WrestleMania 32 Review

I always get excited for WrestleMania every year and leading up to it this year was no different.  Sadly though I must have watched a different show than others in my Facebook food because I didn't watch a show that was awesome, insane, spectacular, amazing or any other accolade that makes a blanket declaration stating the entire show was tremendous, because it wasn't.

The pre-show started at 5pm with the first match starting around 5:45pm and the main event ended about 10 minutes of midnight.  That's pretty near a 7 hour event which is very long.  I'ts a good thing I had coverage at work until 1am and not midnight.  

Including pre-show and the Rock's impromptu match the card featured 12 matches.  The three pre-show matches were better than I thought they would be.

United States Champion: Kalisto defeated Ryback

10 Woman Tag: Team Total Divas: Brie Bella, Paige, Alicia Fox, Natayla, & Eva Marie defeated Team Bad and Blonde: Lana, Tamina, Naomi, Summer Rae, & Emma when Brie made Naomi tap out to the Yes Lock.  It also seems as thought it's Brie's last match. 

The Usos: Jimmy & Jey defeated The Dudley Boys: Bubba Ray & Devon

As much as I hate to admit this, the sequence that Brie used to set up the Yes Lock was actually really, really good.  Lana makes her in ring debut, didn't do a lot boy she looks different with her hair down.

The main show was kicked off with the 7 Man Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship.  It was a good match, the last guy I thought was going win it did in Zack Ryder.  He's worked hard for the company for a long time and deserves to have this big moment at WrestleMania.  I can't imagine he'll have a very long title run. (Note: He lost it to the Miz the next day on Raw.)

It's was bullshit that Jericho got the win of Styles.  First off it looked like Jericho purposely had a bad match.  It was more than just the timing was off, or they weren't clicking because when it came time for Jericho to look good he was spot on.  However when it was Styles turn Jericho was slow and off a step.  This is their 4th singles match, one we didn't need to begin with, so does this mean we have to watch them have 1 more match together at the next PPV, god I hope not!

League of Nations beat New Day, it was Four on three they should win.  As much as I loved seeing HBK, Austin, & Mick Foley come out and beat down the League it basically made their win look worthless.  I will say I marked out big time seeing HBK in his wrestling gear. 

Brock Lesnar defeated Ambrose in a Street Fight.  Not much of a street fight, some chairs, a kendo stick, and a whole bunch of suplexs.  It was basically an extended squash.

Triple Threat Match: Women's Champion: Charlotte defeated Sasha Banks & Becky Lynch when Becky tapped to the Figure-8.  In my opinion this was the best wrestling match of the night.  It was damn good and it stole the show.  Charlotte came to the ring with the Diva's Championship and left with the Women's Championship officially ending the Diva's name that I have hated since they started it.  Sasha got the big entrance with her cousin Snoop Dog rapping her to the ring.

Hell In A Cell: Taker beat Shane, I found surprising because storyline wise it seemed Shane was destined to win so he could take over Raw.  If you take out the part where Shane jumped off the top of the cage to elbow drop Taker on the announce table, it wouldn't be as good of a match.  It was a spectacular spot and I really enjoyed the match but it wasn't great.

I would never guessed that Baron Corbin would win the Andre the Giant Battle Royal, he had no build up, just walked to the ring with the others that were unannounced and came away with the win.  I wonder if this means he is on the main roster now?

Rock had a really long segment where he announced the attendance of the event.  Then the Wyatt Family interrupted which lead to an impromptu 6 second match where Rock beat Eric Rowan.  Then Cena made a surprise return aiding Rock in yet another Wyatt Family beat down. I could have done with out the whole segment.

Roman Reigns beat Triple H for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, of course that's not a surprise to anyone.  The crowd booed Reigns after his win and during his celebration.  The only pop for Roman is when he accidentally speared Stephanie, because if there is anyone they hate more than Roman is Stephanie McMahon.

I realize there are a lot of people that really like WrestleMania, and that's cool, I just don't agree.  There were aspects that I really liked about it, aspects I didn't like at all, It has nothing to do with the outcomes not being what I wanted them to be.

The best part about Mania was Paul coming over and us watching it together and that chat group with the other guys.

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WWE Fastlane Feedback

You see what I did there.....

Greetings and thanks for stopping by the Wrestling Insomniac for my thoughts on this WWE Pay Per View.  Did we still call them Pay Per View's?  Should we start calling them Supershows or Mega Events?

