NXT Takeover DALLAS!

Hello to all the Smarks and the Shooters out there, it's the GREATEST TIME OF THE YEAR BECAUSE IT'S THE CLIMAX OF THE WRESTLING SEASON! (April-April)

The most (smartly) anticipated event is finally here (yeah, I'll get to the OTHER event and the OTHER OTHER event will be mentioned in both in some form).

This entry is to preview WWE's Developmental Brand's biggest event to date, NxT Takeover Dallas.

As a quick background, WWE is the top Wrestling Promotion in the world, but since they have a lot of talent, they have a Main Roster, and a developmental roster. NxT is the "developmental" promotion, akin to an independent promotion's roster. Over the past 2 to 3 years, WWE Champion and COO Triple H has been revamping the system to become its own traveling brand, complete with its own events. Last year, they had a house show a few nights before Wrestlemania 31 in San Jose that brought in 5,000 strong. A normal indy is lucky to get 1,000, or even 500.

This year, while I don't entirely predict them to hit 10,000 in attendance, this will most likely be the biggest attendance the promotion will have (well....NXT Brooklyn last August might still be bigger).

There will be 6 matches that will be fought in a two hour stand and in this writer's opinion, the stories behind this event are brilliantly told going into this event and should be one cracker jack of a show.

NxT Championship: Finn Balor (c) vs. Samoa Joe
Nxt Women's Championship: Bayley (c) vs. Asuka
NxT Tag Team Championship: The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder) (c) vs. American Alpha (Jason Jordan and Chad Gable)
Sami Zayn vs "The King of Strong Style" Shinsuke Nakamura
"The Greatest Man that Ever Lived" Austin Aries vs. "The Lone Wolf" Baron Corbin
"The Drifter" Elias Sampson vs. Apollo Crews

Without further ado, here's what you need to know:

Match 1: "The Drifter" Elias Sampson vs. Apollo Crews

Apollo Crews is one of the best athletes in NxT. The dude can military press someone about his size....then do a backflip back handspring right afterwards. His offense would be the epitome of the word "Flashy."Everything just seems to come "Too Easy" to him. That being said, he's been in a bit of a slump going into Takeover Dallas, with big losses at the hands of Baron Corbin at the last Takeover event, NxT London, and against NxT Champion Finn Balor in a January episode of NxT on the award winning WWE Network (WHICH you can get for $9.99).  He'll be going against a relative "newcomer" (by that I mean, the creative team at NxT found a good gimmick and role for his opponent) in "The Drifter" Elias Sampson.

Sampson had been on a tear since debuting at the NxT Takeover London TV episode on the Network, going nearly perfect until this past Tuesday's episode of NxT on the Network. He's what the nickname would describe; a man of few words that carries a guitar around and sings weird songs about where he's going and what he is and all that mumbo jumbo that unclear non-pop songs tend to have going.  Everything he does in the ring, while not entirely fancy, is swift. Yeah, that's a good word, Swift.

When Sampson lost to Evolve Superstar Johnny Gargano, he went nuts and started to beat down Gargano until Crews came in to shoo him away. This prompted Nxt General Manager William Regal to make this match. As new as Sampson is, I can't really expect a second loss from Crews.

Prediction: Crews wins with the Toss up Powerbomb. 

Match 2. "The Lone Wolf" Baron Corbin vs. "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived: A-Double" Austin Aries

This match is one I personally can't wait for because I've followed Austin Aries for years in TNA (and a little bit of his Ring of Honor work). The nickname isn't just me brown-nosing A-Double: that has been his moniker since his early days as ROH World Champion in the mid 2000s. Small in stature, but extremely impactful, Aries has made more than just a name for himself with moves such as the Heat Seaking Missle (A fast Suicide dive between the middle and Bottom Ropes) and the Last Chanc-arie (which is a modified Muta Lock). The poster child for everything his opponent detests.

For those who haven't read past previews and reviews, Baron Corbin is a former NFL lineman for the Arizona Cardinals who started in wrestling shortly after his football career came to an end. Probably one of, if not the tallest dude in NxT, Corbin has really come into his own since his fantastic match vs. Samoa Joe at NxT Brooklyn. Corbin has been targeting and singling out wrestlers who made their names on the independent scene, believing that he is wrestling's gift and that he never needed the indies to make an impact since he was already a star in the past (eh...). Corbin came up short versus Joe, but was able to make a good impact at the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic @ NxT Takeover Respect, then doubling his stock with an important win over Apollo Crews @ NxT Takeover London.

