Greetings and Salutations, Cheap-Heaters! Welcome to another edition of the:
Today I come live and in internet limbo, where I have approximately an hour to do this… I shouldn't have logged onto the free wifi until I was done/almost done writing! Anyway, a brief hiatus for the insanity of last week capped off with a move this weekend, explains my absence and lack of unlimited internet access. So I apologize to you gamblers who had to (insert outraged gasp HERE) – make your Payback picks without my "expertise".
So I need to quit with the dilly dallying (ESPECIALLY the DALLYING!) Lets kick off this TakeOVER/Under, as NXT gets ready for its 2nd two hour special of 2015. This show features six matches, with all three NXT championships being defended. A #1 Contendership match for the NXT Championship, and three budding rivalries in two matches. (You'll understand shortly.)
OVERVIEW!
These two teams have been at it for months now. Enzo and Cass have been on a wave of insane popularity. Blake and Murphy upset the Lucha Dragons, and have worked themselves into being good tag team champions. Enzo and Cass won number one contendership… Blake and Murphy decided to flirt with Carmella. They've had some singles matches, some segments, and at Unstoppable it comes to a head.
Favorite(s)!
Enzo and Cass: -100. I'm not entirely sold on this. They have the momentum and so much crowd support its silly. THAT said, NXT likes to build with the faces chasing. PLUS, There is always the possibility of a Carmella turn… she already gets healthy boos despite still being on Enzo and Cass' good sides and "one of the team."
UNDERDOG(s)!
Blake and Murphy: +150. Close. Not going to be surprised if they win. If they do, it'll be by hook, or by crook (Bet on "Crook" if the prop bet exists) – Maybe Carmella heel turn helps keep Blake and Murphy in control of the tag team championships for another few months!
PROP BETS O' The MATCH!
Over/Under: 4.5 nicknames Enzo gives himself during his introduction.
Carmella goes with BaM: Yes -200. No +250.
OVERVIEW!
Emma and Bayley have been feuding for a while. Emma came back to NXT after a rather uninspiring time up on the main roster. Emma's words of caution to Bayley were, "Don't trust the people". Down here they LOVE you, up there they won't. Basically she was the ghost of WWE Divas future for Bayley. Their characters in NXT are super similar. Loved the story telling between them, and was REALLY looking forward to a one on one match… BUT? Dana Brooke decided to talk smack on Charlotte (That'd be a BAD idea) – So because its only a two hour special, and there was probably NO way they weren't going to have Charlotte on the card? They spackled these two feuds into one match. I still eagerly await the Bayley vs. Emma blow off match. It was one of the matches I was looking forward to most, when I thought that's where they were going. This is good for Dana Brooke too. Who still looks pretty green in the ring, and has two certifiable stud opponents and a good tag team partner to get the most out of her.
Favorite(s)!
Bayley and Charlotte: -400. C'mon. No brainer here. Bayley is one of the most over members of the entire Roster. Charlotte is an athletic freak of nature. They have history and friendship. This should be an excellent tag match. Really looking forward to it, but Emma and Dana don't have much of a chance.
UNDERDOG(s)!
Emma and Dana Brooke: +550. Don't know each other. Both looking out for their own interests. Nothing for them screams "we're going to win", so place your bets accordingly.
PROP BETS O' The MATCH!
Will this be longer than Rhyno vs. Corbin: Yes -300. No +250.
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner: Bayley to Belly: -200. Figure 8: -120. Dilemma: +200. Dana Brooke's Driver Move: +400.
OVERVIEW!
Baron Corbin has been slaying fools, but the crowds have been turning on him. Rhyno returned after the last Takeover, and has been pretty damn dominant, minus a loss to Sami Zayn. So Rhyno called out Baron Corbin. Boom. Match. Least build, and this is the match I'm least excited for. It'll be a slugfest slobberknocker. Interesting to see if Corbin continues down the road to Heelville.
Favorite!
Corbin: -600. Vegas toyed with pulling this match off the board. No reason for Rhyno to win. But its a great chance to have Corbin really work out some evil diabolical stuff… if his weekend of house show performances are any foreshadowing.
UNDERDOG!
Rhyno: +400. Rhyno is most likely here to put over good young talent, and be an added draw to live crowd. MAYBE he makes it back to the main roster, but this match here is all about Baron Corbin. Side note: I didn't realize Rhyno was as, relatively, young as he was. He's still under 40. I was sure he was in his mid 40s.
PROP BETS O' The MATCH!
Over/Under: 5 minutes 47 seconds, bell to bell.
Corbin gets on the mic afterwards: Yes -200. No +200.
OVERVIEW!
