NXT Takeover: London review

Three days after WWE had presented a decidedly mediocre show in TLC its developmental crew were dispatched to London for a show of their own. Imaginatively titled Takeover: London the show was the culmination of NXT's first tour outside of the United States and its biggest show to date that hasn't piggybacked off the success of a major WWE card. Held in front of 10,079 at a sold out Wembley Arena this was the latest piece of evidence that the NXT name is a force to be reckoned with.

NXT shows, Takeovers in particular, tend to get better as they go feature the better matches in the semi-main r main event slots. Takeover: London uncharacteristically saw the first two matches be the best of the evening.

Asuka and Brock Lesnar are neighbours.

The first was the grudge match between Asuka and Emma. They kept things even for the majority of the match. Which was smart: Emma is the longest tenured women in NXT at this point, has been used on the main roster, and world make a credible challenger to Bayley or a future women's champion. Having her look competitive against Asuka was absolutely the right thing to do because in NXT terms she was the newcomer's toughest opposition to date.

Naturally Asuka won. She was always going to. After Dana Brooke interfered and got sent backstage by the ref Emma tried to sneak in a cheap win by smacking Asuka with... something (it looked like a knee brace). Asuka ducked that and floored Emma with a roundhouse kick. A few minor miscues and wobbles aside this was an ideal opener.

The second was the tag team championship match, champions Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder defending against Enzo Amore and Big Cass. Bumped from the traditional second-from-the-top slot it's possible these lads felt they had something to prove being so low down the card (although there were only five matches on the show and every one of them had been built to very nicely). They had the match of the night, not something you'd expect to be said of a Realest Guys match usually but they worked their socks off here.

The match featured the usual Enzo and Cass routine of Enzo being worked over and working towards a hot tag to Cass. Dash and Dawson were perfect opponents for this approach as they're entire act is about them being a precise team who know how to isolate an opponent and target a body part. What was different here was that when Cass tagged in he found himself getting worked over. Dash and Dawson being so in tune with one another that they can break down a big man like Cass gave their credibility a healthy boost.

This would not get the Realest Lads the belts.

The match was built around Enzo and Cass constantly working towards tags and getting and escaping from near falls. The finishing sequence was tremendous. Cass got a desperation rollup on Wilder who got kicked out and then walloped back down by a Cass boot. Enzo was tagged in and hit his assisted top rope splash for what the audience knew would be the three count. And it would have been had Dawson not pulled Enzo from the ring. After trying to use Carmella as a human shield (in a nice touch Carmella showed she didn't need her lads to save her by elbowing Dawson in the face herself) Dawson threw Cass into the ring post and the champions hit Enzo with a Shatter Machine from the second rope to successfully retain their belts.

The build to and pre-match video for this bout made it seem as though we'd be getting a title change. That Dash and Dawson managed to retain through craftiness makes them a legitimate threat and gets the right kind of heat on them. It also keeps Enzo and Cass in the chasing babyfaces role they seem best suited to right now, and keeps long term NXT fans hungry for their eventual title win. At this point Dash and Dawson's team name should be The Dream Killers.

Speaking of the right kind of heat (yes, I did just mention it, check back a few paragraphs) Baron Corbin was on fine form on this show. He isn't a man looking to be the cool anti-hero or the edgy bad guy. He wants people to dislike him because he's a heel and heels are supposed to be disliked. More wrestlers should take that approach. He has some of the most real heat in WWE today.

What made him so good here was his ridiculous attempts at trash-talking. He did everything from claiming Crews was in "his house" to shouting at Apollo that he should have "stayed in Ring of Honor." Crews has never worked there (the closest he came was a string of PCW shows co-promoted with ROH) and this was the kind of crowd that was going to know that. He was unintentionally hilarious, which only helped to up the already strong jeers from the crowd.

Big Match Barry Corbin.

The match itself, while nothing special, was good. They set a brisk pace and worked competently, avoiding any major slip ups, and did some ringside brawling (surely the style Corbin will become most known for). They were never going to have a workrate spectacular but they had the best match they were going to.

Corbin won, clean as a sheet, with End of Days. It was the right win. Corbin has been built up as a guy who loses rarely. It's part of what makes him so effective as a heel. This was a logical first loss for Crews to take. And it positions Corbin for a title shot soon, also a logical move.

Bayley versus Nia Jax was preceded by the crowd singing to Bayley. There were lots of examples of fun and amusing chants from this crowd but this song for Bayley was my personal highlight. It was clever and fit perfectly with Bayley's popularity-based character.

