NXT TAKEOVER: BROOKLYN IV - 8/18/2018

[The Natural]

Cool seeing a variance of opinion regarding MOTN.

[JonnyLaw]

2 hours ago, RIPPA said:

I joked last night "HOLY SHIT! NXT SIGNED MARK HENRY!"

And the amount of people who I thought I was serious was >1

That made me happy

I could see Henry as a GM one day.

1 hour ago, cwoy2j said:

Honestly I hated the finish of the main event. I thought it made Johnny look like a moron. It just reeked of a typical WWE "slip on a banana peel" finish where they did it to try to protect the face but it just made them look dumb instead.

I half wonder if they’re cooling him off so people won’t be so pissed when he debuts on 205Live.

[RIPPA]

If they are truly going with the "dislocated knee" angle (which it was comical that Mauro was claimed that was the diagnosis 10 seconds after the match was over) that is a 6-8 week injury

Which for storyline purposes would keep him off the next couple of tapings and thus keep him away from the Wargames show.

I would be really weird if they moved him off of NXT without ever getting the title off of Ciampa so most likely they are gonna have to drag this out to the Mania Takeover show

[Coletti]

I honestly thought that Johnny was going to drag out the setup for the last superkick or knee, run at a cowering Ciampa, stop just short of hitting it and exactly as the ref counted to 10. We'd have Ciampa's shocked and then embarrassed and then outraged facial expressions, flipping out and flailing around still handcuffed, and Gargano could smirk and raise his head - and new title - high!

 

Instead we get Wile E Wrestling flying off the cliff.

[Beech27]

Re Baszler and Suzuki: She's said his WK9 match against Sakuraba is her proverbial "one match you'd show a friend", she retweets gifs of him from time to time, and they do come from the same catch wrestling tree. So, I think it's reasonable to suggest any similarities--the drop down/go behind/sleeper sequence looks exactly the same, for instance--are a result of direct and shared influence both. (And that's a good thing.)

With the caveat that I haven't read any MYC spoilers, Kairi winning the title makes me really hope Shirai does well. (I don't think you'd sign her if she wasn't going to, but I don't want to assume.) A title match between them, even if it's pretty par for their specific course, could still be among the best NXT has had; and for better and worse it would probably also bring a level of fancy violence choreography, nasty strike sequences, and athletic/semi-reckless bumping that the division hasn't seen. (And in that way, finish the "please don't die" sentence Sasha/Bayley started.)

Also, Kenny, I'm a fan and that's a nice sentiment... but I'm pretty sure that's three things. (Unless he's confessing to being an immortal tax-dodger.)

[cwoy2j]

20 minutes ago, christopher.annino said:

I honestly thought that Johnny was going to drag out the setup for the last superkick or knee, run at a cowering Ciampa, stop just short of hitting it and exactly as the ref counted to 10. We'd have Ciampa's shocked and then embarrassed and then outraged facial expressions, flipping out and flailing around still handcuffed, and Gargano could smirk and raise his head - and new title - high!

 

Instead we get Will E Wrestling flying off the cliff.

Exactly. It just made Johnny look like a moron. It's not like he didn't know Ciampa was close to the edge of the stage. I get the whole, "he was blinded by hate" thing but at some point all of these slip on a banana peel finishes make the face look stupid. In his book, Bob Holly said that when he was a face, the writers would always want to do cheap, roll-up finishes to keep him strong. He was like, "that just makes me look like a fucking idiot. I'd rather have a good competitive match and lose to the guy's finish b/c it's something that would knock me out and look good rather than just get rolled-up bc I took my eye off the ball."

[cwoy2j]

If Regal got tired of being NXT gm, I love @JonnyLaw 's idea of Mark Henry as GM. RAW has a Constable right? That means that Smackdown needs Magistrate Mark Henry making "holla holla" tag matches in a salmon colored sport coat every week.