Aries made his debut last month....and Corbin attacked him on the way to the ring. Corbin was furious after tapping out in a 3 way match for the Number 1 contendership for the NxT Championship...so he took his frustrations out on one of NxT's newest signees....Aries. While doing so, he also threw a shirt in the face of GM Regal. Hence why this match is happening.

Corbin could potentially have his Greatest match in NxT, whether it's a win or loss. Aries needs a strong showing to not only prove why they signed him but why he's still the Greatest Man that Ever Lived.

My heart is rooting for Aries, but I think Corbin should go over (just not in a clean way). Corbin is one of the younger guys being groomed for a NxT Title Shot, and there's no real reason to splatter that hope.

Prediction: Corbin with the End of Days

Match 3: NxT Tag Team Championship
The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder ) (c) vs. American Alpha (Jason Jordan and Chad Gable)

The most technical match of the night, the NxT Tag Team Championships have been the forgotten step child of the NxT Roster, due to the difficulty of creating legitimate teams. That being said, this should be THE best NxT Tag Team Championship match since its inception considering the quality and chemistry of the two teams.

The Revival, Dash and Dawson, have been absolutely on a TEAR since their performance in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Immediately after making the semi-finals in October (to lose to the eventual winners, Samoa Joe and Finn Balor), they decimated the then-Champions The Vaudevillians by dissecting Aiden English's leg. From then on, they've been the team to Hate with their rough, no-nonsense style. The essence of tag team wrestling at it's core, Dash and Dawson are two mechanics of the ring, akin to The Brain Busters (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard). As their catchphrase indicates of their style: NO Flips, Just Fists. In the months since gaining the Championships, they've had two fantastic tag team championship matches against NxT's most popular team The Realest Guys in the Room (Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady), successfully retaining the championships at both NxT Takeover London AND their WWE Main Roster Debut's at WWE Roadblock a weekend or so ago. The Shatter Machine has not been kicked out of. That should be noted well. With all of this being said, they weren't actually the star team to come out of the Dusty Rhodes Classic.

That would be American Alpha. Jason Jordan had split off from Tye Dillinger and had been looking for a tag team partner. He eventually started teaming up with Chad Gable. Both men are accomplished collegiate wrestlers, with Jordan being a former NCAA Champion at Indiana, and Gable being a 2012 Olympic Greco Roman wrestler. Jordan and Gable bring a pure amateur wrestling style full of creative throws and takedowns with the bravado and chicanery of British escapology made public by the great Johnny Saint. Before teaming, Jordan was a dude that had a great look....but was boring as watching paint dry. Gable has brought out a personality and excitement from Jordan, while being an amazing wrestler in his own right. Grand Amplitude is the epitome of their offense, with Jordan hoisting the opponent in the air for Gable to catch into a German Suplex.

This is my dark horse for a potential match of the night candidate. For as much as I like long Title reigns, I truly believe this is the right time for the Titles to switch hands, and honestly it could be the first of three. If Grand Amplitude doesn't do it, I guarantee Gable hitting the dreaded Chaos Theory Suplex should end it.

Prediction: American Alpha by some sort of crazy suplex variation. 

Match 4: NxT Women's Championship
Bayley(c) vs. Asuka

Personal Note: <33333333333333 BOTH. 

Ever since Triple H took over NxT, the biggest benefactor has definitely been the Women's division. From Paige and Charlotte and Sasha Banks to the current champion Bayley, the quality of Women's wrestling has been extensively elevated to the type of quality not seen since the All Japan Women of the 90s. Every wrestler in some fashion that has had a big match for NxT (even Emma) has been able to make an everlasting impact on the main roster. The women who spearheaded this are considered the Four Horsewomen (Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, and Bayley). It originally came to two separate climaxes in the summer and fall, when Bayley finally clinched the NxT Women's Championship from Sasha Banks in an Instant Classic, and then defended the title brilliantly in an equally impressive rematch that was contested in a 2 out of 3 falls match. Since then, Bayley has defended her championship against the rest of the roster, and honestly getting every female's best match from them all. Alexa Bliss, Eva Marie (YUCK!GROSS! DISGUSTING!), Nia Jax, and even Bayley's best friend Carmella can all currently say their best match in NxT has been against Bayley, and that's not only due to their respective abilities, but Bayley's never-ending ability to bring the best out of her opponents in these matches. Bayley as a character? She's John Cena done correctly. A lifelong fan with a child-like wonder in her eye, The Huggable One is the most over female  on the roster due to her likability and the underdog approach that is very realistic. She's overcome every challenge, but not without various struggles from interfering henchmen (against Bliss), to corruption from the main office (Eva marie), to a David vs. Goliath struggle (Nia Jax), and so on/so forth. However, her biggest test awaits her in......