Pre-Show 

2 out of 3 Falls United States Championship
Champion Kalisto defeated Alberto Del Rio 2 falls to 1
Good match, Del Rio is really good and Kalisto was able to show himself off more in this match than he had previously.  Del Rio was disqualified after attacking Kalisto with a chair to lose the first fall.  He quickly got the pin for the second fall after a second rope double foot stomp.  The third fall and win went to Kalisto with a school boy.

Fastlane

Sasha Banks & Becky Lynch defeated Naomi & Tamina
Banks submitted Tamina with the Bank statement.  I wasn't expecting much from this match but it was really good.  All 4 woman fought hard putting on a great match.

Intercontinental Champion: Kevin Owens defeated Dolph Ziggler
Such a great match, seriously a toss up between this and AJ vs. Jericho for match of the night.  Owens had just won the Championship Monday night in a 5 way match.  I am such a huge fan of Kevin Owens, probably my favorite wrestler in the WWE right now.  He is so good in the ring and I love his trash talking during the match, telling Dolph "Your hometown likes me better than you" and his hatred of Michael Cole.  I hope we see the package piledriver again!

Big Show, Kane & Ryback defeated the Wyatt Family
Ryback pinned Luke Harper with a botched version of his finish that appeared to injure Harper's shoulder.  The ending of this was pretty good, but it was an ok match.

Diva's Champion: Charlotte w/ Ric Flair defeated Brie Bella
Charlotte submitted her with the figure 8.  I really hated that Brie is using Bryan's gimmicks with the YES chant, kicks, YES lock and everything else she stole from her husband to get herself over.  Charlotte looked good in the ring, not surprising.

AJ Styles submitted Chris Jericho
A truly fantastic match indeed!  Their third and by far their best match.  I hated that Jericho kicked out of the Styles Clash, but they seem to be phasing that move out for the Calf Crusher.  Styles showed in this match why he deserves to debut in the WWE bypassing NXT and getting an immediate push.  Styles and Okada share the honor of the best dropkick in wrestling.
Jericho once again botched AJ's springboard backflip into a reverse DDT spot.

Cutting Edge/Peep Show segment with Edge & Christian and guest New Day
A waste of time, I didn't find it overly funny and all it did was build towards a New Day vs. League of Nations feud.

Curtis Axel w/ Social Outcasts defeated R-Truth
and unadvertised match that could have stayed off the card.  Goldust came out to help Truth but inadvertently caused Truth the match.

Roman Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar and Dean Ambrose
Reigns pinned Ambrose to win the match and to face Triple H at WrestleMania for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.  This match was really good, and the finishing sequence was great.  It was obvious Reigns was going to win.  Storyline wise it makes sense for Reigns and Triple H to wrestle at WrestleMania I just don't think the WWE Championship needed to be involved.

The biggest pops of the night were for AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, Lesnar, & Ambrose.  The Crowd was hot all night so that makes it better.

Going forward I think we will definitely see Ambrose vs, Lesnar at Mania and I'd like to see AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens.

After the PPV WWE announced the NXT Signing of Shinsuke Nakamura.  I cannot wait to see him on the main roster, I think we have the first Japanese guy that is going to be a main eventer in WWE and possible win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

Finally, Mauro Ronallo called the pre-show match with JBL and Byron Saxton, seriously he is so much better than Michael Cole that I like watching Smackdown more just to hear Mauro call the action.

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Royal Rumble Reaction

The 2016 Royal Rumble is over and I didn't do too good on my predictions.  

Darren Young & Damien Sandow vs The Dudley Boys: Bubba Ray & D-Von vs. The Ascension: Konnor & Victor vs. Mark Henry & Jack Swagger
Really surprised at Mark Henry & Swagger winning, I didn't think they would have any affect on the outcome and they didn't, both eliminated in about a minute. 

Tag Team Champions: The New Day: Kofi Kingston & Big E w/ Xavier Woods vs. The Usos: Jimmy & Jey
I got this one right and I really enjoyed this tag match.  Usos are really good as a team and I really liked the finishing sequence. 

United States Champion: Alberto Del Rio vs. Kalisto
Once again I was wrong as Kalisto captured the United States Championship for the second time in as many weeks in a really good match with Del Rio.  It'll be interesting to see where they go with Kalisto as champion, long term or transition. 

Intercontinental Championship Last Man Standing: Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens
Once again I was wrong about the outcome as Dean Ambrose walked out the Intercontinental Champion.  This was the match of the night for me, solid from top to bottom and the finish was fantastic.  These guys really beat the tar out of each other,  One of my favorite moments was when Owens was knocked over the announce table and he crashed into Michael Cole and kept pushing on his face, hilarious!

