NXT Takeover: R Evolution will be streamed (for $9.99)

[Droford]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B3BACGUIcAAy2pE.png



Looking forward to tonight's show 100x more than tlc.

Also hoping that Corey Graves doesnt announce hes retiring...

[drave]

Victor should have stuck with the contacts. Gave him the extra "thing" with his character.

[Innovator]

Graves is pretty much retired from in ring, too many concussions

[drave]

At least he made it into WWE2k15 :D


Come to think of it, this may be the game with the most "future endeavored" and/or retired superstars at the time of launch.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Corey Graves just announced his retirement from active in ring competition. He will now be a color man and will debut a that for Kevin Owens Wwe debut kicking R Evolution off tonighr. Pretty sad that he never msde it.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Poor Graves</font> :(

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>FIGHT <s>STEEN</s> OWENS FIGHT</font> :love:

[Mercenary]

Hope Owens kills Parker

[Emperor Smeat]

:y: Owens debut

:lol: his initials being duct-taped to his shirt

[Poit]

Heh, I guess Kevin Owens gets Kassius Ohno's mini-gimmick of having KO initials.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Great opener. I'm all in on Kevin Owens.</font>

[Emperor Smeat]

Nice tag match.

[Poit]

Ty Dillinger without Jason Jordan. I feel a squash coming.

[Emperor Smeat]

:lol: crowd gave up cpunting

[Poit]

43 seconds, by my count.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>WOOOOO Finn Balor. My Survivor Pick!</font>

[Emperor Smeat]

:D Balor brought out the face paint.

[el bobbo]

Holy Fuck! That's what I call an entrance.

[el bobbo]

"Marking Out" chant.

[Poit]

Balor's crawling seemed like blatant fanservice. And I'm totally not complaining.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>lol a "marking out" chant. jesus.</font>

[Emperor Smeat]

:lol: at the GTS tease

Probably can give him back that move now that Punk's gone

[Poit]

Yeah, the crowd totally wanted that GTS to happen.

[el bobbo]

Roman Reigns sounded like he was reading cue cards.

[Nowhere Man]

Please tell me that Corey Graves being on commentary now means we're going to be phasing out Alex Riley. Because Riley fucking sucks.

[Volare]

Banks/Charlotte was fucking great!

[el bobbo]

Sami Zayn comes out to ska?

I found something to dislike about him.

[Evil Vito]

Banks/Charlotte was fucking great!

<font color=goldenrod>Indeed. WWE is going to fuck them up when they get to Raw, and I'm not looking forward to that at all.</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>If Zayn wins the belt, I hope we get white and black checkerboard confetti while his ska theme plays.</font> :love:

[Emperor Smeat]

:lol: this ref sucks chant

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>SAMI FUCKING ZAYN!!!</font>

[Volare]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! About god damn time!

[VSG]

Tremendous show as always, can't see TLC topping this :'(

[el bobbo]

<font color=goldenrod>If Zayn wins the belt, I hope we get white and black checkerboard confetti while his ska theme plays.</font> :love:

Do you realize how many janitors they'd have to hire to pick it up pick it up pick it goooooooooooooo.

[Emperor Smeat]

:D SAMI won

Amazing match and ppv

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

:D

Whoooooooooooooo! OLE! OLE OLE! OLE! OLEEEEEEEE OLEEEEEE!

Just got home to watch the final moments of the PPV. Re-watching it now.

[Volare]

Hmmmmm....Owens vs Zayn...here we go again with another awesome series of matches.

[Poit]

<font color=goldenrod>If Zayn wins the belt, I hope we get white and black checkerboard confetti while his ska theme plays.</font> :love:

Do you realize how many janitors they'd have to hire to pick it up pick it up pick it goooooooooooooo.

Sucks to be the janitors, then.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Just make the interns clean it all up. NXT is a work-study thing.

[VSG]

The feels!

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>That show was as close to a perfect wrestling show as you could get.</font>

[VSG]

Yeah, I watched it continuously till the very end and only posted then.

