My Favorite Match

For over 20 years whenever I was asked what my favorite wrestling match is my response has always been Starrcade 1985 Tully Blanchard vs. Magnum TA I Quit Steel Cage Match for the United States Championship.

I mean what's not to love about it?  For almost 15 of the most intense minutes I've ever seen in a wrestling match these two beat the tar out of each other with stiff shots and high impact moves.  Both men where quickly busted open with Tully bleeding from his head and arm.  The visual of the finishing sequence just stays with you.  Tully on his knees, Magnum standing behind him driving the stake from the broken wooded chair into Tully's forehead while he screamed yes repeatedly.

The crowd was screaming from the moment the two locked up and never stopped.  The crowd was amazing all night, but they really kicked it up for this match.

I legitimately have no idea how many times I've watched the match but it's in the hundreds easily.

And incidentally, Tully never said "I quit!"

However, a match has occurred that is poised to kick the "I Quit" match out of that top position.  April 1, 2016 at NXT Takeover Dallas Shinsuke Nakamura made his WWE/NXT debut against Sami Zayn in the no doubt match of the year.

Sincerely this is the finest match I have seen in many years, I have watched it no less than 30 times since and it just gets better.  What really significant was after the fact Sami Zayn was on Talk is Jericho and revealed that prior to that match he and Nakamura had met a couple times but had never touched before that night in the ring.

The crowd was amazing, very lively chanting through the entire match for both competitors but clearly leaning towards Nakamura.  At one point they literally brought the crowd to their feet as the entire audience was taken away with what they were witnessing.  A chant that I had never heard before, "fight forever" and I couldn't have agreed more.

After 20:07 of action Nakamura nailed the kinshasa picking up the win and ushering in the era of strong style in the WWE.

Nakamura had two Wrestling Observer 5 star matches in 2015 for NJPW, I wonder if any of his matches in the WWE in 2016 with Rate the same. WWE has only ever had five matches rate 5 stars, the last in 2011.

Also Nakamura's entrance music is pretty amazing!

As of now for the longevity of it I will still have to give the nod to Magnum vs. Tully however I could see that changing in the very near future.

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NXT TakeOver Dalls review

 Over the years there have been few shows that have stood out in my mind as being awesome from top to bottom.  More specifically there was not a bad match on the card, and that's hard to do as usually a card will produce a few good matches but not every match.  For the longest time SummerSlam 2002 has been the show that was the best as every match on the show was outstanding.  Granted I haven't watched the whole thing in a few years, but it's been the measuring stick.  Friday night April 1st, NXT TakeOver Dallas surpassed it.

Now some of you will argue that with only 5 matches on the card, whereas SummersSlam 2002 featured 7 matches,  it shouldn't be as hard for them not to have a stinker, but anyone can have a bad night or their timing off and can have a bad match.  For whatever reason everyone on the show Friday was on top of their game.  The crowd was hot all night long as well, which definitely helps the matches.

American Alpha: Chad Gable & Jason Jordan defeated Tag Team Champions: The Revival: Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder to win the championships.
This is what a tag team match is all about.  Cutting off the ring, double team moves, frequent tags, blind tags, hot tags, yeah!  It was legit like watching tag matches from the hey days of the Jim Crockett promotions.  The emotion that Gable and Jordan showed post match really showed just how much becoming champions meant to them.

Austin Aries defeated Baron Corbin
Even though he worked several house shows this was Aries official NXT debut.  This was the weakest match on the card it was a still a great match.  Baron looked strong in the match and Aries got the quick roll up pin for the win.

Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Sami Zayn
WOW!  In a post match wwe.com interview Nakamura announced that Strong Style has arrived and he was right.  The match was hands down the match of the night.  Simply phenomenal! Nakamura 's entrance music is great, his entrance is awesome.  I've been saying for years just how good he is and he proved it against Zayn.  Both men put on a hell of a match bringing the crowd to their feet several times including a standing ovation when it was over.

This match was Zayn's final NXT match before he goes full time to the main roster.  You could tell from the beginning that it was a very emotional time for him.  Post match he was given a hero's send off with a massive ovation and "Oley" chant.