Diva's Champion: Charlotte w/ "Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs. Becky Lynch
I was right about this one! Becky came out looking so strong and Charlotte like the chicken shit heel who just barely kept her title.  Of course the post match attack by Sasha Banks starts their feud towards Mania sadly leaving Becky in the background. 

Royal Rumble Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
I figured that Triple H would be in this match and cost Reigns the title, didn't think Trips would walk out as Champion.  I was very excited to see AJ Styles debut in the match, we didn't see anything from him to speak of.  He did get a couple eliminations and based on Kevin Owens eliminating him that'll be his first feud.  He got a huge pop and the 28 minutes he was in there several "AJ Styles" chants broke out. 

The most exciting time of the Rumble match was the near 5 minutes that Kevin Owens was in it.  He got a  big pop, his initial flurry with AJ before the tossed out Styles and mocked him, then his flurry with Ambrose, then with Sami Zayn until Zayn threw Owens out. After Zayn was eliminated the crowd seemed to die down. Until it came down to Triple H & Ambrose.  

Going towards WrestleMania we have Triple H vs. Reigns, Brock vs. The Wyatts, and Kevin Owens vs. Zayn or Styles or Ambrose again. 

It was very good show with some great matches.  I know many will be pissed with the Rumble match but it was what it was.  The ending wasn't my favorite either, not my pick to win, but it could have been worse I reckon.

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Royal Rumble Predictions

I don't normally post these type of blogs but I figured that I would this time.

Pre-Show

Darren Young & Damien Sandow vs The Dudley Boys: Bubba Ray & D-Von vs. The Ascension: Konnor & Victor vs. Mark Henry & Jack Swagger

The winners of this match get to enter the Royal Rumble alter in the night.  Of all the people in the match the Dudley's are the only ones I can see the fans caring about moving forward.  Realistically though none of them are going to win the Rumble match itself.

Tag Team Champions: The New Day: Kofi Kingston & Big E w/ Xavier Woods vs. The Usos: Jimmy & Jey

New Day retains, I don't see them dropping the tag titles anytime soon to any team at this point.

United States Champion: Alberto Del Rio vs. Kalisto

Alberto retains, although I don't see him as a long term champion I also don't see Kalisto as a viable champion.  Sin Cara will be back soon from his injury bringing their team back together.  The US Championship used to mean something a long time ago and men raged wars over it.  Cena's US Open Challenge was really good and I would love to see that come back.

Diva's Champion: Charlotte w/ "Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs. Becky Lynch

Charlotte will retain cheating of course.  I see Charlotte with a nice long title run, I'm hoping over a year making it mean more when she loses it.  Nikki Bella's long title reign did nothing to strengthen the title as she is the last of the WWE "barbie doll" wrestlers.  I do see Becky coming out looking even stronger and more over as a babyface than when she went into the match.

Intercontinental Championship Last Man Standing: Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens

Kevin Owens will win this match and take his Championship back.  Owens can make the title mean something that Ambrose just can't do.  The only way I would be okay with Owens not winning is if he returned later and won the World Championship in the Rumble Match.

Royal Rumble Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

For the first time the Champion, Roman Reigns, will have to defend his championship in the Rumble match, and of course he has number one.  I do not see Roman walking out as champion.  I predict two possible outcomes for him.  Either he and Lesnar will eliminate each other building to a match at WrestleMania or Triple H will cause Reigns elimination leading to a match between them at WrestleMania.

I think WWE has the perfect opportunity to do something they have never done before, something that is historic by having AJ Styles debut in and win the Rumble match and the WWE World Championship.

I also think Jake Roberts will be a surprise entrant, other good ones would be Kevin Von Erich and Tully Blanchard.

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WWE Network: Table for 3 and more

Table For 3

Table for 3 is a new show on the WWE Network that features 3 wrestlers sitting around having a meal and talking about wrestling.  How could this not be good right?  Each episode has a different theme and wrestlers appearing are from different times in wrestling.   Each episode is about 22 minutes long, but I would like it if they were much, much longer.

Brass Ring

Kevin Owens, Dean Ambrose, Ceasro

One of my favorites so far with these three talking about their journey and rise in WWE to where they are now.  They also talk a lot about being on the independent scene and how it was there and some of the others wrestlers that they worked with.  Really good show.