[el bobbo]

Oh shit! What a swerve!!!

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Holy shit this show somehow managed to get even better in the final 2 minutes.</font>

[Emperor Smeat]

Was waiting for when that was going to occur.

Ouch at the powerbomb

[VSG]

Kinda saw that coming but that powerbomb was pretty sick. You have to REALLY trust the other guy to take that to the neck/back.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Oh shit. Fight Owens Fight just turned to KILL OWENS KILL.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

Everything about the main event up until the end of the show was fucking perfect. From the entire match, to Sami and Kevin hugging, to the turn... so fucking beautiful.

I would almost love for them to run an angle where Sami is now "injured" and has to vacate the title... When he heals they move him to Raw, only for several weeks later Kevin Owens to show up there after him too.

[Volare]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeet NXT is going to be awesome tv.

[Innovator]

This show renewed my love for wrestling

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>I love NXT so much. Seriously. Obviously it's these guys and gals' goal to get to Raw but jesus, I want everyone to stay on NXT. Even if the best NXT talents got called up I'd love it if they still got to work the NXT tapings and specials kinda like how Tyson Kidd does. I don't want anyone to leave.</font>

[el bobbo]

How is the "minor league" show they show on the network leaps and bounds ahead of the main roster show they air on primetime television?

Vince and the writers really need to get their shit together on the main roster, but they won't

[Emperor Smeat]

From NeoGAF:

http://i.gyazo.com/76c06c54da85ed01df78a835e64159a1.gif

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Here's what really gets me...Owens waited. All of the babyfaces were in the ring, so Owens played up their history, stood around with the other good guys, raised his old pal's hand, knowing full well what he was going to do at the end. He stuck around after everyone else, and no one would think this was strange given what's happened before. THEN AND ONLY THEN, when all the other good guys were gone, Owens attacked.

That's good writing. If this had happened on Raw, Owens would've attacked Zayn immediately and all of the babyfaces would've stood around making pouty faces. Owens was on NXT, where everything makes sense and good guys actually like each other rather than behaving in thrall to John Cena, so he couldn't just attack whenever he wanted. He WAITED. And it completely turns the "babyface champion tearfully celebrates with belt" trope on its ear. Just beautiful.</font>

[What Would Kevin Do?]

Another thing. At the end of the day, Sami could never be the "bad guy." Neville was still his friend, he didn't want to cheat, didn't want to hit him with the belt, etc.

Now we get to see Sami really hate someone, really go all out, and throw the nice guy to the back of the bus for a bit.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Sami Callihan in the group of well wishers.

[VSG]

Crowd went "Thank you, Neville" during the replay at the end. Should have gone "Sorry, Neville" if he is indeed going to main roster anonymity :(

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

If he's going to the main roster then he's going to do great. He doesn't have an annoying as hell gimmick that can cool off.

[VSG]

If he's going to the main roster then he's going to do great.

Like everyone else so far has? After Vince decided Charlotte had to lose her match against Natalya? Come on now.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Like everyone else so far has? After Vince decided Charlotte had to lose her match against Natalya? Come on now.

<img style="-webkit-user-select: none" src="http://www.wwe.com/f/wysiwyg/image/2013/05/20130501_Unbeaten_Shield_LIGHT_HOMEPAGE.jpg">

<img class="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 0px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Paige_WWE_Divas_Champion.jpg" width="262" height="466">

oh and

<img style="-webkit-user-select: none" src="http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130711210133/prowrestling/images/d/d5/20130701_LARGE_RAW-preview_wyatt_L.jpg">

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Corey Graves is amazing. Good bye Riley and/or A-Train.

