The NXT Review – 23rd March 2016

Whats up Wrestling Peeps! Welcome back to your favourite developmental brand and FINALLY (bold, italic, underline!) some personality injected in the sullen-drifter that is Elias Sampson.

Okay so I’m just gonna jump straight into it this week because damn just when I was about to give up on this guy, NXT makes a believer out of me. I’m sure my loyal followers have noticed that over the past few weeks I’ve tended to skip over any-and-all Sampson matches. Not trying to be a D-bag because the guy has skill but I’ve just been bored with his character.

Sure you can argue that creative (it seems) have been playing the long game, which if all goes well – given the Heel heat from the audience – we could have a legit compelling bad-guy on the yellow brand. I’m still not going all in on this guy but that beat down of Johnny Gargano at the matches end … shades of Bray Wyatt. And that excites me.

Sidenote, Gargano breaking Sampson’s winning streak. Capitalise on this please NXT because his wrestling ability coupled with Sami Zayn like fan-love he garners. Future WWE superstar. Just sayin’

Oh Hello Rich Swan, long time no see my friend. Why is this guy not on my WWE Network each and every week? Because dance moves aside this was great match – undoubtably a showcase for the NXT Champ – Swan was still able to hang with Finn Balor.  Even, dare I say it , outshining the Champ at times. Say What?

These two need to feud-it-up. And if my prediction that Balor will turn Heel sooner rather-than-later, I could see Swan making a worthy babyface in the equation. Perhaps its too soon to be so hyperbolic on Swan but hey, I’m a passionate guy when it comes to good wrestling.

Talking of which, Round Two in the Saga of Emma and Asuka was tonights Main Event. And can these two ladies just like, fight forever? Their chemistry is magic. In a feud that arguably reminiscent of Lita and Trish, I’m afraid that its a matter of lighting in a bottle with this pairing. Much like the Hall of Famers never getting a WrestleMania pay-off to their career-elevating-rivalry. I feel that this Saga is doomed to play out only on NXT.

Speaking of doomed. Emma was just that when it came to Asuka. In her last match before TakeOver Dallas, there is no-way Asuka – the #1 Contender to the NXT Women’s Championship – was going to lose. But Emma, with the help of Dana Brooke, wasn’t going to make it easy for the Empress of Tomorrow.

In a match just as hard hitting as their first encounter at TakeOver London, it was defiantly faster. Trading one reversal after another, both women showed they can tell a comprehensive story between the ropes elevating a feud that signals that the Heel Duo may yet prove to be a thorn in Asuka’s side in the future.

While Asuka goes into Dallas looking strong, I’m sure Bayley has some Hugs in reserved if The Empress even thinks about putting her mitts on the title.

More over WrestleMania, TakeOver Dallas is about to live up to its namesake.

For all your NXT-Reviews-And-Wrestling-News, 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

The NXT Review – 9th March 2016

Whats up Wrestlings Peeps! Okay so first, I have a Major-LOL to get out the way with Corey Graves & Tom Phillips assertions that when NXT General Manager William Regal shows up, overtly complicated storylines become clearer. Really? This is a man that takes a whole two weeks (minimum) to decide what a draw means for the #1 contender spot. Just saying.

So with draws seemingly in Vogue with the WWE at the moment, I shudder to think how much that White-Board in Regals office will be getting serious work-out and wipe-down (insert dirty White-Board joke here) in the coming months.

But lets put the Hater-Aide away and leap into the match that took over the night and dude … they gave an entire episode of NXT to that Two-Out-Of-Three-Fall match! Props. And is that Sasha Banks, Hideo Itami and Michael “Freebirds” Hayes in the front row!? What an eclectically-odd bunch. Selfie anyone?

So we all know what was on the line for both men in this competition. But with the Main Roster lights looking ever closer for Sami Zayn, this easily could’ve been the last hurrah for the Ska-enthuasist before he saids goodbye to the yellow brand forever (or until they need him to perform double duty of course).

