WWE NXT Takeover Toronto Review and Reactions
So the night kick started with a must-see matchup between the Glorious one, Bobby Roode, and the perfect ten Tye Dillinger. The match came about following Roode's actions a couple of months back where he abandoned Dillinger during their first match int he Dusty Rhodes tag team classic. Despite being the man to approach Dillinger with the idea of them teaming up, the Glorious one wanted nothing to do with the debuting Sanity and left Dillinger to fend for himself against two monsters. In the weeks that followed, we saw the two fit in a couple of attacks and brawls as they prepared to go one on one at the NXT Takeover Toronto show. Now, before we get talking about their brilliant match can we just take a moment to appreciate the video package shown before they stepped into the ring. As someone that has been a fan of Tye Dillinger for so long, I have hated the fact that he spent so much of his early days in NXT not being appreciated or use enough and his story just hasn't been told well at all. That was until last night, when during the video package for his matchup against Bobby Roode he didn't look like a joke at all and felt like a serious contender as he was finally able to talk about his career, mentioning the fact that he has already had a taste of the WWE all those years back and now wants to truly make a name for himself. All of a sudden the match felt so much more important and Dillinger felt like an even bigger show. Now, we have to briefly touch on entrances; with Bobby Roode having a glorious arrival to his match and Dillinger being made to feel like a mega star before he had even stepped into the ring we had an awesome start to the night before the action had even started! The match itself was far far better than I could have expected. The sheer character and reaction both men picked up made this match feel huge and the action itself only added to the feel. In the early stages we saw Dillinger take complete control, with Roode fitting in a couple of shots here and there Dillinger managed to remain in control and keep the momentum going. However, as the match progressed Roode was able to find and opening and the tales turned massively with Roode making a show of Dillinger. The fight in Tye did keep him going and the crowd remained completely behind him from start to finish. So many near falls and brilliant spots really did make this match a standout not only of the night but of the year. It was the first time Dillinger felt like a big deal and was without a doubt his best match since arriving in NXT as he finally got the chance to show the world what he is capable of and to prove he really is a fantastic talent. Now, he may not have walked away with the win over Roode but as far as all-around performances go, Dillinger was one of the best of the night and no one can fault his skill and talent. Such a fantastic way to kick start the show and with the energy high and the standard set so high also the night was bound to be one to remember.
The Dusty Rhodes tag team classic is something I really have enjoyed over the past few months. I love the whole idea of it and the teams that took part all were amazing. Last night the tournament was set to come to an end as the final two teams, the Authors of Pain and TM-61 went toe to toe in the battle to become the second winners of the Dusty Rhodes tag team classic. I'll be honest and admit that this was the match I was probably least excited for. I wasn't expecting much from this match and I didn't believe it was going to be a big standout. I can now sit here in the early hours of the morning and admit that I was wrong once again. These two teams completely killed it last night and while it was the weakest match of the night considering the standard was so high this still qualifies as a fantastic match and easy NXT standout of twenty sixteen. Now, I didn't really know what to expect from this match. My gut told me that the Authors of Pain were clearly walking away with the victory but every single part of me wanted to see TM-61 take the win and so because of that I really was completely hooked on what was going on. As announced a couple of weeks back manager of the Authors of Pain, Paul Ellering was to be caged above the ring with the idea being that this would make the match fair and provide us with a clean ending. This little addition to the match only made me more excited and into the action. It gave the match that old school feel and once again provided us with something that made NXT different to the main roster. The best action this match really did come from the early stages. We saw both teams look to make an early impact but it was TM-61 who took the spotlight with Shane Thorne almost killing himself during an epic spot very early into this match. Crazy, high-risk spots have been an ongoing theme for the Australian tag team and last night they pulled everything they had out of the bag and on so many occasions came close to picking up the victory and while they did get to show just how much of a brilliant tag team/talent they are it just wasn't enough to defeate the Authors of Pain who by a little help from Ellering, who yes, still managed to play a part in this match despite hanging above the ring, where able to walk away with the win and become the second winners of the Dusty Rhodes tag team classic. Now I did believe that I was going to be fuming at the result of this match but I wasn't in the slightest. Anyone can see that this was the best move to make. The Authors of pain have been so dominate since debuting earlier in the year and they really do need to keep their momentum up and so they needed the win far more than TM-61. However, the Australian duo made such an impact that we just know they will bounce back perfectly fine.