[VSG]

Ambrose was never on NXT, Roman Reigns had a few weeks of a rich aristocrat gimmick. Shield was not NXT at all. I will give you the Wyatt family though. Anyway let's see how things go. HHH did seem very high on Neville but as we saw it all comes down to Vince.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Shield was on NXT alot after they debuted at Survivor Series. They wanted to take over both WWE and NXT. They left though because taking over WWE was too important.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Hey, can anyone help me? I'm missing a whole box of brass rings.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NXTTakeOver?src=hash">#NXTTakeOver</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/WWENXT">@WWENXT</a></p>&mdash; Triple H (@TripleH) <a href="https://twitter.com/TripleH/status/543248531801137154">December 12, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

People who have failed on WWE from NXT (Dallas, Emma, Rose) had kinda dumb gimmicks. Bo Dallas might not be a fail yet. Neville doesn't have a gimmick so he should be good.

[Jordan]

Oh man I am so glad I watched this show. As usual, the NXT Specials outshine the WWE PPV's, yet again.

From top to bottom, one of the best shows in recent memory.

Owen's broken and bloody nose made his debut extremely memorable.

The tag match was really solid and yeah, Balor did the best entrance I think I've ever seen, fucking amazing. Jeff Hardy eat your heart out.

Charlotte Flair is a fucking inspiration to womens wrestling.

Sami Zayn is just too good to be true. He's like if Seth Rogan was a really fucking awesome wrestler. That match was great, especially on Sami's part. The turn at the end with Owen's was just perfect. I didn't see it coming and it's just unreal how awesome NXT is compared to Raw, unfuckingreal.

[Jordan]

The Lucha Dragon's are really special too, Calisto is awesome.

[el bobbo]

The Vaudvillains:

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/CTNhCzmUjlw/hqdefault.jpg

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Whats with all of the Wrestling Central shirts? What is it?

[Dark One]

Hell of an ending. I almost turned it off, because I was watching it after the initial airing because OF GOD DAMNED TRAFFIC. I figured it was over, just going to be a lot of confetti and shit.

I'm glad I stuck it out. Kevin Owens is a Grade A murderer.

[Dark One]

<font color=goldenrod>Here's what really gets me...Owens waited. All of the babyfaces were in the ring, so Owens played up their history, stood around with the other good guys, raised his old pal's hand, knowing full well what he was going to do at the end. He stuck around after everyone else, and no one would think this was strange given what's happened before. THEN AND ONLY THEN, when all the other good guys were gone, Owens attacked.

That's good writing. If this had happened on Raw, Owens would've attacked Zayn immediately and all of the babyfaces would've stood around making pouty faces. Owens was on NXT, where everything makes sense and good guys actually like each other rather than behaving in thrall to John Cena, so he couldn't just attack whenever he wanted. He WAITED. And it completely turns the "babyface champion tearfully celebrates with belt" trope on its ear. Just beautiful.</font>

The even better part is how well it plays into all of his vignettes. He talked about watching all of his friends get called first--time after time. He said he'd fight anyone and everyone to get what he wanted. He was tired of waiting.

Perfect. It's beautiful.

In a powerbomb a dude's neck onto an apron sort of way.

[Droford]

Corey Graves is amazing. Good bye Riley and/or A-Train.

I was going to say he was very good but it still sucks he had to retire.

Also that was hands down the best two hours of tv from start to finish the wwe has done all year aside from WM. The jekyll and hyde of wwe and nxt both amazes me and pisses me off at the same time.

[Dark One]

Also that was hands down the best two hours of tv from start to finish the wwe has done all year aside from WM. The jekyll and hyde of wwe and nxt both amazes me and pisses me off at the same time.

Just got to wait for another limo explosion.

[Sepholio]

Never watched NXT more than a few minutes here or there. Until tonight.

I just watched this whole show. I'm in love.

Can the NXT writers be promoted to the main roster?

[Sepholio]

So many people who need to be on the main roster.

[Emperor Smeat]

Never watched NXT more than a few minutes here or there. Until tonight.

I just watched this whole show. I'm in love.

Can the NXT writers be promoted to the main roster?

