What's happening everybody?! Glad you're back with me another week. Last weekend was a big weekend for the WWE, as they took over Brooklyn for three straight days. The first event was NXT's Takeover special entitled "Brooklyn". For the first time in NXT's history, the developmental league of WWE was in a major arena for a Takeover show. The results of NXT Takeover: Brooklyn? Incredible show...but that's a mute point, as they always manage to put on outstanding shows. Here are the results:
Jushin "Thunder" Liger vs. Tyler Breeze
This was a special night for NXT in many different ways, but one of the biggest reasons was for the debut of Japanese legend and high flying innovator, Jushin "Thunder" Liger. The Brooklyn crowd was truly enamored with adulation and respect for the icon, but he was put to the absolute test with the so-called "Sultan of Selfies". This match somewhat resembled Liger's matches with the late Brian Pillman in the early-mid nineties in WCW. However, in spite of Breeze's excellent efforts, they weren't enough for the fifty-year-old that showed this young generation that he can still hang with anyone, as he won with the running Liger Bomb.
Winner: Jushin "Thunder" Liger
NXT Tag Team Championships
The Vaudevillains vs. Blake & Murphy w/ Alexa Bliss (c)
The next encounter was for the NXT Tag belts, as Simon Goch and Aiden English, collectively The Vaudevillains, faced off against the rapidly improving team of Blake & Murphy. They of course had Alexa Bliss in their corner, and this wasn't a bad match. I continue to see the great chemistry and in-ring work of Blake & Murphy, as they're slowly reminding me of a young Beautiful Bobby and Sweet Stan of The Midnight Express. Bliss decided she wanted to get involved, and that's when NXT residential favorite, Blue Pants, made her way to the ring to an awesome pop from the fans. Once BP mobilized Bliss, The Vaudevillains went to work, and as a result, became the NEW NXT Tag Team Champions!
Winners & New Champs: The Vaudevillains
Apollo Crews vs. Tye Dillinger
This was the anticipated debut of the former Uhaa Nation of the indies and Dragon Gate. Let me tell you, this guy has it all, and that's not being cliche. He's a power guy that is also a flyer. Hard to come by these days. He didn't have it easy though with "The Perfect Ten", but Apollo ultimately defeated him with his Powerlift/standing moonsault combo. Does he have the makings to be a huge star? Absolutely. Will he be? It's up to Vince and booking. I have little to no doubt in him. Nowadays booking tends to be all over the place and not be consistent. In any case, great debut showing by Apollo Crews.
Winner: Apollo Crews
Samoa Joe vs. Baron Corbin
This was a battle of two big bulls and this wasn't pretty. We all know the capabilities of the "Samoan Submission Machine", but now we get to see how he does against a relative rookie in Baron Corbin, who has been very much impressive since his debut just over a year ago. As good as Corbin looked in this match, in fact getting a few really near falls, Joe was just the man again, and the former multi-time World Champion got the win with the Kokina Clutch.
Winner: Samoa Joe
NXT Womens Championship:
Bayley vs. "The Bo$$" Sasha Banks
All I can say is WHAT A MATCH!!! Brooklyn gave the challenger a decent ovation, but Barclays Arena was clearly in favor of "The Bo$$". This match was one of the most fantastic matches we've seen all year, and it came from the NXT women. Banks was often times going after the injured hand of the young gutsy challenger and exhibited offense that continues to show why she may be pound for pound the best female competitor in either the NXT or main roster locker room. However, it came down to a reverse huracunrana and a Bayley-To-Belly to put the NXT Womens Champion down for the three count, and a new champion was crowned. The crowd exploded over the win, but later gave an awesome standing ovation for Charlotte, Becky Lynch (who both came out to ringside to congratulate Bayley) and Sasha, who tearfully came back in the ring to hug her opponent in a very emotional moment. These four young ladies represent the change for the women's division for either locker room, and were united as The Four Horsewomen. A memorable moment that will be remembered as one of the best moments of the year in NXT. What a wonderful story: the young, underdog challenger who has failed in attempts before to go after the title to finally win the big one, much like Sami Zayn did the NXT Title almost a year ago against Adrien Neville. Now, this tough lady from Cali won the big one, and what a hell of a match it was. Not to mention, an emotional post-win locker room interview with her and her family on top of it all. To Vince and the booking department of WWE: THIS is how you book women wrestling. Get a clue! From Charlotte vs. Natalya, Paige vs. Emma, Becky vs. Sasha, and the Fatal Four Way match for the NXT Womens Title, they get it, and it works...damn well at that. The people are booing this "Divas Revolution" because it's forced, plus there's no need to keep shoving in peoples faces the progression and evolution of women in sports like the Williams Sisters or Ronda Rousey. I will get into that area next week. Right now, let's celebrate the much deserved win of Bayley (the fact that she dedicated the match to her mentor and teacher, the late , great "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, by wearing polka dot wrist bands was cool as hell too).