This match started as an intimate affair between wrestlers and fans.  The first 30 minutes was a measured back-and-fouth until Samoa Joe nailed a Muscle Buster to gain the upper hand, amping up the match, the fans and the stakes alike.

But this is where Zayn shines. With his final chance at Gold on the line he took it to the top rope, out of the ring and to the mat before locking in a koji-clutch for his first fall via tap-out.

From that point on, Joe ultimately takes it to the former Champ but Zayn is the man of the people and wouldn’t give up. Unfortunately he didn’t have too because with a Coquina Clutch firmly locked-in, Zayn passes out causing the Ref to call it a Fall in favour of Joe. Sidenote, when did we stop the hand raising thing?

You know, when the Ref raises the hand of a seemingly passed-out competitor once, then twice and a third time only for that guy to stop it before it hits the mat in a very Hulk Hogan-esque “Hulking-up” fashion. I miss that … the hand thingy, not Hogan, lets make that clear.

Anywho, Joe is your #1 Contender and I am totes-amosh because reasons.

I mean, I didn’t see a final NXT Title run in Zayn’s future. Obviously Samoa Joe is the sensible choice to go-forward to TakeOver Dallas given that the rumour mill has Zayn’s Monday Night RAW appearance as his welcome party to the main stage. But isn’t Joe also rumoured to be leaving soon-as. Like Post-WrestleMania RAW soon-as?

Hey whatever, Rumour-Mill will churn but I don’t wanna see Finn Balor lose the title only for Joe to just drop the title before moving up. There is president for that after all. Technically WWE’s Anti-Diva (and E!’s Total Divas Star) Paige never lost her title but rather gave-up the belt leading to a Tournament to award the next Women’s Champ. I wouldn’t put it past NXT to do that again, they love their Ttitle Tournaments after all. It just seems cheap to take the title off Balor to see that angle through is all.

Look at me, I’m totally Balor-Fan-Boying-out before the fact. But this is just the hokey crap that WWE pulls sometimes. M’eh, we will see. Prove me wrong WWE.

For all your Angry-Angry-Ranty-Ranty-WWE & NXT News, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx

The NXT Review – 3rd March 2016

Whats up Wrestling Peeps! We are firmly on our way to WrestleMania but with so much time between now and then (and a WWE Network Special known as “RoadBlock” in place), everything is up-in-the-air in NXT.

With that in mind, the superstars of the yellow brand step up their game in a bid to get notice, with the Tag Team division proving no exception. Talking of the division, is it just me or did that security footage of Dash & Dawson attacking Team SAWFT look a tad old skool 8-Bit video gamey to you? The artificial slow-down to the footage just made the guys look jumpy in a classic Super Mario Bros. dealio.

Damn it! Every-time Enzo goes high risk now i’ll have the Boooop sound in my head. Have to say, not hating it. Amusing.

Given the rotation of wrestlers, as NXT wants to do, it means that we get the cold hearted Aussie Emma back on our screens this week (yay). With the jacked-up Barbie Doll with a screeching feature (Batteries not included) Danna Brooke in tow (boo!).

Having the opportunity to see Emma’s ringwork against Auska at TakeOver London, its criminal how underutilized the mat technician is within NXT. I mean it is probably smart to pair Emma with a the fairly-green Santana Garrett, wrestle safe and all that. But why on Earth is she not in title picture? Of course I wouldn’t want to bump anyone out of the scene, meh perhaps Eva Marie maybe. But to have Auska move up without Emma is leaving Dollars-at-the-door. Wheres the follow-up to TakeOver London? A blow-off match. I’d take a good ol’fashion grudge match without the title involved even (remember those WWE) rather then nothing. Okay granted they may have put a pin in it but then don’t taunt me with Corey Graves and Tom Phillips mentioning the feud between the two because thats … thats just … mean.

So after spoilers on the internet because you know, internet-gonna-internet. Austin Aries finally arrives in NXT. Now of course I know who Aries is because Google has eliminated the need to ask people things and make yourself look like a pop-culture-recluse. But I haven’t seen him wrestle ‘cus I don’t watch TNA and haven’t got round to YouTube-ing his ass at this point because, you know, life.