Its just a single writer but he actually was promoted to Smackdown earlier in the year before getting demoted a couple of months ago. Struggled badly because Vince/Creative didn't bother to give him the same support Dusty Rhodes does in NXT.

The head Smackdown guy who got demoted to NXT did pretty well during his time there because of the support system.

[Disturbed316]

Just fired up the show, hell of an opener.

[ron the dial]

now that was a great show

[Disturbed316]

Holy shit what an entrance from Balor!

[Innovator]

http://i.imgur.com/mBa3cvh.gif

[Innovator]

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr +JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhL w7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nY FnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; ██████████relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://instagram.com/p/wfTSB_PwHT/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">Finn Balor and Hideo Itami. Any questions? #NXTTakeOver @wwenxt</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Triple H (@tripleh) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2014-12-12T01:58:53+00:00">Dec 12, 2014 at 5:58pm PST</time></p></div></blockquote>
<script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>

[Maluco]

I had no way of seeing this, but it sounds awesome, everything wrestling should be, but to me that is frustrating.

Because of where I live, the only wrestling I get is Raw and Smackdown, and there are weeks that I have trouble sitting through RAW. I don't even bother with Smackdown

So, it has to be asked, why is this show so much better, and why hasn't anyone noticed that and applied the same principles to the main show?

[Vastardikai]

I have a feeling this conversation took part some point in the evening.

Triple H: Fergal, I have to go over so... WHAT THE FUCK?!?!

Balor: Wait... just wait...

[Innovator]

Wow that GTS tease by Hideo

[Innovator]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VwcLDFntJ4I?list=UUJ5v_MCY6GNUBTO8-D3XoAg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Anybody Thrilla]

So that was pretty fucking awesome. I'm glad somebody somewhere in WWE knows how to put together a good show. If only it would carry over to the main stage.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Too much TV to cover to make everything perfect like that. They have to rush everything to get something.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Vote for the NXT Awards!

[Poit]

Wow that GTS tease by Hideo

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Thank you for came to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NXTTakeoverREvolution?src=hash">#NXTTakeoverREvolution</a> &amp; watching <a href="https://twitter.com/WWENetwork">@WWENetwork</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jsports">@jsports</a> . THE FUTURE IS NOW. I will make you Go 2 .........Good night.</p>&mdash; Hideo Itami / 伊丹英雄 (@HideoItami) <a href="https://twitter.com/HideoItami/status/543269987893657602">December 12, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Heisenberg]

I had no way of seeing this, but it sounds awesome, everything wrestling should be, but to me that is frustrating.

Because of where I live, the only wrestling I get is Raw and Smackdown, and there are weeks that I have trouble sitting through RAW. I don't even bother with Smackdown

So, it has to be asked, why is this show so much better, and why hasn't anyone noticed that and applied the same principles to the main show?

Triple H runs the show, plus the scouts that bring in these young up-and-comers have their eyes on the trends. When a non-WWE entity is trending they go scope the bastard out and bring him in if they like what they see.

Plus, it's always fresh to see new faces and experiments being performed, it's science

[Disturbed316]

An amazing show from top to bottom, the Diva's match is probably the first I've watched in over a year, usually forward through them on Raw or PPV's.

[Heisenberg]

Kevin Owens using my haircut, v nice. Power to the big guys

[Heisenberg]

This crowds chants Chivalry??

it's bout time something good gets it's time in the sun

[ron the dial]

An amazing show from top to bottom, the Diva's match is probably the first I've watched in over a year, usually forward through them on Raw or PPV's.
i think the divas match may have been my favorite of the night, and that's saying a lot.

[VSG]

i think the divas match may have been my favorite of the night, and that's saying a lot.

I can see that. Top 2 for me at the very least- they did a great job with the ~12 minutes or so they got.

[Bad News Gertner]

About to watch this. Glad I saved it for Friday since Smackdown looks awful

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

About to watch this. Glad I saved it for Friday since Smackdown looks awful

When doesn't it look awful? 2009/2010 is the last time I have been able to stand it.