Asuka defeated Women's Champion: Bayley to win the NXT Women's Championship
These two woman put on an incredible, fast paced, and hard hitting match that had a very powerful finish as Bayley refused to submit while trapped in the Asuka Lock forcing the referee to stop the match.  It seems like Bayley will be heading up to the main roster soon, mostly likely to feud with Charlotte.

NXT Champion: Finn Balor defeated Samoa Joe
Joe was busted open from an incidental headbutt which lead to the doctors stepping in over the next several minutes trying to stop the bleeding.  Which lead to several very heated chants from the crowd of "Fuck PG" and more.  Somehow they managed to keep the flow of the match going and turned out another killer match to top off the card.  I was surprised that Balor got the win because I had heard so much about him going to the main roster with Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows.  It could still happen.

If you haven't seen this show yet you need too!  Sign up for WWE Network just to watch this show!

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WrestleMania 32 & Takeover Dallas Predictions

Austin Aries vs. Baron Corbin
This is Aries first big show match on NXT, I see Aries walk away with the win.

Tag Team Championships: The Revival: Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder vs. American Alpha: Jason Jordan & Chad Gable
Revival has had a good run but it's time for American Alpha to take the titles to show that they are the dominant team.

Apollo Crews vs. Elias Samson
Crews needs this win, he had a good push at first but hasn't been able to get the wins on the big matches.  Samson is extremely boring and the win would be a waste on him. Creed with the win and he will go one to feud with Joe.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn
No way Nakamura is going to lose his debut match, just not happening.  Should be the match of the night.

Women's Champion: Bayley vs. Asuka
I think Bayley is going to get the win for two reasons.  First Balor is going to lose his match to Joe because he's going to the main roster, and they can't have them both lose their belts in the same night.  Second, Bayley will either get called up as Champion to feud with Charlotte, because even though she is over huge with NXT fans Vince probably thinks she needs to belt to show she deserves to be thrust into the WWE Woman's title picture.  Or she will drop it to an interim heal for Asuka to beat for it.

NXT Championship: Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe
Joe is going to win, Balor is getting called up to be with Anderson & Gallows. Joe can go on and feud with Apollo Crews and Austin Aries.

Pre-Show

United States Championship: Kalisto vs. Ryback
Ryback will win when Sin Cara cost Kalisto the match, in the end though, who cares.

The Total Divas: Brie Bella, Paige, Natalya, Alicia Fox, & Eva Marie vs. BAD & Blonde: Lana, Summer Rae, Naomi, Emma, & Tamina
Total Divas will win, gotta keep plugging that show

The Dudley Boyz vs. The Usos
Dudleys for the win!

Pay-Per-View

Andre The Giant Battle Royal
I'm not going to wager a guess, one theory I heard was Mark Henry because he's retiring.

Tag Team Champions: New Day: Kofi Kingston, Big E, & Xavier Woods vs. League of Nations: King Barett, Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, & Rusev
Non-title match but New Day is still walking away with the win.

AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho
Styles will win and end this feud with Jericho so he can move on to someone else, perhaps Ryback and the US Championship.

Ladder Match Intercontinental Championship: Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Zack Ryder vs. Sin Cara vs. Miz vs. Stardust
This match should be Zayn vs. Owens and the US Championship match should be the ladder match.  That being said I see Owens retaining and going on to feud with Zayn.

Diva's Champion: Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch & Sasha Banks
Charlotte is going to walk away the winner, she'll feud with either Bayley or Brie Bella next.  

Street Fight: Brock Lesnar vs. Dean Ambrose
I have no doubt that Brock is going to win, but Ambrose is going shine in this match.  It won't be a squash both guys are going to tear it up.

Hell in a Cell: Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon
This is the toughest match for me to call.  Knee jerk reaction is that Taker wins, because it's Mania and it's Taker.  However, there is no streak any more so anything could happen.  I can see for storyline purposes that Shane McMahon wins and he will take over Raw.  I don't think Shane will win single handed, there will be a swerve of somekind, but Shane wins.

NO DQ WWE Champion: Triple H vs. Roman Reigns
Reigns wins, it's too obvious, who cares.  I just hope it's not the last match on the card.

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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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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.