Jax dominated the bulk of the match
but it wouldn't get her the title.

The match itself was not the sort of exchange we've become accustomed to from the women's divisions. It was not Sasha Banks versus Charlotte but the pair played to their strengths. After an opening flurry in which the more experienced champion tried to put her challenger away quickly and decisively Jax took control and unleashed a terrifying onslaught of offence against 'The Hugster'. The story they told was all about Jax doing everything in her power to destroy Bayley as she has every jobber she's run up against so far and Bayley weathering the storm with her usual resilience and determination. The finish played into this, Jax making one mistake, putting herself into a foolish position because of inexperience, and Bayley capitalising on that to lock in a front face lock and body scissors for the submission win.

This match was easily the best work we've seen from Jax to date. It was also more confirmation that Bayley doesn't need the other three of the Four Horsewomen to have gripping matches. Which is important if she's to earn herself the larger main roster role she clearly deserves.

#dives

The show closed with Samoa Joe versus Finn Bálor for the latter's NXT championship. Of course this match was good. It wasn't going to be anything less with two very experienced lads involved. They did everything we'd expect: all their usual spots, kick outs from big moves, topes, ringside brawling, and reversals of finishers. But it never seemed to quite hit the heights it could have. Perhaps this is a side effect NXT being such a good product, it's more noticeable when a main event doesn't live up to the standards of a strong undercard. If so I know it's an unfair complaint. But the fact remains that Finn and Joe weren't in the best match of the evening and Enzo Amore was.

Takeover: London was a fine show. It was not the best Taleover card we've had but I think we've reached a point now where that's not just understandable but it's too be expected. The roster could not keep on topping exceptional shows. This was good, just not the best we've had. It was markedly better than the main roster though, and for a team branded " developmental" that should always be the goal, because if they can better the main crew the NXT regulars know that sooner or later they'll get moved up to join them.

***

Results summary:

Asuka defeated Emma
Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder defeated Enzo Amore and Big Cass to retain the tag team championship
Baron Corbin defeated Apollo Crews
Bayley defeated Nia Jax to retain the women's championship
Finn Bálor defeated Samoa Joe to retain the NXT championship

NXTweet 11.11.15

Why did Samoa Joe turn on his bestest friend Finn Bálor? Find out here!

Intro

Tweet 1: Anyway, NXT now.

Tweet 2: Last week: Rich Brennan and Corey Graves talked about Apollo Crews and Finn Bálor. Byron Saxton was also present.
Tweet 3: Then Barry Corbin rocked up.
Tweet 4: Then Samoa Joe turned heel.

Tye Dillinger v Baron Corbin

Tweet 5: Tye Dillinger here, experiencing the height of his career by saying "Ten!" a lot.

Tweet 6: Rare Barry Corbin versus featured performer match here. My prediction is that Barry will win via motorbikes and wolf magic.
Tweet 7: Apollo Crews breaking up what I'm sure would have been a classic of a match.
Tweet 8: Barry's run off. Heading backstage to wet his hair and stare longingly at bikes.

Bayley and the Hype Bros v BAMF

Tweet 9: Hype Bros still getting a smattering of boos. I approve.

Tweet 10: "Stack Ryder" - Eden Stiles
Tweet 11: The state of these lime green boots on Mojo though. This is the sort of thing that will reflect poorly on Bayley.
Tweet 12: Heel Alexa Bliss. Good lord.

Alexa. Yes.

Tweet 13: Mojo needs to tighten up that physique if he wants to impress Vinnie Mac.
Tweet 14: Looking forward to Mojo's release and subsequent shoot promo flavoured debut in a TNA that's still somehow clinging to life.
Tweet 15: 'Wild' Wesley Blake has grown on me. He knows how ridiculous he is and he plays to it. Top lad.
Tweet 16: Why aren't commentary talking about how impressive it is that BAMF are controlling the match against grizzled vet Stack Ryder? Oh yeah...

'Fashionplate' Wesley Blake.

Tweet 17: Mojo looks like he's cosplaying as a member of the CHIKARA roster.
Tweet 18: Based on the little bits we've seen here so far I think Bayley v Bliss could be very good.
Tweet 19: Tears at Bayley giving Murphy a belly-to-Bayley.
Tweet 20: Murphy took that like a pro. I'm a fan of the BAMF boys now. They're loveable idiots.

