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NXT Takeover: Dallas


Ricky Jackson

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Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe [NXT Title]

Before this match started I wrote, “This show feels like it needed some kind of fun, simple 6 or 8-man tag in between the two single title matches. Something to lighten the crowd up after Bayley-Asuka and help get the energy back.” To hell with that: this was match of the night and totally got the crowd going again. Hard not to love Balor’s entrance, even if he did steal Ambrose’s gimmick. The medics working on Joe was both lame and dramatic, but it was hilariously great that the cut just started pouring buckets immediately after they left. I didn’t love the Mania VIII throwback finish, but if you’d told me Samoa Joe would have the best performance of the show I wouldn’t have believed it. He carried Finn to something really good: so expressive here, and his offense looked fantasically violent. For at least one night, he was 04-05 Joe again.

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Zayn/Nakamura was outstanding. Nak is on another level. I wonder how long they'll keep the best wrestler in the company in NXT? American Alpha is my favorite team in a long time. Gable is so smooth in the ring, and he really doesn't have that much experience yet. Tremendous show Bayley/Asuka had a great match in an impossible spot, and Joe was fucking king sized. Holy shit give me a Joe/Nakamura match.

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Ridiculous that a match as great as the tag opener ended up being only the 4th best match on the show. Absolutely fantastic show from start to finish. I do wish there had been time for the Drifter match, partly because I dig Samson, but also letting the crowd have a chance to do some mass booing after Zayn/Nakamura might have improved the crowd reactions for the women's match. Tiny nitpick aside, that was so good

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The booking was interesting in that it really feels like the clear end of one season and the start of the next.

  • Zayn, Joe, and in time Bayley and Corbin gone. Probably more if the "Vince has six people he wants to bring up from NXT this summer" line is true.
  • Nakamura-Balor as the next money match, with a Balor Club heel turn building up to Summerslam?
  • Asuka at the top of the division, but who hasn't she beaten that's worth anything now? Maybe a Bayley rematch in Brooklyn, but can they wait five months? More likely booked for the Japan Takeover?
  • American Alpha work with Anderson/Gallows? Or TMDK if they're in soon enough?
  • Crews, Roode, Aries, and presumably Itami on his return filling out an upper midcard?
  • La Sombra coming out of the Cruiserweight series the next star? Surely a couple other unexpecteds rise to the top.
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I'll give you guys three guesses where I was at tonight. Hint: it rhymes with makeover malice.

 

Worth the price of admission?

It depends on how you value the best wrestling show you've ever been to, and an absolutely perfect, life altering experience. I don't think I'll ever go to a better wrestling show, and I'm fine with that.

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Best wrestling ppv ever!!!!!!!!!!!

Spring Stampede '94 says, "Let's not get carried away."

 

Hmmm....

 

 

Zayn-Naka > Nasty Tag

Asuka-Bayley > Flair-Steamboat

Joe-Balor > Vader-Boss

NXT Tag > Buck-Dustin

AA-Balor > Rude-Sting

 

Then SS94 has other matches not as good... how is NXT show not better?

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It was a very good show. Nakamura vs Zayn felt like an all-timer with the crowd reaction being impossible to recreate. I'm so into Bayley as a babyface that I didn't want her to lose and was deflated by the finish and it was so hard to follow the previous match. Main event was great even with the blood stoppages. It will be remembered for the Nakamura vs Zayn match and a crowd that was just loving the moment

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