IC Champions Club

Daniel Bryan, Ryback, & Dolph Ziggler

They briefly talk about what how the Intercontinental Championship was important to them when they were younger and how that want to make it that way again.   Hilarious stories of them being on the road together, wrestling each other, Ryback hurting Dolph, wanting to impress Bock Lesner, trying to get fans in Russia to cheer for him, calling Daniel Bryan a bully and so much more.  I laughed so much during this episode.

WCW Legends

Sting, DDP, & Vader.  They open up talking about Sting finally getting signed to WWE.  Then Sting and Vader talk about their WCW feud including Vader calling Sting the stiffest pretty boy he’d ever faced. By the way Vader health wise and shape wise looks great!  DDP talks about Sting and his WCW World Title Match on Nitro. 

Other topics include NXT, Sting’s Wrestlemania match, John Cena, Harley Race, Sting getting Lex Lugar into WCW for the debut of Nitro, Ted Turner, WCW memories and more.

WWE 24

NXT Brooklyn

A behind the scenes look at NXT and their sell out show in Brooklyn on eve of SummerSlam. 

This documentary starts back at NXT Arrival in February 2014 taking us all the way to Brooklyn.  They talk to a variety of NXT Wrestlers and Triple H about Florida Championship Wrestling, the Full Sail University crowd, taking NXT on the road, and more about the growth of NXT.

We go in-depth with Finn Balor, Sasha Banks, the evolution of Women’s wrestling, Bayley, and others. 

A very detailed look at the Sasha Banks vs. Bayley match including footage of their mothers at ringside and post-mast celebration of the 4 Horsewoman. 

We get a detailed look at the Main Event Ladder match pitting Champion Finn Balor vs. Kevin Owens.

It’s really cool listening to Triple H’s comments through-out as he clearly is a proud poppa when it comes to NXT and “his kids”

A couple things that were not covered that surprised me was nothing about the amazing entrance the Enzo and Big Cass got, Samoa Joe, and nothing at all about Jushin Liger.  They showed three brief clips of him in the final montage of the event.  The final image was Bayley hoisting the NXT Women’s Championship and crowd chanting her name.  Thea doesn’t surprise me as it really felt like they were putting the women’s division over hard, and rightfully so.

A pretty amazing hour and well worth checking out. 

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WWE Network MSG Special Thoughts

Madison Square Garden

October 3, 2015

House Show live special in WWE Network

No opening pyro the set up and entrance is that of a normal house show

Commentators JBL, Byron Saxton, and Rich Brennan.  Eden Stiles handled ring announcer duties.

Dolph Ziggler & Randy Orton vs. Sheamus & Rusev w/ Summer Rae

Decent opening match with Dolph taking the Ricky Morton heat before getting the hot tag to Orton.  RKO out of nowhere later and Orton gets the pin on Sheamus.   Crowd was hugely hot for Orton.

After the match Rusev called Sheamus a stupid American and called him useless, Sheamus brogue kicked him.  7/10

Video package from Raw of Rollins attacking Corporate Kane with a chair leading to Demon Kane coming out to attack him.

Backstage, Renee Young interviews with Corporate Kane on crutches.  He talked about helping Seth Rollins being worried about the Demon that keeps attacking him and how he would help stop it. 

Stardust vs. Neville

Pretty standard back and forth match with Neville hitting red arrow for the win. 5/10

Backstage, Renee Young interviews Paul Heyman who cuts yet another awesome promo as only he can do.

Video package for the upcoming NXT behind the scenes special coming soon to WWE Network that honestly looks amazingly good!  Debuts after Raw this Monday, 10/05/2015

Team Bella: Nikki, Brie, & Alicia Fox vs. Team PCB: Paige, Becky Lynch, & Divas Champion: Charlotte

Should be noted Bella’s were announced and came out as a team where as Team PCB had individual introductions playing off the tension in the team.  Side note, I really just can’t stand Nikki Bella at all anymore and would not be upset if something horrible, yet non-life threatening befell her.  Let’s get this straight, it’s not that she’s such a great heal and that’s why I don’t like her…I just don’t like her personally.  Like I don’t like Rey Mysterio.

Basically Paige is a bitch to Becky and Charlotte through-out the match then they dessert her and Paige is pinned after a rack attack from Nikki.  Good match though, nothing breath taking 6/10

Paige cuts a post-match promo essentially continuing her slow burn heal turn saying she doesn’t deserve to be treated like this and that she doesn’t know what she to them to make them do this.