These three have been in and around the title picture for the last few months. Balor had a shot against Owens and came up short, though survived it better than both Zayn and Neville. Breeze and Itami spent that last NXT "quarter build" having a wonderful series of matches. Makes sense these three are vying for a shot at the NXT Championship… well TWO (As you may know this match will NOT be a triple threat. Itami is hurt and will be out for upwards of 6 months.) I wonder if someone gets added to this last minute? There IS a name floating around and I wonder if maybe they use him here.
Favorite!
Finn Balor: -500. Balor had a great showing against Owens. They also have been heavily involved at house shows. The key here… Balor lost to Owens. The Demon? Did not. Balor has another gear to tap into in his quest to become NXT Champion.
UNDERDOG!
Tyler Breeze +350. He's a good wrestler, and an intriguing character, but him winning this just means they're feeding him to the winner of Owens/Zayn. Not his time.
PROP BETS O' The MATCH!
Demon? NO: -400. YES: +200.
Third Combatant
(SOMEONE gets added to the match)
– NO: -200. Yes: +150. – this line has been moving crazily all over the Vegas boards. STAY TUNED!
OVERVIEW!
Becky Lynch won a hotly contested triple threat match between her, Bayley, and Charlotte to become the #1 contender. Its crazy to think that in this women's division that she is kind of gets lost in the shuffle. This match will be a great chance for her to shine! Sasha Banks has been rolling since taking the championship from Charlotte. This match could steal the show. Both are excellent in ring competitors. Both have tons of fan interest. They have history as "Team BAE", and lets face it… the NXT Women are on a friggin' MISSION to not just "keep up with the dudes", they want to kick dust into their faces. I think we're a Takeover, or two from the Women's Championship match going on last (#WomensWrestling) – This match I think lays the ground work for that match (which after talking with a buddy and he mentioned it… believe it will be Banks vs. Bayley 1 on 1 for the Championship)
Favorite!
Sasha Banks: -300. The Boss is Legit, and I think she rolls on. She holds this until at LEAST August.
UNDERDOG!
Becky Lynch: +400. I keep getting more and more impressed with Becky Lynch. I can't wait to see what she does in this situation. That said? Not her time.
PROP BETS O' The MATCH!
Over/Under: 11 minutes bell to bell.
Sasha's Ratchet. NO She's Note: -4700. Yes: + like… a billion
Over/Under: Becky Lynch Suplexes 4.5.
OVERVIEW!
Where to start? Lets just say, these two have a lot of history predating WWE/NXT. Owens won the championship from Zayn. Zayn kept his rematch clause. Owens ran roughshod over everyone put in his way. Zayn came back and got his rematch, after some nice continuity laced story telling where Owens was going to duck Zayn and his claim to a rematch. To further add to this… A few weeks ago Sami Zayn debuted on Raw against John Cena in his US Championship Open Challenge. Great match, but he lost. THIS week Owens debuted on Raw in a similar circumstance, and destroyed Cena (Sending ALL The internet wrestling community a-flutter… as if we needed MORE reason to love Kevin Owens) – So Owens is getting a one on one match against Cena at Elimination Chamber. That's awesome for all us wrestling fans, AND it also plays into their storyline. Owens trying to outdo Sami Zayn. To get out of his shadow. To establish himself separately. The huge ole' stick in the spokes of this match? Zayn hurt his shoulder in the match against Cena. He didn't tour with NXT for the live shows. (insert a dejected sigh here from your humble author) – He HAS been cleared to wrestle, but in what capacity? I s'pose we'll bet discussing this in great detail in 24 hours!
Favorite(s)!
Kevin Owens: -350. He has looked great since debuting. Crowds are into him. He's done a good job getting booed despite the huge adoring fanbase he has. With how this is going, the uncertainty about Sami I think Owens retains, AND the Elimination Chamber match in 11 days? Owens wins.
UNDERDOG(s)!
Sami Zayn: +200. Of course he is. Sami Zayn lives his life as an underdog. Plus his shoulder may give out sending his arm flying out into the crowd as a souvenir!
PROP BETS O' The MATCH!
Over/Under: 12 minutes. Could be short if the Zayn injury is bad/worse than its been reported… or maybe goes longer and we were all worked. (Hope for the latter!)
Joe? No: -150. Yes. +200. Rumors abound. Could a new face make his debut at the end of Unstoppable?
Cena? Yes: -200. No: +200. Cena has been very supportive of NXT. Throw in the fact that he now has a vested interest in keeping an eye on this main event? I could EASILY see Cena making a run in to save a Sami Zayn from a vicious beatdown at the hands of Kevin Owens.
There we have it, gamblers! We're less than 24 hours away from NXT Takeover: Unstoppable. A six match card that looks great on paper! (Just like my bets) – Here's hoping when I join you for the "TAKEOVER VIEW", that we're basking in the glow of a fabulous wrestling show! Until then Youc can follow me on the twitter @sirmhayesxiv where you can see some of my live reactions to the show!
See you in 24!