The Ascension cut a promo

Tweet 21: "Challenge accepteeeeeeeeed!" - Konnor

Tweet 22: That promo. Those contact lenses. Only way that could have been more entertaining would have been getting Stardust involved.
Tweet 23: That wasn't going to happen. In the NXT timeline he remains Cody Rhodes, proud son of Dusty Rhodes.

Eva Marie and Nia Jax go into a locker room, presumably to talk

Tweet 24:  Nia Jax and Eva Marie pairing being teased here. That's interesting (it isn't).

Apollo Crews talks about Baron Corbin

Tweet 25: Apollo Crews is too happy a man to convince me he's angry at Barry.

Tweet 26: No way I'm not assuming they're great mates who enjoy sipping protein shakes and sharing diet tips.

Nia Jax v Deonna

Tweet 27: Byron Saxton had never seen a woman as strong as Nia Jax.

Tweet 28: In unrelated news I remain unimpressed by Byron's insipid commentary.
Tweet 29: Deonna is a good looking girl though. Shame she's going to have to play the waiting game for a spot.

Smiles when she wins because Triple H tells her to.

Tweet 30: Nia wins with a leg drop. I'm taking that as a shot at 'The Hulkster'.

Bayley chases Alexa Bliss backstage, Nia Jax gets involved

Tweet 31: Disappointed that Bayley, Alexa and Nia sequence didn't lead to a story where a title belt is constantly being stolen.

Tweet 32: Would've been the perfect in for R-Truth.

NXT tag team championship: The Vaudevillains (c) v Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder

Tweet 33: #Vaudevillainspop

Tweet 34: Dimmed lighting again. Still a fan.
Tweet 35: Dawson's comedy selling of Vaudevillains' punches is an early contender for moment of the match.

Arn and Tully 2.0.

Tweet 36: Disgusted by Aiden English, a man who shouts "Manly!" all the time, entering the ring between the bottom and middle ropes.
Tweet 37: Waiting for Scotty Dawson to bust out a rotating spinebuster here.
Tweet 38: Corey name dropping Arn and Ole Anderson. No love for CW?
Tweet 39: Scott Dawson should grow in his chest hair. #justsaying
Tweet 40: Harrowing scenes as the New Brainbusters leg lock Pillmanise Aiden English.

Big fan of the NXT tag titles getting slung on random teams every so often.

Tweet 41: I liked that finish. Different kind of story for WWE. Keeps the 'villains strong and builds up Dash 'n' Dawson.
Tweet 42: Samoa Joe's up next. That tag title match should have been the main event.

Samoa Joe promo (Samoa Joemo)

Tweet 43: I said this last week but I'll repeat it here for clarity...

Tweet 44: Joe turned on Bálor because Bálor had refused to sign with TNA and help Joe turn things around.
Tweet 45: Joe here, going full on mad heel, doing revisionist history and channelling Hulk Hogan.
Tweet 46: So Joe turned because Billy Regal booked him in a battle royal. Thibk you're better than Andre do you, mate?
Tweet 47: "I'm Samoa Joe" - Samoa Joe
Tweet 48: Three guys holding back Bálor, two holding back Joe. No comment.

Boo this man. For reasons.

Tweet 49: You know that ending was real because the commentary shut up. #eyeroll
Tweet 50: Good show that. Good hustle.

The VaudeHipsters

I like The Vaudevillains. They're talented guys who play well off one another and work well as a pairing. But their current gimmick is markedly different to the ones they had when they made their debuts and that's worth reflecting on. And it's one that may ultimately keep them as NXT guys, as opposed to WWE main roster guys.

The excellent 'Drama King' phase.

Aiden English first became a featured NXT performer in the latter half of 2013. He was a singer. Specifically a music hall singer (although he didn't actually sing in music halls what with being a wrestler ad all), emphatically not the sort of pseudo rock star wrestling has had an abundance of over the years (Chris Jericho, I'm looking your way, pal). And he actually could and did sing. He also had an entrance of above average flamboyance: he'd sing his way to the ring and be thrown roses after winning.

Aside from a rambling, hard to engage with rivalry against Big Cass there wasn't a great deal going on for English at this point. He clearly wasn't going to progress as a singles act. He lacked the physique, gripping promo skills or indy rep it takes to stand out in NXT as a lone star. Which is why someone made the smart decision to pair him up with someone as a tag guy.

