Opinion
NXT Minus 6 Year End Superlatives: Unsung Classics
As fans look back at the top matches of 2019, Bradley Jay points out the unsung classics that will undoubtedly get overlooked.
As fans look back at the top matches of 2019, Bradley Jay points out the unsung classics that will undoubtedly get overlooked.
More wrestlers from more promotions are working harder than ever for our eyes and hearts. With so much talent consistently putting on great matches, competition for the 2019 Match Of The Year will be fierce. It also means a lot of matches will go unrecognized. Here are 6 from the NXT Universe that won’t show up on any best-of list but are absolutely worth your time.

6. Angel Garza versus Joaquin Wilde, June 19, NXT TV
This was the first match of the Breakout Tournament and the best. If NXT wanted to showcase how much talent they had in the pipeline and get us excited for the rest of the tournament, mission accomplished. It introduced us to Garza, a bona fide star. It also revealed that wrestling fans are surprisingly excited to watch a man take his pants off. Who knew? 4.5 stars

5. Jack Gallagher versus Chad Gable II, 205 Live, June 26
Their first match was good but indecisive, ending in a countout. The rematch started off with solid chain wrestling and ended in a knocker of slobber. Gable is a tough-as-nails little man cut from the same cloth as Shawn Michaels. Gallagher is entirely unique and a joy to watch. Kudos to both men for working their asses off in front of a Smackdown crowd that couldn’t have cared less. They deserve better, which is why they made the list. 4.6 stars

4. Arturo Ruas versus Anthony Henry, Evolve 131, July 13
This was Takeover-worthy. These 2 have history, and that was obvious from the opening seconds. Ruas and Henry did a great job of mixing their respective martial arts and MMA backgrounds into the match. This fight felt very real. In the end, Ruas delivered what was one of the most unexpected, brutal and quick strike finishers I saw all year. 4.7 stars

3. Trent Seven versus WALTER, NXT UK TV, July 24
This was a savage chapter in the saga of Imperium versus British Strong Style. Combine WALTER’s ability to eviscerate human flesh with Seven’s ability to fall like a sack of wet cement and this match was brutal, at times uncomfortable to watch. More importantly, it was the stepping stone to what would be a Match Of The Year candidate. Bonus points to Seven for skipping his pre-match mustache stroking, because that’s not what you do in a blood feud. Storytelling. 4.7 stars

2. Noam Dar versus Trent Seven, NXT-TV, October 24
It was a simple and compelling story: was this the end of British Strong Style? Absolutely nobody bumps better than Seven, but I chose this match for Dar. He deserves all the praise he can get. If he was 3 inches and 30 pounds heavier, he’d be a star on the main roster. Guy is that good. It’s also a great touch that Seven’s finisher is called the Birming Hammer. In the end, Seven channels the spirits of Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate to secure a victory and prove BSS isn’t dead yet. 4.7 stars

1. Cesaro versus Ilja Dragunov, NXT UK Takeover Cardiff
When you want to showcase a new talent, who do you call? The Swiss Cyborg. This felt like an old school, “rough up the new guy for real” kind of match. Cesaro really stretched the kid, but Dragunov more than held his own. When given the time, Cesaro always proves why he’s one of the most universally respected wrestlers around. As for Dragunov, there’s something quirky and weird about him; he has a very bright future. The show of respect from Cesaro at the end was well deserved and genuine. And by the way, a 40 Swing! 4.7 stars
Next week, we’ll look at 6 wrestlers who need to come home to NXT in 2020.
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Opinion
Chris King: Is Brock Lesnar Truly Retired?
Brock Lesnar retired at WWE WrestleMania 42, right? Are we totally sure? Chris King asks…
Brock Lesnar retired at WWE WrestleMania 42, right? Are we totally sure? Chris King asks…
At WrestleMania 42, ‘The Beast Incarnate’ Brock Lesnar took off his boots and gloves following his loss to Oba Femi. Lesnar has done it all inside of his twenty-four-year career in professional wrestling. He’s a ten-time WWE Champion and former UFC Heavyweight Champion, and he’s one who ended The Undertaker’s undefeated streak at WrestleMania.
While Lesnar was in the ring, he was visibly overwhelmed with emotion and crying while he thanked the fans in his own way. The Beast even threw up an x to signal to Paul Heyman, his longtime friend and advocate, that this was not scripted and was real. There had been rumors that Lesnar and Oba were supposed to have a series of matches before everything went down at Mania.
‘The Career Killer’ Gunther was doing Heyman’s bidding as he faced Seth Rollins for a favor. For a while now since Gunther retired Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles, the rumor has been Gunther was set to retire Lesnar in his hometown at this year’s SummerSlam event. There’s been no confirmation if Lesnar is truly retired, but on this week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown, we saw Heyman talking with General Manager Nick Aldis. Later that night following Rhodes’ match against the debuting Ricky Saints, Gunther choked out the WWE Champion. Could this be the favor from Heyman?
I know in the world of professional wrestling we live by the mantra of “never say never,” but what if Lesnar is actually retired and this was WWE’s way of shutting down those rumors about Gunther and Lesnar? What if Gunther’s next program is chasing after the WWE title, and where is Randy Orton at in all of these plans? There are so many questions that need to be answered, hopefully soon!
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Opinion
Chris King: Defend The Intercontinental Championship At Backlash!
With WWE Backlash upon us, Chris King wants to see Penta defend the Intercontinental Championship in Tampa!
With WWE Backlash upon us, Chris King wants to see Penta defend the Intercontinental Championship in Tampa!
This year’s annual Backlash showcase is only a few days away, and while there are many big matches announced, one that definitely should be isn’t on the card. In my opinion, outside of Roman Reigns/Jacob Fatu and Seth Rollins/Bron Breakker, the Intercontinental Championship scene has been stellar over the last month.
Penta has been an excellent champion, especially after his triumphant title defense in a ladder match against JeVon Evans, Rusev, Dragon Lee, and the Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania 42. Their ladder match at Mania was one of the best that WWE has produced in a while.
The momentum never stopped, as on the post-Mania episode of Monday Night Raw, ‘All Ego’ Ethan Page made his debut and was quickly inserted into the Intercontinental title scene. Page had a fantastic showing against his longtime NXT rival Evans and picked up a big win in his debut match thanks to an assist from Rusev.
All Ego immediately joined forces with ‘The Bulgarian Brute’ Rusev, who was also vying for the Intercontinental Title in his own right. On this week’s episode of Raw, Page and Rusev defeated Evans and Penta. All Ego pinned the champion, making a huge statement and putting him one step closer to getting a title shot. For the past few weeks I’ve been anxiously waiting to see if WWE was going to add this incredible fatal four-way match for the Intercontinental Championship, but it hasn’t happened yet.
As much as the WWE Universe enjoys witnessing great matches on free television, I truly believe all four superstars deserve the chance to showcase their talents on the PLE. While Penta has done a terrific job as the intercontinental champion, it’s time for a fresh face to hold the prestigious title. Page would make a great braggadocious heel that would help elevate the Intercontinental Championship to new heights!
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MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
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THURSDAY - Nefarious Means
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SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
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Attitude Of Aggression Podcast: The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history) Unidentified History (Ufology) & Game Gone Wrong (Game of Thrones Universe)
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