Roy's Review: Ring of Honor Reborn Stage 2

Here is my review of ROH Reborn Stage 2 on April 24, 2004 in Chicago.

Earlier in the Day: Bryan Danielson takes Samoa Joe's place in Samoa Joe's Ring. Apparently this is a segment where Joe teaches wrestling moves. Danielson is teaching a proper wristlock when Homicide comes out and does his version, which includes a a forearm shot to the trainees face. Homicide then says he is out for Joe's blood but since Joe wasn't there (Homicide threw a fireball in Joe's face the night before) Danielson would do just fine. Danielson said he would stretch Homicide like nobody ever had before.

Backstage: Nigel McGuinness interrupts Matt Stryker's interview time with Dave Prazak and thanks him for a great match last night and wishes him luck in his ROH Title match against Samoa Joe. Stryker says he knows Joe is hurt and his strategy is to work Joe's legs.

Backstage: Becky Bayless wants to know where Special K is. Jack Evans comes in a does some break dancing.

In Ring: BJ Whitmer and Ace Steel are in the ring ready for a match and The Briscoe's come out and attack Steel giving him a spike Jay Driller. They then run down the crowd. CM Punk and Colt Cabana come out and take the ring. While Cabana is checking on Steel, Punk says the tag team main event is going to be like other great Chicago battles like Hart vs. Austin. The Briscoes then drag Punk to the outside and start beating him up. Cabana the does a moonsault onto them and the fight is on. BJ Whitmer then comes in and says he came for a fight and demands the match starts. Steel obliges.

Match 1: BJ Whitmer defeated Ace Steel
This was a decent match but nothing really more. Whitmer worked the injured neck of Steel, causing Steel to never really be able to gain the advantage. After the match Whitmer annihilated Steel with a chair shot to the head.
6/10

Match 2: The Carnage Crew: Masada and Justin Credible defeated Delirious and Shawn Daivari 
Kind of an average tag match. Nothing special here. This was Daivari's ROH debut. I never knew he wrestled in ROH. The end came when Credible hits Thats Incredible on Daivari then a superkick on Delirious. Masada then hit a Cradle Backbreaker on Delirious for the win.
5.5/10

"Hurricane" John Walters

Match 3: Chad Collyer defeated John Walters
Awesome technical match. Great back and forth action. Collyer got the win with kind of a surprise roll up. Check this one out, I really enjoyed it.
8.5/10

Match 4: Nigel McGuinness defeated Austin Aries, Jimmy Rave and Rocky Romero w/Ricky Reyes in a Four Corner Survival Match
Good match with nonstop action throughout. Rave took a beating for most of the match. McGuinness got the win with a Keylock on Rave when Romero and Aries were battling and lost track of the match.
8/10

Match 5: Homicide defeated Bryan Danielson
Good match. Danielson seemed to dominate in many portions due to his advantage in submission wrestling. He worked Homicide's hand for most of the match. Homicide got the win with a Lariat after he hit a low blow on Danielson when the referee was out of position.
7.75/10

"American Dragon" Bryan Danielson sharing his feelings with Homicide

Backstage: Jimmy Rave and Jack Evans interrupt Matt Stryker this time to wish him luck. Prazak announces that Joe still hasn't arrived and if he doesn't Stryker will be awarded the ROH Title. Stryker says he doesn't want to win that way. Chad Collyer interrupts and says that Stryker can just hand over the title to him because Stryker has never beaten him.

Match 6: Ricky Reyes w/Rocky Romero defeated Danny Daniels
This was really average and they only gave it about 6 minutes. ROH didn't really seem to care about this match considering they interrupted it to tell us that Samoa Joe had arrived at the building. Reyes got the win with an ankle lock variation.
5/10

Match 7: Jack Evans and Matt Sydal w/Daizee Haze defeated Alex Shelley and Jimmy Jacobs
The Carnage Crew: Tony DeVito and HC Loc and The Ring Crew Express (Dunn and Marcos) in a Tag Team Scramble Match. Great match with tons of fast paced action. Check this one out. The end came when The Carnage Crew killed Jacobs with a 2nd rope piledriver but Evans snuck in and hit a 630 for the win. After the match Shelley turned on Jacobs, blaming him for the loss and walked out.
8.75/10

