turk128 Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 Yeah, Blake and Murphy using “Masked Confusion"/"Twin Magic" would be more fitting. Also, that way they can have guest members under the mask. For example: Angelo Dawkins, Hunico, or Dana Brooke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCM Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 Blake and Murphy got about 333% more interesting and fun with Alexa. Yeah they desperately needed that, but then again so did she. Her face work with the overly complicated offense she botched half the time wasn't doing her many favors. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonteCarl Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 Add my name to the list of people who just aren't getting in to Finn Balor. I have no previous attachment to Prince Devitt. Never saw any prior matches of his to know what he may be capable of, but outside of a few impressive flashes here and there, he hasn't shown me too much. His entrances are too over the top theatrical and goofy, though I do really dig the body paint stuff. But once the bell rings, I'm not connecting in any significant way to him. There is zero difference between regular old Finn Balor and "The Demon" outside of the paint, so why paint up? I don't sympathize when he's getting beat down in the same way I do with Sami Zayn. I guess I just don't get it. I'm kind of feeling the same way about Hideo Itami. These guys have been talked about for years, and I never saw any of their prior matches so I'm going solely based on what they've brought to NXT. So far, I'm very unimpressed and left thinking "That's it? What's so special about this guy that has built him such a great online reputation?" Not sure what it is, but whatever charisma they may have had in Japan I think they forgot to pack in their luggage when they moved, because they are certainly lacking it in-ring once the bell rings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Technico Support Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 Yeah, Blake and Murphy using “Masked Confusion"/"Twin Magic" would be more fitting. It's not that they look alike, it's just that they're so bland that nobody cares, so it would definitely work. Their super power is the apathy they inspire. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCM Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 Itami has tons of in ring charisma and fire, and he's done a reasonably good job of showing it in NXT. Balor bell to bell is Lance Storm Jr to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirSmUgly Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 I think Itami is actually a pretty good fired-up babyface. I do connect with him more and more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattdangerously Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 Itami was starting to come out of his shell and show some personality when he got hurt. I still think having to basically rebuild his moveset from scratch took away some of his confidence, but it was slowly coming back. Balor just isn't showing any kind of personality once the bell rings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(BP) Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 I'm ambivalent about Finn, but the sling blade looks like shit. I've always disliked those clothesline/drag down moves. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sublime Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 Itami is sleep inducing to me. I was kind of glad we didn't get the three way at the last takeover because I just don't like watching the guy in NXT, his matches are boring, he can be all fired up but his matches are pretty formulaic and he should probably working in a tagteam while he puts together a new moveset because most of his offense is dull except for the corner dropkick. I wanted to like the guy but am glad he'll be off tv for a while I hope he comes back at a level that matches or is close to his pre-NXT work. I don't mind Balor, he'd be better as a heel but especially now that Sami is hurt, they need a face the crowd is behind at the top and I think his promos are getting better. The Sling Blade does look like poo though and everytime he does it I think about Billy Bob Thorton rubbing his hands together, mmm-hmm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeeball Wizard Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 I think Balor's moveset would be much better as a heel, he really doesn't do anything flashy. I feel like if he was a heel he should be the demon full time, or be a face without the paint, heel when he does, though that would probably be confusing for most of the audience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Fresh Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 What an odd position for Bálor to be in (at least with this board), where everyone agrees he's gonna be a huge star, but most of you personally aren't digging him. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeeball Wizard Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 What an odd position for Bálor to be in (at least with this board), where everyone agrees he's gonna be a huge star, but most of you personally aren't digging him. He certainly has the look, the athleticism and the build of a star, its like he just hasn't put it all together in terms of what works for a WWE audience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiji Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 KENTA was at his best as the cocky underdog, where he would arrogantly stand up to men much bigger than him. I think Itami will find success when he's in the ring against Owens (now looking unlikely due to the length of his rehab and Owens probably movin' on up), Rhyno, or even Baron Corbin. He was also rad as a bully, like when he looked right over MIKAMI in that tag tournament way back when. He has a tonne of in-ring charisma but he's playing generic babyface and that's not his thing. Let him be a punk (and use the GTS, lololol). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Fixit Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Balor is Randy Orton with a fresh coat of paint (literally). