Wow. Just, wow.
(Note: This review was written before Raw aired and as such will not include any aspect of the show. Raw was amazing though.)
The WWE over the past few years has prioritized safety over any other aspect of the company. It's the primary reason they've stuck with PG programming for as long as they have, as it has dramatically lowered the rate of injuries(sorry to Daniel, Cesaro and Seth). Tonight was an exhibition of how to push the limits of PG to the absolute maximum. Let's run through one of the best shows of 2015. Also, these recaps have changed in format. I'm no longer going in depth into every match, and saving most of the analysis for the main event(s).
The show opens with the kind of match a show should open with: a ladder match. I have to say, this match was INSANE. Pretty much every team delivered(looking at you, Usos) with a big spot or two, and it was just so much fun to watch. Kalisto delivering the SDS, Xavier doing commentary and throwing trombones, and Kalisto, Kalisto, Kalisto. Never since Rey Mysterio has a luchadore done so much, and never before has he been this entertaining. This guy is on a rocket ship to the top.
The WWE knows how to screw up shows, and proved it with these next two. I won't go in depth on why these matches sucked, but predictable finishes and an inability to sell moves has something to do with it. We move back into the better side of things as the Wyatts face some more old guys. Seriously, what's up with that? The match was a lot of fun, and with a lot of poor/incapable workers, they turned it into a spot fest. The bulk of the match was fine, and the Wyatts won in fairly definitive fashion. Simple booking, something the company has struggled to provide for a while.
In a surprisingly good match, Dean Ambrose has finally earned some gold, picking up the Intercontinental belt. Most of the internet is behind Ambrose and Owens, and they proved why. I definitely enjoyed this match more than their previous encounters, and these kind of matches will bring some prestige back to the IC belt. On a night of chaos, this was a wrestling match, and it provided a nice change of pace to everything else on the card. I have to be honest, I didn't pay much attention to Charlotte-Paige, and I didn't like what I saw. I haven't liked Charlotte since her early days of NXT, and Paige just can't make me care about her character. I have to question putting these two on second to last, as Ambrose-Owens was an excellent primer to the main event.
I've been watching a lot of the WWE/F from 2001 through 2004, and this main event would've fit right in, albeit without blood. As bad as the build up to this match was, Sheamus and Roman kept their egos in check and put their bodies on the line to make the fans care about the result, and they delivered. Just like Lesnar-Taker from Hell in a Cell, they delivered a surprising amount of brutality, but it just added to the prestige of the title. These two were willing to do anything to win, and it came across in their performance. The interference from Del Rio and Rusev gave it some legitimate heat, as it really felt like we deserved a clear winner.
What happened after the match was what really had the fans talking, as Roman, past his breaking point, let loose. It felt connected to the story they're attempting to tell, and was a deserved moment. Kudos to Triple H, who sold everything Roman was dishing out, putting his own ego in check to put over the younger star. (Note: Same kudos to Vince McMahon, who delivered a very similar performance on Raw). Really, this whole thing stunk of Triple H. Most of the booking was solid, with the right people going over in the right circumstances. When you look at the card, so many of these guys have been through NXT since Trips took over. NXT has drawn criticism from some from not being a "true developmental company", but I think some of that should be put to bed, with guys like Roman, Dean and Owens stealing the show on the main roster.
If this is what the 'E is selling, I'm sure to be buying. Almost every match was believable while still being entertaining, and at the end of the day, that's what counts.
6/10
I would've given higher marks, but I didn't enjoy almost half the card, showing the WWE still has more work to do. The opportunity is there, however.
I plan to do my first NXT Takeover recap for NXT Takeover: London, so expect that later in the week. Also, another episode of the Flyers GM mode is on its way, stay tuned for that. A final note: this recap style is here to stay, as it saves me a full hour or two on these reviews. I'm planning on spending the extra time working on prep for the WWE 2k16 universe mode, which will begin in early 2016. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed.