[Firebreaker Chip]

2 hours ago, Firebreaker Chip said:

An underrated part of the Dream's game is all the hilarious verbal reactions he does when his opponent's on offence, he did this incredible agitated honk when EC3 suplexed him towards the end of their match

 

[Jiji]

Okay, I really think Dave is great, aside from his inconsistent issues regarding women, but his dismissal of Kairi (I can't bring myself to refer to her by that stupid NXT name...)/Baszler as great pissed me off. He's always been a moves/execution guy first and foremost but it really seems like it's getting worse with time. I continually find myself siding with Alvarez's opinions on things during their discussions.

[Godfrey]

I just rewatched the final moments to be sure, but it sounded to me like the crowd was turning on Gargano pretty hard before Ciampa came out for another round of posing. And why shouldn't they? Dude was winning what is (in kayfabe) the biggest match of his life and all he had to do was nothing because his opponent was giving up, literally begging to be spared, but instead he makes the dumbest decision ever and winds up losing so badly he injured himself. You know what you call someone who blows it that hard? A choke artist. A fool. A LOSER. I'd boo him too.

But it's wrestling, so instead I'm excited to see where they go with Johnny. Maybe a heel turn would do him some good?

[RIPPA]

I said this last night but my list of dumbest people in wrestling is currently 

1) Sting

2) Johnny Gargano

3) Becky Lynch

[muhammedboehm]

10 hours ago, The Natural said:

I'm positive a fourth match will happen though I'm still looking forward to it despite what I've said. A difference in stipulations would be ideal to what's gone on.

First ever NXT Hell in a Cell?

[muhammedboehm]

6 minutes ago, RIPPA said:

I said this last night but my list of dumbest people in wrestling is currently 

1) Sting

2) Johnny Gargano

3) Becky Lynch

Does Becky jump to number 1 if Charlotte turns on her tonight?

[Lawful Metal]

I really enjoyed the show. 

I'm perfectly fine with the Johnny / Ciampa feud.  Obviously, it sucks they had to do this instead of the triple threat with Black, but for what it was, it was great.  Ciampa definitively winning the feud is the right call, and Johnny's injury (kayfabe or not) is probably pretty good for him.  We can get vignettes of him training and refocusing (kinda like they did with Bayley when she had a leg injury), supporting Candice, and, probably most importantly, moving on with his life.  Then he can start at the bottom again, Ciampa won't even mention his name, or allow anyone else to, and Johnny can organically rise back to the top for the blow-off, which doesn't necessarily need to be for the belt. 

Loved the tag team match.  Roderick was flying around for everyone.  Tyler Bate is great.  I'd be tempted to give it the full five, but I was annoyed at KOR kicking out of the kill move finisher.  At least have Roddy break it up. 

Velveteen's Biggie tribute was amazing, and I loved the "Call Me Up Vince" on his ass.  Yes, the roles were backwards for this one -- Not sure how they don't realize that no matter what Dream does he's a fan favorite.  They don't have to change too much about him, but allow his in-ring work to show just how much the crowd wants to cheer him.  EC3 -- not sure what to do with him in NXT, but I think he could actually work better on the main roster. 

Was not into Ricohet / Cole until that superkick spot.  That was cool.  So was the wild rana.  Other than that, it was kinda there. 

Also, Kairi and Shayna put on both of their's best matches in NXT to date.  Loved it.  Both of them are really, really good.  Not sure how well treated Shayna will be on the main roster, but as a big fish in a small pond in NXT she's golden.  Real curious who challenges Kairi next, but it'll be pretty cool, I think.

I have no real complaints about the show.  It was great. 

[RIPPA]

4 minutes ago, muhammedboehm said:

Does Becky jump to number 1 if Charlotte turns on her tonight?

It is really hard to top Sting though

Plus - at least to Becky's credit in this one situation - she has been displeased that Charlotte was added to the match.

[Nice Guy Eddie]

Bayley has to make the list if Sasha ends up turning on her.

[muhammedboehm]

2 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

Bayley has to make the list if Sasha ends up turning on her.

Bayley is fourth

[StretchMediatedHypertrophy]

2 minutes ago, muhammedboehm said:

First ever NXT Hell in a Cell?