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirSmUgly Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Bálor reminds me more of Seth Rollins, but I do think he has a weird something that elevates him charisma-wise with a significant portion of the population. Bland face Orton wishes he had the charisma Bálor has. I know that we can't judge him by the reaction of the NXT mutants because that's a whole different world, but the paint and the flippies will translate really well to what WWE fans in general think is good work. I do really hate Bálor's offense, though. Actually, of the guys that are indie/Japan stars that have come in recently, only Kevin Owens and Becky Lynch have what I'd call anything resembling painful-looking offense. Itami really needs to figure out how to get over without the half of his offense he can't do anymore, but I understand that. Crowe's offense is terrible. Bálor's offense is terrible. I'm interested to see what Uhaa Nation looks like on offense when he debuts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mco543 Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 It's a terrible trend in NXT of guys having awesome moves and really shitty finishers by comparison. Just observing as a fan I wouldn't be able to buy Balor beating John Cena with that double stomp, Bloody Sunday yes among several other moves of his, but not the double stomp. It looks painful but it just doesn't have the oomph required, IMO. Sami Zayn, Itami, Tyler, etc. all have that same problem; great offensive moves and terrible finishes. For the life of me I don't know why they don't just let Tyler use the Supermodel Kick instead of the Beauty Shot. I think the backlash (mostly) here against Balor is weird because of how small a sample size he's had as far as real matches in NXT. You can't judge him based on bullshit tags with Itami against The Ascension or squash matches. If you're not a fan then you're not a fan but he's clearly proven himself globally and it's not like he's suddenly forgotten how to work. The only disappointing real match he's had was against Owens and that was, IMO, because it was taped, cut for time, and in the can forever before it aired, had it been live on a special it would've been amazingly suspenseful. I'd be amazed if Balor didn't get over like a motherfucker on the main roster, it would be one of the most shocking things ever in the business for me if he busted. He may not main event Mania but I see him being an amazing attraction domestically and abroad, more so than probably anyone else in NXT with the exception of possibly Zayn. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hail Sabin Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 I just bought Sasha's and Becky's t-shirts during the bogo sale after their great work the last year or so. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trocar Slush Weasel Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 That 30 seconds gave Balor more personality than his whole time in NXT. And, what the hell, Blue Pants is uber over. Was the plan for her all along as Blue Pants or did they just latch onto it? Why the hell didn't they give Samoa Joe the music from the promo package? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cristobal Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 My guess would be the latter, and example #427 of how NXT is better run than WWE is is that they decided to run with it rather than just talking her off TV because it wasn't what they were originally going to do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattdangerously Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 Why does Joe's shirt say "Submission Specialist" when he's using the muscle buster as his finisher? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCM Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 Joe looked really good I think he's going to have a great run. Owens is in the two best feuds in WWE. Being in the same ring with Mojo made Ryder look like a world class star. I laughed when Jojo ran for her life when that idiot hit the ring. Bull should switch to cool ranch doritos they do wonders for my physique. Balor vid was cool, and something he really needed. They need to do something for Corbin as well. They're trying way too hard with Dana. Evil Emma is pretty badass I want to see her against Becky and Sasha. Speaking of Becky she's become one of the more interesting wrestlers to watch in WWE. Once again Cass and Enzo were great in a backstage skit. Those two are going to be money on the main roster. If I got to book only one thing in WWE it would be J&J going to NXT to have a feud with Cass and Enzo. Noble and Enzo cutting promos on each other would lead to the next boom period. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cristobal Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 ...who did Dempsey piss off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirSmUgly Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 I suppose with Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe being tubbier guys who are getting a push, WWE's gotta keep things balanced and make fun of a fat dude or two. I really enjoyed this show all around, but I think my favorite thing besides Kevin Owens being a lousy hypocrite was Blue Pants coming to the ring, getting a massive pop, and Corey Graves disgustedly interjecting with "Who keeps letting her in the building?" Perfect timing on that quip. Everyone loves Enzo on the mic, but I think Cass deserves more credit for being really good in that regard, too. They are really gelling as a unit at this point. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Mann Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 Mojo Rawley was put on this earth to be the guy on the apron to receive the hot tag. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirSmUgly Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 I appreciate Mojo coming out there and trying a few things to see how they'd stick. Putting him with Zach Ryder in a babyface tag team was a smart move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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