NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable

Unstoppable is a perfect word. It is the perfect word to describe the future of wrestling. NXT once again brought the A-Game, showing the entire galaxy (because I hate saying universe) how they are in a league of their own. Seriously, if WWE could just wipe their roster and put in all the NXT guys right frikken now, they would not have to hawk the WWE Network every damn show.

Kicking off the spectacle, was Tyler Breeze and Finn Balor in a number one contender’s match for the NXT Championship, as Hideo Itami was found during the pre-show out cold. In short, WWE’s script writers got to write one crummy little “found unconscious in the back unexplained” bit. In any case, Breeze has such an entrance. I love it. Would it be wrong of me to compare him to Gorgeous George? Balor looks like a BEAST. Good grief I am going to have nightmares.

Breeze and Balor looked unstoppable (see what I did there?) in the opening match. Breeze is so goddamn fast while Balor mauls with those stomps. Breeze’s supermodel kick and Beauty Shot couldn’t keep Balor down, and Breeze sells the mat story so well. Great and insane spot see Balor vanish from the ring, and then suddenly crashes down on top of Breeze from the lighting set by the entrance. Nice crowd chant of “you’re not counting” at the ref. He hits the Double Foot Stomp off the top for the pin and win. Well paced match to start the show, you can feel the crowd energy here.

Winner: Finn Balor

Charlotte Flair & Bayley vs. Emma & Dana Brooke

I can see Emma staying in NXT. Forever. She has a weird personality gimmick, which did not work at all on the main roster, but on NXT the charm is there. Somewhere. Charlotte is so awesome in the ring, and I really enjoy watching Dana Brooke. She’s got talent, that’s for sure. Bayley I have such a hard time seeing on the main roster. Her happy-go-lucky gimmick wouldn’t last six months, but on NXT its over huge. Speaking of huge, the talent level in the ring easily surpasses the Divas on the main roster. Yes, Natalya and Tamina are very talented, but lately they are stuck at ringside, so I don’t count that. In a great back-and-forth match, Flair and Bayley take the win with their respective Finishers. Fun match to watch.

Winners: Charlotte and Bayley

Baron Corbin vs. Rhyno

First off, I just love seeing Rhyno back in action. He was a favorite of mine in ECW, and even his time in WWE was just awesome. Shame his career went out with a fizzle, but good to see him still getting in the ring and dishing out some pain. Corbin is built as a match-ending machine, which seems off, and this is probably the first time any match involving Corbin went longer than three minutes (did someone say THREE MINUTES?) which I am not sure was a good thing. Both trade some big slams, Spinebusters. Sadly, Rhyno missed the Gore and was floored with the End of Days.

Winner: Baron Corbin

I get what they want Corbin to be perceived as, but I have a hard time seeing how this gimmick can survive long term. Simply he is a big guy who dishes out punishment on someone who can super-sell, and has nothing else to offer.

Backstage: Kevin Owens talks down Sami Zayn, then mocks John Cena with the “you can’t see me” wave, implying this might be the last time we see Zayn.

Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. Murphy & Blake – NXT Tag Team Championships

I like the guys. All solid workers. Enzo and Big Cass are fantastic together. Big Cass has a hot start, but the match slows down as the champs put Amore through the wringer. Enzo gets some good defense in, able to then go offensively but is inevitably overpowered. Big Cass finally gets the SAWFT tag and mauls everyone. Nice Powerbomb into Back Stabber combo, and it looks like new tag champs might happen, but then Alexa Bliss runs out, fights with Carmella? This distracts the challengers who then fall prey to underhanded tactics by the champs.

Winners and still NXT Tag Team Champions: Blake & Murphy

Not bad, crowd totally behind Team SAWFT. Blake and Murphy come off as complete jerks, and I’d rather see them on the main roster than Ascension. They sort of remind me of when Jim Powers and Paul Roma were a tag team in the late 80’s and early 90’s. You know, two generic looking muscular guys without much of a gimmick who could wrestle? Ha!

