Opinion
NXT Minus 6: Takeover: The Backup Plan (Part 3)
Bradley Jay continues his NXT Takeover: Backup Plan with a look at Grudge Matches from Takeovers gone by!
Bradley Jay continues his NXT Takeover: Backup Plan with a look at Grudge Matches from Takeovers gone by!
This is Part 3 of your Takeover backup plan. Pick one match from each for a DIY Takeover. I haven’t seen every Takeover, so these lists aren’t definitive. Also, I’m not ranking the matches because the goal isn’t to argue over what is better. The goal is to enjoy some of the best wrestling from the brief but fertile history of the Black & Gold Standard.
Today…Grudge Matches
Some matches are for titles, title shots, superlatives. Other matches are for something bigger. NXT has given us some of the best rivalries in the last 20 years. Here are 6 amazing grudge matches that celebrate the power of storytelling.
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Samy Zayn versus Cesaro, NXT Arrival
Technically, this isn’t a Takeover match. It is the first match on Arrival, the first televised NXT special and the prequel to Takeover. This is Zayn at his resilient, babyface best and Cesaro as the cool, efficient destroyer. It also set the tone for all future Takeovers. Start fast. Start strong. Make a great first impression. Good things happen when you let wrestlers wrestle.

Aleister Black versus Velveteen Dream, Takeover War Games I
Occam’s Razor. Simple is best. Say my name. SAY…MY…NAME!

Candace LeRae versus Io Shirai, Takeover Toronto
After months of losing to Shayna Baszler, Shirai goes bonkers. She attacks BFF Lerae, morphs into the Evil Genius of the Sky and gives us the second best women’s match in NXT history. Lerae plays her part, but the magic here is Shirai. She gives a master class on how to go batshit crazy, right down to locking up both of Lerae’s arms so she can’t even tap out. Evil Genius.

Johnny Gargano versus Tommaso Ciampa, Takeover: Chicago
Pick any match from the trilogy. It’s all good. This stands out for one reason. Ciampa spitting on Gargano’s wedding ring and throwing it into the crowd is one of the all time epic heel moves. If that match took place in the 80’s, the crowd would have rioted and Ciampa would not have made it out alive. For one shining moment, a real heel existed.
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Matt Riddle versus Roderick Strong, Takeover XXV
Riddle runs his mouth. Strong wants to shut him up. Riddle kicks his flip flops at Strong, and from there it’s go time. This match starts fast and never lets up. It’s a 14 minute sprint. Strong is a wrestling machine. I get the feeling he easily could have gone another 14.

Aleister Black versus Johnny Gargano, Takeover War Games II
This is the only 6 star match in NXT history. No typo. Amazing characters. Gripping story. In-ring action so crisp, there were at least 4 times when I thought someone legit got knocked out. In the end, Black kicks Gargano’s face off with the most stunning Black Mass ever. It’s hard to call something the best match ever, but I won’t ever see one better.
Up Next…Part IV, Random Goodness
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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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