Match 8: ROH Champion Samoa Joe defeated Matt Stryker to retain
They built this a being a big match and its Matt Stryker who is getting the title shot. Why? He is a decent wrestler but he looks like shit with the stupid uni-brow. Joe beat the piss out of him for about 19 minutes and got the win with a Triangle Armscissors. After the match Joe tells the camera man to tell Homicide to meet him in back to settle things.
6/10

Backstage: Alex Shelley hypes Generation Next and tells Jimmy Jacobs he doesn't need losers like him hanging around.

Match 9: The Second City Saints: CM Punk & Colt Cabana defeated Tag Team Champions: The Briscoes: Jay & Mark to win the titles
Awesome match with The Saints getting the huge hometown reception. There wasn't any commentary. I usually hate watching wrestling on TV with no commentary but this one had my attention the entire time. Great action throughout. The end came when Punk hit a Pepsi Plunge on Mark that appeared to have Mark land directly on top of his head. I had to rewind this and watch it again. Check this match out, its great. After the match BJ Whitmer comes out and attacks Punk. Ace Steel comes out and destroys Whitmer with a chair shot to the head. Then all 3 of The Second City Saints celebrate the victory.
9/10

Backstage: Joe invites Homicide to fight him in the bathroom. Homicide accepts the challenge.

Backstage: The Carnage Crew says that since they didn't figure out who took a dump in their gear bags a few months ago that they would go to the strip club.

Backstage: They have a camera outside the bathroom where Joe and Homicide are battling, and yes they are still battling.

Backstage: Punk tries to cut a very serious promo but Cabana comes in and completely ruins it with a victory celebration.

Backstage: The Cameraman is again outside the bathroom but this time there isn't any noise coming from inside so the decides to go in. We see Homicide face down on the floor and Joe looks dead with his eyes rolled back in his head and blood all over his face.

Overall this show scored a 64.5 out of 90 for a score of 71.66%. This was a very good show that anyone who likes great wrestling should check out. CM Punk did commentary for most of the show which really added to the greatness of the entire show. I really enjoy the Joe vs. Homicide feud and would like to see the entire thing.

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Roy's Review: Ring of Honor Midnight Express Reunion

Here is my review of ROH's Midnight Express Reunion on October 2, 2004.

Match 1: Tag Team Champions: The Rottweilers: Rocky Romero & Ricky Reyes w/Julius Smokes defeated Special K: Izzy & Angeldust w/Lacy, Becky Bayless, Dixie and Cheech to retain

This was a solid match. Nothing really great but solid. This was the first time I've really seen Special K actually hang with another team. Reyes pinned Angeldust after a double guillotine knee drop off the top. After the match Lacey and Becky got into a fight that was broken up the rest of Special K.
6.5/10

Match 2: Jimmy Rave w/Prince Nana and The Outcast Killers defeated Trent Acid, BJ Whitmer and Josh Daniels in a Four Corner's Survival Match

This was okay but not really anything special. There wasn't really any of the fast paced chaos you would expect from a match like this, especially with the names in this one. Throughout the match you could hear Allison Danger, who was at ringside, yell to kill Whitmer. She is still pissed that he quit The Prophecy. Prince Nana grabbed the mic, near the end, and was talking about some random shit I couldn't understand. This was enough of a distraction for Rave to get the win with a Rave Clash on Acid. After the match Allison Danger begged the Embassy to kill Whitmer but they left. Then out of nowhere, The Carnage Crew comes out and annihilates Whitmer, but putting a trash can over his head and beating it with baseball bats. They are pissed that Mick Foley called Whitmer and Maff the Ring of Hardcore and not them.
6.25/10

Match 3: Low Ki w/Julius Smokes defeated Jay Lethal

This match continues with the what seems like the theme of the night, a decent match but nothing really more than that. This is the 3rd match I have seen with Low Ki as a member of the Rottweilers and I've decided that he is really boring with the group. He was way better as a bad ass face. During the match Smokes and Ki taunted and even spit on Lethal's mother, who was in the front row. This really fired up the crowd. Ki got the win with a Dragon Sleeper. After the match he hit Lethal with a vicious head kick.
6.75/10

