Blog Archives
Notes In Observance – TNA Impact Wrestling 1/19/17: Race For The Case
Photo courtesy of Inside Pulse.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 1/19/17)
Race For The Case
– The opening video chronicled Lashley’s World Title contention resurgence as he defeated (barely) Ethan Carter III in a Last Man Standing match to earn a future shot. Some focus was also paid to it being another heartbreaking loss for the “Ass-Kicking Machine.”
Notes In Observance – ROH Wrestling 12/14/16: Women Of Honor 2016
Image provided courtesy of Ring Of Honor.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 12/14/16)
Women Of Honor 2016
– The Deonna Purrazzo-Candice LeRae match began with a pre-taped sit-down Purrazzo promo from that put her over for her great reputation and pro wrestling obsession. LeRae’s pre-taped sit-down promo put herself over as cheerful yet strong. She was finally in Ring Of Honor after 15 years. After the “feel out” process, LeRae hit a nice suicide dive and then a double stomp on Purrazzo’s neck to gain momentum. LeRae continued with a few pumphandle German suplexes. Purrazzo countered with a Fujiwara armbar, before LeRae broke the hold at the ropes. LeRae had her own submission with an Octopus variation, but Purrazzo kicked out and locked in the armbar again to win. A fine match where both ladies worked hard. It would be cool if ROH got with the program and actually utilized a Women’s Division or at least made WOH a tournament.
Notes In Observance – WWE SmackDown Live 12/13/16: Legendary Contendership
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 12/13/16)
Legendary Contendership
– The General Manager Daniel Bryan/Commissioner Shane McMahon/James Ellsworth opening backstage segment was good and bad news. We saw Ellsworth “sick” and it left Bryan/Shane no choice but to postpone his World Title shot and search for a new #1 Contender. Ellsworth was also reprimanded for his interference in last week’s WWE Intercontinental Championship match.
Notes In Observance – WWE NXT 6/22/16: Nakamura Demolition Derby
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 6/22/16)
Nakamura Demolition Derby
– Out of TakeOver: The End, we know that “The Beginning” has ended and with that comes a focus on the now. Arguably, since they alluded to it the week before, NXT’s spotlight feud’s now the anticipated encounter between Finn Balor and Shinsuke Nakamura. The opening video looked at last week’s epic closer segment where it was first referenced. There’s a great story in there too. Balor looked to see what was next for him while Nakamura felt that he needed to beat an “idol” the caliber of Balor to cement himself as a contender.
Notes In Observance – WWE NXT 4/20/16: Killing For Gold
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 4/20/16)
Killing For Gold
– With some decent hype, we actually looked forward to seeing what NXT Tag Team Champions American Alpha could do in the ring against NXT’s most popular team in Enzo Amore/Colin Cassady. The Enzo/Cass pre-match promo did their usual thing (over as always) and didn’t insult their opponents, but rather built them up for the occasion. Some pretty mat work by Chad Gable early on, while Enzo’s left shoulder remained a prominent target. Most of the match’s action was billed on it being “respectful competition” and as it progressed, it got better. We liked how the finish showed Cassady “taking the bullet” for Enzo and driven out of the match, only for Enzo to get caught in Grand Amplitude and left solo. Also liked the little touch of Jason Jordan pulling his straps down to pull them up and back down again to get a better crowd reaction. AA win and their first match as Champions had them on a continued winning streak.
Notes In Observance – WWE NXT 3/16/16: The Arrival Of Strong Style
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 3/16/16)
The Arrival Of Strong Style
– The opening video (as it should’ve) showed us highlights of the NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Best-Two-Out-Of-Three Falls between Sami Zayn and Samoa Joe, which opened that show and ended up taking the whole hour by the third fall, an even-handed bout where Joe emerged victorious two falls to one.
Notes In Observance – WWE NXT 2/17/16: Back To The Drawing Board
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 2/17/16)
Back To The Drawing Board
– The opening video did a cool recap of the big NXT Championship #1 Contender’s match between Sami Zayn and Samoa Joe, with each man having a different reason to want to be NXT Champion. For Joe, it was about the “inevitable” while Zayn was eager to get back what once was his and become the first two-time NXT Champion.
Notes In Observance – WWE NXT 1/13/16: Fabulously Over-The-Top
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 1/13/16)
Fabulously Over-The-Top
– 2015 was the year where NXT officially broke into mainstream as wrestling’s hottest promotion/brand and it has been a “back-to-basics” style of booking mixed with Triple H’s resilient ways of scouting the indies and bringing in popular talent that has done the job. 2015 saw plenty of this and it’s paying off in 2016.
TNA One Night Only: Live! Reaction
Photo courtesy of YouTube.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
Known for their filler-esque themed cards and subtle-to-mild hype, it takes a lot for one to look at a “One Night Only” show with excitement.
However, TNA in 2016 actually took time to dedicate reasons to hype a live version of “ONO,” including Kurt Angle being in action, “The Miracle” Mike Bennett’s in-ring debut and the marquee factor – a sudden, but enjoyable Beer Money reunion, thrusting James Storm into a storyline from his big return after a brief swim in NXT waters.
Despite a few highlights, this show reminded us why TNA cannot handle live capabilities, making silly mistakes in production and on commentary.
TNA has tried to make some good news, but like always, it always ends up bad.
(Aired 1/8/16)
The Breakdown
– The opening video hyped the night’s matches and occurrences, particularly focusing on the Beer Money-Bram/Eric Young, three-way tag, Lashley-Tyrus and #1 Contender Knockouts Gauntlet matches.
Notes In Observance – WWE NXT 12/9/15: Full Sailing To London
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 12/9/15)
Full Sailing To London
– Ah, NXT: the one WWE show you can watch lately without getting your intelligence insulted. Feels refreshing. With this the go-home show for NXT TakeOver: London, it was clear the agenda was to give some finishing touches to that card and there was evidence of that from top to bottom. The first match pitted Enzo Amore/Colin Cassady against Corey Hollis/John Skyler, with the usual fun-loving faces in a mood for absolute retribution. They skipped their SAWFT routine and went straight to business, with an amped up demeanor. Cassady’s facial expressions were perfect and Amore even impressed with his hard strikes, ending the bout with their classic Rocket Launcher finisher. The post-match promo was the real money, as they made it clear that the NXT Tag Team Champions Dash Wilder/Scott Dawson tried to end their careers and they had waited too long for their shot to miss it. The lesson – don’t mess with Enzo’s family. Cassady brought perfect rage at the end, as his face was practically about to explode with it.
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