-Henry
(Note: This review was written before Raw aired and as such will not include any aspect of the show. Raw was amazing though.)
The WWE over the past few years has prioritized safety over any other aspect of the company. It's the primary reason they've stuck with PG programming for as long as they have, as it has dramatically lowered the rate of injuries(sorry to Daniel, Cesaro and Seth). Tonight was an exhibition of how to push the limits of PG to the absolute maximum. Let's run through one of the best shows of 2015. Also, these recaps have changed in format. I'm no longer going in depth into every match, and saving most of the analysis for the main event(s).
The show opens with the kind of match a show should open with: a ladder match. I have to say, this match was INSANE. Pretty much every team delivered(looking at you, Usos) with a big spot or two, and it was just so much fun to watch. Kalisto delivering the SDS, Xavier doing commentary and throwing trombones, and Kalisto, Kalisto, Kalisto. Never since Rey Mysterio has a luchadore done so much, and never before has he been this entertaining. This guy is on a rocket ship to the top.
The WWE knows how to screw up shows, and proved it with these next two. I won't go in depth on why these matches sucked, but predictable finishes and an inability to sell moves has something to do with it. We move back into the better side of things as the Wyatts face some more old guys. Seriously, what's up with that? The match was a lot of fun, and with a lot of poor/incapable workers, they turned it into a spot fest. The bulk of the match was fine, and the Wyatts won in fairly definitive fashion. Simple booking, something the company has struggled to provide for a while.
In a surprisingly good match, Dean Ambrose has finally earned some gold, picking up the Intercontinental belt. Most of the internet is behind Ambrose and Owens, and they proved why. I definitely enjoyed this match more than their previous encounters, and these kind of matches will bring some prestige back to the IC belt. On a night of chaos, this was a wrestling match, and it provided a nice change of pace to everything else on the card. I have to be honest, I didn't pay much attention to Charlotte-Paige, and I didn't like what I saw. I haven't liked Charlotte since her early days of NXT, and Paige just can't make me care about her character. I have to question putting these two on second to last, as Ambrose-Owens was an excellent primer to the main event.
I've been watching a lot of the WWE/F from 2001 through 2004, and this main event would've fit right in, albeit without blood. As bad as the build up to this match was, Sheamus and Roman kept their egos in check and put their bodies on the line to make the fans care about the result, and they delivered. Just like Lesnar-Taker from Hell in a Cell, they delivered a surprising amount of brutality, but it just added to the prestige of the title. These two were willing to do anything to win, and it came across in their performance. The interference from Del Rio and Rusev gave it some legitimate heat, as it really felt like we deserved a clear winner.
What happened after the match was what really had the fans talking, as Roman, past his breaking point, let loose. It felt connected to the story they're attempting to tell, and was a deserved moment. Kudos to Triple H, who sold everything Roman was dishing out, putting his own ego in check to put over the younger star. (Note: Same kudos to Vince McMahon, who delivered a very similar performance on Raw). Really, this whole thing stunk of Triple H. Most of the booking was solid, with the right people going over in the right circumstances. When you look at the card, so many of these guys have been through NXT since Trips took over. NXT has drawn criticism from some from not being a "true developmental company", but I think some of that should be put to bed, with guys like Roman, Dean and Owens stealing the show on the main roster.
If this is what the 'E is selling, I'm sure to be buying. Almost every match was believable while still being entertaining, and at the end of the day, that's what counts.
6/10
I would've given higher marks, but I didn't enjoy almost half the card, showing the WWE still has more work to do. The opportunity is there, however.
I plan to do my first NXT Takeover recap for NXT Takeover: London, so expect that later in the week. Also, another episode of the Flyers GM mode is on its way, stay tuned for that. A final note: this recap style is here to stay, as it saves me a full hour or two on these reviews. I'm planning on spending the extra time working on prep for the WWE 2k16 universe mode, which will begin in early 2016. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed.
-Henry
Comments