All Things NXT:
NXT TakerOver: R Evolution Edition
On December 11, 2014 WWE NXT went live with their 4th seasonal special event of the year, NXT Takerover: R Evolution. This the 3rd out of 4 NXT special events that featured the title “NXT TakerOver” title in some way shape or form. It featured all 3 championships on the line, the debut of Kevin Owens (former known as Kevin Steen), the settlement of rivalries, and much more. So lets break down in my opinion the best show WWE put on all week.
On the NXT TakeOver: R Evolution Pre Show viewers were told to tune in and find out the status of NXT Superstar Corey Graves. It was revealed that Graves was told by the WWE Medical staff that he should seriously consider retirement from in-ring competition due to multiple concussions. That is what Graves ended up doing live on the Pre Show. However, he did announce that he and WWE had been working on trying to find ways for him to shine in the company since this was the only thing he has wanted to do his entire life. Graves told the world that he will join the NXT announce team. He would go on to commentate the live special with Rich Brenan and Alex Riley later that same night. WWE would later post a video on their YouTube channel showcasing a conversation with Corey Graves and The COO of the World Wrestling Entertainment Triple H. Graves would receive a 2 year contract with WWE.
I will be telling how I think Corey Graves Did a little later. For now though lets get to the actual show shall we.
NXT TakerOver: R Evolution started off with the debut of Kevin Steen… I Mean Owens. I was surprised that Owens started off the show but, I guess you can only start off with a Tag Team Title match so many times. None the less it got the crowd excited for the rest of the show which was its ultimate goal. Kevin Owens came out and NXT Arena and myself went crazy. K.O. as it says on his shirt would face CJ Parker. Let me just say Poor CJ. He is always the guy to put over new talent and he hasn’t had a decent storyline in months. Anyway I digress. The match starts and for anyone who hasn’t seen any of Kevin Owen’s work, they were probably presently surprised by his agility and athleticism. This was a competitive match and it was refreshing to see a debuting superstar not win a squash match. Something to note here is that Owens did not use his famous Package Piledriver as his finisher instead, he used a modified version. Also, this would not be the only time Owens would bleed from the nose. More on that later. In the end it was K.O. Kevin Owens that would come away with the victory.
The next match on the card was for the NXT Tag Team Championships. It featured the Lucha Dragons (c) vs The VaudeVillains. I personally wanted the Vaudevillians to win but in reality I did not expect them to win. This match was very entertaining. The clash of styles between the high flying Lucha Dragons and the technically sound ground game of the VaudeVillains. The Lucha Dragons are also the only team that has been
able to beat the team of Aiden English and Simon Gotch. Nonetheless this match was very good but there was not much that we have not seen before. When the dust settled The Luicha Dragons retained their titles.
able to beat the team of Aiden English and Simon Gotch. Nonetheless this match was very good but there was not much that we have not seen before. When the dust settled The Luicha Dragons retained their titles.
Baron Corbin would be up next in a match that might have been longer than his entrance! He face Tye Dillinger in a 47 second match. Dillinger was without Jason Jordan which I found a little bit weird but, I understand why he wasn't there. Corbin showcased some new moves like: snake eyes and a big boot. It would be the “End of Days” for Tye Dillinger in 44 seconds, followed up with the 1,2,3. It seems the main reason of this match was to further set up the rivalry between Corbin and the “Last of a kind” Bull Dempsey. I like the way that the creative team is not just jumping right into this feud like on the main roster. In spite of this I’m not particularly looking forward to this feud but i’m still curious about the storyline will go.
Bálor was known in Japan for having amazing “war paint” that he Japan and all over the world for having amazing “war paint” that he wore to NXT TakeOver: R Evolution. Oh my was it awesome, in fact that was what the crowd chanted after Bálor finished his epic entrance. He still did the mostly the same movements towards the ring as he has done throughout his short NXT career. This left the Ascension rattled and gave the mental edge to Itami and Bálor. After chanting “That was awesome! **clap clap clap** That was Awesome’! The crowd starting chanting “MARKING OUT! MARKING OUT! MARKING OUT” ! Now that I have given you my opinion about Finn Bálor entrance and talked about the build up, lets get to the actual match.
