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Post by lucifer on Apr 2, 2016 8:36:47 GMT -5
Simply put, it's becoming harder and harder to fathom that the same company produces both NXT and WWE...
WWE would be lucky if WrestleMania 32 is 25% as good as last night's NXT special...
Simply amazing how emotionally invested the crowd is in each match and wrestler. Just goes to show you what can happen when wrestling supercedes entertainment...
Not 1, but 2 MOTY candidates and 2 instant classics..,
Say what you will about Trips, but the guy knows his shit when it comes to satisfying the fans...
Excellent, excellent show!
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Post by Sam Fain on Apr 2, 2016 11:36:57 GMT -5
Agreed. I loved the show and felt like there's every chance it'll be one of the best shows of the year, much less the weekend.
Zayn/Nakamura is likely to be one of the finest matches of the year, worldwide (an honor that should probably also go to Sabre/Osperay from EVOLVE 58), and all three title matches were stellar.
Sure, I could nitpick and talk about the somewhat botched finisher attempt in the tag title match, the Women's title change not feeling as big or important as the past few Takeover Women's Title matches, but it was going to be hard to match that and they were following a possible MOY, and, yes, the way the blood was handled in the title match hurt it a little, but honestly, Balor and Joe responded like the hi caliber professionals they are and still put on a fantastic title bout.
Truth be told, if the announcers had just treated it MMA style: "They have to check on that cut, if the injury is too severe..." etc and really sold the cut as a big deal, it wouldn't feel like they were breaking some sort of non-existent 4th wall. Then again, it's progress that they'll even talk about it and they've allowed blood to creep back in over the past year anyway. I mean, there was a time when they wouldn't even acknowledge a hard way and the camera would have to pan off while the doctors checked a guy out, so at least we're past that. Still, if you're going to acknowledge it, acknowledge it. Don't tip toe around it, make one good observation (thank you, Corey Graves) and then let it go. The more they talk about it in a professional manner, the easier it is for audiences accept it (even those that don't want to see a little color now and then). They could've capitalized and made it feel real and important, instead it felt like an accident and that uncomfortable mix of kayfabe/shoot in a world where those terms mean less and less. If you treat it like a work, fine, that's Lucha Underground, if you treat it like a shoot, great, that's EVOLVE, but if you try to straddle the line sooner or later it can expose the weakness inherent in doing so and that's what their treatment of the cut last night did. It took me out of the match a little when it could have invested me in it a whole lot more. Obviously, WWE is invested in appealing to as wide a demo as possible, and if they need to have a mix, fine, but don't take me out of a bout that could've meant even more. Attend to the cut, towel him off, fine, but make it feel like it's important and a part of the match. Make me forget that it's scripted and this was an accident, a "hard way", a miscue. They were almost there, but not quite.
As a testament to all involved, tho, these nitpicks are barely even valid, because the tag title match was stellar otherwise and the right guys won in a real, emotional, physical match that sold me on it the whole way thru. Bayley and Asuka are so good, you could build a division around them anywhere in the world (and clearly Hunter knows that). To think, WWE has at least 6 women right now that I would pay to see in a main event anywhere and these two aren't even on the main roster yet. And Balor and Joe and Drake Younger (he has to get a lot of credit for the way he handled the bout and Joe) took a situation that could have killed other matches and turned it into one of the best NXT title matches ever and surpassed their Takeover:London bout.
Everyone in NXT from Triple H on down deserves a ton of credit for making it the most consistently enjoyable and high quality wrestling brand in the US (to me, that is).
I'm skeptical, to say the least, that any Mania matches will ascend to the level we saw at NXT last night, but there's certainly potential with a few. Still, I imagine it'll be long on spectacle and short on substance compared to Takeover. Doesn't mean I'm not going to watch it and enjoy the hell out of it, tho, haha.
All in all a superb start to the weekend and, as always, I'm looking forward to the HoF tonite!
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Post by CanadianPitbull on Apr 2, 2016 11:37:05 GMT -5
Agreed! Big shoes to fill. I think it must make Vinny Mac and Kevin Dunn seeth with anger when "wrestling" gets over more than their "Sports Entertainment". HHH knows what is best for business and knows that homegrown talent alone cannot sustain the WWE Universe in the long term and into the future. The Independent scene, just like the territories of old help keep the product fresh and alive. I am feeling so freaking spoiled as of late seeing all these ROH, TNA, NJPW, Evolve and then some talent I have enjoyed over the years showing up in NXT or on WWE's flagship programming. Love seeing these men and women shine and make some decent money at it as well.
