WWE: NXT Takeover 31 Review - October 4th, 2020

WWE: NXT Takeover 31 

October 4th, 2020

The 31st NXT Takeover event and the start of a new era as the performance center has been redesigned as the Capitol Wrestling Center. 

1) Damian Priest (c) vs. Johnny Gargano - North American Title Match 

As I said when watching this, this is where Johnny belongs, in hot openers, not hot opener style matches billed as main events. Not to hate too bad bc I like Johnny, I’m just so glad he’s out of the main event picture. Damian Priest is the perfect opponent for him and they proceed to knock this out of the park. Lots of back and forth and big moves. They tease the same stair spot that fucked Priest up at the last Takeover before going into the finish. Priest retains in a great match with a huge victory. 

Match rating - ***3/4

2) KUSHIDA vs. Velveteen Dream 

KUSHIDA is PISSED and I love it. He absolutely tears Velveteen apart here with nothing stopping him. Dream fights back but KUSHIDA is focused and keeps his attack focused on the arm in the most vicious ways. I hope they keep this momentum going for KUSHIDA and don’t let him flop. Flipping hoverboard lock off the top rope. Dream rolls through and Death Valley driver’s  KUSHIDA but KUSHIDA KEEPS IT FUCKING LOCKED IN AND DREAM TAPS. 

Match rating - ***3/4

3) Santos Escobar (c) vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott - NXT Cruserweight Title Match 

Wooooooowwww. How in the actual fuck was this so good? I had no backstory to this, but it had me on the edge of my seat for the entire final half of the match. Swerve looked like an absolute STAR, throwing out a ton of high flying moves early and stunning the champion. When it goes into back and forth, we get a run down from Mendoza & Wilde and Swerve hits a damn step up flying rana throwing Escobar onto them. Ashante Adonis runs down for the save and this feels like actual chaos. A couple kick outs later and we are in the midst of one of the best cruserweight title matches of all time. The finish came off a little weak with the camera angle, but this was still so insanely good and better than it had any right to be. This is the best cruserweight title match alongside Rush/Garza from earlier this year and makes me want to tune in to 205 Live if these guys are even still on that?? I hope so because they could really develop some goooood shit off this match, but I won't get my hopes too high.

Match rating - ****1/4 

4) Io Shirai (c) vs. Candice LeRae - NXT Women’s Title Match 

This pretty much ruled. The only thing I disliked was the Johnny Gargano interference. He adds so much unnecessary melodrama to a match that was good on its own without the overbooking, but atleast it’s happening here and not in the main event (hopefully). None the less, this was another great match on an awesome show. Candice hits the god damn curb stomp ala Super Dragon. Shirai hits a insane Spanish fly off the top rope followed by a deep ass moonsault for the pin to retain. 

Match rating - ***3/4 

Post match, Toni Storm is on the screen and says she’s coming back to NXT. THEN Ember Moon returns. The women’s division just got hella re-spiced up. 

5) Finn Balor (c) vs. Kyle O’Reilly - NXT Championship Match 

I was insanely stoked for this. I have been a massive fan of Kyle O’Reilly since his first real rise as a singles competitor in the 2013 Battle of Los Angeles so to see him here getting such a huge main event and opportunity warmed my heart. Everyone surrounding this story from Adam Cole to the commentators hyped this up just as highly as it should have been. Kyle felt like the true underdog finally about to get his moment. I was also excited about this as Finn's first defense because Finn has been better in his NXT return than he was on the main roster, but still not peak Finn level and I felt Kyle could guide him to one of his best matches yet. None the less, this gets going and the vibe is epic to begin with Strong, Fish, & Cole sending O'Reilly out to the ring on his own. Finn comes out and Kyle stares him down from the ring. They work on the mat for a while. Balor throws the first big strike and ends up targeting the mid section about 5-6 minutes in with a super stiff kick to the gut which Kyle sells SO FUCKING WELL. This becomes the story of things. Balor targets the abdomen/liver, Kyle targets the legs of Balor. They scrap and fight and are very stiff from start to finish. Kyle has a bloody mouth and is worked over with abdominal stretches and various strikes to the stomach. So much awesome selling from Kyle. And on the flip, when Kyle would fire back and work the leg, it was even more vicious with the different directions he would have Balor's leg/foot twisted. O'Reilly hits a knee to the jaw in the corner near the end that apparently broke Balor's jaw as we saw blood pouring from the mouth of the champion as he fired back and hit a coupe de grace on the mat and then off the top rope, traditionally, thus ending this war. This wasn't an all timer, but it was a fucking fight and it showed that Finn is tough as nails and deserves this title reign and that Kyle can undoubtedly hang. It was also the best NXT Title main event this year and I'm thankful to be out of the melodramatic shit and back to just pure wrestling. 