Match 4: Nigel McGuinness defeated Homicide w/Julius Smokes

A great technical performance from Nigel but the match was kinda boring because it was so one sided. Homicide didn't really get much offense in but when he did, he did a great job of selling his arm injury. Nigel go the win with a surprise roll up.
6.5/10

Match 5: Generation Next: Alex Shelley, Austin Aries, Roderick Strong & Jack Evans defeated CM Punk, Ace Steel, John Walters & Jimmy Jacobs w/Ricky Steamboat in an Elimination Match

A good solid match and I really liked the fact that it went about 35 minutes. I can't stand elimination matches that only go about 10-15 minutes. There is no time to build anything. Jimmy Jacobs took a massive beating and was out first. About 5+ minutes later Ace eliminates Evans after a Spinal Shock. 40 seconds later Aries eliminates Ace after a crucifix bomb. Strong introduces a chair that Punk intercepts but gets caught using it and is DQed.

Steamboat gets pissed because he had given a promo about how he hates the garbage wrestling that Mick Foley did and Punk did just that by using a chair. This was a really stupid way for Punk to be eliminated. Walters is left 3 on 1. Walters did manage to eliminate Strong after 3 back stabbers. Strong then tried to introduced a chair again but was intercepted by Steamboat and they battled to the back. Walters then gets dominated by Shelley and Aries and finally goes down after a 450 Splash from Aries. After the match Shelley and Aries argued over who was gonna take the ROH Title from Samoa Joe.
7/10

Midnight Express Reunion

In Ring: Jim Cornette, Bobby Eaton, Stan Lane and Dennis Condrey come out talk about how much they like working with each other and how great they thought ROH was. Cornette says that the only one missing was Big Bubba. Prince Nana then comes out and says that he has a new member of the Embassy. Out comes Ricky Morton with Jimmy Rave and The Outcast Killers. Morton says that ROH shouldn't be honoring The Midnight Express because they only won the tag titles twice and the Rock N' Roll Express won the 5 times. Not mention The Rock N' Roll kicked their ass the last time they were in Philadelphia. Cornette and Morton then go back and forth with a good verbal battle. This leads to a brawl between The Embassy and The Midnight Express. The Express fight off Rave and the Outcast Killers. Morton the shoves Prince Nana to the wolves so he can make his getaway. The Express then annihilates him with a Rocket Launcher. Cornette then puts on his crown. Good segment. Very entertaining.

Match 6: Ring of Honor Champion: Samoa Joe defeated "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson to retain

Great match. Check this one out. Tons of great techincal wrestling with a bunch of ringside brawling mixed in. Danielson even called Joe a Mother F*cker, which really surprised me. Danielson fought extremely hard but ended up tapping to a Coquina Clutch. After the match CM Punk comes out and says he wants a rematch with Joe because he was the only man that Joe hasn't beaten since he became champion. Danielson then said that Punk's match wasn't as hard as his and he deserves a rematch more.

Generation Next then comes out and attacks Punk. Joe and Danielson just watch. Aries got in their faces so they joined in the fight. The Rottweilers then join the fight, taunting Joe with his stolen title belt. The fight continues until Low Ki and Danielson stare down Joe. Danielson then announces his partner will be Low Ki in the match vs. Joe and Jushin Liger.
9/10

Overall this show scored a 42 out of 60 for an overall score of 70%. Check this show out for two things. The Midnight Express segment and the Title match. Both were great.

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NXT Takeover: Toronto

"Glorious" Booby Roode vs. "Perfect 10" Tye Dillinger

The crowd was hot for both these guys, I thought it was odd that they made a point to not announce Roode as being from Toronto, the fans know he is, and then really brought it home that Dillinger was from nearby Niagra Falls.