Early on in the match it was all Itami and Bálor due to the “emotional storm” as Alex Riley put it. We finally saw the wide arsenal of kicks Hideo Itami can use on his opponents. Though to the dismay of Itami and Bálor, it didn't take long for the Ascension to weather said storm and took control for the majority of the rest of the match. They isolated the man in the yellow trunks and did not let him get to his corner. The tag team will the longest championship reign in NXT history continued to dominate until Itami caught Konnor with a swift kick to the jaw stunning the big man. He would now be able to crawl to his own corner and make the tag to a impatient Bálor. He took out both members of the Ascension faster than you can say its about damn time. After a bunch of acrobatics and theatrics, Itami and Bálor both it a diving double foot stomp; I guess you could call it a double double diving foot stomp. Your winners Hideo Itami and Finn Bálor. I would go into more analysis but, I think this has gone on for a while and we need to move on. So that is what we are going to do.
Next up was an interview with Roman Reigns. … Moving on to the NXT Women’s Championship match between the champion Charlotte and the Challenger Sasha Banks.
Now, I not going layout the the whole background to the storyline for this or any or other match left on the card as detailed as I did the previous one. It will be more summarized. For example, Charlotte and Banks were once BFFs (Beautiful Fierce Females). They had a falling out when Charlotte and Banks faced off in the tournament to see who would the second ever NXT Women’s Champion. Since the daughter of Ric Flair beat the self proclaimed “Boss of NXT” and went to win the Women’s title. Banks has been trying to get a match with Charlotte for the title ever since. That leads us to this match. Going into this match I was 85-90% sure that Banks was going to come away with the title and Charlotte would head up to a main roster that desperately needs her.
As the match begins, I noticed that Sasha Banks did not have her “friend” Becky Lynch at ringside, which I thought was very weird. Considering the two have been inseparable in recent weeks. Anyway, the match gets underway and the to women's wrestlers are pretty even, going blow for blow. Within minutes Sasha Banks had shoved Charlotte into the steel steps and taken firm control. She slowed down the pace of the match and wore the “Genetically Superior diva” down. She proceeded to mock Ric Flair by doing her strut. Also, she attempted to slap Charlotte across the face but, Charlotte rolled her up instead (unsuccessfully). A bunch of great spots, technical wrestling moves, and taunts later, the champion finds herself in control by swinging the momentum in her favor via a few high impact moves. For awhile I thought that this match was not going to live up to the 3 other live NXT Women’s Championship matches before it. That all changed when Sasha Banks did a suicide dive to the outside on to Charlotte who when back first into the metal grate on the entrance ramp. That would not be the end of the reign of the tall blond from the Queen City. After Banks rolled her into the ring, she only got a 2 count on the champ. Seconds later the Boss would be turned inside out due to a spear. From then on the match would be filled with false finishes and Banks would start to get visibly frustrated not being able to away the current title holder. The crowd started to chant “This Is Wrestling! **clap clap clapclapclap** “This Is Wrestling! **clap clap clapclapclap** “This Is Wrestling”. Which I believe I’m not the only one besides them who thought of this. Anyway, Charlotte would going on to hit this move that Corey Graves said he hadn't seen anyone due before. Male or Female.
It was just really weird. Like she lost of most the hair on the front of head or something. That doesn't matter at the end of the day though. What matters is that this 2 fantastic women put on a show. They keep the NXT Universe guessing in a match that was over 20 minutes. That is no small feat. Moving on to another match that was no small feat, the main event of the evening. Adrian Nevile (c) vs Sami Zayn and his road to redemption for the NXT Championship.
PAC and El Generico have known he other for years. Since they broke into the business of professional wrestling. They went through the ranks of the independent circuit together. They have been great friends for years but, none of the matters as soon as they step into the ring. Until, face off for the biggest prize in NXT history. Sami Zayn had to win this match or else he would leave WWE NXT. Now, I knew that Zayn was not going to leave NXT. But, I thought that Nevile was not going to drop the title. I did not want him to drop the title because He is my favorite NXT superstar for multiple reasons. I had a feeling that it was Zayn’s time. That it was his night and his moment to finish his “road to redemption” and win the “big won” as Nevile put it. There was a ton riding on this over 30 minute match. So, lets get down to then, shall we?
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