Video package showing footage from Raw & Smackdown of the Wyatt and Reigns fued.  I don’t care at all about them being in a Hell in a Cell match.

Intercontinental Champion: Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho

Pre-Match promo Jericho announces that October 3, 1990 was his debut match making tonight his 25^th Anniversary in wrestling.  He points out Lance Storm in the front row his first ever opponent.  Then talks about his father playing hockey at MSG.  Jericho then points out Don Callis & Lenny St. Clair aka Dr. Luther also in the front row.  Not mentioned, but sitting next to them was Arnold Skaaland’s wife Betty.   She must be in her 80’s and I think it’s amazing that she wants to be there watching wrestling after all these years.

Owens comes out to a big ovation.    Outstanding match once again from Kevin Owens, this time with Jericho has his dance partner.  I would love to see these two guys again.  We get our first “This is Awesome” chant, deservedly so.  Non-stop action from bell to bell you wouldn’t believe it was their first ever match together.  They hit everything except the pop-up powerbomb, Owen’s took the win reversing a second walls of Jericho attempt into a small package.  8.5/10

Owens wished Jericho a Happy Anniversary as he was walking to the back.  He also stopped to taunt a crying child. Owens post-match antics 10/10

Promo for the new WWE Network Show “Breaking Ground” which is about the WWE Performance Center, looks greats.  Debuts 10/26/15.

Backstage shot of the Big Show looking angry.

Video Package of the Dudley Boys vs. New Day

Tag Team Champions: New Day: Kofi Kingston & Big E w/ Xavier Woods vs. The Dudley Boys: Bubba Ray & Devon

Pre-Match Promo during New Day’s entrance continued the hilarity they bring every week.  They played down the Dudley Boys calling this the end of their Goodbye Tour then continued their “Save the Tables Campaign.”  Dudley’s got a good ovation.

Crowd was hot for this match still hyped from the Owens vs. Jericho match.  Lots of “We want tables” and “New Day Sucks” chants.   New Day dominated both Devon & Bubba Ray early with quick tags and wear down holds.  Dudley’s hit a 3D out of nowhere and Woods hit the ring causing the disqualification.  New Day then beat down the Dudley’s then brought a table into the ring.  Xavier Woods played taps on this Trombone, back to too the action in the ring.  Dudley’s cleared Kofi & Big E then put Woods through the table standing tall.  Dudley’s win, New Day still champs.  7/10

Jon Stewart shown front row ringside with his son.

Unnecessary video package shown hyping the Brock Lesnar/ Big Show feud with some history re-written as they show clips of the 2002 Survivor Series match where Show beats Lesnar for the WWE Championship with no mention at all of Paul Heyman turning on Lesnar at they show, they even showed a clip of Heyman out of context being shocked and Lesnar being pinned. 

Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman vs. The Big Show

Tremendous ovation at the opening note of Lesnar’s entrance music

Straight from the opening bell Show no sold a couple Lesnar clotheslines then he reversed an attempted double leg dumping Brock over the top rope.  Apparently Show is playing the unstoppable monster for this match.  Lots of Suplex City chants.  Whoah!! Three quick chokeslams from Show followed by a loooooong two count.  Show goes for the knock-out punch Lesnar ducks, 4 german suplex and an F-5 later Lesnar has his arm raised.  Pretty high impact 4 minutes of wrestling.  8/10

Post-Match Lesnar heads to the back, then decides to return to the ring where a the very stoppable monster is tossed around again with an overhead belly to belly suplex and another F-5.  Crowd sings nah-nah-nah-nah goodbye to Show as he leaves the ring.

Promo video for the Bayley vs. Sasha Banks 30 Minute Iron Man Match for NXT Takeover Respect this Wednesday 10/7/2015 on WWE Network.

Hype video for Cena vs. Rollins for the United States Championship Steel Cage Match including footage of John Stewart costing Cena the title at Summerslam

Steel Cage Match: United States Champion: John Cena vs. World Champion: Seth Rollins

The World Heavyweight Championship is not on the line.

Cena came out second, was greeted with “John Cena sucks” chanted to the beat of his entrance music.   We get that big match feel with the introductions taking place once both were in the ring.

Rollins using the cage early throwing Cena face first into the cage, I’m a fan of cage matches but I like some blood in my cage matches.  I’m 10 minutes into this match and really I’m not that impressed.  Crowd is into it but their previous matches at Summerslam and Night of Champions were much better.   They basically took every generic cage match spot and did them. 