Couple of funny spots with Roode begging off with both hands and Dillinger turns it into Roode is saying "10".  Then stomping on Roode's hands and the way he shook them off Dillinger again implied Roode was doing his "10" gimmick.
Both these guys are veterans with Dillinger wrestling 15 years and Roode nearing his 19th, I would imagine this night was very emotional for both of them as this must be their biggest high profile match in their "hometown".
A really great match, during some reversals near the end Dillinger locked in a sharpshooter to a big pop.  Roode got the win with the Glorious Drop.  Post match Dillinger got a much deserved standing ovation as he apologized to the crowd for the loss.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Tournament Finals
TM61: Nick Miller & Shane Thorne vs. The Authors Of Pain: Akam & Rezar w/ Paul Ellering

They brought back the classic gimmick of having the manager in a cage above the ring.  Leading up to using this gimmick it was mentioned on NXT TV about the time Ellering was in a cage at the Last Battle of Atlanta.  During the match Ellering would shout instructions to his men.  

There was a structure at ringside that was used to hoist and support the cage.  When I saw it I immediately thought if they didn't do a spot of it it would be a waste.  They didn't wait as moments into it Thorne dove off it onto The Authors of Pain.

Thorne took the heat and made the hot tag to Miller who then cleaned out, I was surprised how much the Authors started bumping for Miller leaving their feet, taking bodyslams and suplexs.  Ellering drops a chain down, somehow the ref doesn't hear it hit the canvas.  Then it flies off one of their hands and into the crowd, no way the ref didn't see that.

AOP hits their finish and win the tournament.  Gotta say though the AOP were not as dominate as I thought they would be as TM-61 easily handled both of them.  Triple H, Dustin Rhodes, and William Regal were on hand for the trophy presentation.

2 out of 3 Falls
NXT Tag Team Champions: The Revival: Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson vs. #DIY: Johnny Gargano & Tomaso Ciampa

Great start to the match, Revival quickly took the first fall when Gargano went for his patented slingshot spear from outside in and got caught with the shatter machine.  In the second fall Scott Dawson with a slingshot suplex!  Sincerely simply outstanding tag team wrestling.  The Revival are so great together, as are Gargano and Ciampa, but there is just something special about the Revival.

Second fall goes to DIY after they sandwich Dawson with a running knee and superkick.  Third fall started quickly after the second.  The action continued hot and heavy with so many reversals and high impact moves.  Gargano went for that rolling kick that he does and he kicks the title belt that Dawson was holding, it also busted Dawson open.  Dawson immediately locked on the inverted figure four that they used to win in Brooklyn, but Gargano made it to the ropes.  I really like that they didn't stop the match to tend to the cut.

Revival went for DIY's finish, but the missed it, DIY hit Shatter Machine for a two count.  There was an unbelievable finishing sequence of pin attempts and reversals until Gargano locked on the Gargano escape and Ciampa the armbar for the tap out to capture the Championships.

I would love to see a return match with these two teams in a steel cage.

NXT Women's Champion: Asuka vs. Mickie James

Fantastic opening lock up sequence with both getting a pinfall attempt in it.  Crowd gave Mickie a "you still got it chant" which is dumb because she's been wrestling steady since she left the WWE.  Action goes to the floor where James is wrecked with a german suplex on the floor.  James really took a beating this match, and she gave it right back.  She looked better in this match than I'd seen her in years.

Asuka got the submission with the Asuka Lock but it really wasn't cinched in tight as usual.  Probably the sequence of rolling around the ring with James attempting to break and reverse the hold caused it.  James offered a handshake, but Asuka heeled her and raised the title in her face.

Crowd showed Mickie some appreciation, she appeared to get a bit emotional from it.  I wonder if this will be a one off for her and will we see her return to either NXT or main roster.

NXT Champion: Shinsuke Nakamura vs Samoa Joe

Nakamura's entrance was insanely awesome with all the violins.  A really good championship match with Joe dominating the beginning of the match.  Joe damaged Nakamura's knee early on in the match and it effected him through-out.  They really beat the tar out of each other, not surprising as Nakamura is the king of strong style.  Joe got busted open and once again they didn't stop it just let the incidental blood flow.

Finish came after both guys on the floor, Joe kicked Nakamura in crotch then slammed him on the stairs.  He then threw him in the ring nailed the muscle buster for the three count.  Not a clean finish due to the nut shot on the floor.  Makes Joe the first ever two time champ and makes Nakamura "human".  Can't say I'm happy with this finish, but with the show in Japan on December 3rd I imagine Nakamura wins the title back in his home country.