[Bad News Gertner]

It's only good when Ryback and Heath Slater are wrestling.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

The Slatorbiguyator

[Sepholio]

The Slatorbiguyator

:nono:

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Whatever I was the first person to say ShoMiz in here. (or in TPWW Vault Chat)

Slators Gonna Slate!

[KIRA]

Just watched Takeover......GODDAMN why why why can't RAW or Smackdown be that good? That show was awesome!

Some times I question why I even watch wrestling and NXT reminds me of why I love it.

[XL]

I really enjoyed this show. There's a few points I want to elaborate on over the course of a few posts.

Corey Graves

His retirement from inring competition probably isn't a massive loss to the industry; he was a decent talent with an interesting look, but you can't help but feel for the guy.

It's great that they've found him an alternative position, however, I feel it's the wrong one at the current time.

NXT already has 5-6 commentators that rotate in and out of the booth, how much exposure/opportunity will he actually get is still to be seen. He's instantly more likeable that Riley, but that's not saying much. The issue I have is that with the panel from this show - Graves, Riley, and Rich Brennan - it was hard for me to actually work out who was saying what. For all it's ills at least the Raw panel has three distinguishable voices.

Maybe commentary would have been something I'd have segued Graves into a little way down the line.

As for now, I'd have moved him into a managerial role. His look is great; the juxtaposition of the tattoo'd hands and neck with the suit lends itself to the idea that this guy is about business but there's this other side to him. Presuming the stuff with Itami/Balor is done, I'd have Graves take The Ascension to the main roster and wage war on the Tag Division. He'd be bitter that his career was ended before it even really started, that's a character to work with straight away and might be the added element that brings The Ascension back to life on the main roster (for long time viewers of NXT).

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

They like male managers to be able to take bumps. They had Rusev kick a 60 year old Dutch Mantell. Having a role like that to somebody who can't take bumps is bad news. Remember Austin as the sheriff GM? He stunned everybody and nobody could even touch him basically. Buried nearly every one of Raw's heels at the time.

[XL]

Why does what they want have any bearing on what I would do? In this fictional setting where I'm calling the shots, I don't need my managers to bump.

Besides (and I know it's laughable BUT) they could book around that.

[Damian Rey]

Austin took a chokeslam and F5 as sheriff/gm, and Batista had a quick brawl with him once. But I get what you're saying.

[Lock Jaw]

Just finished watching this. Great show.

- Kevin Owens debut was great, and I liked all his vignettes leading up to his debut over the past few weeks. Especially the one about all his friends getting called before him, which explains the chip on his shoulder and the end of the show.

- Lucha Dragons are pretty great... I think they could get over on the main roster. Sin Cara will never get over on his own (Hunico could have, but not Sin Cara), and I wonder about Kalisto.... Kalisto has all the tools, but none of the "context"/"environment" that Rey Mysterio had to establish him as such a big star.

- Women's match was real good but loses points for Rich Brennan being on commentary. As I have previously stated, he says "Charlotte" as "Cherlit" and it really annoys me.

- I liked Balor's entrance, and definitely a cool thing for special events. Not an every week thing, so I hope he doesn't do it on regular shows. Him and Hideo impressed me more tonight in the ring than they have thus far. I still really dislike the double-foot stomp maneuver, though.... it always looks sloppy and dangerous.

- Main Event was real good, even if it was obvious that Zayn was winning. Loved the story. Thought the multiple ref bumps were unnecessary, though. Should have only done the one with the belt.

[Lock Jaw]

Oh, also, Sammi Zayn really needs a new theme. If only so he never does that stupid hipster dance/shuffle again.

One of the most horrific sights I have ever seen in my life was in a bar where some "ska band" started playing, and a bunch of hipsters started doing that dumb dance.... I was traumatized by the events....

[Asmo]

Watching it right now. Awesome pacing, competitive matches, and the writing got me to care about each match. Even Corbin's squash.

