Just got home from seeing the NXT show here in Seattle, WA at the Paramount Theater. This venue is normally just a place you'd go to see Slayer or Opeth, so it was odd to (again, went to the show last year) see the ring on the stage. So technically, the closer you are on the floor, the worse your view is. I was in "Row N", so I was still fairly close, but didn't have to have my neck cocked back as much as some.
No Way Jose vs Kona Reeves
- This was the opening bout of the night, and a decent way to kick things off. NWJ came out to the ring dancing, of course, and ran up and down each aisle through the crowd. He was super over, but didn't seem like it was as much as the show last year. Kona is pretty solid in the ring. Nothing too flashy, guess I can compare him to Randy Orton, does what he has to do to get the job done. He had a ton of heat though. NWJ picked up the win with a huge pop up punch.
Lars Sullivan vs Demitrius Bronson
- Lars is that big dude that has been in a couple tag matches on NXT TV, and when he loses he beats up his partner. I was STOKED to see this guy. He is huge, intense, and has so much going in his favor to become a big name in WWE. I had no clue who Bronson was going in, but the announcer introduced him as one of the newest recruits to NXT, and a former Seahawk. Throught they were just milking for a reaction, but NOPE, he was actually a Seahawk in his career (as well as a Miami Dolphin) and he got a HUGE pop when he came out, dressed in his Seahawks jersey and all. I think his family was in my section because they were going INSANE and all of them had their cellphones out recording the entire match. It was overall a squash, but Bronson got some good defense in. Lars won with what looked like a modified Rock-Bottom. He attacked Bronson after the bell with two more of these moves, and then the crowd chanted "ONE MORE TIME!", he left through the curtain, then came back out to a huge pop and did it again. He reminds me of Strowman.
Aleister Black vs Andrade "Cien" Almas
- I am a huge Black mark, I will admit that. When his music hit everyone got on their feet and gave him a humongous pop, his aura just affects everyone whether they are a fan or not. Apparently the night before in Vancouver he took on Velveteen Dream and the two put on a PHENOMENAL match, so I was bummed that we didn't get that. This was still a really great match though, with both guys hitting their spots and coming out looking great. This match was A LOT better than their Takeover match, and Almas was REALLY working the Los Ingobernables de Japon taunts to their fullest in this. Black won with a brutal "Black Mass". There was a really great moment after the match where this little kid that looked like he could have been a "Make A Wish" kid or at least had some sort of health issues was on the rail next to the entrance, and Black went up to him and gave him a HUGE hug and patted him on the head. Stuff like that is just awesome to see.
After the match we got an interview with Asuka... but no actual match
It was a really fun interview. Asuka is so over with everyone still. She came out and said that she was SO SORRY that there is no one on her level, so the crowd started a "She's so sorry" chant. Peyton Royce and Billie Kay came out and... OMFG
THEIR VOICES ARE SO GODDAMN SQUEAKY AND HIGH PITCHED IN PERSON!!! It's cute for a sec, but then it's like... JESUS! I don't know if it was just the audio mix because they never sound like that on TV, but jeeze. So they came out, made fun of Asuka, and then Asuka beat them up and left. Bummed we didn't get Asuka vs Nikki Cross like the night before, but this was a fun little segment either way.
Velveteen Dream vs Drew McIntyre
- The first half main event put one of the most "out there" guys against one of the biggest recent returns, in what was actually a REALLY GOOD match. Dream can really go, and he owns his character so much, so gotta give him credit for doing that. McIntyre is just a huge guy in person, and so cool to finally see in person. There were a ton of "3MB" chants toward Drew, and he acknowledged them a couple times doing some air guitar. Surprisingly, despite playing the heel, Dream was pretty over with the crowd. McIntyre picked up the win with his big running boot. He teased doing his old double arm DDT, but didn't actually hit it.
--Intermission--
I went to the merch table and got an event poster. Not as cool as the one they had last year, but still great. They had an autographed one too, but that was $50, no thanks.