That someone was, obviously, Simon Gotch. After a period of inactivity on the televised show English returned to Full Sail with Gotch and announced that they were The Vaudevillains, a clever name that acknowledged the music hall influences of 'The Drama King's' singles run and the Edwardian tropes of Gotch, who was sporting a waxed-up moustache and doing a circus strongman mixed with silent movie star routine. NXT has since become a show that has a healthy number of characters on it but at the time this level of detail for guys not at the top of the show stood out. It was engaging and helped them stand out. Which is the point, of course.

The pair were initially presented as bad guys. This worked for a while, mostly due to the strength of English's previous solo run. In terms of heelishness Gotch did very little for the tandem. His mute performance gave him an air of innocence and charm, not exactly the most intimidating, villainous traits a wrestler can have. The Full Sail crowd took to him even while they were still booing English.

The hipster lads.

Gradually they warmed to English too. Their various backstage skits aping the style of silent movies during their feud with the Lucha Dragons played a role in that opinion shift. Their music was a big part of it too. Catchy and carefree it encouraged people to clap along and engage with the entrance. Basically the two were never going to stay heels because pretty much everything they were given, from the above to feuding with the technically proficient and flashy but devoid of personality Lucha boys, was something that drew viewers in in a positive manner.

After their unsuccessful challenges against Sin Cara and Kalisto the 'villains were given a brief hiatus from NXT. They returned in June, fully embracing the babyface role and launching into a slow-building, eventually really very good series of matches with tag champs (Wesley) Blake and (Buddy) Murphy. There's a chance it could flare up again but that seems unlikely. The programme peaked at Takeover: Brooklyn on August 22 where English and Gotch dethroned BAMF for the NXT tag straps.

It was at that Takeover show that they were defined as hipsters for the first time. Which had been glaringly obvious for a while it just needed someone to verbalise it. They've got the joviality and facial hair generally associated with that subculture. It's not a bad move but it is a shame. A hipster tag team makes a great deal of sense but is it more than a music hall singer and a circus strongman teaming up to enjoy sepia entrances and a spot of wrestling? I don't think so. 

NXTweet 23.09.15

As episodes of NXT go this was a strange one. It was very heavy of backstage promos and catch-up videos. They've become more common in NXT since it was stretched from forty-five minutes-ish to an hour each week but this is the most we've had in a while. The show was also light on matches. There were only three on offer: Eva Marie v Carmella, Breeze v Dempsey, and a tag title rematch from Takeover: Brooklyn. Of those only the Vaudevillains and BAMF produced anything worthwhile. The other two bouts were both underwhelming, although they did at least serve a purpose in continuing Eva's push, keeping 'Prince Pretty' strong, and giving Dempsey and Carmella some air time.

Future NXT women's champion? My money's on yes.

The main thing this episode is likely to be remembered for is the debut of Kana and her name change to Asuka. Her contract signing ceremony was interrupted by Dana Brooke and Emma. After taking a pop at the new girl they instructed her to leave. Breaking from WWE babyface tradition Asuka did, pausing briefly at the top of the entrance ramp to glance back at NXT's resident mean girls.

This was odd booking for a company that generally doesn't have its good guys back down from a fight under any circumstances. Presumably it will lead to Asuka "finding herself" and possibly a tag partner for a match against Brooke and-or Emma at Takeover: Respect where she'll get her first WW win before she's built up as a challenger for Bayley or Eva Marie in a few months time. At least I hope that's what they go with because this sort of booking, while fine in isolation, will do Asuka no favours if it's the long term plan.

Intro

Tweet 1: Early morning NXT watch go!

Tweet 2: Immediate shill for Takeover. Excellent work, Rich.

Eva Marie v Carmella

Tweet 3: 'Red Queen' Eva Marie? Does that mean she's a communist?

Tweet 4: Does Eva having red queen written on blue gear have a hidden meaning?
Tweet 5: Carmella. *puts ear plugs in*
Tweet 6: Carmella being a female Enzo is not cool.
Tweet 7: Running knee Nakamura would be proud of from Eva there...

Such power in that right knee.

Tweet 8: Eva has said "How you doin'?" more times than Carmella. Create your own shtick and use it, luv. It'll pay off.
Tweet 9: WWE teasing a story where a referee has a crush on Eva Marie in 2015. My word.
Tweet 10: Big Match Eva wins again!
Tweet 11: HAHA! SHE WON BY COUNT OUT, MAGGLE!