It's a case of young blood shining through. The production's revving on all cylinders, and that can be seen especially in the entrances. Balor's entrance was the highlight. And that look on the Ascension once the lights came up summed it up.

I've definitely got a crush on Charlotte. She's just so, physically fit. Rawr.

Okay. The main event beckons...

[Lock Jaw]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VwcLDFntJ4I?list=UUJ5v_MCY6GNUBTO8-D3XoAg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Also, I must say this Regal promo is fantastic

[Lock Jaw]

http://i.imgur.com/cpuHLUo.gif

[Lock Jaw]

https://31.media.tumblr.com/61d022ed5faf74beca32a0b7d7dfe1f2/tumblr_nghrdxmx0o1sfehc3o1_1280.jpg

[Damian Rey]

What a great fucking show. Charlotte and Sasha stole the show. Their match was just as good as the main event. And of course there was an actual build.

Great stuff. Wish the main show focused on being a wrestling show like this.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

There was a long build for the main event.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Not too bad for a bunch of millennials Vince.

[XL]

NXT Takeover: R... 12-14-2014 01:25 AM SlickyTrickyDamon Would make him look like a pussy.

Is there a problem in a non-wrestling character "looking like a pussy"? He doesn't have to look strong and he doesn't need to take a beating. Add it as a part of his character; he threatens action against those that threaten him physically.

[Damian Rey]

Can't get past how much better a 2 hour internet/streaming special was and is than the current mainstream garbage being produced week after week.

That parody triple h/Vince comments makes me wonder if WWE and Vince himself gave up on trying to be an all encompassing wannabe variety show, and quite literally ran the show the way NXT is, how much viewership and network buys would they gain in doing so.

[XL]

It's not that simple; They're two very different shows.

NXT is a tightly produced 1 hour show; everything has to count, they can't feature everybody on every show so nobody really gets overexposed, but the major benefit they have is that they produce a 2 hour special every three months. With NXT they have the ability to let things breathe, they have to plan 3 months ahead. They record 4 shows at a time, there's a benefit to that; they plan 4 weeks worth of stories and produce them. Long term booking. They also have a very loyal and very vocal following.

Raw and SmackDown is another beast entirely. 3 hours 45 minutes of TV time to fill and a PPV every 4 weeks to arrive at.

I'd like to think they could learn some lessons and weave some of NXT's goodness into the main roster shows but I don't know how well it'd work.

[XL]

Kevin Owens

Fantastic debut. They set the scene really well, the crowd were very into him. He looked good and his fucked up nose was a great image for setting the scene of him being a badass.

The celebration with Zayn was a great touch, really pulled an emotional string with me. I stopped watching when the ident came up and only became aware of the turn when I came on here. It was well executed, perhaps a minute or two late.

Still a few ways they could go with this; is it a personal thing? Is Owens pissed because Zayn made it to NXT before him and is now the champ? Or do they position it that he's just here for the title and it's unfortunate that his friend happened to e the champion on that night; he'd have done the same if Neville had won.

Either way, it's a great set up for the next big NXT Championship feud.

[ron the dial]

Oh, also, Sammi Zayn really needs a new theme. If only so he never does that stupid hipster dance/shuffle again.

One of the most horrific sights I have ever seen in my life was in a bar where some "ska band" started playing, and a bunch of hipsters started doing that dumb dance.... I was traumatized by the events....
that is certainly not a hipster move.

[Lock Jaw]

All I know was it was a bunch of hipsters dancing.... trying to not to picture it so I don't start having the nightmares again....

[Damian Rey]

The music is instantly identifiable and his entrance is unique to him. I'd hope he keeps it. Helps him stand out.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

It could use some lyrics.

[Dark One]

It could use some lyrics.

"HeeeeEEEYyyy! LOCK JAW LOOK AT THIS dadaa da daaa... HEEEEeeeeYYYY! Lock Jaw look at this... DO DOO DO DOOOO DODOO"