NXT

[NiallQuinnDiscoPants]

They had bits tapered off. The arena was probably about half capacity, but considering it's not even WWE, it's NXT, and it's a house show that's pretty impressive.

I'd rather be in an arena half capacity but the crowd making a great atmosphere and having fun, than in an arena which is near full but deadly quiet (bit like the Smackdown I went to in November)

 

[Libertine]

Yeh absolutely, just intrigued how they'd do as I was more expecting them to do venues the size of the Blackpool show (3000-7000). Looking forward to tomorrow night.

 

[NiallQuinnDiscoPants]

i'm pretty excited for NXT tonight. More so because it's live at bloody 8PM GMT and I can watch it like all the Americans watch wrestling! Not either pre-recorded in the morning or live in the middle of the night falling to sleep

 

[RavenBish]

The UK crowds just show how painfully shite American wrestling crowds are. They're either dead or loud and unoriginal. Good stuff.

 

[silvergull]

Takeover london has reminded me why I love wrestling. Incredible PPV, with the crowd having fun at the event, rather than trying to be the event.

With HHH in attendance, this makes it neigh on sure fire we'll get at least a summer slam

 

[Libertine]

Fantastic. Some of the chants made me howl. "You're shit - and you know you are!" at Corbin.

Slightly surprised there was no title changes though.

 

[RavenBish]

Definitely peaked with the first two matches and then Corbin/Crews was really weak and slowed it down a little. The main event was a bit meh up until the finishing section and Bayley had to carry her match as Nia Jax clearly doesn't know how to bump yet.

 

[NiallQuinnDiscoPants]

The first 2 matches were outstanding. odd saying it but i got goosebumps watching the end of the asuka v emma match and hearing the crowd pop for that asuka lock and the high kick. outstanding. Enzo and Big Cass are absolute money. probably the most over people on the night along with Bayley.
the weakest match of the night was definitely corbin v crews but i think the place on the card didn't help it. Though i have to disagree about the main event, thought it was far and away Balor's best NXT match. Just goes to show what happens when you give a match a good story behind it rather than wrestling for the sake of wrestling (which is what a lot of Balor's matches have been so far).
Star of the night was Bayley for carrying Mrs Leg Drop, Samoan Drop and Spinebuster Nia Jax to a decent match. I am not a big Nia Jax fan. Apart from her size, she doesn't bring anything great to the table. If she's going to be a menacing giant, she needs to lose the goofy grin and have a bit of intensity.

 

[Christian Slater]

First time NXT was overshadowed by WWE I thought. That statement alone is testament to how good the brand is. I thought it was an average show made better by a great crowd.

I think things will pick up with Sami back next week. I think they'll go with Balor vs Zayn at the 'Mania weekend show and then one of them will appear on the Raw after 'Mania. Zayn vs Joe and Balor vs Corbin in the run up to that.

 

[Eamonn]

Was a "good" show but the crowd made it fantastic, was more involved in matches I otherwise hadnt as much interest in because of them and got more invested in the outcome, a great crowd can make all the difference. I would have went for the Enzo and Cas tag title change though!

 

[iesty wfc]

overall i thought it was pretty good.

Asuka Emma was ok, Emma has certainly improved with her ruthless streak, but still error prone. particularly the bit where she was meant to roll out of the way and grab the chain from Dana and she rolled right into a kick from Asuka - then there were delays in her actually sorting out the spot

i know a lot of people bash Wilder and Dawson but i like the old school feel to them, and Corey Graves has obviously been told to liken them to the Brainbusters etc, and you can see the comparisons. Cass and Enzo must surely be looking to move to the main roster shortly (and the buzz will soon be lost)

Crews Corbin was ok too. Corbin is starting to develop well now. doesnt look like a rabbit in the headlights as much. made a reference to ROH when he was trash talking Crews too

Bayley Nia Jax was a bit boring. would have liked a Bayley loss but i dont think she will. looks like a Jax Asuka fight next

Main event was great though and made the show. Balors entrance was cool. a very stiff match overall and i dont think the medics at the end of the match were a work

definitely see a main rostor PPV in the UK in the next year

 

[Christian Slater]

Spoiler: Another big debut at the latest tapings

 

[Leewilson]

My brother (who is an amateur wrestler) is best mates (from school days) with a young wrestler on the Indie scene called Will Osprey. He's been called up to Nxt for around June time to take part in a Cruiserweight tournament as Nxt look to bring that belt back. I've not seen Will wrestle for a few years but he's going places apparently.

