NXT Takeover: Dallas

[The Chief]

Corbin vs Aries

Match did feel nasty. Appreciated Aries swinging for the fences and wish that would have played into the finish. Thought the fluke finish kind of hurt both guys.

[El Dragon]

I think the problem you could have with that match is the size difference took away from it, but good god did Aries try everything to make it feel more even. And Corbin is really good.

[Flyin' Brian]

Surprised they put Aries over. Nice that they mentioned he was a veteran and some history like the Samoa Joe thing.

[sek69]

I know why they do it, but I lol every time they do the "Can Nakamura handle the pressure of a big NXT show", kinda like asking if a major leaguer can handle the pressure of a big AAA game.

[El Dragon]

Usually I hate overly chanty crowds a bit, but this just seems like people who are so incredibly happy the match is happening and they are they to see it.

[Ricky Jackson]

Holy fuck Nakamura and Zayn is awesome!

[Johnny Sorrow]

That Driver on Nak was fucking sick! 😎

[El Dragon]

Wow.... Fucking wow man.That was fucking beautiful.

 

I had no idea Sami had a Nakamura style match in him, but fucks sake he was there with Nakamura every bit of the way. Fucking amazing.

[Matt D]

And people have to follow this? They should just go home and try the last matches again tomorrow.

[Parties]

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn

Watching Zayn’s entrance I couldn’t help but think: what does Scott Hall make of this? Starship Coyote wondering why the fans are now the bookers and whether good looking women still come to wrestling shows, or if it’s just pale Chris Hardwicks skanking their way down to ringside. I haven't always liked either of these guys as much as the Internet does, but this was a great effort from both. Highlight was the slugfest portion, not because it was a million forearms but for the selling and fatigue expressed from both guys. The blood out of Nakamura’s nose was a good touch. Really exciting in the final 2/3s: felt like a true live experience in that you knew who would win, but didn’t know when or how. Nakamura’s kicks alone would make this a great match. My feed was unfortunately pretty bad for the finish, but still awesome stuff and Nakamura was as charismatic as advertised, especially in his exit.

[Matt D]

They had lost me at one point of the forearms because I don't have a super high tolerance for that sort of thing, but they got me back by the end of that, between the blood and the selling, which I wasn't expecting at all.

[WingedEagle]

How long can they really keep Nakamura in NXT? The blood, the selling throughout, big moves. Nakamura hitting every note in front of an American audience dying for him to do just that? Hadn't thought much of anything Zayn has done in a while but this was tremendous.

[WingedEagle]

Only think I didn't care for -- Nakamura's new music was way too subdued.

[Johnny Sorrow]

Hot fuck, that fucking ruled.

[Grimmas]

Only think I didn't care for -- Nakamura's new music was way too subdued.

I loved the music.

[WingedEagle]

 

Only think I didn't care for -- Nakamura's new music was way too subdued.

I loved the music.

 

 

If Delilah would play it then its not good for Shinsuke Nakamura.

[El Dragon]

Good on the crowd for staying hot. It would be incredibly easy to burned out by that.

[Matt D]

They're working this like a sprint and that makes a ton of sense after the last match. They can't follow that with steak, so give the people candy.

[Johnny Sorrow]

The buildup video for Asuka vs Bayley is great. You have her friends who never faced Asuka saying saying Bayley will win but then you have Dana and Emma, who have both gotten murdered by Asuka saying " Asuka is a killer, she's gonna fuck Bayley up." 😄

[Flyin' Brian]

 

Only think I didn't care for -- Nakamura's new music was way too subdued.

 

I loved the music.

I thought it was cool too, but don't know what he's used before to compare it to.

[topropepodcast]

Nakamura's music is, after one night, probably my favorite music the WWE uses.

 

The violin is just insane.

[Coffey]

Zayn/Nakamura was insane. Fantastic match that lived up to all the hype & expectations.

[El Dragon]

People are gonna watch that later without the Zayn/Nakamura cool down and realize that it was a fucking brilliant match. God that was great too.

[Parties]

Bayley vs. Asuka [NXT Women’s Title]

They couldn’t follow the prior match, but this was better than the crowd’s reaction to it. Bayley flinching and bracing her arms together while taking Asuka’s kicks was interesting. In some ways this was worked too evenly as telling the story of Bayley taking an early beating and then getting a comeback would have been easier to execute, but I liked that they showed how Bayley’s no longer the underdog. She’s the champ who’s defended it often and has developed her own sort of killer instinct. Loved Bayley’s side suplex as her first badass move of the match. Asuka had an unenviable gig here as the crowd seemed to view her as the heel and weren’t reacting to her big offense the way they had for Nakamura or Zayn. The Holm-Tate tease was smart, but this crowd clearly didn’t buy it all the way.

[Matt D]

I need to rewatch that later, too.