But Aries inside a WWE ring seems like a big deal so I will cheer or boo appropriately with relation to his Face-Heel O-Meter. But for now, I remain neutral and underwhelmed. Not even under because thats harsh, just Whelmed.

A Young Justice reference for the kids there.

On to the Main Event and I feel the need to bemoan the use of Neville on NXT. Its sacrilege because the name is crap. It just sounds nerdy to me. More-over I’m probably sensitive that they didn’t go ahead with the dual persona idea I mentioned last week but you know. Whatever.

Moving on. Its good to see Neville back on the brand that established him as the legit badass Gravity-defiying Motha-F’er he is. He is after all the longest reigning NXT Champion (So far), with this match celebrating that fact because I have no doubt that Finn Balor is being positioned to supersede that in the future.

That aside, this match lived up to hype. Both men being well-matched in a reversal heavy performance apropos of their skill-set and the fast story telling that the reality era has become accustomed too. That begin said (and it may be just me), but hasn’t Balor been wrestling Heel-style for some time now or what? And its not even flagged by Graves or Phillips, so in the world of WWE my opinion is non-canon, but I get the slight whiff or arrogance of late.

Its feasible that Balor is simply growing in confidence, which kudos to him because his matches are some of the more exciting on the roster. His skill set and repertoire also befitting an aggressive style could be throwing me off. But speaking as an Edge fan, everyone loves a Heel Champion. So it wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world. Just don’t bring back Vicki Guerrero anytime soon because ain’t nobody got time for that.

His gracious win at the end puts a kibosh on that idea for now of course.

But a guy can dream, right?

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

‘WWE’ Goes Animated With ‘Surfs Up 2: WaveMania’

WWE’s history with cinematic offerings has been sketchy at best but their Animated ventures have proven far popular with Sony now getting in on the action with Surfs Up 2: WaveMania.

The number one wrestling company and Sony Entertainment will co-produce and finance the animated sequel while WWE will get some good use out of the VOD Network in marketing the feature film.

Some of the WWE’s biggest stars will also lend their voice to the project with John Cena, Triple H, The Undertaker, Paige and even the head honcho himself Mr. McMahon receiving animated counterparts. Known as Hang 5, the wrestling team will help hero Cody Maverick search for the legendary wave The Trenches.

Rainmaker Entertainment will handle the animation while Hotel Transylvania 2 story artist Henry Yu will direct. It is unknown whether original movie star Shia LaBeof will return to voice Maverick, but given the stars much publicised bar fighting and paper-bag wearing antics. It seems unlikely given WWE’s PG target audience.

For all your Animated-Wrestling-News and NXT Review, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx

The NXT Review – Feb 24th

Whats up Wrestling Peeps!, how you doin’, and how about that Fastlane huh? Yeah well, least said about that the better. But something I do want to talk about is NXT and of course Mr William Regals decision to place Sami Zayn and Samoa Joe in a 2-out-of-3-fall Match next week to definitively find the #1 contender.

Okay two things. I’m down with this, I love this style of match because almost-always it comes down to the wire or one man decides to take a chair to the skull (or back, PG Era and all) as Alberto Del Rio did this Sunday past. Oops … I mention Fastlane, my bad. No actually, your bad WWE. What a me’h PPV.

But secondly, can you imagine how pissed Joe must be by now. Like Kevin Owens, this man is a Prize Fighter whose time in TNA can be best described as wasted (sorry Joe), underused (again, sorry Joe) and worst yet, overlooked (eek!). So this is his chance to show NXT (and the larger WWE audience) that he is finally in a company that perhaps will utilise his talents.

Talking of talent, we got a balls-out-amaze-balls match with American Alpha showing that the young-studs can not only put on a show but have fun doing it. Have to say, I’m so bias when it comes to these two teams. The Alphas have quickly become my favourite Tag Team on the yellow brand but my black-heart has a soft spot for Blake & Murphy. And Heels in general to be honest, I mean Damn!, they just have more fun no? Well perhaps not as much as Chad Gable who was trolling Blake & Murphy every chance he got, much to the dismay of Alexa Bliss.