NXT Tag Team Championship
Heavy Machinery vs Author's of Pain (c)
- First match back from intermission was for the tag titles. To my total surprise, AOP was insanely over with the crowd with A TON of "A.O.P." chants, while Heavy Machinery got a "fun" reaction too. This match was solid, I enjoyed it more than their match this week on NXT TV, but still not really my ideal tag title match... BUT STILL FUN! Otis from Heavy Machinery is super talented, I can see that guy going pretty far in his wrestling career. Kind of reminded me of Jeff Cobb a little bit with his huge suplex's to the also big team of AOP. The Author's ended up picking up the win with their finishing move.
Ember Moon vs Ruby Riot
- The crowd was about 70/30 in favor of Ember, but both got a great reaction either way. This was a fun match, but a lot of the crowd seemed like they were getting tired halfway through it. Some guy a few rows behind me tried to start an "END THIS MATCH!" chant, then a huge "FIGHT FOREVER!" chant started. I enjoyed the match, nothing crazy good, but both women got their stuff in and looked really good. Also great to see Ember Moon back in action after being out for a bit with injury.
NXT Championship
Roderick Strong vs Bobby Roode (c)
- MATCH OF THE GODDAMN NIGHT HOLY CRAP THIS WAS HOT FIRE!!! Easily some of the best work I have seen from both guys in NXT. Roddy attacked Roode before the match started and they had a huge brawl. They fought down into the first row of the crowd off the stage and showed so much hatred toward each other (for those that don't follow, Roode has been making some VERY personal jabs at Roddy and his family, so cool to see them still playing off of that). The match was full of so many near falls that everyone got to their feet near the end because we all thought Roddy was actually going to win the title. There was a ref bump when Roddy missed Roode with the "Sick Kick" and nailed the ref, and Roode went for a pinfall, but no ref to count. Match ended when Roode got Roddy and the ref perfectly set up and then low blowed Roddy, Glorious DDT, win.
Roddy jumped Roode after the match, and held the title up signifying that it will be his soon. Roode regained himself, got on a microphone and said "Seattle... YOU SUCK!" And left.
Great night overall. Not sure if it was as good as last years because we had Revival vs Alpha and Joe vs Balor, but that main event was Takeover quality.
Biggest Pops
Asuka
Bobby Roode
Aleister Black
Demitrius Bronson
Biggest Heat
Billie and Peyton
No one else really, heels got heat, but no where near as bad as them.
No Way Jose vs Kona Reeves
- This was the opening bout of the night, and a decent way to kick things off. NWJ came out to the ring dancing, of course, and ran up and down each aisle through the crowd. He was super over, but didn't seem like it was as much as the show last year. Kona is pretty solid in the ring. Nothing too flashy, guess I can compare him to Randy Orton, does what he has to do to get the job done. He had a ton of heat though. NWJ picked up the win with a huge pop up punch.
Lars Sullivan vs Demitrius Bronson
- Lars is that big dude that has been in a couple tag matches on NXT TV, and when he loses he beats up his partner. I was STOKED to see this guy. He is huge, intense, and has so much going in his favor to become a big name in WWE. I had no clue who Bronson was going in, but the announcer introduced him as one of the newest recruits to NXT, and a former Seahawk. Throught they were just milking for a reaction, but NOPE, he was actually a Seahawk in his career (as well as a Miami Dolphin) and he got a HUGE pop when he came out, dressed in his Seahawks jersey and all. I think his family was in my section because they were going INSANE and all of them had their cellphones out recording the entire match. It was overall a squash, but Bronson got some good defense in. Lars won with what looked like a modified Rock-Bottom. He attacked Bronson after the bell with two more of these moves, and then the crowd chanted "ONE MORE TIME!", he left through the curtain, then came back out to a huge pop and did it again. He reminds me of Strowman.
Aleister Black vs Andrade "Cien" Almas
- I am a huge Black mark, I will admit that. When his music hit everyone got on their feet and gave him a humongous pop, his aura just affects everyone whether they are a fan or not. Apparently the night before in Vancouver he took on Velveteen Dream and the two put on a PHENOMENAL match, so I was bummed that we didn't get that. This was still a really great match though, with both guys hitting their spots and coming out looking great. This match was A LOT better than their Takeover match, and Almas was REALLY working the Los Ingobernables de Japon taunts to their fullest in this. Black won with a brutal "Black Mass". There was a really great moment after the match where this little kid that looked like he could have been a "Make A Wish" kid or at least had some sort of health issues was on the rail next to the entrance, and Black went up to him and gave him a HUGE hug and patted him on the head. Stuff like that is just awesome to see.
