NXT Takeover: London

I turned this event on live on WWE Network in time to see the main event; Samoa Joe vs. Finn Balor for the NXT Heavyweight Championship.

Balor came out in his typical Demon attire for a big match but added a tophat in honor of London and perhaps the Christmas season. But would he play Ebenezer Scrooge to Samoa Joe's title hopes?

I just had to get a cool close up screen shot of Balor with the top hat and the belt for maybe the last time. 

Joe seemed to have a following in London, many of the fans chanting the typical "Joe's gonna kill you" and mixed 'Lets go Balor - Lets go Joe' going back and forth. 

The match featured quite a few counters and submission holds. 

In the end, Balor held onto the belt in the best Finn Balor match I've ever seen. Any plans for Balor to be in the Royal Rumble are obviously on hold with him retaining the belt with a top rope Coup de grace. This was NXT traveling overseas for the first time ever, and it was a historic ending.

WWE NXT Episode 288 Recap

The Unveiling of new NXT World Champion Finn Balor

Balor came out and cut a promo, and basically to me he was how he needs to be on the mic. He was human, relatable. He talked about all the time he's spent wrestling around the world and that it's taken him 18 years to get to this point. He spoke about all his time in Japan, and all the consideration he gave to coming to NXT. He said that holding the NXT title belt made it all worth it. This is clearly the pinnacle spot for Finn Balor's career. He is not super strong in promo work. This could become a concern on the main roster. Then again, it works perfectly in NXT. 

Balor pointed out all that the man (Kevin Owens) he defeated for the belt has done in six months; all the big time guys he has beaten, pinned, or hurt. But he didn't beat Finn Balor in Tokyo. Balor said in the Barclays center in Brooklyn, he's walking in NXT Champion, and walking 'straight back out NXT Champion' (cheesy), and then Balor's music hit. The fans love him. This is going to be a big ticket re-match and it's being billed as the biggest NXT match ever. I agree. 

Eva Marie vs. Cassie

I know Divas are what has made the NXT product a thing. I just don't care about them. Yet. Eva Marie wins by the way. 

Next up Tyler Breeze wants to know where he stands for NXT: Takeover Brooklyn and he's talking with William Regal. Basically he says he knows William Regal has something big waiting for him, and it better be something good while mentioning the Owens/Balor match at the event. Breeze probably goes on to feud with Balor after that match with Balor retaining, possibly he interferes in it. 

Baron Corbin vs. Jesus De Leon

Baron Corbin hits his finisher (End of Days) for the pinfall win.

Samoa Joe vs. Mike Rallis

One of the other most 'over' guys in NXT, Samoa Joe beats Rallis with the muscle buster. I think this is the move that injured Tyson Kidd. Joe got chants from the crowd "Joe's gonna kill YOU". 

Two more Divas Matches I could care less about

I just can't get into them. Charlotte Flair got the win, Charlotte Flair despite being the best thing going for women's wrestling right now (allegedly) is a very ugly young lady. I don't care about these matches and never will. 

The Vaudevillans vs. Angelo Dawkins & Sawyer Fulton

The Vaudevillans have a helluva schtick/gimmick. They're one of the first teams I noticed when I started paying attention to NXT at my friend James' house, and he was laughing at them. They hit their finisher, the Wherling Dervish over the two jobber-esque opponents for the win. The Vaudevillans will get a title match next week.

NXT Takeover: Brooklyn Title Match Contract Signing

Regal starts out in the ring and Kevin Owens cuts a promo saying this is the biggest main event ever in the history of NXT. He asks Balor 'how does it feel to be the NXT Champion?'. You could see it coming from a mile away, as Owens slams Balor's face into the table and them ambushes Regal after calling Balor the underdog. He said Japan was nothing but a fluke win for Balor and that he will become the first two-time NXT Champion. 

[Wrestling Inc Recap]

WWE Network Watchlog

After that bad finish on WWE Battleground PPV, I had to see something a little better. This guy had a pretty good listing of his best matches of the year - so I decided to go with Neville vs. Finn Balor from NXT Takeover: Rival.


2015.02.11- Finn Balor vs. Adrian Neville- NXT... by dixonkyle4

A piece of NXT Finn Balor News

According to Daily Wrestling News, Finn Balor's WWE main roster will debut later in 2015 and they see big opportunities to come with his merchandise (no surprise there).

WWE officials see a huge amount of opportunities waiting with merchandising for NXT Champion Finn Balor and have high hopes that his Mattel action figures will kick that off. Balor is still expected to be on the main roster before the end of the year.

I have heard Mattel's brand manager speak towards the popularity of NXT items, and Balor's first Elite figure version that will soon be available for preorder looks to be one of the best they have ever created. I know it got me more interested in NXT.

I am going to continue enjoying the NXT product, learning the roster, and following the development of Balor on that show while not worrying too much about when he will arrive on the main roster. It's all downhill from there with the poor writing or storyline rushing.

NXT Takeover: Brooklyn

I was literally thinking tonight about how badly I missed wrestling on Saturday evenings. The WWE has announced an NXT Takeover in Brooklyn on August 22nd, the night before Summerslam 2015.

I understand why people are attracted to NXT.

The character development is good. The crowds and venue are small and have an old school feel to them. The guys wrestle their asses off, as they're trying to achieve a spot on the main roster. It's got an amateur feel to it and I'm really starting to like it.

I'll be tuning into the network for this live event - I like what the WWE is doing with this Saturday Night event and what they're doing with this promotion. I hope they continue more of the same.

After all, this blog is named after wrestling taking place on a Saturday.

San Diego Comic Con

I am definitely starting to get into NXT - and the collecting of NXT. I think I'm joining the Finn Balor legion here. This might be the greatest figure that Mattel has ever made. 

Some really good videos below showing a lot of the figures that were unveiled out in San Diego this weekend. None I'm more excited for than this Finn Balor, the new sensation that can bring mythology back to wrestling.