Well, I managed to be wrong about almost every single match on that show (except that Asuka did in fact murder Emma and Emma is now dead), but that was a hell of a show. The ending of the women’s title match was one of the most suspenseful things I’ve ever seen in a women’s match, and the main event was just brutal. Pretty surprised they decided to end three undefeated streaks in one night, and I don’t really know where Finn goes from here.
On an unrelated note, here’s Chikara founder Mike Quackenbush giving a short speech about why pro wrestling counts as art.
Finn vs Sami? Sami never really got a fair chance at trying to reclaim the title, since he was constantly injured, and with Owens gone to the main roster he doesn’t really have anyone else with his sights on.
If NXT was booked like main roster, though, based on Takeover we’d almost certainly have Balor vs Corbin to look forward to. :rolleyes: I hope wiser heads prevail on that one.
I crapped out on my predictions yet again, but damn, what a fuckin great show.
Asuka vs Emma and Finn vs Joe were the best matches of the night. Finn once again made me almost orgasm with his entrance. He just looks and moves like a whip cord lashing. It’s amazing how Joe can pull off those tilt-a-whirl face kicks. Usually when big guys try to do those kind of gymnastic maneuvers, they look like hippos in tutus from those Disney cartoons, but Joe is quicker than a minnow swimming out of a dipper.
I’m still not too sold on Nia Jaxx yet. She spent the last few minutes of the match basically holding Bayley. I guess it was booked that way to keep her from gassing out. Awesome Kong of TNA is much better as a large lady, and can stay active longer.
The London crowd was awesome. They’re part of what makes non-American football interesting to watch because the entire stadium sings some really haunting shit that dates back to the Middle Ages. I keep expecting to see the ghosts of Crusaders emerging for the final battle.
What, summoning the ghost of Jack the Ripper wasn’t good enough for you?
The crowd was my favorite part of last night, I love that they had entire songs to sing and not just the same rhythm of chants like we have. But like it was said, they have practice with all the soccer stuff going on.
It’s probably a bit taboo to say, but I kinda wish belts would change more often in NXT. I know we don’t want WCWs “you get a belt! you get a belt!” mentality, but I think booking people to have belts makes them strong and the pursuit of getting it back is good storytelling. Wish that the tag-teams would have changed and I could get behind either the women’s or the main title changing too just to change things up.
Otherwise it was a good show. I wouldn’t say it was their best Takeover (probably not even in my top 3) but it was good for what it was.
Damn it, Sir T, you just gave me the mental image of Oprah as a guest host of RAW, doing that bit with the wrestlers. Closing out the show with the entire locker room coming out and they all have belts. 
Kurt Angle just ended any idea of him going to WWE even as he hinted that he’d like to have a Wrestlemania moment to end his career.
How? By dissing NXT and saying he wouldn’t have any interest in going there because it’s the minor leagues.
You want some barbeque sauce with that foot, Kurt? You didn’t get back in WWE last time because Trips shot it down. Do you think you have any chance after dissing his child like that?
Kurt had his day in the sun, but that’s long over. Maybe a match with Daniel Bryan would work, if Bryan’s ever healthy again, but I can’t think of any other situation that would generate interest.
No idea why, but PWTorch decided to edit my comment, removing my pointing out that NXT was good enough for Samoa Joe, Rhino and James Storm. Also removing a line about Kurt healing up his head injuries and not saying stupid stuff.
They’ve edited my stuff too. They’ll inject some personal issue that doesn’t match the tone of my writeup at all.
You guys write on wrestling message boards?
What a buncha weirdos
So how did the Slammys go last night? Anyone cool win anything?
Neville won Breakout Star, which really made no sense at all.
Stephanie became a screaming temper tantrum throwing child to get SSR over, and ended by attacking the interviewer. Of course, I expect no real consequences of that, for REASONS.
And they tried to go back and forth with Stephanie being a face one minute and a heel the next, which wasn’t working and the audience wasn’t buying it.
Rollins showed up. We know he’ll be back. I assume he’ll turn on the Authority for stripping him of his title, he’ll benefit a lot from a character change. I wonder if they’ll push him to get back in time for Mania.
Cute little gimmick they did with the Diva award.
Also, the Usos somehow managed to win tag team of the year despite not being active for 8 months. And Sting, Brock Lesnar, the Undertaker, Stephen Amell, the Rock, and Ronda Rousey all won awards they weren’t present to accept.
R. Truth and Paige did a pretty funny recreation of Steve Harvey’s Miss Universe fuckup, but that was pretty much the only interesting thing in the show.
It was good to Seth again. WWE is really suffering without him.
As pointed out before, Stephanie’s screeching voice is annoying. It’s NOT BECAUSE SHE’S A HEEL. It worked for Vicki Guerrero, but not Stephanie. Vicki was annoying in a fun way. Stephanie is annoying in an eardrum-shattering childish tantrum way.
Neville gets a statue for Breakout Star, then loses cleanly to Rusev. Miz keeps trying to make himself relevant and sell some DVDs that will wind up in the bargain bin.
The Legion of Midcarders are beating up all the hapless faces, but they cannot withstand the power of Roman singlehanded. Again, Wade Barrett does not come out with them for the final beatdown attempt.
Again, ALL CAGE MATCHES ARE STUPID. Shame-us and Dean fought while hanging off the side. Dean let go first and won, something he could have done much earlier.
Eh, it’s as annoying as the Ladder Matches to me. I get really tired of seeing people just completely stall on the ladder and start looking around for the guy who is supposed to stop them from reaching the belt.
Super SD report
New Booty won, Stardust stole Christmas from Santino Marella, Neville and Titus O’Neil (Santino’s favorite Irishman) won it back, Team BAD threw eggnog on Becky Lynch’s face and Charlotte didn’t rescue her friend while she was in a match (sob weep cry), Dean Ambrose beat Zig and KO in a Triple-threat, Wyatts beat Dudleyz, Ryback and Kane, Lawler got off some real groaner puns, and thankfully they didn’t replay Stephanie screeching.
In case you were wondering.
Wow, from reading the spoilers for the Tribute to the Troops show for tonight.
Goddamn that is fucking LAZY assed booking. I won’t bother watching.