WWE NXT TakeOver: Orlando (2017) · 4:24am Apr 2nd, 2017
Who's hype for WrestleMania? Me neither.
Nah, I'm kidding, it'll probably be good fun. I just kinda wish I waited until after Mania to watch TakeOver, because I honestly doubt that the Grandaddy of Them All will top it this year. Anyway, here's what I thought about it.
Spoilers.
First off, we have the match I gave the least possible shits about: SAni†Y vs the team of Ruby Riot, No Way Jose, Roderick Strong, and the Perfect 10 himself, Tye Dillinger. Honestly, I wasn't really into this match because I don't follow NXT as closely as I should and haven't really gotten into the SAni†Y/Dillinger feud. That, coupled with what I thought to be a really weird addition in the form of No Way Jose, made for a weird match that I couldn't get behind.
Then, Jose got taken out of the action and replaced with the Hero we deserve.
I'm new to the whole Chris Hero/Kassius Ohno high, but sign me right the hell up. He's great, and he helped to elevate this match to a level that I wanted to see. The match was solid but doesn't really hold a candle to the rest of the card. But good shit.
Aleistar Black vs Andrade "Cien" Almas. I always forget that I like Cien until I next see him wrestle and then I'm like "Oh yeah, he's pretty okay". This match was fun, I'm really into Black. He seems like he's gonna be a thing, if even for a short period of time. His kicks were great, the Black Mask is a bit basic for a finisher, but I liked it well enough. This was a solid match, but couldn't hold a candle to the Tag Title triple-threat.
Ho-Lee SHIT, this match was a goddamn masterpiece! Seeing #DIY and The Revival join forces, if even temporarily, to attempt to topple the Authors of Pain was amazing! Dash and Dawson are fucking tag team gods, I swear, and Ciampa and Gargano are two of the most entertaining wrestler's I've seen in a long while. The spot where they switched partners for a bit to hit the Meeting in the Middle and Shadow Machine was so damn cool! And, even though I think Akam and Rezar are boring as hell (I literally cannot tell the difference), I found them to look really strong (one of them survived an inverted figure-four and Gargano's crossface-thing, simultaneously). I really liked how The Revival's downfall came from their hatred for #DIY. If only they could've coexisted for a bit longer, they might very well be tag champs right now. But this match was amazing, easily match of the night.
Asuke vs Ember Moon... I have a confession. I think Ember's gimmick is fucking stupid. That said, I think it's stupid in the most amazing, wrestling-y way possible. Kinda like how I love Undertaker, but, if I really take a minute to think about it, his gimmick is also dumb. This match was solid, lots of reversals and whiffed kicks (which I fucking love, let me tell you). I had originally thought Asuka would drop the strap and then debut at Mania in the SmackDown Woman's Title Match. But, according to Meltzer, Asuka will be staying in NXT for the time being. But, regardless of that disappointing fact, the match was solid. The Empress of Tomorrow stands tall, but Ember put up a good fight. I don't doubt that she'll take the belt eventually.
And, finally... The Glorious One vs The King of Strong Style. It was incredible, as to be expected by two competitors of that caliber. Unfortunately, I don't have all that much to say about it. It was mostly just a repeat of their TakeOver: San Antonio match. Not that that's a bad thing, mind you, because I'll happily watch a million Roode vs Nakamura matches. But, AoP v #DIY v Revival was a tough act to follow, and part of me wishes this went on first. Hopefully, if they do a third (which I don't think they will, Nakamura might be moving up soon), they'll switch things up a bit.
Damn good PPV, and it'll probably kick Mania's ass on a purely wrestling level. But, WM is the place for shocks, twists, and surprise returns/debuts (I saw Drew McIntyre in the crowd, which gives me hope for the Chosen One's return). Seriously, this was a good show, and that Tag Triple Threat is probably the best advert for NXT that I could've seen. I'm gonna try to catch it more often.
I'll be back tomorrow (or Monday, more likely) with a "review" for WrestleMania
NXT was good and Mania will suck. I am cool with KO beating Jericho because Owens will get a rub. I also could enjoy the Shane vs Styles match because Styles doesn't have bad matches and Shane will do a crazy jump.
The rest of the card, I don't care. I am okay with Rollins vs Triple H because Rollins will probably win and get the rub. I accepted Lesnar will win and at least the Universal Championship will be on someone who can go for more than twenty-two seconds However, I still hoped the match is booed like their match thirteen years ago. The face Reigns will likely retire Undertaker pisses me off.
The reason I am most disappointed is because its Mania:
Cyndi Lauper, Liberace and Muhammad Ali at WM I
Steamboat v Savage and Hogan slamming Andre at WM 3
Hogan Savage at WM 5
Hogan v Warrior at WM 6
The Undertaker's streak
HBK vs Razor Ramon's ladder match, Bret v Owen Hart and Bret beating Yukozuna at WM 10
Bret v HBK at WM 12
Bret v Austin at WM 13
Austin winning the belt at WM 14
The Austin v Rock trilogy
The ladder match at WM 2000
WM 17 as a whole
Rock v Hogan at WM 18
Lesnar v Angle at WM 19
The dual main events of WM 20
The Money in the Bank matches
HBK v McMahon at WM 22
Undertaker v Batista at WM 23
All of these great moments and more at the biggest WWE show of the year and this card is crap.
4480773 I only recently heard that X-7 was the god of Manias, having just been born when it happened (I'm a young dude, okay?), so I went back and watched it with my mom the other day. Lemme tell you something: That was a damn good PPV.
I've got low hopes for Mania this year, but I know I'm gonna have fun anyway. I'm having a friend over, we're gonna get some sports food and treat this like the Superbowl. Hopefully, the show itself can stand alone and be at least decent.
I do think you're discounting the Smackdown Woman's match, and the Tag Team Ladder match is going to be at least okay (Cesaro, as I've said in the past, is incapable of putting on a bad match, and the Wrestlemania Enzo promo is going to leave me in stitches). I agree wholeheartedly, though, that the card is severely lacking.
4480815 X7 was great. My only grip is Austin's terrible heel turn. Hopefully it will be good, but I am not holding my breath. The sooner Triple H takes over the better.