The NXT Review – November 9th, 2016

Whats Up Wrestling Peeps! Due to some technical difficulties last week it was impossible to get a Review to you on time, so apologies for that. But lets not cry, swear, and break-things over Internet failings, instead dive into this weeks humdinger of a show.

With only four teams remaining in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Tournament, I have some nagging questions that as-of-yet remain unanswered. Like besides that nifty looking Trophy, does whichever team reign supreme get a shot of the NXT Tag Team Titles? And if so, when will said match happen? TakeOver Toronto?

See, nagging questions aplenty.

And it’s not even as-if a president has been set for how this Tournament ultimately ends. I mean, considering last years winning team of Finn Balor & Samoa Joe pretty much broke-up after Joe contracted a nasty case of Heel-itus. So even if they were granted said title-shot, I don’t think Grumpy-Joe would have been interested. But surely there is some greater prize than just the Cowboy Boot Trophy … no?

Team DIY were on top-form as usual. But even with rare spots in the match were they took command over the dominate team of the Authors of Pain, Paul Ellerings’ monster Heels came out on the winning end. Because – you know – booking dictates that the undefeated Heel-Team must steamroll the competition no-matter how predicable it makes the overall outcome of the Tournament.

The only glimmer of hope which I’m desperately holding onto is TM61 beating AOP in the finals at Toronto (one question answered). I mean it, there better be a CWC-esque swerve coming some where down-the-line because if these two chumps win this whole damn thing … I riot!

Or construct an enthusiastically damning Review. Either way, pissed!

Ember Moon may serve as an unconventional counter-point to the aforementioned Authors of Pain. For starters she is lone female and twice as exciting between the ropes. But more-over her win-loss record so far in NXT may be as predictable as AOP be but at least her matches are far more entertaining.

Whereas I’d happily see the back of Rezar & Akam, Moon is destined for bigger things. Tonight – unfortunately for Rachel Evers – her opponent is merely a speed bump on the road to greatness and possible serious consequences for her health. I mean, who else right now is the top candidate to bring Asuka’s reign of tyranny to an end? I’m certain Mickie James will turn out to be tough competition for the NXT Women’s Champion at TakeOver Toronto. But even if James’ appearance isn’t a one-and-done deal, I don’t see the veteran breaking Asuka’s undefeated streak anytime soon.

Ember Moon on the other hand … we will see.

When was the last time a contract signing ever went to plan? And when I say “to plan“, what I mean is the way that ‘normal’ folks like you and I would end a civil contract signing. With a hearty handshake, an invitation for drinks or – if you’re so inclined – a Bayley approved hug?

Nope, when it comes to WWE, contract signings often mean stare-downs, fisticuffs and splinters.

That is unless your Grumpy-Joe whose own self-preservation meant that a ramp-lengh distance between himself and NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura meant that no violence was enacted, not between those two at least. But it did mean that Joe was able to shame NXT GM William Regal in an endless tirade of passive-aggressive actions between the two.

If Joe’s loss at TakeOver Toronto isn’t due to outside interference from Regal I’d be shocked. Not that I question the GM’s integrity (he is British after all) but I do question how long someone can be bullied before they snap and bring out the ol’ Brass Knuckles.

C’mon Regal, no-one would blame you.

#TheNXTReview

For all your NXT News & Reviews, stick with @mitchrated and the entire #SkatronixxxWrestling team on Twitter and Skatronixxx.com

The NXT Review – October 26th, 2016 – “Think About This Mickie? … Okay!”

Whats Up Wrestling Peeps! This week saw the end to the First Round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Tournament. And While we got two great matches – One more-so than the other – it was slightly predictable in both instances which some-what took the fun out of the thing for me.

In the opening match we get Team DIY Vs newcomer (and the first ever signed Chinese superstar) Tian Bing & HoHo Lun, who I have to admit was one of my favourites in the Cruiserweight Classic. But for all that has been reported of Bing, from the numerous articles to WWE’s YouTube videos, I was left some-what Ho-Humed (Banzinga) when in comparison to the charismatic HoHo Lun.

Not to mention the talents of Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargarno, whose quick ascent to the top of the Tag Team division is not just down to Wrestling talent alone. Even if it was however … no contest.