Winner and new NXT Womens Champion: Bayley
NXT CHampionship/Ladder Match
Finn Balor (c) vs. Kevin Owens
The women's title match was a hard one to follow, and normally I would say to people to just go home because that couldn't be topped or matched. I was half right. The second half of the double main event didn't top it, but it definitely matched it. Owens is no stranger to ladder matches, as he is well known for his EPIC ladder match in ROH against Sami "El Generico" Zayn. This was a rematch from WWE's Beast In The East special event in japan, where Balor defeated Owens in a great, great match to win the title. In this one, the physicality was stepped up in big time fashion, as both men threw all they had at each other. The end result was Balor's Coup De Grace finisher from the top of the ladder, then he climbed up and retrieved the belt.
All in all, this was yet another victory for the NXT brand, and it's starting to really show that NXT is for the WRESTLING fan, and not the casual sports-entertainment fan. NXT has grown into a formidable brand alongside ROH ( I can't include TNA because of the disappointing material we've gotten from them on a weekly basis) and GFW. Kudos to Triple H for bringing back an awesomely worked show and a brand that continues to grow in popularity because of one word: hunger. These kids in NXT are hungry and aren't totally bogged down by inconsistent, flighty booking teams. This event gets a 4/5.
The next night, however, was Summerslam. One would imagine that Summerslam would at least attempt and come close to putting on a compelling show like their minor league brand did. My hope was for that to happen, and for it to be an impressive show. Was I wrong? Truthfully yeah sort of. Was it a disgrace? No, but for a lineup and card like it had, it should've been a HELL of a lot better than it was. Let's get into it.
Randy Orton vs. Shaemus
Typical match opener with two men that we've seen fight over and over and over and over again. Shaemus got the win, but nothing special here.
Winner: Shaemus
WWE World Tag Team Championship/Fatal Four Way Match
Los Matadores (c) vs. The New Day vs. Prime Time Players (c) vs. Lucha Dragons
This was actually somewhat of an entertaining match. I didn't say it was a masterpiece of artistic showmanship, I said it was entertaining. Mostly on the part of The New Day, and their rendition of "Empire State Of Mind" that had to be heard to be believed. Even the hardcore Brooklyn crown stood up in applause for the humor factor. Not much of a story here due to too much going on at one time, like these Fatal Four Way matches tend to have happen. In the end, Kofi got the win to help The New Day win their second WWE Tag Team Championship. Of course, the next evening, they got new challengers in the returning Dudley Boyz so it'll be interesting to see how things unfold.
Winners & new champs: The New Day
Dolph Ziggler w/ Lana vs. Rusev w/ Summer Rae
Although it was good to see Ziggler back, this match was nothing special and almost walked the lines of a bore. This was arguably the bathroom break match of the night. The match ended up on the outside, where both men got counted out, only for the ladies to cat fight inside the ring afterwards. Yawn!
Winner: None (double count out)
Neville & Stephen Amell vs. Stardust & King Barrett
A little bit of hype over the match as actor Stephen Amell from the Tv show Arrow finally got in-ring time and I must say he didn't look half bad. For someone with no experience whatsoever, he looked better than some of the Tough Enough kids. Other than Amell, I wasn't expecting a great deal out of this, and I was right. Midway through they lost me, and at this time I just wanted to see the "Red Arrow" finisher from the former NXT Champion, and I got it. Win for "The Arrow Brothers", but otherwise, another yawn!
