Whelp...I accidentally closed this tab where I had written a long review of Takeover and WM32, but now I'll keep it short.
NXT Takeover: Dallas
Fantastic show overall. Great opener between American Alpha and the Revival. Both teams play their roles really well, and apart from the botch, it was a really solid match. Corbin/Aries match was good, but whoever put the match together doesn't really know Aries well enough that him being the underdog doesn't quite work. **** talking the entire time from Corbin was the highlight and they both did well with what they were given. Hopefully, Aries gets to shine because he is a great performer and this match was not a highlight of what he can do.
Zayn/Nakamura match was the match of the night with a really hot crowd that was very into it. It's definitely a MotY contender, although it's not as good as Styles/Nakamura. Zayn marking out while waiting for Nakamura to make his entrance was great to see and both really went all out to make it memorable as Sami's last match and Shinsuke's debut. I was worried about Nakamura's music, but it turned out to be really really good. The crowd was exhausted after this match and it's a really difficult match to have to follow. That being said, these two women put on a great match and got the crowd into it. Asuka/Bayley had some good psychology to it, and Bayley continues to evolve and learn from her previous encounters that's made her a great champion. I can't wait for the rematch.
Joe/Balor was good. It could have been great if it wasn't for the constant stops, which took away from the momentum and flow of the match. The initial shot of Joe covered in blood made him look like a monster and when he threw Balor into the security guard was a good time to check on his wound, but Joe kept trying to get them away so he could continue, which was a nice touch. Where it got ridiculous though is after pins and moments where it breaks up the flow that allowed Balor to recover was the wrong move. It should have Joe be dominant and then check on him or have clotted the wound the first time and be one and done with it. I also think Balor should have lost this match. Joe deserved the win. He's been putting in work since his debut in NXT and is having a resurgence. Maybe he'll get a run and be a dominant champion, but time will tell.
WM32
Pre-show matches were pretty good. It sucks that there were gate issues and these wrestlers had to perform to an "empty" crowd. Solid match between Ryback and Kalisto where it looks like they'll be continuing since Kalisto won with the help of an exposed turnbuckle. The multi-woman match was way better than it should have been, but I think that's due in part to giving the match a lot more time so it didn't feel rushed. Really cool transition from Brie into the Yes Lock to end it.
Dudleyz/Usos was the same tired thing and the 50/50 booking after Raw was just stupid even if it makes sense due to their feud starting with Enzo and Cass. IC Ladder match was had so much energy and the crowd was super into it. That transition Sami did through the ladder and then full speed to Owens was crazy due to the window of error that could go wrong through a small space in the ladder. Great moment from Miz as well before Ryder gets the win, which is great and deserved. Miz has been great in general.
Jericho/Styles gets better every time they face each other, even if it's abundantly clear (after Styles' match with Sami and others) that Jericho can't quite keep up. Jericho still tries to do his best though, which is good and you can see it. Don't think Styles should have lost the match and the commentators flubbed by not mentioning Jericho only got the win because he kept the ref near him. I really don't like the fact that they continue to make the Styles Clash a secondary move is shameful.
TND don't need the titles anymore. The match stipulation was stupid since the greatest team is the one with the gold, so the titles should have been on the line. The Lads are really making the best out of the garbage they've been given though, and Rusev is the best. I don't quite agree with the Legends getting one over, but I did pop for Stone Cold, Foley, and HBK (who's still in ring shape and can go). It was fun for what it was.
The Street Fight really ended just as it was picking up steam. They could have booked this match similar to the one Lesnar had with Reigns, where Ambrose takes two or three F5's, and can't put Lesnar down even after a few Dirty Deeds. The pace of the match was off, until it's abrupt end. Women's Title match was excellent, probably one of the best that night. I didn't care for yet another Ric interference, but it makes sense with Charlotte keeping the title. I think Becky should have won though.
HIAC was better than it had any right to be considering the participants, but I enjoyed it for what it was. The ME was good, but not as good as the Ambrose/Haitch match, and I think that kind of hurt this because they set an expectation with that match. It had a lot going against it anyway due to how the crowd hasn't taken to Reigns being forced down our throats. After the match with Ambrose, I changed my mind to wanting Trips to keep the title, and that stuck with me through WM. They are doing a good job right now of giving Reigns some heel overtones the past two weeks, so we'll see how it goes.
Side Note:
Evolve's new announcement kind of sucks and if that means we're losing Hero as well, then I won't watch anymore. Hopefully, Crews being on the Raw after WM was just a one off because he still needs a lot of work to find his footing as a character and getting comfortable on the mic.
Also, even if I don't think it's the right time for him to be champion, **** YEAH NAITO WON!!!!
Lastly, I went to a Puscifer concert last night, and they did a lucha theme where the opening act was a wrestling show with a few things sprinkled throughout. It was a ton of fun, and it just so happens that Joey Ryan's girlfriend was one of the wrestlers there and I spotted him in the audience before the show started. I was able to chat with him for a bit after the show. He's a really cool guy. Really, really short though. His billed height is 5'10", but he's probably 5'7"/5'8" as I'm 6'1".
RIP Balls Mahoney.
