so from what im hearing wrestlemania weekend here is gonna have an NXT takeover, a NJPW event, and a ROH event. However it sounds like nxt and njpw will be going on at the same time and now i have to decide which to go to. ****.

Is this worth going back and watching?

Absolutely. All matches were very good.

A separate NJPW event or they are sending talent to the ROH event?

Any chance of them sending the big names (e.g., Nakamura, Tanahashi, Styles, Okada, etc.)?

hard to know for certain but what im hearing is its own even with nakamura. idk about the rest

I'm astounded at the improvement of Baron Corbin over the past year. I think he's still a bit raw, but he's such a great heel.

Just your standard great NXT special, great matches, good crowd, good commentary, and logical booking. It's really not that hard to do.

I watched thought it was decent. Really enjoyed Asuka vs. Emma and thought it was MotN. Always love Enzo/Cass and was so disappointed they were left off the last one. Was hoping they'd get the belts. Crews vs. Corbin was good and I like the result as Corbin benefits more from the win than Crews does. Nia Jax is ****ing terrible and I'd like to never ever see her again. Joe vs. Balor was decent and what you'd expect from those two.

She's Rock's cousin, so get used to it

Asuka vs Emma was great. Both women are awesome. Some of those spots looked nasty.

Pissed Enzo and Cass didn't win. Maybe they're going back to Brooklyn and saving it until then.

+1. I couldn't stand him and now I'm a fan. I appreciated the "should have stayed in ring of honor" call. It's clear from BG that he loves playing a heel. Apollo's music sounds like the type of thing you would here in a basketball game main menu.

Botchamania chants


Too bad, she's Rock's cousin. Her outfit is stupid as well. Looks like she took inspiration from Shredder.

The main event was great but mostly because Joe's offense is awesome. Finn has great spots but he mostly just spams the kick button. Hoping Joe debuts at the RR.

I get the appeal of Nia Jax, she's huge and intimidating looking. But her size precludes her from working decent matches with the normal sized women. Many of the females in NXT and WWE can't do their signature moves on her (Bayley to Belly, rack attack, whatever Paige calls her submission hold). So I'm not sure how long she can even stay in NXT.

That said, Bayley did a good job rag-dolling for her and the crowd was really into her.

Meltzer's match ratings:

Asuka vs Emma - 4
Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson vs Enzo Amore & Big Cass - 3.5
Baron Corbin vs Apollo Crews - 2.5
Bayley vs Nia Jix - 3.25
Samoa Joe vs Finn Balor - 4

Finally got around to watching this.

Asuka is the truth.

It sucks seeing Enzo and Cass lose again, but it's pretty obvious Gable & Jordan are next in line for a huge run with the straps. The Mechanics are bland but they're damn good.

Corbin is just on another level with his heel work right now. About time Crews ate a loss.

Baylee/Jax was way better than it had any right being.


I've hated on Joe for years but he has been fantastic for these last few months. Balor continues to be the most overrated wrestler in history.

People way too negative on Nia Jax right now imo. No, she's not good and should be nowhere near the title right now, but there's room for improvement.

People seem to be forgetting that Charlotte was pretty bad at first, and Dana Brooke was downright atrocious. Now Charlotte's the main roster champ, and Dana's one of the best heels on NXT.

Not saying Nia Jax will be great, but it's way too early for the "take her out back and shoot her" attitude. Save that for Eva Marie.

Don't see why this needs to be a problem. Many people can't pick up The Big Show. Normal vs. giant could work in the women's division too. Also the Bayley to Belly is **** finisher.

If they didn't get it last night, they're probably not getting it. Agree with darO that Gable/Jordan will be the ones to win the titles from Dash/Dawson. Enzo and Cass can go onto the main roster now.



Asuka/Emma was definitely my favorite match last night. Also, did anyone else notice that they seemed to avoid the term "diva" entirely during that match? The announcer called it a "women's division" match (a phrase that was repeated on commentary a few times). I know the women's title has always been called the "Women's title", but IIRC the non-title NXT matches have always been called "diva's matches" until last night.

Watched this - so impressed. I got back into wrestling when Lesnar won the belt and heading into the last 'Mania after being out of it for over a decade. Watching RAW has been tough sledding though and it's becoming a hate-watch lately..

I must say I think my new strat is to just watch NXT. Less of a time commitment and more fun. I'm hoping I can find old ep's online, otherwise maybe I'll get the network and bingewatch.

Both women's matches were awesome. Personally I can't be bothered with Nia Jax but the way they booked the match, big vs little was perfect.

Seriously, Asuka, Emma and Bayley are all awesome. Now I'm reading up on Emma's run on the main roster last year with Santino and I'm like



Seriously wtf? With that look and athleticism she should be huge. Maybe she can't talk?

I'm kind of all in on this new school women's wrestling deal - there's a handful of them that have a great look/presentation, they're attractive and they look like they could kick your ass at crossfit. What's not to like?

Finn Balor entrance is just on another planet ... it's so good the wrestling can't live up to it.

The crowd makes or breaks these things ..... it felt like being at concert with a band that encourages singalongs or dancing. Then again those crazy Brits can turn DARTS into a party so obv they're the real MVP.

Emma is really, really good. The Emma/Paige nxt arrival match was incredible and as we see from Paiges year+ in the WWE it wasn't because Paige carried her. Of course, the real issue is the main roster uses women's wrestling for dance-offs, eye candy for the guys to fight over, or to go under john cenas girlfriend/ric flairs daughter.

I mean Sasha is probably the best womens wrestler NA has seen in ages (I mean they had her main event an nxt pay per view!) and shes twerking with Big E. The fact that it's enjoyable - because its sasha and big e and whatever they do is great - doesn't overcome the fact that it's ridiculous.

It all boils down to the same main roster issue though. Nobody cares about winning or losing in their storylines, so "yo im a really good wrestler. im the best" "no im better" "lets find out" isn't something they do.

Got my email today. Official friday night before WM is the NXT show here. Tickets on sale tomorrow.

Anyone here potentially going?

There's a typo there. Probably because it's unbelievable. Bayley/Nia was 4.25

That match is a weird one. Not nearly to the degree as the Cena/Lesnar summerslam match of course (esp with the different result) but kind of in the same framework. It was booked really well because it was believable due to size differences and the facial expressions from both really helped with the story being told. So at its end I felt pretty great about it (and during it) but I don't think that rating makes much sense. For actual grading purposes I'd have it below all but Crew/Corbin (Though I do believe most peoples ranges for stars skew higher than they should, so I'd bump everything down a bit).

^ Bayley has such great babyface facial expressions. She can show sadness, lack of confidence, and determination all so naturally.

Remember that one month after people got called up where everyone thought NXT was down?

I don't understand how they can build 5 tag teams I want to see (and also the Hype Bros) in such a short amount of time, while the WWE main roster can't even build two over the last decade.

Jordan and Gable are so good. I hate calling anyone the next anybody because it never actually happens, but there's so much Kurt Angle potential there.

first week watching only nxt - feelsgoodman.

Corey Graves such a great heel commentator imo

Probably time to revive this thread given the coming of Shinsuke Nakamura, Austin Aries, and all the great stuff that happened at the tapings as well as the announcement of the Takeover: Dallas matches.

Matches (unsure if this needs spoiler):

Balor still sucks