Oh Alexa Bliss *Heart Sign* Why are you not on my Tv more often?

Sorry, got distracted there. So American Alpha won, of course, which puts them on track to face Dash & Dawson but given that we were shown footage of the NXT Tag Team Champs beating on Enzo & Cass outside the performance centre. The young-guns will have to bide there time for now as Team SAWFT will get a crack at the titles first.

Talking of Tag, our main event was the ladies, picking up where they left off when Eva Marie and Nia Jax decided to be totes-emosh-killers and layeth the Heel-slam on Bayley and Carmella after their NXT Women’s Title Match.

Early on the besties got the upper hand but Eva and Nia soon stuck two fingers up to the audience to steal a win … and I couldn’t be happier. Okay … don’t be haters but theses are the sort of wins that Eva needs to be picking up because despite what the crowd say. All-Red-Everything has improved in the ring.

That being said. I go back to what I mentioned two weeks previous, Eva Marie isn’t ready for Bayley. No way, now how. But put her in feud with someone on her level like Carmella and both women will be able to shine. We all know that Nia is there as a crux for Miss Total Divas but I don’t think she needs it. Given the chance, she may surprise us all.

Lastly but not leastly (is that a word?), we see Regal informing NXT Champion Finn Balor that he will face Adrian Neville next week. Sorry what was that? Its just Neville now! Oh okay … can’t it be like a Superman thing. When he is on the Main roster pretending to be superhero he is ‘Neville’ yet on NXT he is allowed to be a legit badass. WWE saids no?

F@*K it! Adrian Neville makes his return to NXT next week.

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

‘San Andreas’ Gets A Sequel

San Andreas (2015) better prepare for aftershocks as last Summer’s disaster movie is set to receive a sequel with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson returning to his starring role.

Sources out of The Hollywood Reporter reveal that the sequel will explore the Ring of Fire, a series of fault lines and volcanoes located in an area of the Pacific Ocean that scientist believe are responsible for 90% of the world earthquakes.

Although story details are under-wraps it is expected that Carla Gugino and Paul Giamatti will also return, with The Rock’s Baywatch Movie co-star Alexandra Daddario reprising her role from the first film as the WWE superstars daughter.

San Andreas Director Brad Peyton is also back with New Line cinema tapping relative unknown’s  Neil Widener and Gavin James to script the follow-up movie.

Although San Andreas was met with a less-than-positive response from critics, the film went on to make  $473 million worldwide. Not only proving to be Warner Bros. highest grossing movie of 2015 but becoming Dwayne Johnson’s biggest solo opening of his career.

For all your Ground-Shaking-News, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx

WWE and its ‘Global Cruiserweight Series’

Ok it’s 3:30am. I can’t sleep, my throat hurts and I’ve done all the site maintenance that needs doing for the day, that can only mean one thing COMEBACK BLOG!!! Wooo!!! But what to write about hmm. I could do another piece on the ‘One Series Wonders’, I was working on but that would be too intensive for my brain at this time in the morning. I know what I’ll write about.

So I saw online that WWE wants to bring back the ‘Cruiserweight division’ to quote great WWE legend FINALLY THE CRUISERWEIGHTS HAVE COME BACK TO WWE.  Oh wait a minute it’s NOT a cruiserweight divsion it’s a ‘Global Cruiserweight Series’. But what does that mean?

Sorry couldn’t resist 😛

As a fan this is big news, the cruiserweights are what drawn me to the WWE in the first place. I mean as a kid seeing these grown adults in crazy costumes fly around the ring was pretty cool. I mean I know wrestling is fake (sorry) but I’ve always admired the talent of these small sparky guys who are able to hurl themselves around a ring for my entertainment.

All was good when I watched wrestling the in the mid 90’s and even into the mid 00’s. During the mid to late 90’s we had WCW (R.I.P) leading the way bringing in talent from across the globe from places such as Canada, Mexico, Japan and Germany. For me seeing all these new and foreign wrestlers was exciting as I felt they often held more appeal that seeing Goldberg demolish any and everyone and DX well fanny around. I admired the skill of these smaller guys and the art of thier craft. I mean as a 11 year old watching some guy do a flip in mid air or 360 degree frog splash is pretty cool.

