Went To NXT Takeover: Dallas
I’m half dead already so no full live report at the moment (though the full reviews are coming eventually) but here are some quick highlights.1. American Alpha is so over it’s scary.
2. The Aries match ended REALLY fast, almost to the point that I thought Aries was injured.
3. The Zayn vs. Nakamura match woke everyone up like few matches I’ve ever seen. That was amazing live.
4. “BOTH THESE GUYS” is the best chant they’ve had in a long time.
5. The ending of the women’s title match really didn’t work as it just ended out of nowhere. Also Asuka needed to work on the shoulder to set that up.
6. The towel was the biggest heel of the night.
7. This wasn’t a great show and is probably in the bottom tier of Takeovers.
8. I was tired at this show so a second viewing might severely change my mind.
Bayley v Asuka seemed like it was going through the motions of a women’s match until the finishes at the end. The blackout from the hold seemed a bit fast, especially for a non-choke, but it worked.
At least it worked better than the Aries/Corbin ending. WTF was that? I think it cheapens everything Corbin did in the match, and makes Aries look like he won’t be able to win anything outright.
I also thought Jordan was light years ahead of Gable, but looks like he’d be better as a heel, if he ever goes for a singles run.
The tag, women’s and Zayn/Nakamura matches all hit at least 4 stars for me, especially on rewatch. I feel like putting Bayley/Asuka on after Nakamura was a mistake, because there was a lot of really good subtle stuff in that match that I think a lot of people were too burnt out to notice.
Joe vs Balor was underwhelming. Blood stoppage or not, it wasn’t that good. Joe needs to lose weight.
Zayn vs Nakamura burnt me out. Great match but that punch spot was WAY too long. That took me out of the match for a bit.
Aries vs Corbin was alright. Corbin needs to be in NXT for awhile. He is going to be good but needs a lot of seasoning. Aries was okay. Nothing special.
Yo KB, this was a great event but that aside, were you wearing a Lime Green shirt and a hat? Random but swear it’s you on the camera as Bayley makes her entrance.
Nope. We were in the upper deck so I doubt it was me. SOmeone else said that though so apparently I have a look-a-like.
That dude is almost on EVERY PPV I see, sitting right there in the same seat, in the front row, facing the hard camera. And I have always mistaken it for you. He wears the same green shirt, a cap, has a camera always and is smiling to the matches as if he knows the outcome of them already. I am surprised you haven’t noticed him before. Look out for him at WM front row, which I’m sure he’ll be at again. How does he get the same seats always?
I know that guy who you are talking about. That freaking shirt annoys the ever loving crap out of me.
I just looked him up (googled – green shirt guy wwe). He is a superfan who has multiple neon smiley shirts as apparently that is his gimmick (read: he desperately wants to be noticed).
The name change actually makes some sense. Boma Ye literally means ‘kill him’ so yeah – not PG. However, the chant comes from ‘Ali Boma Ye’ which was chanted at Muhammed Ali in the Rumble in the Jungle. The place that fight took place was Kinshasa.
Wasn’t a great Show? I totally disagree. I think it topped or at least is close to Brooklyn.
I thought it was a great show that overcame it’s scattershot build. Worst match of the night was opener which got derailed by that huge botch from the Revival. I also don’t think either team was prepared for how insanely over American Alpha was going to be. This felt like one of those crowds that you would find in the 70s and 80s as they were hot all night.
Corbin v Aries was fine and did what it needed to. It step up Aries as skilled and confident wrestler who won’t back down from the bigger guys he faces and made Corbin look like a monster who got caught. Corbin’s face after he got pinned was priceless. Hope to see them wrestle again.
Nakamura v Zayn was Motn and Moty for me so far. It was perfect and for me the best chant was ” fight forever”. This should have ended the show because it seemed like everyone was spent.
The Asuka v Bayley was really good despite the suddenness of the ending. I think they were trying to set up Asuka as desperate to get the Lock on after realizing that Bayley wasn’t scared and put her in a few submissions. Asuka went for once or twice before she got it.
Joe v Balor was awesome and immediately elevated by a bloody Joe throwing Balor over the rail into a security guard. I think medics helped the match because it kept the crowd engaged during what were more than likely gonna be rest holds anyway. Loved the Hart v Pioer finish but this match would have made more sense in London and vice versa.
Overall great show that overcame my tempered expectations.
I thought it was pretty good watching it on the network. I do agree with you on your observations however. Zayn vs. Nakamura was the match of the night for sure. The crowd heat for that was amazing. Great match. Pretty brutal stuff, too! The thing that annoyed me a bit was they changed the name of Nakamura’s finisher. It is no longer called the “Bomaye”. Forgot the new name, but we’ll be hearing it again on the NXT shows.
I also did not like the ending to Bayley vs. Asuka. I actually wanted Bayley to win this one, since she was pretty awesome in that match.
The ref stoppages to let Joe get worked on by the doctors totally ruined the Balor vs. Joe match. That match would have been a classic if it wasn’t for that. I also thought that Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows would come out and assist Balor to win the match, but that did not happen.
Don’t know if you saw this in the arena, but Kota Ibushi and Bobby Roode were both in the audience.