Bull Dempsey v Tyler Breeze

Tweet 12: Dempsey v Breeze. If Adam Rose doesn't appear I'll riot.

Tweet 13: Bull Dempsey, the love child of Bam Bam Bigelow and The Taz.
Tweet 14: Lol at some girl screaming during Breeze's entrance.
Tweet 15:  Shades of Kamala from big, bad Bull there. #whataworker

Breeze doing some big bumps to make an undeserving Bull look good.

Tweet 16: This match is a chore. I blame Bull.
Tweet 17: I preferred Bull when he was an ineffective bad ass who couldn't live up to being Taz: The Next Generation.

Recap of NXT's Texas tour

Tweet 18: Texas tour recap, Maggle.

Tweet 19: I remember Finn Bálor. He's that lad who used to wrestle on NXT's weekly show.
Tweet 20: For some reason I'm surprised that Dana Brooke is getting house show title matches. I assumed Trips would save that for a Takeover.

Kana becomes Asuka, signs a WWE developmental contract, and gets scared off by Dana Brooke and Emma

Tweet 21: Regal introduces Kana. Konor from The Ascension comes out. It's awkward.

Tweet 22: Like a Graeme Harper episode of Doctor Who, Asuka is full of pace and energy.
Tweet 23: Emma and Dana Brooke. #feelings

Putting this here for #ratings.

Tweet 24: Tag match at Takeover? Alundra Blayze as Asuka's tag partner.
Tweet 25: So Asuka actually left? Weird.

Tyler Breeze walks along a corridor, Apollo Crews blocks his path

Tweet 26: Apollo Crews openly bullying Tyler Breeze there. Someone needs to smarten that kid up to Being A Star.

Hype Bros promo

Tweet 27: Mojo Rawley cosplaying as Ash Ketchum here for whatever reason.

Tweet 28: Dash and Dawson are my picks to win this tournament. Feels like Tripper's way of building up a team.

NXT tag team championship: The Vaudevillains (c) v BAMF

Tweet 29: I wish Jim Ross was still around so he could call a BAMF entrance. "Look at this pair of yahoos! These two young punks!"

Tweet 30: RIP JR's WWE commentary career.
Tweet 31: Saddest part of Ross's WWE career is that it didn't just end. It died slowly over years, via SmackDown, part time work and Todd Grisham.
Tweet 32: Saddened to see Alexa Bliss leave ringside.

Aiden English casually suplexing two men there.

Tweet 33: Nice to see Blake and Murphy still can't remember who's who and have retained the names on gear gimmick.
Tweet 34: 'Bigtime' Buddy Murphy still looks like a short, young 'Mean' Mark Callous.
Tweet 35: Kicks. Innovative offence apparently.
Tweet 36: "That's it, we're gonna have new tag champs!" - Corey Graves, letting us know the Vaudevillains would retain
Tweet 37: Good match that. I'd have to rewatch both but it was possibly better than their Brooklyn one.

Big Cass and Enzo and Samoa Joe and Finn Bálor promos

Tweet 38: Why end on a match when you could end on promo?

Tweet 39: Enzo and Cass reckon they're beating Joseph Samoa and Finn(lay) Bálor. I don't like their chances tbh.
Tweet 40: Dusty Rhodes was Finn Bálor's mentor. Apparently.
Tweet 41: There's nothing subtle about the Joe v Finn tease.
Tweet 42: Good show. Good hustle.

NXTweet 29.07.15

A tag team title match headlined this week's NXT. That it had a shenanigan finish makes it clear that there's a rematch coming at Takeover. Also, The Not-Mechanics get an "upset" win, Charlotte and Dana Brooke fight about a sports T-shirt deal, and Kevin Owens becomes the king of British indies.

Intro

Tweet 1: It's go NXT time yeah, brother!

Tweet 2: I think we're all looking forward to an NXT focusing on Barry Corbin, Solomon Crowe, the Dubstep Cowboys and Alex Riley.

Enzo Amore and Big Cass v Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder

Tweet 3: Kinda miss Carmella getting booed for being a hairdresser or whatever tbh.

Tweet 4: Also missing Scott and Dash being called The Mechanics because Christ that's a lol name for a tag team.
Tweet 5: This absurd mullet on Enzo though.
Tweet 6: The Not-Mechanics grew up together in the Carolinas. Looking forward to the commentary gang talking up them being influenced by OMEGA.
Tweet 7: If this were a computer game Dawson and Wilder would both have Arn Anderson move sets.
Tweet 8: I bet Kevin Nash is disgusted by the amount of running about Big Cass does.