Then into the mid 00’s you had TNA leading the way with it’s ‘not about weight limits it’s about no limits’ X-Division. Say what you want but the TNA X-Division was amazing back in the day, bringing us such quality moments as NOW WWE star AJ Styles vs NXT star Samoa Joe and ROH star Christopher Daniels or how about Elix Skippers’ walk along the cage into a headscissors?

To quote Ron ‘Farooq’ Simmons DAMN!!!

But sadly all good things came to an end. The WCW lost to WWE in the Monday Night Wars and rather than the WWE build on the strong work the WCW had done with the cruiserweights, it wasted it. Why did they waste it? Well in my eyes they quite simple didn’t know what to do with it. All the foreign stars had gone back to their native countries, the ones based in the US either joined WWE and moved up to bigger things (Chris Jericho) or saw how some of the stars were mis-used in WWE (Dean Malenko) and went elsewhere. Finally in 2008 the WWE decided with Hornswoggle (yes you read that right) as the final champion to retire the belt.

Since then people have repeatedly protested for WWE to bring back the crusierweights, I swear every week I hear about someone wanting it to come back or rumours it may. So that’s why when I saw this announcement yesterday, like many old school fans, I was excited for all of about a second.

Triple H recently spoke to PWInsider.com about the newly-announced Global Cruiserweight Series on WWE Network. HHH mentions about how excited he is for the show as a fan himself, what types of wrestlers will be featured on the show, if the show means anything for a future cruiserweight division return to WWE TV (please, please, PLEASE):-

Triple H talks about who will feature in the Global Cruiserweight Series:

“I would say the vast majority [of talents on the series] will be non-contracted or long-term contracted WWE talents. We haven’t finalized the selection process, watching tapes and seeing who we want to work with and all of that. It’s going to be a discovery process. Look, I want to have the best in the world. I don’t want to negate anyone from that process because they are under contract to us. At the same time, I’m looking for the best in the world and the brightest around to give them a platform that they’ve never had. I’m certainly looking at the vast majority from being from the outside [of WWE.] When I say Global, I mean Global. We are recruiting from everywhere. UK, Japan, China, to find the best talent. That doesn’t mean we are going to find someone everywhere, but we are really trying to turn things over and really find someone from every part of the globe to be part of this and show the world who they are and what they can do.”

So what is he saying here, well he’s basically stating the obvious and saying look everyone who’s going to take part will either be a free-agent here on a one time deal or long term contracted WWE employees. The last bit excites me because of THIS GUY.

This guy is 110% pure awesome sauce, give him a chance and he’ll be the next Daniel Bryan

I enjoyed Sami Zayn pre-WWE like I did Punk, Bryan Danielson (that’s Daniel Bryan), Joe and many more. If the WWE is smart they would build the series around Sami Zayn give him a platform to shine. I know that you may be thinking WWE employees GROAN, but think about it, NXT is basically a cruiserweight show, that is if you get rid of @mitch_rated favourite (NOT) wrestlers Apollo Crews and Baron Corbin. most of them are under the required weight limit and are known for this style in other promotions. But would the WWE be willing to release the shackles and let them use their rarely used movesets? I mean they’ve only let Seth Rollins use his spiral tap move once to my knowledge, for shame WWE, FOR SHAME!

Triple H goes to to say why the cruiserweights being given their own show after not being featured more prominently in the WWE?

“At the end of the day, I was just having this conversation with my wife. I kind of approach this as I’m just a huge fan. I started out that way and I will be that way my whole life. I kind of do what I think I’m going to dig and that I’m going to like and that’s the way I approach it. There’s this talent that I like and I’d like to go and see what they can do. So, I push for going to see what I can do with that.  I think it’s important for everything to always grow and become bigger. I’ve looked for a long time at that population of talent in that under 205 lb. category, the Cruiserweight category and thought, ‘Man, there’s a lot of really talented performers’ and I don’t mean guys that can just do flips. Really talented performers that have characters and can speak are really good. They are underutilized to me and they don’t have the platform to show what they can do. I feel like that’s a miss. Not intentionally a miss, but just something that we’ve left sitting on the table, and I don’t want to leave stuff sitting there on the table.”