Match rating - ****1/4

WWE: NXT Review - September 8th, 2020

WWE NXT

September 8th, 2020

I didn’t watch the Iron Man Match from last week just because the thought of it pained me. They recap it before we head into the opening match of the night which also happens to be the tie breaker from the iron man match between Adam Cole & Finn Balor who both had two falls a piece at the bell. 

1) Adam Cole vs. Finn Balor - NXT Championship Match 

Now this was good. Not amazing, but good none the less. It’s hard for me to have any sort of reaction to almost anything Cole does anymore because it all seems so robotic and formulaic however Finn has been spiced up since coming back to NXT as I’ve said in previous reviews so his fire here combined with the backstory of this being between the two longest reigning champions and both men having a history in Bullet Club kept me into it from bell to bell. Things start slow and pick up nicely down the stretch. The finish is bonkers with Balor hitting a 1968 off the top turnbuckle to become a 2x NXT Champion. He deserves this and I am stoked on it. 

Match rating - ***1/2 

Rhea Ripley pre-taped promo heading into her “battle of the badasses” cage match with Mercedes Martinez later

Throughout the night we get a series of vignettes with Johnny Gargano & Candice LeRae inviting Tegan Nox over for dinner to talk through their issues. 

Backstage, Adam Cole too sweets Finn Balor and shakes his hand as does Triple H. Finn says this is why he came back to NXT — to be champion. 

Io Shorai is in the middle of a photo shoot when Aliyah accidentally knocks into her brawling with Shotzi Blackheart. Io chases Aliyah to the ring. Io & Shotzi take out Aliyah. Robert Stone comes down and gets taken out by the women also. Io & Shotzi look to be working well together until Shotzi is hesitant to give Io the title back. Io says “don’t make me hurt you” OMG that fucking ruled. 

Big Tim Thatcher hosts a film study on Damian Priest. He challenges Priest for the North American Title next week. Excited for that match. 

2) Velveteen Dream vs. Ashante Adonis

Squash. Also big thumbs down for Dream still being featured prominently on this show. 

Post match KUSHIDA viciously attacks Dream and it absolutely god damn rules. I haven’t seen KUSHIDA this intense since he came to NXT but I hope it continues because this pull apart/attack made me want this match super bad and I hope it delivers. 

Tyler Breeze & Fandango and Imperium exchange words in a pre-taped promo to hype their match next week. Imperium says next week they get their titles back and end the shortest NXT tag title reign of all time. I kinda like seeing two guys like Breeze & Dango get this tag title run considering they are veterans of the NXT brand. 

3) Bronson Reed vs. Austin Theory 

This was solid. Best I’ve seen Reed look in a singles match and Theory nailed his role also. I really think Theory could be something special considering he’s only 22 years old. 

Match rating - **1/2 

Adam Cole backstage says Finn was the better man tonight, but he won’t be next time. 

Mercedes Martinez says when the cage door shuts she won’t stop until there is nothing left of Rhea Ripley. 

4) Roderick Strong (w/ Bobby Fish) vs. Killian Dain 

Roddy wins this off a distraction from Fish. The match is ok, but very forgettable and didn’t last long enough to develop into much. 

Match rating - ** 

Post match Drake Maverick runs down to save Dain from an attack from Roddy & Fish. Drake ends up taking a beating himself before Dain makes the save. Drake asks for a handshake but Dain elbows him in the face. 

Back at the Gargano house, Johnny leaves Candice & Tegan alone. They appear to have mended their friendship until Candice says she will be the next NXT Champ in a toast. Tegan challenges this and Candice throws salad at her. Little food fight breaks out and Candice accidentally throws something through Johnny’s tv. She chases Tegan out of the house as Johnny mourns the loss of the television. You could tell Tegan was holding back laughing during the entire food fight portion. 

Damian Priest vows to re arrange Tim Thatcher’s face next week. 

5) Rhea Ripley vs. Mercedes Martinez - Steel Cage Match 

I hate the “battle of the badasses” tag line but this match was awesome. They brought some weapons into play like a chair and a kendo stick, but also worked the stip well and did a number of sick spots off the top rope and using the cage. It felt like a good classic grudge match and didn’t go into overkill at all either. Fantastic job by Ripley & Martinez here. Ripley wins after planting Martinez through a table. 

Match rating - ***3/4 

Final thoughts: Pretty solid episode of NXT this week. First one I’ve been interested enough to make it all the way through in a month or two so hell yeah. They should keep NXT on Tuesday nights, tbh.  

