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WWE NXT TakeOver: XXV Preview/Predictions
Photo courtesy of Deviantart.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
All Elite Wrestling grasped the wrestling world after their first Pay-Per-View last week, topped off with a Five-Star Rhodes Brothers match, Awesome Kong, a tag team classic between The Young Bucks and Fenix/Pentagon Jr. and of course, Jon Moxley (the former Dean Ambrose of WWE fame) at the end.
Anybody who looked to WWE for an answer was left hopeless on Raw and SmackDown, side for a surprise mention by Sami Zayn on Raw.
The only true competitor with WWE’s name is its NXT brand, spearheaded creatively by Triple H. The 25th TakeOver event celebrates all that has happened before while also giving us another five-match standout card to feast on.
The essence of TakeOver is the heart of NXT itself – it’s where the up-and-comers showcase their true potential. Who knows where we would be if we didn’t get Zayn-Shinsuke Nakamura, Bayley-Sasha Banks, Johnny Gargano-Adam Cole and The Revival-#DIY, amongst other countless memorable bouts? It’s matches like those that have elevated NXT to the bar that has been set for wrestling expectations in 2019.
TakeOver has become more than a live event. It’s a movement. Beyond that, it has happened in America, United Kingdom, Canada and other places. It has brought NXT to the conversation of actual world domination.
Triple H’s formula to build stars, sign big names, focus on wrestling and characterization is one for success. It’s hard to believe there have been 25 TakeOvers, but we don’t think anybody will disagree that NXT can make 25,000 more TakeOvers for all we care.
House Of Glory Adds Mantequilla-Kikutaro, Leroy-Smiley WrestleMania Weekend 4/6!
Photo courtesy of House Of Glory Wrestling.
*Courtesy Of Phillip Stamper*
JUST ADDED:
– Mantequilla vs. Kikutaro
– Smiley vs. Leroy Green
Also featuring:
FIRST-TIME EVER INTERNATIONAL STARS SIX-MAN TAG:
Great Muta, Tajiri, and Pentagon, Jr. team to face Low Ki and LAX (Ortiz, Santana)
Fenix heads to House of Glory to take on Amazing Red!
Also, Private Party (Marq Quen, Isiah Kassidy) will face Juicy Product (David Starr, JT Dunn)!
A special Great Muta meet and greet will take place during WrestleCon on Friday, April 5 from 10 am to 1 pm.
For tickets and more information, visit HOGwrestling.net! Show support on Facebook at facebook.com/events/2261216287442802.
Notes In Observance – Lucha Underground 7/20/16: Ultima Lucha Dos Part III
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 7/20/16)
Ultima Lucha Dos Part III
– We wish we could write about Lucha Underground’s second season with more enthusiasm, but we cannot. Now don’t get us wrong. In terms of what makes the show work (cinematic elements, outrageously stellar in-ring action, diverse roster, etc.), we still had plenty of that here. Where things didn’t go as smooth was in the long-term storytelling. Where season one ended with Catrina/Mil Muertes in a stranglehold of the Temple branded a “Much Darker Place” was perfect as a start for season two and the show carried on like it usually does, until we hit the abomination that was Lucha Underground Champion Matanza Cueto and his disappointing debut where he simply and senselessly took down LUG’s greater warriors (Pentagon Jr., Fenix, Cage to name a few) and his slow, no-sell style began to affect the top of the card and in turn, the show. The fact that Matanza is still involved with this Championship was sickening. Albeit, one thing handled correctly was the use of Pentagon Jr. to this point. He disappeared after being destroyed by Matanza and Vampiro began to torture him to prepare for another battle, to which then he won his way to the one-on-one match. Pentagon is arguably LUG’s hottest act and it was no surprise he’d be involved with the Title. At least they got that right. Anyways, this episode left us a bit helpless, but we’ll get to all that excitement shortly. The opening video reminded us of season two’s good parts and set up how we got matches like the Lucha Underground Trios Championship battle between Champions The Worldwide Underground against Drago/AeroStar/Fenix, Ivelisse against Taya, Pentagon Jr. against Matanza and then the “Dream Match” in Rey Mysterio and Prince Puma.