 

[RavenBish]

My brother (who is an amateur wrestler) is best mates (from school days) with a young wrestler on the Indie scene called Will Osprey. He's been called up to Nxt for around June time to take part in a Cruiserweight tournament as Nxt look to bring that belt back. I've not seen Will wrestle for a few years but he's going places apparently.

Will Ospreay is fuckng superb. His match with Marty Scurli last week was insanely good.

 

[Leewilson]

Will Ospreay is fuckng superb. His match with Marty Scurli last week was insanely good.

Yeah Will is very talented. He was always going to be the one out of my brother's group to 'make it' if there was one. Him, my brother and 2 others created RCWA when they were at school together and started wrestling when they were 13/14 on a trampoline in his back garden. Crazy how far they've both come in 10 years. My brother will never make it as he doesn't have the athletic ability really although he's very good at being a character. Although he's training at Lucha at the moment, I think he'll just end up staying local. Osprey just has the physique and in ring ability though and it's no surprise he's been spotted and scouted. Good luck to him.

 

[Scott Barton]

Spoiler: Another big debut at the latest tapings

YES!!!!!! All we need is Christopher Daniels and we have TNA 2005

 

[Christian Slater]

Spoiler: More big spoilers from NXT

And he called out Zayn for Takeover in Dallas

 

[RavenBish]

Yeah Will is very talented. He was always going to be the one out of my brother's group to 'make it' if there was one. Him, my brother and 2 others created RCWA when they were at school together and started wrestling when they were 13/14 on a trampoline in his back garden. Crazy how far they've both come in 10 years. My brother will never make it as he doesn't have the athletic ability really although he's very good at being a character. Although he's training at Lucha at the moment, I think he'll just end up staying local. Osprey just has the physique and in ring ability though and it's no surprise he's been spotted and scouted. Good luck to him.

He's signed for NJPW apparently, good career move for him. He turned down TNA whilst on their UK tour so they're pissed at him and having him lose a ton of matches on it

 

[iesty wfc]

Nxt having a mini cull, biggest casualty is bull dempsey

 

[Christian Slater]

Nxt having a mini cull, biggest casualty is bull dempsey

Who else?

The WWE could benefit from doing the same.

 

[iesty wfc]

Sylvester lefort
Marcus Louis
And 2 developmentals who I don't think have made tv

 

[Christian Slater]

Marcus Louis would have been a good Wyatt guy. The rest won't be missed.

 

[Leewilson]

My brother (who is an amateur wrestler) is best mates (from school days) with a young wrestler on the Indie scene called Will Osprey. He's been called up to Nxt for around June time to take part in a Cruiserweight tournament as Nxt look to bring that belt back. I've not seen Will wrestle for a few years but he's going places apparently.

http://pwslam.com/wwe-revive-cruiserweight-division-year/

 

[iesty wfc]

this weeks NXT purely dedicated to the 2 out of 3 falls match between Samoa Joe and Sammy Zayn

thought the match was a bit ploddy at times and surprised they went down the route they did with the outcome seeing as we have seen Joe and Balor plenty of times already

 

[Libertine]

Looks like Takeover tonight isn't on til 3am. Screw that.

 

[RavenBish]

Holy fuck that Zayn/Nakamura match. Nothing at Mania is going to come close to that.

 

[Libertine]

Amazing match.

Crowd was spent after that sadly, women's match was a bit flat as a result and they were all butthurt that Bayley lost. Good to see AA get the tag titles too! Main event could've gone either way, guess Balor is a while away from moving up yet.

 

[Christian Slater]

Wow. What a show. I love the way the crowd is closer and on top of the action at NXT events, they're designed to be part of the show. I also love the way they featured Ibushi and Roode in the crowd, along with the other wrestling personalities. It felt like NXT was the place to be.

I think Joe vs Balor would have surpassed Nakamura vs Zayn if they had some vasiline at hand, that had a ferocious start and it was clear both guys wanted to have the best match. It was still great.

 

[Eamonn]

Fantastic PPV, enjoyed each match although a little disappointed in Austin Aries reaction, crowd was hot all night but somewhat lacklustre in that match, annoying as Aries is a big favourite of mine. Zayn/Nakamura was superb though, it was my first time seeing him wrestle and the guy is very entertaining and very believable as well, can definitely see a big future for him and indeed for Zayn with the Bryan similarities. Main event was also very good, the blood kind of hindered and helped the match but added to the realism. Interested to see the direction next show

 

[Christian Slater]

I'm not too sure how well Nakamura's style will fly with WWE as a constant, especially given their recent stand on concessions.