After the match we got an interview with Asuka... but no actual match
It was a really fun interview. Asuka is so over with everyone still. She came out and said that she was SO SORRY that there is no one on her level, so the crowd started a "She's so sorry" chant. Peyton Royce and Billie Kay came out and... OMFG
THEIR VOICES ARE SO GODDAMN SQUEAKY AND HIGH PITCHED IN PERSON!!! It's cute for a sec, but then it's like... JESUS! I don't know if it was just the audio mix because they never sound like that on TV, but jeeze. So they came out, made fun of Asuka, and then Asuka beat them up and left. Bummed we didn't get Asuka vs Nikki Cross like the night before, but this was a fun little segment either way.
Velveteen Dream vs Drew McIntyre
- The first half main event put one of the most "out there" guys against one of the biggest recent returns, in what was actually a REALLY GOOD match. Dream can really go, and he owns his character so much, so gotta give him credit for doing that. McIntyre is just a huge guy in person, and so cool to finally see in person. There were a ton of "3MB" chants toward Drew, and he acknowledged them a couple times doing some air guitar. Surprisingly, despite playing the heel, Dream was pretty over with the crowd. McIntyre picked up the win with his big running boot. He teased doing his old double arm DDT, but didn't actually hit it.
--Intermission--
I went to the merch table and got an event poster. Not as cool as the one they had last year, but still great. They had an autographed one too, but that was $50, no thanks.
NXT Tag Team Championship
Heavy Machinery vs Author's of Pain (c)
- First match back from intermission was for the tag titles. To my total surprise, AOP was insanely over with the crowd with A TON of "A.O.P." chants, while Heavy Machinery got a "fun" reaction too. This match was solid, I enjoyed it more than their match this week on NXT TV, but still not really my ideal tag title match... BUT STILL FUN! Otis from Heavy Machinery is super talented, I can see that guy going pretty far in his wrestling career. Kind of reminded me of Jeff Cobb a little bit with his huge suplex's to the also big team of AOP. The Author's ended up picking up the win with their finishing move.
Ember Moon vs Ruby Riot
- The crowd was about 70/30 in favor of Ember, but both got a great reaction either way. This was a fun match, but a lot of the crowd seemed like they were getting tired halfway through it. Some guy a few rows behind me tried to start an "END THIS MATCH!" chant, then a huge "FIGHT FOREVER!" chant started. I enjoyed the match, nothing crazy good, but both women got their stuff in and looked really good. Also great to see Ember Moon back in action after being out for a bit with injury.
NXT Championship
Roderick Strong vs Bobby Roode (c)
- MATCH OF THE GODDAMN NIGHT HOLY CRAP THIS WAS HOT FIRE!!! Easily some of the best work I have seen from both guys in NXT. Roddy attacked Roode before the match started and they had a huge brawl. They fought down into the first row of the crowd off the stage and showed so much hatred toward each other (for those that don't follow, Roode has been making some VERY personal jabs at Roddy and his family, so cool to see them still playing off of that). The match was full of so many near falls that everyone got to their feet near the end because we all thought Roddy was actually going to win the title. There was a ref bump when Roddy missed Roode with the "Sick Kick" and nailed the ref, and Roode went for a pinfall, but no ref to count. Match ended when Roode got Roddy and the ref perfectly set up and then low blowed Roddy, Glorious DDT, win.
Roddy jumped Roode after the match, and held the title up signifying that it will be his soon. Roode regained himself, got on a microphone and said "Seattle... YOU SUCK!" And left.
Great night overall. Not sure if it was as good as last years because we had Revival vs Alpha and Joe vs Balor, but that main event was Takeover quality.
Biggest Pops
Asuka
Bobby Roode
Aleister Black
Demitrius Bronson
Biggest Heat
Billie and Peyton
No one else really, heels got heat, but no where near as bad as them.
Do you like old people porn? Because I just put enough to fill an old folks home in the wrestling section!