Notes In Observance – Lucha Underground 6/15/16: Six To Survive
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 6/15/16)
Six To Survive
– Lucha Underground was back on the prowl with one of those “whole hour” matches, which when worked correctly, goes smooth to perfection. The opening video focused on the LAPD storyline as well as how Vampiro built up Pentagon Jr. after he was decimated by Lucha Underground Champion Matanza Cueto to take out Chavo Guerrero and earn a spot onto the winning team last week, which put him in a “Six To Survive” elimination match which would also involve Ivelisse, King Cuerno, Johnny Mundo, Taya and Fenix. The winner of that match would go on to fight Matanza for the LUG Championship at Ultima Lucha Dos. Oh and as well as the fact that Catrina reawakened Mil Muertes once more and he was probably out for blood, at least by the sight of his eyes…
Notes In Observance – Lucha Underground 6/8/16: Six-On-Six
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 6/8/16)
Six-On-Six
– The opening video showcased storylines this episode revolved around – the “Los Angeles Police Department” storyline where Captain Vasquez, Officer Reyes and Officer Ryan were on a hunt to take down Dario Cueto for good to the extent of a sting operation, the “Dragon Slayer” storyline that showed a rivalry between Drago/AeroStar and Jack Evans/”Darewolf” PJ Black and lastly, “Resurrection” storyline with the anticipated return of Pentagon Jr. after the man of “Cero Miedo” was put down uneventfully by Lucha Underground Champion Matanza Cueto.
Notes In Observance – Lucha Underground 5/25/16: Under Arrest
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 5/25/16)
Under Arrest
– This episode’s focus was primarily upon the Gift Of The Gods and Trios Championships, which more or less, meant that it’d be another Lucha Underground Champion Matanza-less episode. Three cheers.
Notes In Observance – Lucha Underground 5/18/16: A Not-So-Nice Gift Of The Gods
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 5/18/16)
A Not-So-Nice Gift Of The Gods
– It’s that part of the Lucha Underground season where we get development in different areas. This particular episode focused on the Gift Of The Gods concept – somewhat of a WWE ripoff, but done more logically. Seven people fight for separate medallions that all magnetically connect into a belt to give it its “power,” a shot at the Lucha Underground Championship whenever the winner chooses so. The opening video highlighted the medallion holders – Sexy Star, Aerostar, The Mack, Joey Ryan, Texano, Sinestro De La Muerte and Cage, though he had his medallion stolen by Chavo Guerrero. Also brought up were the early seeds of a long-term feud between LUG Champion Matanza Cueto and Pentagon Jr., as we saw highlights of when the man of “cero miedo” was manhandled by the beast.
Notes In Observance – Lucha Underground 4/27/16: Four-Way Trios Madness
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 4/27/16)
Four-Way Trios Madness
– Another week of Lucha rolls on and it showed plenty of promise, as far as in-ring competition. The opening video hyped the Johnny Mundo-Cage match in a cage to determine the third holder of the seven Ancient Aztec Medallions as well as the Trios Tournament finals, where four teams, including Champions Angelico/Ivelisse/Son Of Havoc would battle with the belts on the line.
Notes In Observance – Lucha Underground 3/30/16: El Jefe Is Back
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 3/30/16)
El Jefe Is Back
– As the above words will declare, this was sort of a “homecoming” for LUG, reverting to what made Season one memorable – live bands, an intriguing heel authority figure and surprise announcements. This was all attributed to one “El Jefe,” aka Dario Cueto. Yup, he’s back in his Temple. The opening video chronicled this, as well as reminding us of the Sexy Star/Mack/Marty “The Moth” Martinez/Mariposa feud, Ivelisse/Son Of Havoc/Angelico getting their Trios Championship back and how Matanza Cueto single-handedly eliminated seven individuals from Aztec Warfare to become the new Lucha Underground Champion.
Notes In Observance – Lucha Underground 3/23/16: Aztec Warfare II
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 3/23/16)
Aztec Warfare II
– Nobody can deny the similarities between Aztec Warfare and WWE’s Royal Rumble. It’s almost like an homage to what remains WWE’s most popular annual happening. LUG benefits because they get to advance individual feuds, create moments and build stars. Last year was intriguing because it was the first time we got to see Prince Puma emerge as a big name, which paid off by the end, since he ended up being LUG Champion for the majority of season one. Aztec Warfare II comes around and we’ve gotten used to the way season two has rolled out, but with LUG Champion Fenix getting settled in as Champion, he already faced an insurmountable obstacle in being the match’s first entrant having to defend the Title and then have Mil Muertes as the final entrant. Much like in the past, Fenix always “rises” to the occasion, but that wasn’t the story they wanted to tell and the short-term booking might’ve hurt this in the long run. More on that below.
Pro Wrestling Opinion 