NXT Takeover: The End of the Beginning - Review

As the title says, here is my review of Takeover.  Let's go match by match shall we.

- Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Tye Dillinger

 

This match was more competitive then I thought they would make it.  With a few interesting spots like Dillinger hitting with a superkick while Almas was doing a head stand on the second turnbuckle.  But as predicted Almas picks up the win with a running double knee in the corner.

 

- American Alpha vs. The Revival

 

This might be my favorite match of the night.  These two teams just have an insane amount of in ring chemistry.  While not as good as the first match between these teams it is still packed with things to love.  Gable reversing a move while up on someones shoulder (sorry I can never remember who is who on the revival) into a belly to belly.  There was a spot of chain wrestling that led into a double ankle lock by Gable and Jordan on the Revival, which hit me as a nod to Kurt Angle, who is rumored to want to come in as a manager for American Alpha, a double drop kick that brought back memories of the Rock'n Roll Express and a direct tribute to the Steiner Brothers with Jordan playing the roll or Rick.  However I got this one wrong.  The Revival winning the titles back with the Shatter Machine.

 

However after the match a new team debuted.  We don't know who they are yet.  But they seem to be managed by Paul Elluring.  For anyone that doesn't know the name he managed The Road Warriors also known as the Legion of Doom.  If you don't know them look them up ... seriously go now, do it.  What a rush!!

 

- Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Austin Aries

 

This match was solid, but didn't live up to my hopes for it.  But then I felt the same way the firs time I watched Nakamura and Sami Zayne.  It was only on a second viewing that I really started to appreciate it.  Maybe this one will be the same.  Either way a notable spot in it was a nice death valley driver (DVD) on the apron.  It was an even match Aries seemed to have a counter for everything Nakamura did.  But in the end it was Nakamura with the keisansha (or whatever the spelling is) for the win.

 

- Auska vs. Nia Jax 

 

They played this match perfectly.  Nia dominated and looked strong, but arrogant.  Auska had to give it everything she had.  In the end Auska found a way to slay the beast with a running kick to the head.

 

- Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe

 

I was a little surprised that the cage didn't come more into play here.  It was a solid match.  I have nothing negative to say about it.  It ended with a muscle buster from the second rope onto Finn Balor.  Samoa Joe retains the title.

 

I'd rate the show a solid B maybe a B+.  American Alpha v. the Revival gets match of the night.

NXT Takeover: The End Preview

Wednesday will be the latest take over event.  So I thought I would take this week to do a preview of the event.  So lets take a look at each match and I'll give my predictions.

- Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Tye Dillinger

Almas has been getting intro packages for that last few weeks.  Couple that with unless someone is coming in and taking on a champion chances are they win their debut match.  I think Almas goes over on the Perfect 10.

- Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Austin Aries

Both of these guys have been getting a nice push since debuting.  I expect to see a great match and Nakamura going over Aries.  Just based on the fact that I don't think Nakamura will be in NXT for very long.  I think he is just there to get some promo time with the English language and to get used to the American style of wrestling.  Besides tell me you don't want to see Nakamura against Joe or Finn for the title next.

- American Alpha (c) vs. The Revival for the NXT Tag Team Championships.

These guys tore the house down at the last event and had the best tag match I've seen in years.  I don't know how they can top it.  But I think they'll try.  American Alpha goes over here.  I say this in part because I think the Revival is being called up soon.  They are starting to do the favors for other tag teams on the show, just like the Vaudevillians and Enzo & Cass did before being called up.

- Auska vs. Nia Jax Woman's Championship

Nia and Auska have been booked as monsters since debuting.  I'm thinking Auska goes over, because it's too soon for them to have her loose the belt.  And someone like Auska isn't a transitional champ.  At the contract signing they made a point of making Nia look strong, making Auska look like the underdog here.  Giving her that mountain to climb.  I think this will be a lasting fued with Auska getting the first win.

- Samoa Joe (c) vs. Finn Bálor  NXT Championship.

So here we are the big one.  Finn trying to become the first two time NXT champ.  On top of that the word is that the looser of the match will be called up to the main roster after Takeover.  For this reason I think Joe keeps the belt and Finn goes up.  Maybe he takes the final spot in the MITB ladder match or can you say Balor "Club."  Either of these guys can hang on the main roster.  So I'll be happy with either turn out. 

What do you think happens at Takeover?

Tag teams and the brand split.

If you're like me you like some good tag team wrestling.  But this week on Raw Xavier Woods brought up an interesting questions.  How will the brand split affect the tag team division.  In response Shane pulled a Donald Trump and said that every aspect will be "very well thought through."  Very well thought through.  What the hell is that.  So this week I want to take a closer look at what the brand split could mean for the WWE Tag Team Division.

For the past couple years the tag team division has been going though a renaissance of sorts and with teams like American Alpha and the Revival in NXT, while it isn't the tag divisions of the late 80's and early 90's it is stronger then it has been in years.  However the brand split could put that in jeopardy, just when it is starting to really pick up some steam again.  There two possible problems that could occur.

Possible problem 1:  The splitting up of tag teams.

It's always possible that they will split up tag teams.  While there are some teams that could probably make it as singles guys, like Enzo and Cass, or maybe the Vaudevillains.  Most teams don't have that luxury.  Remember when Jimmy (or was it Jay) Usso went out with an injury.  What did the other do?  He was put on commentary just so that he has something to do.  Split those two up and they are done.  They barely have enough charisma between the two of them to get one guy over.  We've seen what happens when you split the Dudleys up, nothing good.  On top of that this lowers the number of tag teams which will just lead to a stale division.

This leads us to problem 2:  Not having enough teams.

As things stand today I'm not sure that they have enough teams to split them to two shows.  Especially if they want to have a title for each show rather then having one set of champions.  Let's list the tag teams active today and you'll see what I mean.

New Day
VaudeVillains
Enzo and Cass
Dudleys
Ussos
The Club (Anderson and Gallows)
The Social Outcasts
Golden Truth
Breezango
The Shining Stars

I'm assuming the Revival will be called to the main roster after Takeover, and American Alpha might be shortly after.  So in total that is 10 teams, 12 if you include the two coming NXT teams.  Plenty of teams right, but how many of them are likely to get any kind or real push?  Count the outcasts out, the Dudleys aren't doing anything but getting over the younger talent (nor should they be), Breezango will likely be done come the end of the Golden Truth feud.  Speaking of the Golden Truth they are a comedy team so count them out.  The Shinning Stars are fine wrestlers more then deserving of a push, but with the gimmick they have it wont happen.  The Ussos are just too bland for another real push without an overhaul.  That leaves us with four viable teams.  Split them between two shows and it will run it's course real quick.

How can we avoid this?  First off don't split anyone up, let all the teams stay together.  Secondly have only one set of tag champs, like I talked about in my last post.  This will let the champs flow from show to show and keep it at least somewhat fresh.  Thinking outside the box a little you could move all the tag teams to one show.  Maybe Smackdown is the tag team show.  Lastly, with the tag teams it might be best just to rotate the teams between the shows somehow.  Even if it is just the jobber or middle of the road teams.  This will keep us from seeing the same old matches week after week.

What are your thoughts?  Do you like tag team wrestling or would you rather see it fade into the background?  What would you do to keep the division intact?