Raw Just Became A Hugger! Bayley Debuts!!

 

 

Ain’t no stopping her now, Bayley has been called up to Raw. On August 22nd 2015 at NXT TakeOver:Brooklyn, Bayley won the NXT Women’s  Championship from Sasha Banks. Bayley held the title for 223 days losing it to Asuka at NXT TakeOver:Dallas in April.

Four months later on the one year anniverery of Bayley first winning the title in Brooklyn, Bayley finally gets the call up to “The Show”. Where else, but in Brooklyn. What a difference a year makes.

During a Raw segment, the newly crowned two time WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte was giving her acceptance speech in the ring. In the middle of belittling her fallen at SummerSlam, Sasha  Banks. The champ was interrupted by Raw GM Mick Foley. It was at that time Foley dropped the bomb of signing the hottest free agent in the WWE New Era Women’s Division.

After a stunned Charlotte watched Bayley and Foley seal the deal with a hug, Bayley turned her attention to the champ. Unphased, Charlotte expressed to Foley, and to her former 4 Horse Woman member how the New Era Women’s Divison revolution had left Bayley behind. Being that Bayley was called up last after Charlotte, Sasha Banks, and Becky Lynch.

Bayley having the upmost respect for her former friend, simply replied with a  challenge for the champs title. Charlotte being a savvy champion declined the title shot to Bayley. Instead the champ offered Bayley her protégé Dana Brooks.

Bayley gladly acceted the challenge, and the match was immediately uderway. Despite Bayley losing her NXT title rematch at TakeOver:Brooklyn 2, also finally being on the big stage. Bayley showed Charlotte why the WWE saved the best for last, defeating Dana Brooks with the Bayley to belly suplex.

I’m interested to see how Charlotte responds to Bayley’s victory. I’m sure the whole WWE Universe is as well. To find out, just tune in to Raw every Monday night.

The NXT Review – May 25th 2016 – Boybands, Bombshells & Brand Extension

Whats Up Wrestling Peeps! With another exciting (and storyline progressive) show ahead, I just want to take the time to mention this little Wrestling news called the New Era Brand Extension. Oh you heard of it!?

Well of course you did my friend, but what does this mean for NXT? Meh – I dunno. But what I can impart is my two cents on the matter and well … I’m in two minds on this. On the one hand with SmackDown! moving to Tuesday nights with a live show, the Big-Wigs could harness the chance to showcase new talent from our little-brand. Rather than planting wide-eyed and fresh-faced NXT stars on the main roster for the big guys to feast on. They could be given a chance to show their skills and establish themselves on the Blue-brand while (perhaps) playing double duty for NXT. I mean let’s be honest, for every Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens and Baron Corbin, there is a Adam Rose, Tyler Breeze and (poor guys) The Ascension. Who without any clear direction have floundered and fallen into obscurity on the frantic RAW Roster.

Put simply. With Championships and Talent spread across two shows, there is going be more opportunities for NXT stars to get a shot on the main stage and grasp for that damn Brass Ring that Mr. McMahon moans about constantly.

But lets put the hater hat on for a second. The WWE may be wrestling-entertainment but it is foremost a business. My snarky attitude to how the Biz handles fresh-talent is already blighted at best. Save for a handful of the talent mention, WWE will sooner drop you into a Gimmick-effused stable before it even gives the audience a chance to buy your merch. So what stops the ratings dictating who should be the “Face” and planting established Superstars at the head of Tuesday Night SmackDown!, effectively taking away New Era Stars opportunity to shine?

Hater-Aide enthused sure, but its not like WWE isn’t in it for the money. Why do you think John Cena has stuck around so long.

For the most part I’m cautiously excited for a brand split, but with very little information at this stage, I reserve the right to hold my comment until that SmackDown! roster and Championship line-up is revealed.

With that ahead of us let’s get back to the action with Johnny Gargano. With my team of Blake & Murphy seemingly parting ways last week, Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa are fast filling their spot. My love for American Alpha aside that is.

The two favourites of NXT were a perfect match for a debuting Shane Thorne & Nick Miller, with a fast pace chain wrestling and an abundance of charisma in-between the ropes, it made for a successful introduction for the Australian duo.