Rollins gets the upper hand and Cena is down in the cage he looks like he’s about to escape over the top when Demon Kane comes down stopping him.  Rollins then decides lets goes for a frog splash off the top of the cage, eats canvas, then an AA and Cena retains.  6/10

Post-match Demon Kane enters the cage hitting Rollins with a chokeslam then a tombstone piledriver.  Demon Kane hold the WWE Championship high before dropping it on Rollins and leaving the ring to end the show.   

Overall it was a really good show it definitely had a different feel to it as the presentation was more than a House Show, but definitely not a PPV or Television event.  Matches had a house show feel to them as the focus was definitely on the wrestling more than anything else.  You know what it was, it was like a Coliseum Home Video exclusive type event.  That’s exactly what it was!

I would like to see WWE do more specials like this for the MSG house shows or other big house shows it would make WWE Network even more appealing.

Interesting note, no pyro of any kind was used, not for the opening, Dudleys, Lesnar, Kane, no one.

Later Readers!

NXT Takeover: Unstoppable

It's time once again for an NXT Takeover special!  These remind me of Clash of the Champions and they have always been solid shows top to bottom.  I realize that NXT is white hot right now I just hope that WWE doesn't ruin it by trying to bring it to RAW and instead leave it the way it is.  I realize that some guys will need to get called up to the main roster and new talent built, but I can see them messing this up.

Finn Balor vs. Tyler Breeze 
for the #1 Contendership to the NXT Championship
Tyler has a special entrance, not to write about.  Balor has his special interest, it's simply awesome.  His paint and costume and different this time.
Great match between these two, was supposed to be a triple threat but Itami is injured.  Balor picks up the win.

Finn Balor in his new costume of NXT Unstoppable

Charlotte & Bayley vs. Dana & Emma
Two ladies matches on the card tonight, that should tell you just how good these ladies are.  Good match, some great teamwork with Bayley and Charlotte.  You can see that Dana is still very green but she did a great job.  Charlotte and Bayley pick up the win and hug it out at the end.

Baron Corbin vs. Rhyno

The veteran Rhyno was up next to take on Baron Corbin in a hard hitting match.  Corbin has only been wrestling a couple years and this is the longest match of his that I have seen.  He looked good and was able to power Rhyno into his End of Days finisher which was impressive and enough for him to take the victory.

NXT Tag Team Champions: Blake & Murphy vs. Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady with Carmella

Great tag team match between these two teams saw a few spots that were messed up.  Crowd is really into Enzo and Big Cas.  I liked the look of Blake and Murphy when they first came on, but now with how they act I’m becoming less and less of a fan.  Blake and Murphy squeak out a victory to retain.

Sasha Banks after a tough title defense

 NXT Women’s Champion: Sasha Bank vs. Becky Lynch

Great match, just a great match.  Some great mat wrestling with both woman working the arm for their respective finishers.  They mixed in some high spots and the crowd was completely behind them as they told their story in the ring.  It really put the shame what is being pushed right now on Raw.  After a very hard fought victory Sasha Banks retained with a submission.  Lynch was given a standing ovation by the crowd.

NXT Champion: Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn

Good Lord this match was fantastic!  Zayn dominated and when Owens tried to get on the offense he was shut down immediately.  Suddenly on the floor Owens hit Zayn with a pop-up powerbomb with decimated Zayn and essentially ended the match.  Owens then beat on Zayn while officials and the medical crew tried to tend to Zayn.  Suddenly Samoa Joe came out, to a huge ovation, and after a tense stare down Owens backed off.  Officially a no contest.

Great special, once again NXT has proven to the be a fantastic product that is well worth the $9.99 a month that the Network costs.  Joe is apparently keeping his name as he was a wearing an official NXT t-shirt that said Samoa Joe on it and that’s what the announcers called him.

I have a couple concerns for NXT as a whole.  First of all every show is at full sail university so you essentially have the same crowd that has claimed ownership of the product and have made themselves part of the show which enhances the show as the crowd is loud and raucous!  My fear is that like TNA outside of this controlled environment on tours the product may suffer.  My second fear is the Triple H has control of NXT while Vince McMahon still has control of WWE.  Because of this even is a talent who was hot in NXT comes up to RAW doesn’t mean they’ll get the push they deserve; for example the Ascension.  That being said, at Hell in the Cell, Kevin Owen cannot lose that by pin fall or submission. 

If you’re not watching NXT then you are really missing out on a great wrestling show.