WWE NXT Review - May 6th, 2020

WWE NXT
May 6th
Orlando, FL

Commentators - Mauro Ranallo, Beth Phoenix, & Tom Phillips

1) Johnny Gargano vs. Dominik Dijakovic

I love heel Candice, but Gargano is still meh to me. Dijakovic does shit a big man shouldn't do and that's his biggest draw and it can be fun so this was alright. Candice came down to tease interference. This also being a TV match didn't allow Gargano to go into melo-drama mode so that also helped the case. Very fun back and forth match. Gargano wins when all is said and done and the self proclaimed king & queen of NXT continue their quest.

Match rating - ***1/4

Replay of Imperium attacking Riddle & Thatcher last week. They stake their claim for the NXT Tag Team Championship. I AM READY.

Io Shorai is warming up backstage for her title match with Charlotte. Queeeeeen.

2) Akira Tozawa vs. Jack Gallagher - Cruserweight Title Tournament Match

Fresh off another week of being squashed on Raw, Tozawa is expected to be taken serious by the majority. Poor Tozawa :( but he actually looked really good here. He & Jack seem to have some chemistry and things start out strong. However, as you'd expect, it ends before it can really turn into anything. Tozawa gets the win after an apron bump and a senton off the top rope.

Match rating - **1/2

Post-match, Tozawa sends a simple message to Fantasma - "I will beat you"

TONIGHT: Cole defends the NXT Title against Velveteen Dream

Charlotte preps for her first title defense since WrestleMania

3) Xia Li vs. Chelsea Green (w/ Robert Stone)

Green charges Li at the bell and this is intense from the jump. Alliyah runs down for the interference and it looks like the Li/Alliyah feud is continuing which I don't mind. This ends up giving Green the assist and Robert Stone puts his hand out for her post-match, teasing adding her to his fold with Green.

Match rating - **1/2

4) Karrion Kross (w/ Scarlett) vs. Leon Ruff

Good debut for Kross. Tom Phillips nailed it with the line "Karrion Kross is the damn devil. What the hell did NXT just let in it's doors?" A lot of people hated on their entrance with Scarlett lip syncing the words etc but I didn't HATE it. It fits the very cinematic vibe WWE has been doing with a lot of stuff lately. Kross destroys Ruff in a minute or so.

Match rating - **1/2

5) Charlotte (c) vs. Io Shorai - NXT Women's Title Match

I hate giving almost every match on this show the same rating, but when the action is fun, and it also accomplishes something or continues a story in a timely manner, I can't think of a better rating than a solid **1/2 - same thing here. Sure, you don't like to see title matches end in a DQ, but this whole thing was good. Up until the DQ, in the DQ, and after the DQ. It protects Shorai and keeps her in title picture, brings out Rhea Ripley, and causes a lot of mayhem in the women's division. So, yeah, Charlotte got disqualified for using a kendo stick after 8-9 mins. Rhea attacks Charlotte post match. Io is pissed at her for getting involved, I guess and argues her backstage.

Match rating - **1/2

Pull apart brawl between Io Shorai and Rhea Ripley backstage. GIMME THAT MATCH.

6) KUSHIDA vs. Jake Atlas - Cruserweight Title Tournament Match

This was the shortest of all the tourney matches so far. They seem to be getting less and less time. KUSHIDA catches Atlas in mid-air in the armbar and Atlas taps immediately.

Match rating - *3/4

Finn Balor seems to think a newcomer attacked him two weeks ago. Balor says they won't get the push they want when the bell rings, it will be a squash.

7) Cameron Grimes vs. Denzel Dejournette 

Squash. Trevor Lee with a cowboy hat wins. Post-match, Grimes says he wishes someone else wouldn't have beaten him to the punch on attacking Finn Balor. This brings out Balor who dares Grimes to slap him. It breaks down and Balor takes him out. Balor says he will find the snake that's hiding in the NXT locker room.

8) Adam Cole (c) vs. Velveteen Dream - NXT Championship Match

This was like a compact version of the NXT Title 'epics' we normally get on Takeover's so I was pretty unphased. Buncha moves then Undisputed Era runs down only for Dexter Lumis to slide from under the ring. He throws Roddy into the ref by accident. This allows Cole to get the advantage and inevitably pin Dream to retain the title.

Match rating - **1/4

Full thoughts: First half of the show was solid, but the second half sorta fell off for me and was a little harder to sit through. Still looking forward to next week though to see what's next for Finn Balor and also the Charlotte/Io/Ripley stuff PLUS Imperium/Thatcher & Riddle hell yeah!