But seriously TM-61 … sounds like a lame Boyband.

Austin Aires, never the one to be overlooked, called out the NXT Title scene prompting the King of Strong Style to saunter to the ring and cut a promo all over Ol’ Sparkle Pants himself. Its got to be worth mentioning that for a guy who English is not his first language, Shinsuke Nakamura put “the Guy” of WWE, Roman Reigns, to shame. #ShotsFired!

It wasn’t long until William Regal interfered announcing that the two would face-off on June 8th at TakeOver. Much to the delight of Nakamura whose toothy grin spoke volumes.

With Bayley sidelined with an injury, it was left to Carmella to step-up for her bestie in the nights Main Event to find the #1 Contender to Asuka’s NXT Women’s Championship. But the favourite going into the Triple Threat Nia Jax and my favourite Alexa Bliss standing in her way. The two top Heels on NXT weren’t exactly going to move aside for the Princess of Stanton Island.

As my past hyperbolic statements regarding Carmella have shown, I am more than high on this woman. And yes her association to the perpetual underdogs Enzo & Cass doesn’t hurt her stock. But since the two guys have moved on-up, she has more than shown that she is not just a mere cheerleader but a serious competitor also.

That being said, it is Jax’s time to go onto the Title scene, I mean just look at that Double-Suplex she gave to her opponents, a thing of beauty. And a TakeOver match against Asuka is going to be epic.

This also means that Carmella and Alexa Bliss have the opportunity to enter feud which will no-doubt elevate the pair if the higher powers pull the trigger on it that is.

Go on WWE, excite me.

That sounded dirty didn’t it?

For all your NXT News & Reviews, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx

The NXT Review – May 18th 2016

Whats Up Wrestling Peeps! Finally – we get Bayley back in action against a worthy opponent. Her TakeOver London rival Nia Jax no less.

But first we got the return of those sparkle pants in the form of Austin Aires and his mystery partner – Shinsuke Nakamura. Okay, I was surprised by this too. Like many in the crowd, I though we would see Bobby Roode.  Yes I know, had this happened Twitter would have lite up on the news of his arrival, being pre-taped and all. But Hey, this is NXT. Anything could happen after all.

Never-the-less this was a nice surprise too. I mean c’mon, like I’d complain over more Nakamura? To that point, Blake & Murphy made excellent sparring partners for the veterans and I’m never going to moan over an Alexa Bliss appearance.

More on the match though and it was too short for my liking with a confused ending to boot when Aires wanted in on the match before Nakamura took the win for himself. But rather than setting up some feud between the two (no-matter how awesome that would be), ultimately this was the story of Alexa leaving “her boys” high-and-dry after yet another loss.

Surprising still however was Blake following soon after, bringing an end to one of my favourite Tag Teams on NXT. #TotesAmosh

But I’m choking back the tears and choosing to look on the bright side because although brilliant together, all three competitors can go forward and excel in single competitions. Perhaps a title shot is in the cards for Alexa, here’s hoping.

She might have to wait in line though as Carmella seems to have the title in here sights and a push behind her. Peyton Royce didn’t stand a chance from the vastly improved Princess of Staten Island whose confidence in the ring grows as much as her repertoire in the ring.

I could easily see Carmella making a name for herself on the main roster but the key to her assent lies in NXT. Given another year to hone that ring-psychology, she may yet be remembered as ushering-in the next era of Women’s wrestling on NXT alongside Asuka, Nia Jax and Bayley too.

Loving how NXT have been embracing their Indie-side with cell phone footage of last Sunday’s live event mayhem. WWE has always embraced social media but when it comes to the Main Roster it often feels forced and (ironically) fake.

When it comes to the Finn Balor and Samoa Joes feud on NXT, it adds credence to this ongoing hatred for one another that threatens to over flow anytime, anywhere, any-place. Leading to the moment that I have been waiting for so long now. The announcement of Balor and Joe … inside a Steel Cage at TakeOver.

Thank You Wrestle Gods.

I heard the rumours and I let myself believe them but damn, so pumped for this one. Even if it could mean Balor moving on the Main Stage, this needs to happen and it feels right for these two to finish this War with an epic-conclusion inside a Steel Cage.