Winners: Neville & Stephen Amell
WWE Inter-Continental Title/Triple Threat Match
Ryback (C) vs. The Miz vs. The Big Show
This match has been built for the last couple months but got delayed due to Ryback's staff infection. They finally got off the ground with this, and it was no more great than I thought it was gonna be, which wasn't going to be much. The match didn't suck, but it was damn sure average. Show knocked out Miz then got clotheslined over the ropes by Ryback, then Ryback gets on top of an out cold Miz to pick up the win.
Winner and still champion: Ryback
Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose vs. The Wyatt Family
Finally, my interest is starting to rise a little, and I do mean a little. This was a match I wanted to see because I'm a fan of all involved. This was physical and was a classic fight, but in the end, it was Ambrose's "Dirty Deeds" finisher, mixed with Reigns' spear to defeat Bray and Luke.
Winners: Ambrose & Reigns
Team PCB vs. Team B.A.D. vs. Team Bella
This is the bullshit I'm talking about when it comes to the "Divas Revolution". This is nothing against the Divas themselves, as even the Bellas have worked their asses off to at least present somewhat formidable matches lately. The problem is the booking. After the phenomenal match Sasha had with Bayley the night before at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn, why wasn't there one similar. Why wasn't Nikki's title on the line in a one on one match? This shouldn't have been a team encounter. In any event, the action wasn't bad and each gave good to great showings. The first team eliminated was Team B.A.D., however it was Team PCB that won with Becky Lynch's Disarmor finisher. Let's hope this ends when Nikki finally sets the new record for being the longest reigning Divas Champion, which A.J. Lee presently holds but once she left, her legacy was on its way out as well. Hopefully these teams can part ways and we start getting just some good ol' fashioned competition with GOOD storytelling.
Winners: Team PCB
WWE World Heavyweight Title vs. WWE U.S. Heavyweight Title
Winner Takes All
John Cena vs. Seth Rollins
This is definitely one match I was looking forward to seeing, and up until the end it was a pretty decent match. The big match feel was clear, and there were no ill-effects from Cena's recent nose surgery from the Rollins jumping knee that caused Cena's nose to shatter. Both men delivered, although I would seriously just stop using the springboard stunner that Cena likes to use all of the time. However, what killed it (in a negative way) was the appearance of the host, Jon Stewart. I'm a big Stewart fan, and was hurt when he left The Daily Show, but him being involved in the match grossly hurt it. He came out with a chair and teased hitting Rollins but instead gut shot Cena with it and it was enough for Rollins to use the Pedigree on him for Rollins to win the U.S. Title and still be WWE Champion. Never before has this happened, for someone to simultaneously hold two singles titles, but with Jay Lethal holding both the ROH Title and the TV Title, of course Vince is like "Anything you can do, I can do better", at least in his mind.
Winner and new U.S. Champion/still WWE Champion: Seth Rollins
Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar
Another big fight feel. This match was a straight up fight, as we knew it would be. Taker was at times taken to "Suplex City", but Taker looked very good here also. This was a slightly better match than their encounter at Wrestlemania 30, which honestly wasn't much to write home about. Lesnar held Taker in his Kimura Lock armbreaker, and the bell rang suddenly. We all thought Lesnar had once again beaten Taker, until the ref had looked at the instant replay and saw Taker tapping out his view and restarted the match due to the fact he never signaled for the bell to ring in the first place. Taker then low-blowed Lesnar and put him in the Hell's Gate finisher, and with Lesnar flicking off Taker, he fell unconscious and Taker got the win, albeit controversially.
This event, unlike NXT's Takeover event, was just an average show and should've been a whole lot better. This shows you the "creativity" of booking and Vince McMahon. It's starting to be very clear that Hunter gets it, Vince doesn't only not get it, he doesn't care. Although there weren't any disastrous matches on Summerslam, there definitely weren't any outstanding matches either, which is a shame. This event gets a 3/5, and I can't say I'm pleased with that rating.
Just a quick FYI: I'm working things out to where hopefully very soon you'll see me with my own youtube channel for "The Wrestling Cypher". Stay tuned, as I'll be keeping you updated. For no, thanks for riding with me, and will catch you later this week. Be safe, and keep being fans of the art of pro wrestling!