I loved the entire show from top to bottom and the entire NXT locker room should be very proud of the product and name they have made for themselves. Nakamura and Zayne stole the show for me.
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Post by Sam Fain on Apr 2, 2016 13:17:08 GMT -5
Oh, and on top of it all, we get appearances by Kota Ibushi and Bobby Roode!
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Post by lucifer on Apr 2, 2016 16:42:09 GMT -5
Good to see that others enjoyed the show as much as I did! Definitely looking forward to the Hall of Fame tonight too!
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Post by Tournament Master on Apr 2, 2016 20:09:02 GMT -5
Loved the show last night like I thought I would.
The tag title match was a great start and that was one of the better tag matches I have seen in a while, and both these teams harken back to the glory days of tag wrestling.
Aries and Corbin was good in its own right, and I thought Corbin would win, but the story told was great and the loss made sense.
Zayne and Nakamura lived up to the hype, so much fun.
The women's title wasn't to the level of Sasha and Bailey, but that is near impossible, especially given the lack of a heel, but still I think they did a great job and the finish protected Bailey, as she has to be on her way to the main roster now.
Balor and Joe was the match I was least excited for, and they surpassed my expectations, and showed the cockiness of Balor a bit. He will be a great heel when the time comes. The blood added to the match And I didn't mind the docs, gave more importance to it.
Appearances of Bobby Roode, and more importantly Kota Ibushi, really put it over the top. Very excited to see more of them.
I'm sure there will be some high points at Mania, but Not as many in such a short period as in NXT.
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Post by cruefan68 on Apr 3, 2016 13:36:51 GMT -5
I absolutely loved this show from start to finish. Many complained about the Balor-Joe bout, including the finish, but I loved the finish for the match. Asuka deserves to be on top of the division and Bayley had a nice run as champion so the loss is not going to make anyone think less of her. Austin Aries looked great in his debut and Baron Corbin held his own. Corbin's stock is going up quick. American Alpha, like Asuka, deserve to be in that spot and I am glad that they won the titles and look forward to rematches with The Revival.
I had to save the best for last - Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura. I was already a huge fan of both men, and I feel that Nakamura's match with AJ Styles at Wrestle Kingdom 10 was the best of the year thus far, but man did this one live up to all of the hype. Those who were seeing Nakamura for the first time had to be blown away. Zayn also showed why he is so well regarded. This match may have been my favorite ever in NXT and that is saying something. Absolutley incredible performance from both men. I have already watched the match twice and will probably watch it again soon.
What a way to kick of WrestleMania 32 weekend. Kudos to everyone involved in NXT for reminding us why we love wrestling so much.
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Post by Casey on Apr 4, 2016 0:27:05 GMT -5
Aries and Corbin was good in its own right, and I thought Corbin would win, but the story told was great and the loss made sense.
Watching Mania we saw how Corbin got payed back for that lose
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Post by stevetrash on Apr 4, 2016 16:32:16 GMT -5
Simply put, it's becoming harder and harder to fathom that the same company produces both NXT and WWE... WWE would be lucky if WrestleMania 32 is 25% as good as last night's NXT special... Simply amazing how emotionally invested the crowd is in each match and wrestler. Just goes to show you what can happen when wrestling supercedes entertainment... Not 1, but 2 MOTY candidates and 2 instant classics.., Say what you will about Trips, but the guy knows his shit when it comes to satisfying the fans... Excellent, excellent show! Well said, I agree with all the above! It was a fantastic show and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. |
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Post by Vegas on Apr 7, 2016 12:48:07 GMT -5
Sami Zayn vs Nakamura was great, but I was able to watch both NXT and EVOLVE 58 last Friday night and I honestly personally actually liked Zack Sabre Jr vs Will Ospreay even better that night.
Below you will see Meltzer's ratings for both NXT and Wrestlemania 32- he also said in his review he has never been to a PWG show that was not better than NXT Takeover Dallas. I have not been to a live NXT show, but I have been to the majority of PWG shows for the past 7 years and so I believe Meltzer.
Meltzer Star Ratings for WM 32 and NXT Dallas
WM
US Title : *1/2
10 Woman Tag: **1/4
Usos-Dudleys: *1/2
IC Title: ****1/4
Jericho-AJ: ***3/4
LoN-New Day: **1/2
Lesnar-Ambrose: ***1/4
Women's Title (It feels good to type that): ****
Taker-Shane: **1/2
ARMBAR: *1/2
WWE Title: ***1/4
NXT
Tag Titles: ****
Aires-Corbin: **1/4
Nakamura-Zayn: ****1/2
Women's Title: ***3/4
NXT Title: ***1/2
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