Ladies and Gentlemen… The next match, IS the show stealer. It stole NXT Unstoppable, WWE Payback, and if we keep talking about it, probably steal every show for the next six months. This match was incredible, both wrestlers putting on a wrestling clinic, a story, and an unbelievably exciting match where just for a moment, you forgot this whole damn thing is scripted.

I am not talking about Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.

I AM talking about…

Becky Lynch challenging Sasha Banks for the NXT Women’s Championship

I apologize. I don’t know how to recap this. Both Banks and Lynch put on a goddamned wrestling clinic. We go from mat-based chain wrestling to high impact multiple signature moves. We get submission holds and stretch-locks which would make Dean Malenko proud. This is just a straight up wrestling match which thankfully the live crowd agrees by chanting “This is Wrestling!” I cannot believe I am watching this right now. Forget the Divas division, these two ladies are better than the entire current roster.

Alright, maybe I am over hyping here, but I cannot recall the last time I was able to sit through a Divas match, and now here we are, at the edge of our seats for this one. We get a few suplexes, and then the chain for the finish. Lynch appears to have it won, following an armbar submission, then countering a rope dive and smashing Banks into the ring steps. However, Banks drops with Lynch off the top turnbuckle, trapping her into her submission hold for the title retaining win. Deservingly, they get a standing ovation.

Winner and still NXT Women’s Champion: Sasha Banks

I love how they call it the Women’s Championship and not the “Diva’s Title,” the latter sounds so ridiculously stupid and infantile.

NXT Championship Match: Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens…

Oh… You already know by now, SAMOA JOE.

This one turned into more of a fight than a wrestling match, but this was to be expected. Zayn goes bat-shit crazy-full-of-rage-mode on Owens, taking the fight out of the ring and through the crowd. Zayn hits a Blue Thunder Bomb early, Owens fires back with some stiff looking shots, and winds up the recipient of a first class flight courtesy of an Exploder Suplex. Zayn’s run is abruptly halted as Owens smashes Zayn on the ring apron with the Pop-Up Powerbomb. Then the refs check Zayn, later on the trainers check Zayn, and then as Owens continues to dismantle his opponent, William Regal runs in, and rakes the eyes of the champ! Owens gets mad and blasts Regal, grabs a chair and hell is about to break loose when…

Samoa Joe storms the ring. Gets in Owen’s face. This is intense. Crowd is on fire. The now-vintage chant of “Joe is gonna kill you” can be heard. Mr. KO takes his title and backs away. Wow. Joe looks good. Looks like he dropped some weight and is in good fighting condition.

This has been a big week for Kevin Owens, showing up on RAW to challenge John Cena for the United States Championship at Elimination Chamber, and now he goes face-to-face with Samoa Joe on NXT. Having Joe in NXT does him a lot of good. Get that right, this doesn’t do anything for NXT, as NXT is doing something for Joe. We know who Joe is, and we know where he’s been sitting for the past few years. NXT is at a point where bringing in a big name doesn’t elevate the brand, but the brand elevates the person joining it. I am sure there might be some who disagree, and I can understand that, but I feel NXT can survive as its own entity. Nevertheless, Samoa Joe and NXT will get along very well.

NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable can be viewed on the WWE Network, which is available for $9.99 a month

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Michael Dworkis is a man of vast talent and industry. A former writer and corporate assistant of World Wrestling Entertainment, “MSD” is the Wrestling Columnist for Pop-Break, as well as contributing columns related to comics, movies, pop-culture, and of course, anything Transformers. He recently completed and obtained his Masters degree in Mental Health in Counseling, and recently became licensed to practice as an LAC by the National Board of Certified Counselors. If you need either a therapist or your wrestling fix, come to this man. Michael also is a graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in Journalism and Mass Media, and previously managed an internet retail company. He blames Bill for having so much wrestling on the site and pleads with his superiors to create a feature on his very own Transformer Collection and to subdue Michael Bay for a serious talk. Michael is still searching for a Japanese Grand Maximus or any Japanese Generation 1 exclusives. See more of Michael at MichaelDworkis.com and follow on Twitter @Omegax80.
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