask that she removes to add color to the arena, like Pleaseantville meets Great Kabuki . Her smile is dangerous, She looks like she is relishing in this moment. Talk about it factor.
Asuka moves so so quick. She offered a handshake but it was refused. Dana tries to roll through on the hammerlock but Asuka rolls with her. Dana pats Asuka on the head and slaps her in the face.
NXT resonds with “You Fucked Up.”
OHMIGAWD! Asuka booty bumps, spanks herself and does the sexualized Dana Brooke pose.
This girl is crazy good. I’m legit laughing at how much I enjoy this match.
Emma helps Dana change the matches tide.
Dana needs to combat Asuka’s striking by
pulling a Checkmate
and armadillo’ing. Asuka is chaining submissions to suplexes. Kneebar, to ankle lock, to German-y suplex. She rocks Emma and kicks the hell out of Dana.
“Asuka City” chants and she puts on the Asuka Lock for the win.
And I’m Like… Wow! She does the Dana pose/throat slit/spirit finger taunt and DAAAMMNN! She is a star! Good God that was impressive. Asuka demanded respect through her smirk and got it.
Footage of Balor with the trainer cause his knee is bad.
ANOTHER NIA JAX video except she will be here NEXT WEEK!
Tyler Breeze vs. Apollo Crews
Tyler Breeze’s seasonal residence changed from Cairo to Monte Carlo. Graves talks about how Breeze has been here since NXT day one. He saw so many people pass him and he is frustrated.
I kinda zone out during Crews matches I’ve noticed. I feel all John Cena-y about him. Here are the strong moves, here are the impressive moves, the goofy smile and no selling during the finish. Breeze is innovative and stays on top of Crews.
This match is brain vs. brawn. It adds a bit to the match that Crews back got rocked into the apron screen.
The match becomes “Can Apollo overcome a back injury?” Tyler puts the Sharpshooter on very well, cause you know Canada. Both these guys are around 28 years old, they are gonna get so much better. Crews still sells his back and Breeze stays on attack with a Supermodel Kick. These guys are putting it all out there. Crew’s lol Cena’s him and stops selling his back to hit his finish. Breeze kicks out so he does an even more back straining move to win.
And I’m Like… yeah, that’s a match. It was good and everything but, I don’t know, Apollo doesn’t do it for me.
Oh No! Hideo!
When will he be back? I hope we are still telling the story where Finn took out Hideo’s arm.
Finn Balor and Samoa Joe vs. Baron Corbin and Rhyno
Baron changed vests, now it says All Hail. It’s weird to have a Tag Team final with four entrances. NXT crowd hits the “Joe” to the beat well.
Finn is starting the match, even though he is sore, dumb. Byron Saxton also stuttered a bit here too. Once Balor limped, Joe tagged himself in. The energy is kinda sucked out of me, I don’t have much of a vested interest in either team.
The story is, Joe is reluctant to tag an injured Finn. Joe can only go at it alone for a bit so Rhyno and Corbin dominate for a bit. Finn gets a “rush of adrenaline” according to Corey Graves, and does about 3 moves before he sells his knee again.
Rhyno takes Finn’s knee out and helps Corbin take advantage of the match, they should thank the Carolina Wrecking Crew for the leg work. Baron hits his big spots and I kinda want this to end. Balor soccer kicks Corbin in the face and Finn and Joe hit their finishers on Rhyno for the win.
And I’m Like… WHHAATTT?!?!? I did not see that coming, not like it matters much. I now get why they did win, cause when the trophy was presented it seemed like having Corbin and Rhyno there wouldn’t gel.
Cody gives a speech and ends with “we are all Rhodes” it ends with “Thank You Dusty!” chants.
“Women’s wrestling” chant Sasha and Bayley video package
The video recaps highlights of the Takeover:Brooklyn match. We go into the iron man match being made a few weeks back. Then jumps to the training regiment of Sasha and Bayley to prepare.
NXT Women’s Championship Ironman Match
Bayley (c) vs. Sasha Banks
This is Sasha’s swan song. The crowd is stoked and so am I. There is ominous cage music before each entrance too. I’m getting emotional, it’s the damn music of these girls. Just to follow this story and know what they are trying to achieve, they are so damn close too. Izzy is in front row too… OH god.