The crowd was shocked, and were very quite after it was over.  Seems like they were just as surprised as I was.  Eventually they started  "Joe" chant.

All in all a really good show where even the weakest match on the card was still a solid match.  Seems to be another scenario where NXT is going to top the PPV that follows it.  I know I personally was looking more forward to NXT Takeover than the Survivor Series.

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NXT Takeover The End of the Beginning Review

NXT Takeover: The End of the Beginning

June 8, 2016 from Full Sail University

Orlando, Florida

It's funny because I thought the sub-name was just The End and there was lots of speculation on the internet over exactly what that meant, then during the opening promo the whole sub-name The End of the Beginning appeared.

Andrade "Cien" Almas defeated. Tye Dillinger
I assumed that Dillinger was going to lose this match from the beginning because no one has ever been hyped up come in and lost their debut match.  I fear that Dillinger is going the ways of Tyler Breeze and Dolph Ziggler, a guy who is really good in the ring but is relegated to basically putting other people over with minor pushes here and there.

Cien look decent, I was expecting him to be masked, his finish looks devastating!  Personally I would have had this match be the second match on the card.  Cien was making his debut but he wasn't a known wrestler to the crowd and they weren't pumped for him.  Dillinger was wicked over with the Full Sail crowd.  The tag match should have opened the show.

The Revival: Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson defeated Tag Team Champions: American Alpha: Jason Jordan & Chad Gable to win the titles.
I had Alpha winning this match and was surprised to see Revival become the first ever two time NXT Tag Team Champions.  This was was so freaking amazing though, it was somehow better than their Dallas match!  Legit the chemistry these two teams have is so good and they both put on a fine display of was Tag Team wrestling is all about and what it should be!  Both teams really bring me back to the height of JCP in the mid to late 80's.

Jason Jordan's dropkick is off the charts!  I mean seriously he almost kicked over Dawson's head.  I hope these two teams have a third match at Takeover Brooklyn.

I was shocked to see Paul Ellering come out to represent the team that beat down Alpha post match.  I had to look them up, Gzim Selmani from Albania an MMA fighter with a 4 - 2 record & Sunny Dhinsa a Canadian freestyle amateur wrestler have no prior pro wrestling experience prior to signing with NXT.  They have wrestled a few house shows against American Alpha and others.  I'm very interested in where the relationship with Ellering comes in or why WWE brought him back.

Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Austin Aries
A very stiff strong style match that had Nakamura on the defensive more in this match than any current TV match in NXT to date.  Austin attacked Nakamura with reckless abandon through-out the match and it cost him in the end has he crashed and burned into the guard rail and shortly after that it was over.  It'll be interesting to see where Aries goes from here.  Nakamura I think will be competing for the NXT Championship at Takeover Brooklyn.

NXT Women's Champion: Asuka defeated Nia Jax
For those of you that don't know, Nia Jax is the Rock's cousin, I mean you did see her go for the "peoples" leg drop.
I really hate Nia's entrance music, it's rather dumb and between her and Dillinger it was the night of the high collar entrance gear.
I gotta say I liked this match and I didn't have high hopes for it.  It was a good story with Jax beating the tar out of Asuka the entire match using her size to her advantage countering everything Asuka had.  Asuka withstood the beating and when Jax was tuckered Asuka dished out a series of SEVERE strikes to Jax' head gaining the pin fall victory.

Earlier today we see Bobby Roode once again.  I look forward to his debut!

Steel Cage Match
NXT Champion: Samoa Joe defeated Finn Balor
I've maintained that a cage match with out blood just isn't a cage match I know I'm old school but that's how I feel.
It was a decent match, I didn't expect that a decisive of a finish with Joe getting the pin off a second rope muscle buster.  I expected a coup de gras off the top of the cage or at least an attempted one.  I thought the finish would be Balor doing his corner dropkick but it kicks Joe through the cage door and to the floor.

All in all it was a good show with some really good matches.  I've never been disappointed by a Takeover event, I'm sure Brooklyn is going to tear the house down.

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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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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.