Shatter Machine, bah gawd!!

Tweet 9: Dawson + Wilder + SHATTER MACHINE = No Chance in Hell
Tweet 10: Reminder that Charlotte and Dana Brooke are feuding over an advert there. Very WrestleMania X8...

Chad Gable and Jason Jordan talk backstage

Tweet 11: Chad Gable talking about other tag teams and how he and Jason Jordan are better them there.

Tweet 12: I like this team but I don't really know why.

Video package hyping Charlotte v Dana Brooke

Tweet 13: Video package explaining Dana Brooke and Charlotte's rivalry about being in a Tap Out advert. Yeah. This is actually happening.

Tweet 14: I get why they're doing it and I like the realism twist and all but it's very clearly being done to advertise Tap Out more.

Baron Corbin v Jesse Sorensen

Tweet 15: 'Wolf Shaman' Barry Corbin coming out with his wet T-shirt and wolf powers. Amazing.

Tweet 16: Oh look, it's that lad TNA made resort to food stamps.
Tweet 17: Barry's going to the pay window, daddy!

Tyler Breeze storms into William Regal's office and reiterates that he wants a special opponent at Takeover

Tweet 18: I really want that to be Billy Regal's shoot office.

Jason Jordan and Chad Gable v Elias Samson Levis Valenzuela Jr

Tweet 19: Anyone on commentary going to acknowledge that Chad Gable's outfit matches Dawkins and Fulton's? No? Okay.

Valenzuela Jr putting his hands out exposes the business.

Tweet 20: "You don't have to be best friends to be great tag team partners" - Corey Graves
Tweet 21: That's true. Matt and Jeff HATED each other back in the day.
Tweet 22: Crying shame that nobody talks about popping hips on suplexes anymore.

Dana Brooke talks to Devin Taylor

Tweet 23: Pick a camera and stick with it, Dana.

Tweet 24: Still slow burning this Devin Taylor v Dana Brooke feud. Going to be wrestling's hottest feud when they pull the trigger.

Bull-Fit video

Tweet 25: Just a video package reminding us that Bull Dempsey's a slob. No big.

Tweet 26: I hope this Bull Dempsey thing is leading to the return of Simon Dean.
Tweet 27: They really are sending you a message, Bull mate.

Charlotte v Dana Brooke

Tweet 28: I wish Dana had shown up on RAW and attacked Reigns for being chosen for the Tap Out ads.

Tweet 29: Dana's been put in Chucks to wrestle as a rib on AJ Lee.

This wasn't bad but it could have been better.

Tweet 30: "I don't suck" - Dana Brooke in response to the audience telling her she sucks
Tweet 31: Dana should bring back D'Lo's "Who sucks now?" bit.
Tweet 32: The NXT crowd are defs smart enough to do the "You do!" reply.
Tweet 33: That was not the feature match I expected. Had the result I expected though.

Samoa Joe talks about his match next week

Tweet 34: Earlier today Samoa Joe was hanging around in a corridor talking about people asking what he's doing in NXT. Great stuff. Compelling TV.

Kevin Owens apologises for hitting William Regal last week

Tweet 35: Surprising sound issues on this Regal-Owens bit. Very unlike WWE.

Tweet 36: Imagine if Owens got the title back at Takeover though.

Eva Marie announces her goals

Tweet 37: If they put they women's title on Eva Marie they could do some pretty interesting stuff. Have her Xavier it. Go full-on undeserving champ.

Kevin Owens v Martin Stone

Tweet 38: Danny Burch is back then.

Tweet 39: I remember when Martin Stone was getting hyped as the future of the British indies.

Notice that Stone always wears the same gear...?

Tweet 40: Owens wins and is now the king of British wrestling.
Tweet 41: Saddened Stone didn't take that pop-up power bomb on his elbows tbh.

Rhyno hype video

Tweet 42: "Let's take a look at Samoa Joe's opponent next week: Rhyno!" *cut to a shot of an actual rhino*

Tweet 43: Rhyno's great. One of the few mid-card acts he's been so consistently good he's forced WWE to protect him.

NXT tag team championship: The Vaudevillains v Blake and Murphy (c)

Tweet 44: Talkies stars versus 90's kids TV presenters. Highlight of the wrestling year right here.