I think they could easily just use the double cage, though I have to say it isn't remotely clear to me what they're even thinking about doing for the Wargames match itself.

I suppose the logical setup is UE (Fish may be ready by then I think, especially if they use him carefully) vs Dunne/Ricochet/Lorcan/Burch - but I'm not sure that's going to be particularly hate-filled.

[Niners Fan in CT]

For whatever reason I just can't get into any of UE.  I can't do it.  They are so boring to me right now. 

[StretchMediatedHypertrophy]

I like Kyle a lot more than I thought I ever would; his ceiling is pretty low in the current scheme of things but I think he's got a good solo NXT run in him.

[FlaeBlazer]

2 hours ago, Oyaji said:

Okay, I really think Dave is great, aside from his inconsistent issues regarding women, but his dismissal of Kairi (I can't bring myself to refer to her by that stupid NXT name...)/Baszler as great pissed me off. He's always been a moves/execution guy first and foremost but it really seems like it's getting worse with time. I continually find myself siding with Alvarez's opinions on things during their discussions.

I honestly kinda feel bad for him. You know what’s gonna happen if he gives the NXT Women’s Title match way lower than expected. Like most people I saw had it at like 4* or 4.25* and listening to Dave on WOR, it seemed like he had it at like 3.25* or 3.5*.

With the Royce controversy, giving a women’s match a way lower rating than the consensus is surely gonna look bad for him sadly.

[RIPPA]

 

[Burgundy LaRue]

The tag match was very good. Tyler Bate is incredible. Kyle O'Reilly is the only UE member to have grown on me, because he recognizes that he's a boob and plays into it. Kicking of a Burning Hammer was ridiculous and hampered the match's real ending, IMO. 

EC3 is lucky the NXT faithful love Velveteen Dream so much. The Top 1% added nothing to this match. Dream continues with the great character work. The Coogi-inspired vest was amazing and CALL ME UP VINCE on his tights while shaking his ass was my moment of the night. Dream's not there just yet in the ring, but he's still ahead of EC3 in that department. I like the former Ethan Carter III as a character, but he does nothing for me with his in-ring work. A strong ending to a solid match is all to be expected here, and the right man won.

I'll have rewatch Cole/Ricochet. I feel that it was a good match, but it's not clicking for me right now for some reason. Need to make sure it's not my Cole bias clouding my opinion. The superkick to the neck had me yelping, as well as that crazy rana over the top rope. They couldn't have Ricochet take a loss here, so all well that ends well.

Shayna/Kairi was MOTN for me. Shayna is a great asshole heel and Kairi is the perfect never-die baby face to balance that. Didn't care for Kairi's Elbow getting kicked out of twice--what is with NXT devaluing strong finishers so much? Anyway, I like they had both women know each other so well where they could counter the other's killshots. Gotta figure Bianca Belair is the new endgame for Kairi.

As for the main event: it's becoming diminishing returns for me. That's not to say it last night's match was bad, it certainly wasn't. But unsanctioned/street fight/last man standing matches are variations of the same brawling style and all this needs something fresh. Black in the match would have been that, but no one has control over injury, sadly.

I understand the story they're telling with Gargano--in his quest to take down Ciampa, he's lost himself--but find another way for him to lose that doesn't make him look like a total idiot. Wile E Wrestling is an apt name for him.

I hope the cameraman, timekeeper, and Percy Watson all get hazard pay for getting caught in the fray.

Best thing going in NXT is Aleister Black mystery, how they're handling that story is fantastic.

Good show, and enjoyable.

[RIPPA]

 

[Jamal]

10 hours ago, RolandTHTG said:

Why build up Baszler as such a dominant champ if not to either eventually turn on Rousey or see Asuka return? They've barely used Sain in any significant way. This seems odd and distracting in the context of the next MYC. 

I think they did it because of the MYC. It makes the tournament look that much more important if the previous year’s winner is now the women’s champion. Then again, I could be wrong and Kairi drops the belt at the next set of tapings lol