Asuka.
The beauty from Japan made her debut at NxT Takeover Respect by absolutely demolishing Dana Brooke in the most wonderful of ways. In a way she's as dangerous as Ronda Rousey: can make you submit with so many different versions of the armbar, ankle lock, or her signature Chicken Wing Crossface aptly named: the Asuka Lock....OR she can knock you out with a spinning punch, a spinning roundhouse kick, a sliding D, or (lol) a hip attack. The Women's division's Silent Assassin, she made her intentions clear after saving Bayley and Carmella from an attack by Eva Marie (GROSS) and Nia Jax.

GM Regal made the call after they were victorious in a tag team match together, and honestly this is 1 of 3 possible match of the night candidates that wouldn't be a surprise.

I can't root against either one of these two because I enjoy their in-ring work immensely. However, the true mark of a great babyface is still being able to balance the big wins with a loss here and there. We could be seeing the start of an amazing rivalry if played out correctly and I think the best way to start it is Bayley losing. While Asuka has been built well, they are both considered babyfaces (good guys). Asuka taking on the rest of the roster would create a few new matches here and there, plus it could potentially free Bayley up to move to the main roster and start feuding with the main roster women. Or it could be the start of an intense rivalry.

Prediction: Asuka wins....when Bayley passes out of the Asuka Lock. But there will be a small show of respect after the match. 

Semi-Main Event: DREAM MATCH
Sami Zayn vs. "The King of Strong Style" Shinsuke Nakamura

I was watching the buildup with my friends....and admittedly I reservedly fangirled like crazy. Yes, Reservedly is not an actual English word....but that's what I'm using.
If there is anybody that would be considered the heart and soul of NxT, it's an arab ginger that skanks out to the ring and is the happiest dude in the world....Sami Zayn. From his debut and win over Cesaro in 2013, to his NxT Championship victory against Adrian Neville from NxT R Evolution, Zayn has long been the biggest good guy in NxT. Moves like the Torpedo DDT, the Exploder into the corner and the Helluva kick have been the calling cards for Zayn in his NxT career. Originally he was 1 of 2 guys to make Baron Corbin submit in the No. 1 contendership triple threat and technically also got a pin on Samoa Joe in the first of 2 matches for the right to face the Champion, but eventually he succumbed to Samoa Joe's Coquina Clutch in the final fall of a 2 out of 3 falls match. He was going into Dallas without a match when GM Regal made the BIGGEST announcement possible. His opponent?

Longtime New Japan megastar "The King of Strong Style" Shinsuke Nakamura. Since 2002, Nakamura has been one of the best Japanese wrestlers....no screw that, one of the BEST WRESTLERS in the world point blank. He mixes a MMA style with the classic Japanese Strong Style, but with one major difference compared to his fellow nihon contemporaries: one hell of a persona. To describe Nakamura would be like this: Freddie Mercury meets Michael Jackson meets MMA badass meets KENTA and Shinya Hashimoto. One of the most celebrated wrestlers in the Orient, he has had classic matches with the likes of AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, Brock Lesnar, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Kazuchika Okada. In fact, he owns 2 of the last 3 5 Star rated matches in New Japan Pro Wrestling (his longtime home promotion), those being against Kota Ibushi at Wrestle Kingdom 9 and against Tanahashi at the G1 Climax Final. Nakamura's biggest claim to fame would be the prestige and honor he brought to the International World Grand Prix Intercontinental Championship. He elevated the IWGP IC Title to the same heights as the biggest title in that company, the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. The leader of the CHAOS stable since inception, Nakamura has done everything in Japan and is ready for new heights. One person you can thank for that is one of his closest friends: Best in the World, American Dragon, and leader of the Yes Movement, Daniel Bryan.

The biggest intrigue of this match is the ripple effect it can cause. Unlike the other members of the NxT Roster competing at Takeover Dallas, Sami Zayn ALSO has his 1st WrestleMania match two nights later. And in my opinion, the result and quality of this match will be the biggest determinant on Zayn's potential first Main Roster title run. In layman's terms, I think if Zayn loses this match against Nakamura but they hit it out of the park....there is a great chance of Zayn is leaving WrestleMania as the WWE Intercontinental Champion.