Reading between the lines, the key point I picked up was Trips spoke to his wife, she overuled him BUT gave him a chance. The chance to do a feature on the WWE network. Triple H rather than sulking in the corner thought yeah why not I’ll do this and who knows hopefully it’ll lead onto bigger and better things. Steph have you not watched NXT??? Your husband knows his stuff, sadly Vince and his lumbering dinosaurs or cavemen in speedos hitting each other will continue for now.

Triple H goes on to answer if there are long-term plans for a cruiserweight division return in WWE?

“I think it is slightly the cart before the horse. I think..I want this to be something that is repetitive.  I would like this tournament to be a recurring thing where we take the best talent from around the world and let them do their thing.  Does that morph directly into a Cruiserweight division right away?  I don’t know about right away…and it might…but we’re clearly looking at all the guys in this tournament and saying, ‘who do we want to work with long-term?  Maybe we give this guy a year and we’ll work with him long-term next year’ and who are all these talents.  I think where it lands is sort of a work in progress.  If you look at this tournament, it’s going to be a platform where somebody and it could be more than one person, is going to be seen as one of the best Cruiserweights in the world or the best Cruiserweight in the world.  It’s a hell of a platform and it’s going to get bigger and better but just not sure 100% what that is.”

So what he’s saying here is NO! Sorry to be blunt but it is, if you read my previous statement about Steph all but saying no to a cruiserweight division this makes sense. So what are we seeing here? What’s the point? Well the WWE are using this ‘series’ as a platform and scouting chance for international talent. A chance for the best to sign with NXT. Although NXT is good, it’s not where I’d want to be as a cruiserweight I’d rather go to NJPW or Lucha Underground or even AAA where I could show my skills to a more loyal fanbase. Sorry Trips but unless you can guarantee the cruiserweights a shot in the big leagues, they are either gunna turn you down or sign with you, get wasted in WWE and regret it (Sami Callihan).

Alas poor Sami you could have been great like Sean O’Haire but alas you ended wasted like him too

Ok so it’s a one off show on the WWE network, that only those with access can see. This is either a sneaky ploy to get us to get the WWE network or a sign of WWE’s non commitmal by squirreling it away on the network to appease Trips and the cruiseweight fans. So what’s the point of it?

What the show could mean for WWE and those involved: 

“Hopefully, this expands to be more within the WWE.  I’m certainly looking at it as an opportunity to see the best and brightest Cruiserweights from around the world and hopefully give them an opportunity with WWE in a bigger way, but if nothing else, just being a part of this, those 32 talents that are selected to be in this from around the world, you are opening yourself up to a platform that most of these guys have never only dreamed of doing.  I’m excited about that opportunity for them and WWE, but mostly for our fans.”

My first thoughts are 32? So I’m guessing it’s going to be a tournament rather than a series? If so I’m guessing the WWE already know who they want to win, but if they do go with a series format rather than a tournament, didn’t the WWE slag off TNA for doing this last year? Hmmm.

Who will feature? Who will win? Will it bring back the cruiserweight championship to WWE? So many questions and so few answers only time will tell.

The NXT Review – Feb 10

 

Whats up Wrestling-Peeps, welcome back to The NXT Review and DAMN what a week for WWE. Not really much else to talk about on the main roster front besides Daniel Bryan’s (lets face it) inevitable retirement announcement after being on the bench for a majority of 2015. But still, its sad-sad news. I’m holding back the obvious reaction to the announcement (arms at the ready) but we’ll see how far I get.

Bryan really dominated the main roster but NXT still brought it this week, and on the road no less. Did they mention this because I love live event tapings out of Full Sail, which of late has felt kinda small given how popular NXT is fast becoming. I would never say that the Full Sailers are getting lazy, I mean the regular faces are there week-in week-out so mad props. But the capacity that the studio sits doesn’t seem conducive to a lively crowd.