Tweet 45: Loving Blake's Triple H circa 1994 haircut.
Tweet 46: Corey Graves casually making jokes about Byron 'Petulant Child' Saxton being a cuckold. #PGera
Tweet 47: Blake's hair is a political power play.
Tweet 48: I've a feeling Triple H wants Blake and Murphy to be a tag team version of Ric Flair. Really great wrestlers who take shortcuts.
Tweet 49: Trouble is they're not actually great wrestlers.
Tweet 50: I'm mainly basing this on Blake's hair, the fact that they've been champions for a while now, and the way they're booked as a bit cowardly.
Tweet 51: So Gotch and English are getting the tag straps at Takeover: Brooklyn, yeah?

This is the best shot of this match form the WWE website. It's poor.

Tweet 52: Nice ending there. The Vaudevillains had Alexa cornered but held the ropes for her to leave because chivalry. She slapped them.
Tweet 53: Imagine how that would have gone down in the Attitude Era. Bliss would have been piledriven and put through a table.
Tweet 54: Nice to be reminded that progress has been made in wrestling. Not much but a bit.
Tweet 55: Anyway, good show, everyone. Good hustle.

Believe the Hype

So. The Hype Bros. Although they're clearly bit part players in the grand scheme of NXT I think this is an inspired pairing. Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley. A reality show-modelled "broski" and a guy who bangs on about hype. That feels right. That works.

It's nice on several levels. We're seeing 'Long Island Iced Z' finally getting something to do, years after he managed to get himself over and WWE frittered his popularity away to enhance Kane for a feud with Cena (got to keep Kane strong!). Technically, yes, it's a demotion but it's not like Ryder was doing anything on the main roster. It's years since he was involved in any form of noteworthy storyline and months since he lost to Cena in the US open challenge, his last meaningful match.

Dick to the mouth finish there. Strong.

It's nice for Mojo. Because he may actually get over this way. His kids' TV-like ever-hyped demeanour grated on the Full Sail fairly early into his initial singles run last year. Pairing him with the genuinely popular (and relatively likeable) Ryder, smartly positioning him as a guy Ryder's chosen to take under his wing, gets Mojo screen time but keeps him in a role where his hyperactivity can be a strength: Ryder can get worked over and Mojo can rally the crowd.

That they've been made a tag team is good for the doubles scene as a whole. For a while there there were only two teams in NXT: Enzo Amore and Big Cass's New Age Tribute Act and Blake and Murphy's Dubstep Cowboys. The Vaudevillains were excused were excused from TV duties for an extended period and every other team either got main rostered or were split. The Hype Bros give NXT a much needed fresh duo.

The obvious thing to expect is a heel turn from Mojo. I don't think that will be the initial plan though. King of NXT Triple H seems to want Mojo to work out as a face, hence why he was pulled once he started getting booed and has been retooled for his redebut. I suspect a heel turn on Ryder may be a backup plan but we won't see it unless the Hype Bros fail to work out. Which I don't think they will. NXT is the WWE show where they know how to present stories and characters for a modern audience. If they really want Mojo cheered they're going to find out how to make it happen.

The Four Man Tag Division

I'm usually as happy as the next guy to rave about how good NXT is. Because by any reasonable standard it is good. How could it not be with a main event scene built around the artists formerly known as Kevin Steen, El Generico, Prince Devitt, and KENTA and a surprisingly good WWE find in Tyler Breeze?

This doesn't mean NXT is flawless though. Far from it. Recent months have seen a very clear deemphasising of the tag team division. Over the first half of this year a lot of teams that were regulars in 2014 have disappeared. The Ascension and the Lucha Dragons have been promoted to the main roster. Sylvester LeFort and Marcus Louis had a falling out, split, and then both vanished. The Vaudevillains simply stopped appearing with no explanation after their loss to Enzo and Big Cass in February.

The Ascension aren't a loss in terms of quality matches but within NXT they worked well in their established role. The same can be said for Sin Cara and Kalisto, although they did actually turn out quality work. The promotion of both of these teams was inevitable, with the Dragons being obviously ready and Konnor and Viktor having nothing else to do in developmental besides tread water.

The departures wouldn't have been a big problem had they not inexplicably coincided with other teams splitting or vanishing too. But for whatever reason The Vaudevillains are being held off televised shows and more was seen in LeFort and Louis as singles acts. In fact a story possibly inspired by the Phantom of the Opera (or maybe The Hunchback of Notre Dame) was started with Louis being glimpsed watching Tyler Breeze entrances and matches shortly after he split from LeFort. That was dropped quickly, even though it could have been enjoyably silly. Personally I feel LeFort shone brightest as a sleazy Eurotrash manager and think that's the role he's best suited to. Meanwhile Jason Jordan and Tye Dillinger, who were a decent team who could have achieved more, were split to make way for repackaging work on both guys.