“Main Events” chants around the arena. For real this feels so intense, these girls look so focused, ready, and nervous. It’s such a bittersweet moment. This is the 10th Ironman match in WWE history. Look at their faces!
Byron says Bayley chose her color scheme because of Marvels Ironman and Sasha is wearing the same colors as her first time wrestling 5 years ago.
“you deserve it” “This is awesome” “NXT” all before they make first contact.
They have aggressive collar and elbow. This is a moment you guys.. and we are living in it. Sasha goes for 3 pin attempts but it’s too early to gain a fall on Bayley. Trading pin attempts now with the crowd counting the whole way.
Sasha is super serious and confident, she is intimidating Bayley. Bayley hits a Japanese armdrag and OUCH!! Sasha be safe with your neck please.
They both reverse their respective finishers. Sasha was hurt, Bayley extended an arm for a handshake and Sasha whopped her. Perfect character work. Bayley the gullible warm heart, Sasha the conniving cold heart.
Bayley hits consecutive corner baseball slides. Sasha gets beat for a bit, she is able to take control back in the ring but gets caught in a pin attempt putting her foot on the ropes. She decides to block the ref’s view and pokes Bayleys eye for the first fall.
Sasha 1 Bayley 0
The constant showing of the clock kinda pulls me out of the match.Bayley hits a nice Bayley to Belly out of the corner to tie it at 1.
Sasha 1 Bayley 1
Bayley gets rocked into the steps in front of her family and Izzy!! Izzy screams “c’mon Bayley don’t give up.” Sasha keeps on the attack and YELLS AT IZZY! Holy Shit.. SHE MADE HER CRY! Fucking get her Bayley!! Well Sasha threw Bayley into the Titontron thing and got a win by countout.
Sasha 2 Bayley 1
We are halfway through, this is getting good! They do a throwback to the last match where Sasha talked stuff and Bayley kicked her in the mouth.
This time Sasha knew the kick was coming and caught Bayleys foot. Sasha puts Bayley in a Bosston Crab, she also stomps on Bayleys hand. Bayley reverses the Bosston Crab for a flash pin.
Izzy is excited again.
Sasha 2 Bayley 2
Bayley gets the momentum in her favor after reversing the double knees. Bayley hits her moves of doom but not with pizzazz and smiles like usual. Bayley gets a near fall and we are 2/3 through this match. “This is wrestling” chants.
Sasha hits her double knees for a near fall. These girls are drained.. “Better Than Raw” chants. Izzy is screaming “Get Her Bayley” Bayley decides to go after her pretty viciously, and I don’t think Izzy is comfortable with it.
I can’t put over how great this match is. Bayley gets tossed into the stairs she set up.
Sasha goes for a suicide dive and Bayley catches her into a Bayley to Belly to the outside. “Holy Shit” chant from the crowd.
Crowd is crazy hot for this. Top rope Bayley to Belly and Sasha got her foot on the ropes!!!
This next sequence is hard to describe. Sasha reversed the reverse super huricanrana, she hit a Bayley to Belly on Bayley for two, turned that into a BankStatement. Sasha can’t apply it all the way cause of her hand injury from earlier in the match. PURE FUCKING BEAUTY!!! Bayley fights out of it and puts Sasha in the BankStatement.
Sasha fights out but Bayley smashes her fingertips into the mat. She puts on this crazy arm submission.
Then does joint manipulation.
Then stomps on Sasha’s head enough for Sasha to tap with 4 seconds left….
Sasha 2 Bayley 3
And I’m Like… Speechless. F anyone that is boo’ing at the end of this, round of applause. This was just wow… just wow.
The whole NXT Roster is on the top of the ramp, flowers are presented to Sasha at the ramp, she breaks down.
Bayley is in the ring and HHH gives her some flowers. She stands in the ring and basks in the glow of being the best women’s wrestler in NXT. Izzy is joy crying, look how proud everyone looks.
Ok guys, today was draining but well worth it. Thank you NXT, Thank you reader, Thank you wrestling.
Like or share if you could. That would be a generous gesture.
Have a good one
-Jake
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