A little note! Okay so it took nearly a year but I think I’ve finally realised that a rigid 5-star rating system just doesn’t work and as a result I’ve overhauled this feature. Instead of the 5 stars, matches will now be rated out of 5.0 with the overall show being an aggregated score. It’s my hope that this change should result in a much clearer overview of each event...hopefully!
Asuka vs. Emma
What Happened? Accompanied by her faithful ally Dana Brooke, Emma used every trick in the book to try and spoil Asuka’s second TakeOver appearance, but unfortunately for her the Japanese superstar proved just too hot to handle. Bludgeoning her Australian rival with her diverse range of unique strikes and submissions, Asuka survived the duo’s attempts to cheat her out of victory before securing the deserved win with a scorching kick to the face. That’ll hurt in the morning.
Winner: Asuka
Thoughts: A hot opening match enhanced further by a hyperactive London crowd, these women put on a better match than most of the main roster men have produced all year. Asuka is a wonderful performer: well rounded and able to effectively tell a story despite her shortcomings on the mic, and she delivered once again here. There were a couple of messy moments, and the pace could have been slowed a fraction, but on the whole the three participants put on a solid work with plenty of stiff action sequences and an excellent finish.
Rating: 3.7/5.0
NXT Tag Team Championship
Dash & Dawson © vs. Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady
What Happened? Despite their valiant efforts Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady fell short in their latest attempt to capture gold in NXT. Vowing to get even with Dash and Dawson for their ambush last month the New Yorkers started brightly, rocking the defending champions with their effective combination of speed and power. The match soon turned in the favour of the champions however when they refocused their attack on Cassady’s still-injured knee. Hoping to regain the advantage, Amore resorted to a splash from the top rope, but instead wound up the latest victim of the champion’s vicious ‘Shatter Machine’ double team finisher.
Winner and STILL champions: Dash & Dawson
Thoughts: While some might still need convincing of the fact, the tandem of Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder are two of NXT’s finest performers right now, and they backed this up again with a fine display in arguably their biggest match to date. A well composed match that never really outstayed its welcome and allowed all of its participants to effectively showcase their considerable skills. There were a couple of logic issues however, particularly with the finish, but again the positives vastly outweighed the negatives.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Baron Corbin vs. Apollo Crews
What Happened? In a battle of two of NXT’s top contenders it was Baron Corbin who prevailed as he handed Apollo Crews his first defeat in NXT. Combating his opponent’s high-flying offense with vicious blows and power moves, Corbin survived Crews’ standing moonsault before connecting with the ‘End of Days’ at the second time of asking for the pinfall victory.
Winner: Baron Corbin
Thoughts: Disappointing considering the lengthy build dedicated to the match, Corbin and Crews just never really shifted into the next gear, and this resulted in a sluggish match that probably won’t be remembered for much down the line. The two did excel with their storytelling however, and the combination of stiff moves and trash talk during the match sold the idea that these two alpha males really don’t like each other that much. A feud that is definitely worth continuing.
Rating: 2.5/5.0
NXT Women’s Championship
Bayley © vs. Nia Jax
What Happened? In one of the greatest comebacks of all time, Bayley somehow managed to overcome the monstrous Nia Jax to retain her women’s championship. With every angle of escape cut off, Bayley had to rely on her iron will as she suffered a tremendous beating at the hands of the challenger. Totally dominant up to this point Jax’s inexperience and frustration proved fatal however as the barely conscious champion managed to lock in a desperation guillotine which left Jax no choice but to submit.
Winner and STILL champion: Bayley
Thoughts: The real story here was the selling of the concept of Bayley as the ultimate underdog who will never give up in any circumstance. In that regard the match succeeded, but unfortunately it did so at the expense of the challenger’s monster aura. There’s no doubt that Nia Jax was not ready for this. An NXT performer for barely a month, the Anoa’i family member should have crushed opponents for a lot longer to fully establish her heel character before being thrust into such a high-profile match. The two did a great job regardless of this however and the dramatic finish will likely be remembered for a long time, and should help finally cement the champion as one worthy of the title she carries. I just wished they had saved this one for further down the line.
Rating: 2.8/5.0
NXT Championship
Finn Balor © vs. Samoa Joe
What Happened? Facing his toughest challenge since capturing the title in July, Finn Balor survived the brutal onslaught of his friend-turned deadly enemy Samoa Joe to keep hold of the gold. Trading heavy blows from the start, Balor encountered severe resistance from his famous foe and soon found himself wilting under the challenger’s kicks and corner flurries. Just barely escaping Joe’s dreaded ‘Coquina Clutch’ submission attempts, Balor regained momentum with a desperate double stomp counter, but the challenger remained relentless. Positioning Balor on the top turnbuckle, Joe looked to secure the title with his ‘Muscle Buster’ but the champion simply refused to lose, knocking his rival down with an ‘Enziguri’ followed by his patented ‘Coup de Grace’ for the three count.
Winner and STILL champion: Finn Balor
Thoughts: It was almost certain that these two would steal the show, and boy did they succeed. Dramatic from the start and absolutely crammed with some memorable, and wince-inducing moments, Balor and Joe delivered a match that somehow exceeded its lofty expectations. I actually had Joe winning the match here, but Balor’s win was completely deserved, although it does cloud the title picture heading into 2016 with the Irishman’s time in NXT surely coming to an end. That speculation can wait for the time being however. Can we just have this match every week? Please? Awesome effort.
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Overall: Five NXT TakeOver events in 2015, and all of them were superb. That, ladies and gentlemen is what is known as a home run! It may have suffered from a little dip in the middle of the card but London started brightly and ended with an instant classic scrap that will surely rank high on many match of the year lists, mine included. Throw in a wonderfully enthusiastic (almost too much at times) crowd and you have another exceptional event from the WWE’s tadpole division. Take a bow NXT, you have absolutely outclassed your parent company all year long and at this point really should be considered the go-to destination for any true wrestling fan going forward.
It must be horrible being on the main roster right now.
Show Rating: 3.4/5.0
Moment of the Event: The conclusion of the Balor/Joe match. Equal parts terrifying and amazing.
Event MVP: Finn Balor
What did you think of NXT TakeOver: London? Leave your comments below!
No comments:
Post a Comment