My prediction is that this is honestly going to be the Match of the Night. Nakamura wins an instant classic with the most devastating finisher in Japan: The Boma Ye Knee Strike and Zayn will most likely win the IC title....or at least be the final person thrown off the ladder. 

MAIN EVENT: NXT CHAMPIONSHIP
"The Demon" Finn Balor vs. "The Samoan Submission Machine" Samoa Joe

This match has been brilliantly built for both sides and is honestly the most unpredictable match going into Dallas.

Both Finn and Joe are indy legends in their own respects. Samoa Joe has been a pillar for Ring of Honor, TNA, and PWG amongst other places, with a perchant for making suckers submit with the Coquina Clutch (Rear Naked Choke) or breaking necks with the Muscle Buster. Finn, as Prince/Fergal Devitt was a gaijin megastar for New Japan Pro Wrestling as both a Junior Heavyweight phenomenon and the original leader of the Bullet Club, the most popular foreign stable in Japan. He also had tremendous matches in Revolution Pro Wrestling in England and Insane Championship Wrestling in Scotland.

Joe is the epitome of "Don't judge a book by its cover" combining devastating strikes and combos with mind boggling agility for a 300 pound dude. Balor is the quiet assassin and leader of the self-named "Balor Club" with an alter ego simply known as "The Demon" (full on sick looking body paint. It's amazing to look at and intimidating).

Back in October, the two juggernaults of NxT teamed up for the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic that culminated in October's NxT Takeover Respect. They were victorious, beating Baron Corbin and ECW Legend Rhyno in the finals with a Muscle Buster from Joe and a Double Foot Stomp from Balor. Joe had asked for a title shot from Balor, to which Balor had accepted but GM Regal denied.
This lead to Joe attacking Finn after a title match between Balor and Apollo Crews ended with Baron Corbin interfering. Joe and Finn had a tremendous battle at NxT Takeover London, with Balor escaping....and I mean ESCAPING with the NxT Championship. Since then Joe has become even more devastating than before, harkening back to his anti-code days in TNA as the X-Division monster. Joe would be 1 of 2 winners in a 3 way match between him, Corbin, and Sami Zayn, submitting Corbin w/Zayn using a Sharpshooter/Crippler Crossface combo. Joe and Zayn then had a match to determine who would face Balor....that ended in a double pinfall. Both Joe's and Zayn's shoulders were pinned, so GM Regal would pit the competitors in a 2 out of 3 falls match. Joe would win the first fall with the Muscle Buster, then Sami Zayn would submit Joe with a Koji Clutch. Joe would eventually clinch the final fall with the Coquina Clutch as Zayn would eventually pass out. Finn in response to the impressive performances, would defeat Apollo Crews and NxT newcomer (and Baltimore native) Rich Swann, using his original finisher in Japan, the 1916...(High Angled Brainbuster DDT....better known as the Bloody Sunday).

In a similar fashion to Zayn and Nakamura, this match not only affects the fate of the NxT Championship, but also both competitors' potential debut dates on the main roster. (The difference between the Main Roster and the NxT Roster is the chance to headline WrestleMania and win the major championships of WWE (World Heavyweight, Tag Team, Intercontinental, and United States...and the Divas Championship for the women [though it should be changed back to the Women's Championship]). With rumors that Finn's Japanese Stablemates Luke "Doc" Gallows and "Machine Gun" Karl Anderson getting ready to debut soon, there is a possibility that Finn will join both of them on the main roster....with a potential team up with 2nd Bullet Club leader AJ Styles. Joe has also earned more than enough notoriety in NxT to position himself for a call up. From what it seems, the winner of the match will be NxT Champion and the spearhead of the promotion for the upcoming months up until at least SummerSlam of this year (so....August), whereas the loser of the match is more than likely to be called up between the night after WrestleMania(Monday) or the aforementioned SummerSlam.

Prediction: Samoa Joe finally claims the NxT Championship he's been chasing after since his debut back in June. Finn, Anderson, and Gallows debut Monday Night as the heavies behind whichever power authority wins out at WrestleMania.

So, that's the NxT Preview and my Predictions. I would say the send off.....but I have at least 1 more entry to catch you guys up for! So, be ready for the next preview ASAP.