NxT TakeOver Dallas
- Thread starter ShinChan
- Start date
Viola Moonlight
I'm Literally Just Here for WZCW
Balor has put on a very consistent performance in NXT. He's never had a bad match, yet he's never had a memorable match. You can say the same about his promos as well. The only thing that makes him stand out is his entrance, special attire or not. Balor's theme is epic and it allows for some amazing crowd interaction as Balor taunts. The choreography is pretty cool, too. People just get pumped to see Balor come out... but he's never had that in-ring performance that's matched his entrance. That's probably the reason why people are underwhelmed.
Side note: Balor has been wrestling more like a heel recently, especially evident in his match against Rich Swann. Did you see the amount of "rest holds" he used and the intensity on his face after he hit the baseball slide (not his diving swanton plancha move he does) to take out Swann on the outside?
I love this match, but I don't even think this is his best match. What about his first match with Neville, or his match in Japan with Owens? I think those are both better matches.
I mean, maybe week in and week out on TV, but let's be real, that's nearly everybody on NXT these days since Takeovers became the most critical aspect of booking NXT. The only matches likely to endure from NXT TV in 2016 so far are the Zayn/Joe matches and the Finn/Neville match. He's pretty consistently done better than "perfectly adequate" at just about every Takeover he's been in a singles match on.
In terms of memorable matches, I still have to disagree. His contendership match with Neville, either title match with Owens, or his match with Joe all rank, in my opinion, as some of the best work of 2015.
Maybe this is beyond the scope of what all of you are saying, but it bears mentioning that furthermore, as Prince Devitt his entire time after forming the Bullet Club was amazing, especially his series with Tanahashi, and before that you can reach into a bag and pull out incredible juniors matches for years from his time in Japan - MCMG versus Apollo 55 is an easy one off the top of my head.
I definitely think his face character in NXT is weak - I think it was exacerbated a lot by Zayn's injury. It seems perhaps the booking plan called for "Face who represents the NXT brand in heroic, clean cut fashion" and with Zayn out, they forced Balor into the role. But as you've pointed out Falk the heel signs are showing on TV and have been all over live events (at the NXT Chicago show in January, he just straight up was a heel versus Zayn.)
Still - weak character in some ways, but he's delivered in the ring every time in my opinion.
Breaking news on the main page has the potential to be a little exciting.
Shill.
Just wish his partner hadn't gone back. Can you imagine the matches they could have in NXT right now?
Sean Valjean
Lets Bitch About This Thing We Love
The best part about the Takeover anticipation was a random guy on Miitomo telling my Mii how excited he was for the show tonight. Miitomo is amazing, by the way.
Standing in line now.... Super excited. This is my first time to attend an NXT event.
Have fun! Yeaaaaaaoooohhhh
Deoxyribonucleic A.C.I.D.
Kamehamehaaaaa!!
At how much hour does this start?
Preshow starts in 20, show in About 50 minutes from now
Shadowmancer
I am The Last Baron
Pre-Show Hype
Sai the Uganda Guy
Has-been
Mauro, Renee and Lita, nice panel there.
Mighty NorCal
SHALL WE BEGIN?
Samoa Joe fucking LOVES that towel
Sean Valjean
Lets Bitch About This Thing We Love
Lita! Always great to see my favorite diva ever.
Better than the usual Booker T and his man-bun.
Sai the Uganda Guy
Has-been
Shucky ducky quack quack!
Didn't you have pizza in the oven last Monday when RAW started. Now I'm hungry and it's almost 10 here.
Mighty NorCal
SHALL WE BEGIN?
JOSHI
Shadowmancer
I am The Last Baron
So it is apparently cold in Dallas