Speaking of War. The cold one that Bayley is fighting against Nia Jax may be the unwritten feud of the night. With 6 months passing since the last time these two met, the aggression that Nia has for the former Women’s Champ doesn’t seem to have been satiated by the number of wins she has collected since her loss at TakeOver London.

This match could almost be called TakeOver London: Part Two with Nia’s sheer vengeance towards the Huggable underdog as menacing as her dominance in the ring. Once Bayley was able to get Jax to her knees the match transformed into a solid back-and-fourth as Bayley elevated her strategy, taking big risk with combination of hard-hitting strikes and submission moves.

Unfortunately for the former Champ, the outcome this time round was in Nia’s favour, whose exploitation of Bayley’s buckled knee resulted in a big win.

With Jax closing the book on her first big loss to Bayley, this must mean that Nia will be facing Asuka for the title next right? With a number of matches already lock-up for TakeOver in 3 weeks time, the answer to that question may come next week.

Talk about leaving a bro hanging.

For all your NXT News & Reviews, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx

The NXT Review – 16th March 2016

Whats up Wrestling Peeps! After last weeks two-man domination of NXT, it was back to your regular scheduled programming and one helluva Tag Team Match. And thats saying something after that NXT Tag Team match at Roadblock just Saturday past.

But lets not skip-to-the-best-bit because we actually got some Big build up for TakeOver Dallas, with the co-mish William Regal awarding Sami Zayn a headlining match against the newly-signed Shinsuke Nakamura. Like the crowd can attest, truly a “Holy Sh#t!” moment, but it does raise the question as the build-up we will be getting to this face-off.

Now Hey, I don’t need Nakamura to debut before TakeOver arrives. Surely NXT holding off on the New Japan Wrestling star’s debut until the big night in Dallas will ensure butts in seats and fans fapping all-over the WWE Network (imagine the mess!) But in saying that I wouldn’t mind it either, especially given that word-on-the-street (via Dirt Sheets galore) that NXT is meanly a pit stop for the King-of-strong-style before hitting the bright lights of Monday Night RAW. It would be nice to see him get some decent NXT matches under his belt before he gets lost in the Main-Event-shuffle.

I mean, Its not as if WWE has an abundance of Wasted Talent already right?

Okay I’ve sunken my Hater-Aide early this week, so lets move onto the positives and Deonna Purrazzo actually getting a win … Oh wait! She lost again. Seriously? I’m really trying to be positive here guys. Well … I guess she looked good while losing. After all, Emma does have a knack of getting a good match out of the of greenest of wrestlers, so theres that I guess.

Better luck next time Deonna.

But singles completion aside, it really was the Tag Teams that dominated the night with Bayely & Asuka teaming up against the impressive team of Nia Jax & Eva Marie. Great match that set little up other than the fact that Asuka is out for the gold, a match that was quickly established by the co-mish for TakeOver Dallas. Almost like it was planned or something.
But lets not overlook that inadvertent leg drop on Eva by  Nia, her own Tag partner no less. Thing of beauty and painful as hell. Gif it internet … keepsake for life.

Main Event time and American Alpha brought it well and truly. The Vaudevillians however weren’t going to make it easy for them. After their return, the throwback duo seem to have reverted to their namesakes. With a ruthless style and killjoy agenda, they looked to put a stop to the wave of enthusiasm that has built for American Alpha since NXT’s tour of the UK.

The Vaudevillians tyranny was in vain however. After some high spots like Jordan’s Spear to the corner and that roll-through-German-Suplex from Gable, the brightest Tag Team in the division at the moment won the match and a chance at the titles.

So normally I would say that the chase is often better than the win but these guys are better served by holding the NXT Tag Team titles. Unlike Enzo & Cass’ plucky underdog story, American Alpha are just too good at the moment to not hold the titles and be left on the back-burner come Dallas.

Picture it. American Alpha as the Tag Champs Vs Team SAWFT at TakeOver Dallas.

I think I just Wrestle-Gasmed … make is so NXT!

For all you Fantasy-Booked-WWE & NXT News, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx