French Connection

We haven't seen Sylvester LeFort for a while have we? Not since the September 25 episode of NXT in fact. On that show he was beaten up by his one time pal Marcus Louis and left a lifeless puddle in the ring, finally putting an end to the Legionnires pairing. And it's a shame we've not seen him since because Sylvester LeFort is great.

I probably need to clarify that. LeFort is not a great wrestler. He's, at best, competent and has never dazzled in the ring. He doesn't seem like someone who has the potential to dazzle either. But he does have a good look and an even better gimmick.

This look is money.

The thick beard, the greased back hair, and the hairy chest all help to make LeFort look like a sleazy Eurotrash-esque scumbag (which is surely the point). That's a good thing. Wrestling needs more sleazy Eurotrash-esque scumbags. It's a heel trope woefully underrepresented in the current business. There's so much potential in it and LeFort fits the part so well that I think WWE are foolish to not have him as a regular on TV.

I don't necessarily want to see him wrestle though. Personally I enjoyed LeFort when he was working as a vaguely ineffective heel manager. I liked him having his stable of Legionnaires, all of whom were a bit generic and not particularly impressive. I liked the fact that the only guy he brought into the stable who showed any promise, a lad called Alexander Rusev (maybe you've heard of him?), was fairly swiftly nabbed by a more efficient manager in Lana.

It was a simple, fun little role that felt real. Not every sports manager is going to be world class and it absolutely made sense that a guy who wasn't able to keep hold of any above average clients was operating in the developmental league. It played to LeFort's strengths (looking like an idiot in ridiculous shiny jackets and talking with a foreign accent to remind everyone he's a heel) and disguised his weaknesses (specifically that he's not a very good wrestler, as already established).

Bring LeFort back to NXT as a manager. There's mileage left in his storyline incompetence. He could reunite with his old Legionnaires client Scott Dawson. He could bring in a new team altogether. He could introduce a singles act to help him get reverence on Marcus Louis (not that anyone's begging for that rivalry t be reprised). With Hideo Itami, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens gone or about to go from NXT Triple H is going to need to become more inventive with the stories he tells and the stars he features if NXT is to remain the hot brand it currently is. I don't think Sly could be a major part of that but he could certainly contribute. 

NXTweet 16.10.14

NXTweet collections will now be on Saturdays. For a variety of boring practical reasons to do with writing for a blog. This week I mention Starrcade, Virgil and Chris Benoit. So look forward to all that, yeah?

Baron Corbin v Elias Sampson

Tweet 1: It's T for NX.

Tweet 2: Oh look. It's Baron Corbin. I suppose we should try and be excited...
Tweet 3: Quick match. Nothing to be excited about tbh.
Tweet 4: Renee says nobody's prepared to face him. Whatevs, Renee.

Sami Zayn promo, featuring verbal interference from Tyson Kidd

Tweet 5: Sami Zayn. Sick of losing fair and square.

Tweet 6: Maybe he's about to go Shawn Michaels on us. From now on 'The InZayn Kid' doesn't lie down for an.... y... bod-yyy!
Tweet 7: Oh no. He's not. He's going to be interrupted by 'Mr Charisma' Tyson Kidd.
Tweet 8: "Ooooooh, sick burn, Sami!" - Tyson Kidd, who is now eleven, apparently
Tweet 9: Tyson Kidd suggesting Zayn make a living selling pictures of himself losing to WWE Superstars. That's known as the Virgil approach.
Tweet 10: Tyson's got to put in a phone call and check on his cats before he wrestles. Stealing Teddy’s gimmick there...

Team Thick (Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy) v The Lucha Dragons

Tweet 11: The Lucha Dragons have good music. Kalisto has a good mask. I can take or leave the rest of the act.

Tweet 12: I'm picking Blake and Murphy to win this.
Tweet 13: Murphy and Blake have some lovely Chris Benoit style rip motifs on their ring gear. Lovely because they remind me of Benoit, obviously.
Tweet 14: The name Team Thick will be changed.
Tweet 15: Wesley Blake still looks like a short Undertaker.

Solid move.

Tweet 16: That sunset bomb finish was pretty sweet. #2sweetmebro
Tweet 17: "This is a match where offence can literally, LITERALLY, come out of nowhere" - Alex Riley

Becky Lynch v Charlotte

Tweet 18: Two obvious finisher names for Becky Lynch: the Lynch Pin (a roll-up of some kind) and the Lynch Pinch (a submission). You're welcome.

Tweet 19: I wonder if David Flair were younger whether he'd be doing as well as Charlotte in NXT.
Tweet 20: 'The Delty Diva'? That. Is. Awful.
Tweet 21: I still strongly dislike Becky's ring gear.
Tweet 22: That match turned the crowd off but it was pretty good. Rare instance of the NXT audience being wrong.

Recap of the ongoing crisis between Hideo Itami and The Ascension

Tweet 23: "Hideo's mentor Funaki" - Rich Brennan

Tweet 24: The Ascension with some vaguely racist comments there.

Enzo Amore and Big Cass v The Legionnaires

Tweet 25: Surely being a certified G indicates that you can be taught how to be a G. If not, how do you become certified?

Tweet 26: That Legionnaires music.

Uh-oh, spaghetti-ohs!

Tweet 27: Enzo and Cass doing the Outlaws rock-paper-scissors spot there.
Tweet 28: Marcus turns on Sylvester. The crowd chant "Oui!"

Carmella v Blue Pants, played by Leva Bates

Tweet 29: Cass and Enzo are calling out someone in blue pants? Bluetista?!

Tweet 30: Ah, no. It's a girl to job to Carmella. Cass has introduced her as Blue Pants. Hilarious.
Tweet 31: The commentary trying to rationalise Carmella going from hairdresser to NXT developmental girl. Kind of devalues NXT. A bit. No?

What's this going to be called then? The Carmellock, perhaps?

Tweet 32: Carmella wins in under thirty seconds. I don't want to say they don't have confidence in her ability yet, but...
Tweet 33: Probably for the best. The audience chanted for Blue Pants. They'd probs have turned on Carmella had it gone longer.

Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch in a locker room

Tweet 34: Sasha Banks there, dishing out some home truths to Becky.

Sami Zayn v Tyson Kidd

Tweet 35: Hoodie to the face. What a "diss."

Tweet 36: "There isn't much that Tyson Kidd has to prove here" - Alex Riley, who may not be fully aware of Tyson's career
Tweet 37: If Triple H wants NXT to be the new WCW the specials should start getting WCW pay-per-view names. Call the December one Starrcade.
Tweet 38: It would probably end up better than any real Starrcade.
Tweet 39: Alex Riley talking about Ws in the win column. I hope he talks about the pay window next.

Nice face action from Kidd there.

Tweet 40: Remember when people tapped immediately to the Sharpshooter? That they don't now is basically confirming Tyson's not as good as Bret.
Tweet 41: I mean, he's not, obviously. But they shouldn't be highlighting it on TV.
Tweet 42: Zayn wins! Zayn wins! Zayn wins! Bah god!! Zayn!! Zayn!! ZAAAAAAYN!!

NXTweet 28.08.14

A new episode of NXT with a new general manager announced. Tweets about that, plus more, here!

The Ascension v Two random guys who weren’t named

Tweet 1: SmackDown? No. NXT? Yes. Now.

Tweet 2: It feels like The Ascension only ever wrestle in openers these days.
Tweet 3: nWo T-shirt in the crowd there. There's always one...
Tweet 4: Didn't catch the name of these guys The Ascension are demolishing. It doesn't matter.
Tweet 5: The one who has a bit of a Justin Lee Collins look to him has a nice singlet though.
Tweet 6: And... that's that. Didn't last long.
Tweet 7: Viktor's got a microphone. Yikes!
Tweet 8: I remember Konnor talked about having a rat face on the original NXT format. Del Rio was still about then too. #goodtimes

Two grown men roaring.

William Regal is announced as the new NXT GM

Tweet 9: Mild pop and a chant for Regal being announced as the new NXT GM. The building would've fallen apart if that had been announced in Britain.

Tweet 10: If Alexander Rusev and Antonio Cesaro are anything to go by Vince is going to be denying Adrian Neville his first name at some point.
Tweet 11: "Nobody would get their ass kicked by a man called Adrian, dammit!"
Tweet 12: Tyson Kidd wearing his confusing hoodie there.
Tweet 13: Tyson Kidd has a slight lisp. Never noticed it before. It's adorable.

Tyson wears the same clothes every week. Like a tramp.

Tweet 14: "Every single person deserves a title shot ahead of him, including his wife" - Tyler Breeze on Tyson Kidd. I loled.
Tweet 15: Love Neville being the only guy in a suit and everyone else being in their wrestling gear.
Tweet 16: There we are. That was a long way of announcing a main event match. Breeze and Regal having a chat afterwards was the highlight.

William Regal reveals the episode’s main event to Devin Taylor

Tweet 17: Regal doing a backstage interview where he acts like having a tag match involving four-way opponents is a new thing.

Tweet 18:  Teddy Long was pulling that trick years ago. And it was old hat then.

Sasha Banks v Bayley

Tweet 19: What is Sasha Banks's character without the BFFs?

Tweet 20: "Bayley knows she belongs to be here" - Tensai Bloom, talking nonsense
Tweet 21: Whenever Alex Riley is referred to just by his surname I think of Riley Finn from Buffy.
Tweet 22: Renee Young. *swoons*
Tweet 23: What did we learn from that speech? That Bayley is a cat hanging in there.

So, this story's going to end with an accepting handshake before Charlkotte goes all main roster, right?

Tweet 24: Charlotte's woooooo was limp. So was her attempt at using her dad's trick of shouting at the crowd.
Tweet 25: "I don't even WANT hug!" - Bayley
Tweet 26: What did we learn from Charlotte's appearance? Nothing. We already knew she was trying and failing to be her dad.

Angelo Dawkins v Bull Dempsey

Tweet 27: Angelo's energetic dancing is not deemed good enough to be prioritised on TV. Bull promos are more important.

Tweet 28: Bull Dempsey apparently grew up watching the guys like Murdoch. Trevor?
Tweet 29: That was a match.

The Legionnaires talk to Devin Taylor

Tweet 30: Sylvester Lefort rocking a Razor Ramon look there.

Tweet 31: #French

Adrian Neville and Sami Zayn v Tyson Kidd and Tyler Breeze

Tweet 32: Regal set this tag match up earlier in the show. Who starts a one hour wrestling show without a main event prepared. Poor planning.

Tweet 33: Why doesn't Tyler Breeze have a move called Blue Steel?
Tweet 34: Maybe Nev was wearing a suit so he could avoid wandering about in trunks and a T-shirt. That's Randy Orton's look.

Tyson Kidd doing a kick. Fun stuff.

Tweet 35: Disappointment in Zayn's career? No. Not even in kayfabe terms.
Tweet 36: Cena level spot calling from Nev on that Breeze super kick.
Tweet 37: Can't wait till Sting signs with WWE and joins NXT.
Tweet 38: Alex Riley just called the Michinoku driver a big slam. Get him off the commentary team.
Tweet 39: In fact, just fire him altogether. He offers nothing.
Tweet 40: Breeze dodging that Helluva kick was slick.
Tweet 41: Tyson Kidd pinning the NXT champion makes me think he won't win the title at Takeover 2.
Tweet 42: That was always going to be a good match considering who was involved. Solid final three minutes.
Tweet 43: Zayn staring at the belt like it's not ugly. That takes talent.

NXTweet 21.08.14

Here we are. For the fifth week in a row it’s some tweets about NXT. I might stop doing it soon. Familiarity breeds contempt and all that.

Opening

Tweet 1: It's NXT tweetin' time.

Tweet 2: That NXT chant from the audience isn't at all forced.

Colin Cassady and Enzo Amore v The Vaudevillains

Tweet 3: Anyone else reckon Road Dogg gave Enzo a heads up on coming up with lengthy spiel?