Even with predictability accounted for, this wasn’t a boring match. Bing may well be as milk-toast as they come but surprisingly he has some weight behind, a fact that Ciampa found out to his detriment when Tian quickly took him off his feet with a swift kick to noggin.

Once the two big guys Tagged out things started to pick up with Gargano and Lun putting on a great show. Although I can safely say that I hold soft-spot for HoHo he still comes off as slightly green for me. Perhaps its unfair of me to assert that but his wrestling style and numerous gurning-faces seem amateuristic. Of course I will take that back if that is just his face, I mean ‘Face-gonna-Face’ and all that, but once he tightens up his move-set (and get his face in check) I’m sure he could become a cruiserweight contender to reckon with.

Sadly tonight wasn’t Lun or Bing’s night, as the obvious favourites to take the whole damn tournament make it through to the next round.

Poor Aliyah. Seriously, this girl can’t catch a break. Not only does she lose time-after-time but it also seems that her persona changes on a dime to suit whomever she is in a match with. So given that her opponent tonight Billie Kay is not only a Heel but seemingly on the upswing to a pretty significant push. It means that Aliyah herself has to play the Babyface – a role that I have commented before doesn’t suit her – but is also destined to lose.

She what? Oh she actually won … go Aliyah!

Okay, I’m not mad at this. If Liv Morgan interfering in the match means that Aliyah not only picks up a win but also gets inserted into this storyline. I can get on board with this feud evolving into Tag Team Warfare. Especially if it leads to Aliyah turning on Liv further down the line.

I can hope right?

Speaking of turns, Tye Dillinger is killing it as a Babyface.

Not that I’m shocked or anything, as a die-hard Perfect 10 supporter I’m more excited that Dillinger’s skill is being paid off with a well deserved push. What has surprised me however is the lack of tweaking to the gimmick that has been needed.

Perhaps more-so it speaks to the genius of the Perfect 10 moniker or that no matter what you present to the fans if you ‘over‘ with the crowd, your over no matter what you are, Heel or Face. But as an ‘over’ Superstar, Dillinger now occupies that rare ‘Tweener” status that opens the doors to the fairground of creativity. Especially when that Tweener Superstar is given mic time. Just look back to the days of Stone Cold Steve Austin or Heel-era CM Punk, arguable the biggest Tweener of the Reality Era.

If Tye Dillinger can take this feud with Bobby Roode and prove to the Big Wigs that he can take his character to the next level. Not only do I see a Main Event rise in his future but much over-due Championship Gold too.

We got the obligatory Auska destroy another women on her road to world domination. But the real story coming out of tonight was the announcement that Mickie James will face the NXT Women’s Champion at TakeOver in Toronto.

Of course rumours had Trish Stratus poised to take this spot but for James to get this spotlight seems perfect to me. For Auska to be undefeated for up-to-a-year now it seems only fitting that the only women to hold the WWE’s Women, Divas and TNA Knockout Title in Wrestling history, should get a shot at the prestigious NXT Women’s Belt.

Not only that but if male veterans of Pro-Wrestling can come and dominate on NXT, why can’t a female Vet do the same?

I am of course getting ahead of myself here, one match at TakeOver doesn’t mean we are getting full-time Mickie James but unlike Trish Stratus who has returned for numerous WrestleMania’s since her retirement. The prospect of seeing one of the stable members of the Ruthless Aggression era return to a WWE ring is tantalising.

Just leave the inappropriate crotch grabs at home, okay Mickie?

It was great to see the Winner of the CWC TJ Perkins team-up with Kota Ibushi, the Guy that myself (and I’m sure everyone out there) assumed was going to win that Damn tournament.

Who knows, maybe a Tag Team Tournament will be more in his wheel house.

Either way Perkins & Ibushi easily out-shown Mustafa Ali & Lince Dorado, a pair (like most in this Tournament) that seemed haphazardly thrown together. Perhaps the same could be said for the winners of this match but at least Perkins and Ibushi have some kind of history together. Much like last years winners Finn Balor & Samoa Joe.

Foreshadowing perhaps?

#TheNXTReview

For all your NXT News & Review, stick with @mitchrated and the entire #SkatronixxxWrestling Team on Twitter and right here at Skatronixxx.com