[2017-11-18-WWE-NXT Takeover: War Games] Aleister Black vs Velveteen Dream

[ShittyLittleBoots]

A very good character driven match. I really loved the beginning stuff w/ Black establishing dominance by showcasing his technical wrestling skills, I'd actually say that overall that was my favorite stuff in the match. After that stage was done, it was more 50/50 with them trading big bombs. This was my first time seeing The Velveteen Dream in action & he sure impressed - I thought he did a damn good job working his character into the match; great facial expressions & selling. The post-match w/ Aleister finally SAYING HIS NAME was really awesome too. ***1/2

[KB8]

This was fucking dynamite. Velveteen Dream is my favourite guy in NXT by a distance and I like Black fine, so I had some expectations for this and they absolutely delivered. I loved Dream in this so much. The tights! The early going with Black controlling via the arm was really neat. He wasn't about to be thrown off his game by Dream's nonsense and I liked how he basically schooled him. The little "mind games" sequence after that was just great stuff. Sometimes that kind of thing can come off a bit hokey, but both guys have such unique charisma that it totally worked. Dream's facial expressions, initially at being ignored, then at being fucked with in equal fashion, were amazing. And yeah, every single thing he did in this ruled. Loved how he bumped for Black's strikes. Loved how he was obsessed with Black saying his name. Loved how that obsession had him yelling shit at the ref' like "ask him to say my name!" or "say my name!" while he had Black in a camel clutch. LOVED the swivel hips from the top rope where he sold the back. That's one of my all-time favourite spots and I'm all for someone channeling the spirit of Rickie Rude. Basically loved everything he did. They kind of teetered a bit into no-selly back and forth towards the end, but it wasn't egregious and Black catching Dream with Black Death as he was yet again telling him to say his name was a great finish. There's that obsession again, getting him in hot water.