Up next we have more tag team action as the Revival were set to to defend their NXT Tag Team Championship against DIY once again. We last saw these two teams go head to head in the summer at the NXT Takeover Brooklyn two show where they provided us with not only one of the best matches of the year but one of the best tag team wrestling matches I have sene in years! Because of the standard and the expectations being set and raised so high thanks to their previous match the four superstars were under emmence pressure to deliver to the same standard and provide fans with a match even better than their last. Before the match started we saw a brilliant video package that really did show how much this match meant to DIY as they pushed the idea that this was their last chance to capture those championships and the whole thing just felt like such a huge deal and a true must see, there really was no wrestling fan that would have wanted to have missed out on this match and trust me when I say these guys did not disapoint at all. I did actually completely forget that this was a two out of three falls match and so when I realised I was ten times more excited and I made sure to make myself comfortable as I knew I was in for a very special match. What I couldn't do however was mentally prepare for just how brilliant this match was. We have seen Gargano and Ciampa take this road to becoming NXT tag team champions for the past year and so the match felt so important! The first fall didn't go in the favour of DIY however. The brilliant timing and team work of the Revivial meant that they were able to pick up the first fall as a fantastic counter from a DDT from Gargano into the Shatter Machine was enough to put Johnny Wrestling away. The champs however were unable to keep momentum strong and pick up a second straight fall when a running knee and superkick comobo from Gargano and Ciampa evened up the score only several minuets later. Now, the action in this match was simply oustanding from start to finish. There was not a single dull moment and the storytelling was juust pheneomonal. There was meaning behind everything, you could feel the passion from both sides, the wrestliong was unlike anything I have seen in a long time and the near falls had me literally up from my seat yelling at the screen. With the scores even it came down to that third and final fall and beleive me when I say that those near falls I was just talking about had me in a state I don't think is accaptable for anyone of any age. As these two teams both looked to walk away with gold we saw the Revivial work on both legs of Gargano and there were so many times I beleived that the championships would not be changing hands however it was a pair of dueling submisisons that were enugh for Gargano and Ciampa to finally walk away with the NXT Tag Team chamipnships. A reall feel good moment the entire areana and everyone at home celebrated a much deserved win. These two have worked so hard over the past year and have focused so massivley on those championships and they really did deserve that win better than anyone. Of course we cannot take away the amazing performance from the Revivia. Dash and Dawson have been outsanding champions but its more than time for them to make the jump up to the main roster. The mathc as a whole was easily the mactch of the night and an easy contender for match of the year.
I tweeted out last night a few hours before the show that the match I was most excited for last night came from the women's divison as Asuka was set to defend her NXT Women's Championship against a returning Mickie James. I have mentioned in the past that Mickie James has always been someone I have looked up to and been a hgue fan of. She has done so much for women's wrestling over the years both in and outside of the WWE and so seeng her return to a WWE ring and make her first apperance for NXT was somethign I was beyond excited for. Throughout the day the WWE uploaded videos of Mickie and her journey to returhning to the WWE and facing Asuka which honestly only added to the excitment and anticpation. The former five time women's champion picked up a huge reaction from the crowd in Toronto who made her feel more than welcomed back. Asuka picked up just as a big of a reaction and the match really did feel liek a big deal and something we were all going to be talking about for some time. The expectations were of course really high for this match. Everyon was expecting something amazing from these two women and they of course did not disapoint. Mickie prove to be Asuka's biggest challenge yet with the champ finally showing that she may not be as invicible as she has appeared to be. The former WWE Diva's champion took on the role of the veteran and throughout the match proved she was just that, being able to counter and get get way out of moves from Asuka no competitor has been able to move their way out of. These women gave us a fantastic championship match that will easily be noted as a highlight of the year. Asuka of course retained her championship despite a tough fight from James. After the match Mickie did offer a handshake but the champ simply raised her title in the air proving her point to both Mickie James and every other women in the back; her reign was far from over.
Main event time and what a main event we had. With the standard already being set so high throughout the night thanks to so many phenominal matches and so Shinsuke Nakamura and Samoa Joe were under a lot of pressure to end the night on a high and deliver another fantastic match. Again, these two competiors did not disapoint. Both men where made to feel like mage stars during their entrance and as the fans in the arena made it clear they were team Nakamura the big fight feel was real and as the I waited for the bell to ring I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what was about to go down between these two hgue stars. Now, the story telling throughout the build up to this match had been amazing. We had seen Joe so desperate to get his championship back and seeing just how far he was willing to go to get that title back on his should really did put enthasis on how much of a big deal this match was and throughout it we had that same feel and you just see how desperate Joe was to pick up this win and take home that NXT Championship. Nakamura however was far from
I know this is a bold statement to make but I honestly do believe NXT Takeover Tornot was one of if not the best show of two thousand and sixteen. Every single match left me on the edge of my seat and completely entertained. There wasn't a single dull moment and every bout lived up to its expectations and every superstar, male and female, gave it their all and set the bar extremely high for RAW and Smackdown to follow tonight. As far match of the night goes I think we can all agree that The Revival VS DIY deserve to take that title. Not only was this the match of the night but a match I am now seriously considering to be my match of the year. Now, as NXT continue to grow and provide fans with these phenomenal shows can the main roster talent deliver to the same level tonight? As always you can let me know what you thought of the show by leaving a comment bellow or by tweeting me at @TezangiVictoria.
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