I like Enzo and Cass, but some variety wouldn't go amiss.

Right now the NXT tag division features little but matches and skits pitting Enzo Amore and Big Cass against Blake and Murphy. As a tag title programme it's fine, and Carmella's involvement as a heel manager of two very popular babyfaces gives the whole thing a unique slant, but it's noticeably weaker than the men's and women's singles ranks. With most episodes of NXT being around forty-five minutes (discounting ads) there should be plenty of time to feature more teams. And despite the lack of them on screen there are enough to have a much healthier division.

Last week we saw the first appearance of Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder's Mechanics tag team in months. It's an enjoyably daft, mid-card gimmick and I think the pair would work well opposite Enzo and Cass. Being redneck stereotypes they could have a lovely clash of characters with the refined Edwardian carnival troupe dandies English and Gotch too. The Vaudevillains are, as has already been pointed out, overdue a TV return (unless there's an injury involved that nobody knows about).

Angelo Dawkins and Sawyer Fulton have been good in the few matches they've had, but they've been positioned as enhancement talent, there to make the more important teams look good. It's particularly frustrating as teams with the amateur wrestler gimmick are always enjoyable. There's something about the way the style's applied to pro wrestling that makes it a good fit for doubles matches. That they're part of a larger group being tinkered with on house shows makes it more frustrating still: there could be an entire new act on TV. That said a strength of NXT is developing things gradually, so it's best to remain patient for the gang currently known as Shoot Nation to show up.

There are also plenty of guys we haven't seen yet who could be paired up and used as double acts. But even discounting that there are three teams that could be used to make the tag scene more competitive. Given how much the other championships in NXT mean it's a pity thatthe NXT tag belts are going through a dry patch right now.

The Blake and Murphy Express

There's not really anything exhilarating about Blake and Murphy, NXT's tag team champions. Their entrance music is some of the most generic ever. Their ring attire is bland. They don't have larger than life physiques or statures. They don't even have first names.

Despite these failings (and I don't know how you can't qualify lack of a first name as anything other than a failing) I like Blake and Murphy. Their music, while generic, has a charm to it. That it sounds like something that would be heard in a club scene on a low budget teen drama adds to its charm. The same goes for their ring gear: it's basic in an endearing sort of way. They work despite their many failings and creative clearly not knowing how to present them as the top tier tag team (within developmental) they clearly want them to be.

Rave music entrance. Doesn't get better than that.

It's not just irony that makes me like Blake and Murphy. They can, when given the opportunity, have a pretty decent tag team match. It helps that being in NXT means they're allowed to experiment and move away from the all-too-familiar formula of main roster doubles bouts. They're allowed to surprise us. And they have some solid double team moves to work with.

It's their out of the ring work that's possibly the best part of their act. Since winning the tag team championships they've established themselves as oblivious heels who act like stereotypical good guys (which nobody will ever do as well as Kurt Angle, but that's some stiff competition). Their interactions with Carmella, giving her flowers and necklaces and vaulting over couches to speak to her have been a particular highlight. They play vaguely creepy unfounded overconfidence incredibly well.

It's unlikely that Blake and Murphy will be seen on RAW and SmackDown any time soon. They're fine for the confines of NXT but the appeal of their act is niche, they'd end up as another Ascension or Los Matadores on the main roster. They're better off in the smaller environment where they can continue to improve. Their current rivalry with Enzo and Cass will almost certainly see Blake and Murphy lose the gold at some point, but it has the potential to be one of those rare feuds that sees championships traded back and forth a few times. In this case there's a chance we'll see Carmella traded across too: she's ripe for a heel turn on Enzo and Cass. Whether she accidentally costs them the gold and switches allegiance after being berated  or actively decides to cause Enzo and Cass to lose doesn't really matter. Her betrayal, while obvious, will get genuine heat because of how disliked Carmella, Blake and Murphy are, and how popular Enzo and Cass are.

They'd need a team name before they got called up anyway. The Blake and Murphy Connection? The Blake and Murphy Experience? The Blake and Murphy Express? The Dubstep Cowboys? All very good options, in my opinion.