Tweet 4: Enzo and Big Cass versus The Vaudevillains is about as close as it gets to an NXT dream tag match. This episode's starting strong.
Tweet 5: Enzo's hair.
Tweet 6: Gotch catching Enzo. #powerhouse
Tweet 7: That match was way shorter than I thought it would be. Good for what it was... but it could've been so much more.

Old school heat-garnering.

Tweet 8: Sylvester Lefort shaving Enzo's beard. That's some Memphis heat right there.
Tweet 9:  Enzo's reaction? Clutching at his cheek, looking stunned, and saying "Bro." That's why he's great. Bro.
Tweet 10: I'm cool with The Vaudevillains winning but it would have been nice to see Enzo and Cass face The Ascension.

Triple H in-ring promo announcing Takeover 2

Tweet 11: Ahhhhhh... here's the reason that opener went short. A Triple H promo.

Tweet 12: Maybe he should try milking the crowd a bit more.
Tweet 13: Triple H's eyes are too far apart. I've only just noticed that.
Tweet 14: New GM. As long as it's not Jericho I'll be cool with it.
Tweet 15: Why do a pre-recorded announcement when you can get yourself some ring time, eh?

Tyler Breeze talks to Devin Taylor

Tweet 16: Most gorgeous champion in NXT history.

Tweet 17: Not just a pretty face. Breeze should get that scrawled on his tights.
Tweet 18: "I want GORGEOUS down this side, and I want GORGEOUS down this side!" I miss Mike Awesome.

Tyler Breeze v Tyson Kidd

Tweet 19: I feel it's important to point out that both Kidd and Breeze are Canadian.

Tweet 20: "He's worrying about what his wife's doing..." - Renee Young, as though caring for a spouse is a bad thing
Tweet 21: Count out win for Kidd. That's the first win I can remember him getting in the last month.

Charlotte v Becky Lynch

Tweet 22: It's not really clear whether we're meant to like Charlotte or not.

Tweet 23: Becky Lynch needs to get called up to the main roster and put in a group with Sheamus, Devitt and Hornswoggle. That'd be money.
Tweet 24: It wouldn’t.
Tweet 25: Charlotte trying to nail her dad's mannerisms there. Subpar.

A perfectly satisfactory match this.

Tweet 26: "She's been bred for success" - Byron Saxton on Charlotte
Tweet 27: That was fine. Nothing else to say about it. Charlotte doesn't seem to bother with crowd interaction.

Enzo and Big Cass challenge The Legionnaires to a hair versus hair match

Tweet 28: Enzo's pronunciation of Lefort.

Tweet 29: Hair versus hair, mon frère.
Tweet 30: Renee's a fan of hair versus hair matches. What's to be a fan of?

Mojo Rawley v Steve Cutler, followed by a Mojo Rawley promo

Tweet 31: Mojo Rawley. *rolls eyes*

Tweet 32: I'm pleased to see most people have remained seated for Mojo's overly bouncy entrance.
Tweet 33: Steve Cutler does not look entirely dissimilar to a young John Felix Anthony Cena.
Tweet 34: Mojo's backside-based moves getting lightly booed there.

Reckon Steve Cutler was hyped taking this move?

Tweet 35: Nobody cares about Mojo. It's like CJ Parker all over again. But at least CJ had a character that could be altered. What else can Mojo do?
Tweet 36: "The smile... is gone!" - Mojo Rawley on losing his smile

Sami Zayn and Adam Rose v Sin Cara and Kalisto

Tweet 37: WWE could do far worse than promote Kalisto to the main roster to tag with Sin Cara there. They could do well against the Usos I reckon.

Tweet 38: They should dress up someone in the Exotic entourage like Leo Kruger.
Tweet 39: Sooner or later Kalisto is going to be on the main roster as a singles guy in the old Rey Mysterio significant masked fella role.

Jazz hands.

Tweet 40: That handstand spot from Kalisto.
Tweet 41: I don't think Sin Cara's botched anything yet...
Tweet 42: Ahhhhhh... he messed the headscissors on Zayn up a bit. Good lad.
Tweet 43: So they're doing Sin Cara and Kalisto versus The Vaudevillains. I suspect the luchas may find themselves booed.
Tweet 44: No post-match Code of Honor handshake. Poor form.