Names brought up by the nosebleed crowd during Bayley/Asuka: AJ Styles, John Cena, Kurt Angle, Mark Henry. Really liked the finish: Bayley's reactions were killer and Sasha's Tina Fey glasses are the finishing touches on a masterpiece.

I really liked the Asuka / Bayley match. It seems like the crowd had trouble getting into it at times. Strange that they used such a similar finish to the Nia Jax match.

Love seeing Becky and Sasha in the front row just completely in the match. They are just as involved with the matches as the fans.

 

Bayley's fighting spirit was great but Asuka is just a monster and there is nothing you can do about it

I thought the crowd was heavily into it, it's just that iwas a mixed crowd cause a lot of people love Asuka too.

Yeah that was definitely Bayley's last match in NXT. That was the Sami Zayn exit from the Dallas Takeover show

Me and Johnny might be the only people wanting Joe to retain the belt today, and I'm okay with that.

LOL at WWE being sloppy about how transparent the "front row VIPs" are just being trotted out to the same row over and over for one match and the "look who is in attendance for Takeover" shots.

The thing is, they sat Charlotte away from Becky and Sasha, and those three women wanted to be ringside for that.

Me and Johnny might be the only people wanting Joe to retain the belt today, and I'm okay with that.

The elite are few, buddy .

Sit down Bobby Roode your entrance has been put into 2nd place

Yeah, that was amazing.

Sit down Bobby Roode your entrance has been put into 2nd place

I expected the cast of Hamilton to come out.

Just let these two not do any opening match "feeling out" shit and just start beating the shit out of each other. It's what this match needs to be.

Foley's been a huge Joe fan since the ROH days, he must love being ringside.

Yeah I think Joe has a broken jaw

Yeah, and outside of Joe, they have no real opponents lined up for Nakamura lined up.

Yeah, and outside of Joe, they have no real opponents lined up for Nakamura lined up.

 

After tonight I honestly think you could fast track Roode and fans would accept it.

But is Nakamura/Roode really a match that anyone, right now, buys as a Takeover Main Event? Who buys Roode beating Nakamura?

My five-year-old daughter is a HUGE Nakamura fan. She was watching the show with me, but fell asleep before Baley/Asuka. She's going to be so excited when she watches the main event tomorrow!

 

Great show. That tag title match was probably the best thing on it. The Revival are so good at leading you down one path that you think the match is going to go and then switching it up. They stay true to the "Southern Tag" format, but mix in enough interesting twists on it, that it's new and original.

But is Nakamura/Roode really a match that anyone, right now, buys as a Takeover Main Event? Who buys Roode beating Nakamura?

 

Who would have bought Joe beating Nak in a rematch? Nak is probably gonna be on top regardless, but I think Roode's as good or better an option as any.

Well, in a perfect world, Joe retains and Nak has to fight back into his title program. That's why I really wanted Joe to win. The loss kinda makes his title victory a "transitional champ" run, while not giving any real matchups for the future.

Nakamura-Itami looks good...Nakamura-Ciampa later..both could headline and have the crowd consider legit

True, not that many options currently. Could do a fourway thing that overlaps the new Aries/Itami feud and includes Roode. Elevates everyone and allows them to build Nak/Itami or Nak/Roode 1 on 1 afterwards.

That was the closest to "in real time" as I've watched an entire show since I was actually at the Rumble a couple of years ago. I just finished, with gaps for putting the kid down.

 

Thoughts:

 

Jose vs Aries: I know we're stereotyped as the punch people but Jose's punch is so beautiful. I liked Aries a lot here as the slimy veteran. It was interesting how many times that they went back towards the full nelson in the finishing stretch. There were some interesting layout things all night. Also, so, so man rotation forearms or punches or clotheslines or whatever. I think Jose could be a force on the main roster if they give him a chance to keep improving and then don't cut his legs off when he gets up. Great reaction for Itami. He seemed like a star (But then just about everyone did). Oh, I loved Aries tope too.

 

Roode vs Almas: This was the perfect night for Roode's entrance. He seemed like the biggest thing in the world because it's so fresh and the viral videos and the fans were just totally ready for it. I thought Almas did a good job winning over the crowd, actually, but he's so much better as a heel that they should just turn him. If nothing else, I have no idea why they're not giving up on the entrance gear. Come on. Roode needs to just do the Test Pumphandle Power Slam. Roode vs Nakamura would be a completely fine Takeover main event on Roode's way to the main roster. I still think Vince and HHH have to love the guy.

 

Moon vs Kay: Billie's Psylocke as Part of the Hellfire Club gimmick is strange, but whatever. She looked good. Moon looked pretty good. The crowd was willing to get behind her. The entrance was good. I wish they would actually be a little clearer on what she's supposed to be. Cleopatra Meets the Brood? That finisher is gold.

 

Tag match: God this was great. They had me on the near falls to the extent that I'm probably giving an emotional response. The one off the double suplex is one of my favorites (I love it as a 3D break up roll up). Then the Shatter Machine counter completely had me. I think my favorite part of all of this might have been Becky and Sasha's response to the chop block. Thanks to the colorful hair, you caught them off the corner of the screen and they were so into it at that moment. The finishing stretch was the best one the WWE's done all year, absolutely. But I'd have to rewatch to say if it was the best match.

 

Asuka vs Bayley: I thought the post match was wonderful. It was just visceral and she could have soaked up those cheers all night. As for the match itself, I really liked the first half. I think it was the smoothest and most polished Bayley had ever looked with the roll ups and some of her high risk offense. Graves trying to cover the power bomb attempt with the ankle being hurt was good, but she wasn't selling it. That would have been fine if not for the flub cover, so who knows. Either it was intentional and built into the match, at which point the lack of selling hurt it or wasn't intentional and was a decent recovery but was pasted over by Graves in a way that didn't help things. Moreover, Bayley seemed sort of blown up for a big chunk of it. Was that just me? I still thought the emotional core of the match was there and effective though. Asuka was really into her entrance with the wavy arms going like something out of Akira or some other cultural reference point I'm not hip enough to hit.

 

Joe vs Nakamura: Amazing entrance. I almost wish Joe had responded by coming out to no music. The tension for the first touch was like something I'm not sure I've ever seen in WWE. Joe is the guy who should be main eventing Summerslam tomorrow, not Orton, not Finn, not Rollins, not Brock. This completely avoided the Nakamura Second Act Slump because Joe was in the driver's seat. Better than any of the Finn vs Joe matches and MAYBE Nakamura's best WWE match so far. The Sami match had more fireworks but it wasn't much more but fireworks. This had more gravitas, maybe. It could just be the recency though.

 

Literally the only thing that will make me happy tomorrow night is if Ambrose beats Ziggler, and while he's celebrating, Joe comes out of the crowd and destroys him to set up the next Smackdown title program.

Loved tonight's show. Watching with tons of non fans and they loved it too.

 

If I can say anything that hasn't been said yet, I hope Billie Kay doesn't slide into a welcome mat role. She has great timing and if she can click with a character, she'll be something special.

If you are going to do Roode vs Nakamura then Roode needs a better finisher because if actually won the title over that weak looking slam then the crowd is going to completely shit all over it.