But Orlando laid it out. So much so that a boring Baron Corbin match was less-so than normal, so above average which is good for Corbin. Nah I’m just funning ya, Corbin (although controversial to admit) I actually like. Not to rehash but its probably true that the passion isn’t there. But Breaking Ground highlights this mans attitude to the biz, being that he is bigger than NXT. And I have to agree.

This is a hot-take that could blow up in my face but Corbin needs to move up. The skills, he has them. He is a big-guy who punches people and power bombs them until the cows come home, nothing else. And thats okay. He isn’t going to be that indie darling that his opponent Johnny Gargano is. He isn’t a high-flying or even a techincally sound wrestler but he can be that turd-of-a-heel that crowds love to boo and will fight for that top spot on RAW harder than most. In his own mind, NXT just isn’t big enough for him.

Now does he deserve that shot just yet, maybe not but I aint gonna tell him that, are you?

Finally Alexa Bliss back in singles competition, yes it was against Cameron (seriously Girl, take your own advice and wave Bye) who okay has improved but meh still pretty choppy in the ring. Any who, the match was solid if not a tad slow but that would be Cameron’s choppy-ness as mentioned but Bliss shines as a Heel and you can tell she loves taking the heat and running with it. Please no-more of these two but YES! to more single matches with Bliss. I held it in as long as I could.

Onto the main event and what has become norm for NXT, the women stole the show.

In a surprisingly competitive match Carmella showed that what Bayley can serve she is just as capable of dishing out. Got to be honest, found the ending kinda sloppy but Bayley resorting to a reverse roll-up to get Carmella’s shoulders to stay on the match. Gives credence to Carmella as serious competitor.

And that stare down at the end between Bayley and Auska. Every NXT fans wet dream right there.

The more confusing aspect, because Bayley Vs Auska just makes all the sense in the world … it just does. Is how Nia Jax and the ever-popular Eva Marie fit into the equation? After the beat down they gave Bayley and Carmella it would make all the more sense to have a few Tag Team feuds for awhile but how about we throw caution out the window and have a one-on-one feud with Carmella and Eva?

All Red Everything needs to stand on her own two-feet sooner or later and Carmella showed tonight that she can take the lead in the ring. Something that Eva has show little sign of doing just yet.

I’m just saying with Eva out the way it leaves Nia Jax to enter a Triple Threat feud with and NXT Women’s Champion Bayley. I think I just fan-fict’d something special there, make it happen WWE!

I’m sure my check is in the post.

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

‘Daniel Bryan’ Announces His Retirement From WWE

The YES! Nation mourns as professional wrestler and the Peoples Champion (second to The Rock of course) Daniel Bryan announced his retirement from WWE today.

In a statement via Twitter, Bryan posted: “Due to medical reasons, effective immediately, I am announcing my retirement. Tonight on Raw, I’ll have a chance to elaborate. #gratitude”

Bryan’s career within the WWE has been celebrated but also plauged by injury. After complex nerve damage in his right arm forced the then WWE World Heavyweight Champion to take an extended leave of absence in 2014. He did see a successful return to ring, winning the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 31, becoming one of only six wrestlers to hold every active WWE Championship titles.

His return was short lived however when the then IC Champ suffer a severe concussion back in April last year, forcing him once again relinquish a major WWE Title.

In an interview with IGN in October, Bryan mentioned that “The WWE’s medical doctor is skeptical, because of my history with concussions and that sort of thing,” even though he seemed confident that he could return to in-ring action after doctors outside the company had cleared him to wrestle.

We will have to wait and see what Bryan will do next but reports have indicated that WWE have frozen his contract meaning that he will be unable to wrestle under different promotions. It should also be mentioned that the company have offered Daniel a number of non-wrestling positions in the past, including announcing alongside Michael Cole and JBL. All of which he has turned down, believing that he would rather wrestle even if it means leaving the WWE to do so.

For all your YES-YES-YES-Wrestling-News, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx.Com