By JCH
Hello loyal readers. It is JCH here with your NXT review and I am hyped for this weekend where I have not one, but two Pro Wrestling EVE shows, but tonight 2 different women take centre stage as the rivalry between the Genius of the Sky Io Shirai and the Queen of Spades, Shayna Baszler enter a cage for the NXT Women’s Championship. Buzzing. Excellent video package recapping the feud before the credits.
First though, we have Breakout Tournament action.
Out first is DJZ - now going by Joaqin Wilde. He has his light up gear on. Little backstory about a near death experience. He is taking on Angel Garza. I don’t know much about him. I don’t keep up with any Mexican companies. He does go for a massive hi five with F.R.G then pulls out last minute leaving F.R.G hanging.
His video inset tells us he is called Angel because he is good looking and has a great rig. Fair enough. Nigel mentions he is Humberto Carillo’s cousin
Joaquin Wilde vs Angel Garza
Flippy reversal sequence to start ends with a face off. Garza offers his hand and then clocks Wilde. This is fast. Wilde with a springboard arm drag, then he looks like he’s hitting that spinning head scissors, but Garza flapjacks him. So it turned into a sort of multiple spinning flapjack from Garza. It looked ace whatever it was.
Then Garza hits a pop-up knee. He knows the way to my heart. Then he pulls his trousers off, Taichi style. What was that????? He started as if he was setting Wilde up for a package pile driver, but lifts him all the way up and turns it into a sort of massive X-Factor. This guy is brilliant. Cocky cover means he only gets a 2.
Chop exchange and big dropkick from Garza. He is definitely losing this match, cocky covers and getting a big showcase. Usually staple for loser in an NXT tournament opening round. Get them both over. Sensible. Wilde reverses out of a straight jacket into one of his own. Garza kicks his way out of it. Wilde hits a big splash as they both come off the rope then from his back pops Garza up into a double kick. Almost like an inverted double stomp, with the receiver being in the air and the man giving it on the floor.
He follows that up with a pin for 2. Then he dives through the two ropes around the turnbuckle to take out Garza. Between the top and middle as well. Very impressive. He calls for the DJ, but Garza cuts him off up top.
They’re both on top. Avalanche Spanish Fly from Garza, but Wilde kicks out, crucifix pin, Garza kicks out. Huge kick from Garza and he picks Wilde up straight away this time, and hits him with what Nigel McGuinness calls a butterfly stunner.
WOW. 1-2-3. I know nothing. Also that was ace.
I get the feeling Garza may be winning the award formerly named after his cousin.
Kushida package. First time we hear from him since his introduction I think. He wants to face everybody on every brand. I have had an epiphany. Johnny Gargano has nothing to do. How about at Takeover Toronto - Kushida vs Gargano.
Interview backstage with Damien Priest - he says there will be plenty of time for questions later, the name Damien Priest will live forever.
Here come the Profits, through the crowd. Sadly they come through a different section to the one F.R.G is in. He’s bouncing with his flag though.
Street Profits vs Forgotten Sons
The Profits have mics. They offer to put the titles on the line and tell the Sons they will not be forgotten, they will be remembered as the first team to be defeated by the NEW NXT champions, the Street Profits. The commentators are discussing whether the match is actually for the titles or not, no one seems to be quite sure.
The Sons isolate Ford early doors, before he avoids a double team and hits Dawkins. Dawkins takes out the Sons, then yags Ford back in. Big frog splash from Ford.
Ryker breaks up the count and we have a big brawl. 1s and 2s come to the aid of the Street Profits and Ryker takes his boys back up the ramp. Lorcan and Burch pick up the titles and we have a little exchange in the ring. Burch gives them the titles back and tells them they owe them. Dawkins nods and the Profits raise the titles. This 3 way feud looks to be continuing.
Backstage footage of Shayna getting her wrist taped by Jessamyn, whilst Marina shines the belt. Io is jumping up and down warming up.
Vignette with what looks like Killian Dain watching old film reel.
Vanessa and Aaliyah cut another promo on Mia Yim being a lower. Mocking her for her poor upbringing she spoke about last week.
Nykos Lykos vs Keith Lee
Lykos looks to be from Greece. Lee revels as the crowd Basks. Lykos slaps him. Lee with double handed chop and a massive pounce. Fireman Carry into the power slam which is known as The Limitbreaker and it is over.
Package on Adam Cole - Travelling via private jet to Download to defend the title. Hanging out with Slipknot. Looks like he defended the title against Dave Mastiff. Now he’s on the phone with Roddy Strong. He’s placed an order at Gargano’s pizza and subs restaurant. We find out what happened next week.
Also next week
Roddy vs Tyler Breeze
Shane Strickland vs Trevor Lee - aka Isaiah ‘Swerve’ Scott vs Cameron Grimes.
But now, IT”S TIME for the main event.
Io Shirai vs Shayna Baszler
Going to watch this one note free and give a recap at the end.
This started with Baszler on top, just being her usual calm and cocky self. At one point just looking to walk out of the door. The tied turned I think when Io hits a German off the top rope.
Then it all goes nuts. Marina and Jessamyn come down and hold the door shut. Io kicks the door open, knocking down the ref and Jessamyn. Marina gets up and locks the door. Io climbs the cage but is met at the top by Shafir. Candice comes down and knocks Shafir of the cage. Jessamyn comes into the cage and Candice crossbodies her from the top of the cage. Shayna takes out Candice then Io hits a moonsault off the top onto Shayna.
Everyone is down. Io and Shayna crawl towards the door. Io is nearly there and gets caught in the clutch using the bottom rope. She fights out and is almost out, then Shayna with the clutch again, right on the door. Io grabs the door and is slamming it in Shayna’s face and she falls out over Io to the floor to retain.
Post match Io snaps and beats the crap out of Candice - then goes and gets a chair and continues to beat her up, before hitting a brainbuster through the chair before leaving.
Well I enjoyed that. The cage match is a weird stipulation for me. Get me in a cage, so no one can get in. We go one-on-one until one of us can’t walk out of the door. Except they never seem to work like that. This one, like most, had multiple interference, but as Marina, Jessamyn and Candice are all a part of this feud, I didn’t mind so much.
The Io snap has been coming, it will be interesting to see where they go from this. I thought Shayna was excellent as ever. The early exchanges, the little things she does really add to a match for me. When she ducked Io’s first attack and just punted her in the hamstring, she just screamed ‘all day’. Love it.
I’ve said it before... she has that character down and she comes across like a total badass in the ring. Io is also bloody good. The two of them obviously have a lot of trust, the blind moonsault. Wow.
Looks like we have a new women’s feud coming out of this - Candice and Io. I presume Mia Yim is next for Shayna, once she's dealt with Vanessa and Aaliyah.
Lets play the Takeover prediction game!
I’ll throw out an early gamble of..
Shayna Baszler vs Mia Yim
Io Shirai vs Candice LeRae
Street Profits vs 1s and 2s
Undisputed Era vs Riddle, Breeze, Dream and Keith Lee
Kushida vs Johnny Gargano.
Stars of the Week
Shayna Baszler
Io Shirai
Angel Garza
Montez Ford award
Angel Garza - No suprises here. I’ve never heard of the bloke and he was bloody brilliant.
Top 10 Stars
1. Johnny Gargano 16
2. Matt Riddle 12
3. Shayna Baszler, Io Shirai, Ricochet 10
6. Kyle O’Reilly 9
7. Bianca Belair 8
10. Adam Cole, Mia Yim, Bobby Fish 7
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