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NXT Minus 6: Takeover: The Backup Plan (Part 3)

Bradley Jay continues his NXT Takeover: Backup Plan with a look at Grudge Matches from Takeovers gone by!

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NXT Takeover Chicago Tommaso Ciampa Johnny Gargano

Bradley Jay continues his NXT Takeover: Backup Plan with a look at Grudge Matches from Takeovers gone by!

This is Part 3 of your Takeover backup plan. Pick one match from each for a DIY Takeover. I haven’t seen every Takeover, so these lists aren’t definitive. Also, I’m not ranking the matches because the goal isn’t to argue over what is better. The goal is to enjoy some of the best wrestling from the brief but fertile history of the Black & Gold Standard.

Today…Grudge Matches

Some matches are for titles, title shots, superlatives. Other matches are for something bigger. NXT has given us some of the best rivalries in the last 20 years. Here are 6 amazing grudge matches that celebrate the power of storytelling. 

NXT ArRIVAL highlights | WWE

Samy Zayn versus Cesaro, NXT Arrival

Technically, this isn’t a Takeover match. It is the first match on Arrival, the first televised NXT special and the prequel to Takeover. This is Zayn at his resilient, babyface best and Cesaro as the cool, efficient destroyer. It also set the tone for all future Takeovers. Start fast. Start strong. Make a great first impression. Good things happen when you let wrestlers wrestle. 

Matches That Defined 2017: Aleister Black vs Velveteen Dream, NXT ...

Aleister Black versus Velveteen Dream, Takeover War Games I

Occam’s Razor. Simple is best. Say my name. SAY…MY…NAME! 

Candice LeRae vs. Io Shirai: photos | WWE

Candace LeRae versus Io Shirai, Takeover Toronto  

After months of losing to Shayna Baszler, Shirai goes bonkers. She attacks BFF Lerae, morphs into the Evil Genius of the Sky and gives us the second best women’s match in NXT history. Lerae plays her part, but the magic here is Shirai. She gives a master class on how to go batshit crazy, right down to locking up both of Lerae’s arms so she can’t even tap out. Evil Genius.

Gargano and Ciampa - Quintessential Feud of the Modern Era

Johnny Gargano versus Tommaso Ciampa, Takeover: Chicago

Pick any match from the trilogy. It’s all good. This stands out for one reason. Ciampa spitting on Gargano’s wedding ring and throwing it into the crowd is one of the all time epic heel moves. If that match took place in the 80’s, the crowd would have rioted and Ciampa would not have made it out alive. For one shining moment, a real heel existed.   

WWE NXT TakeOver: XXV results - What was 'Match of the Night ...

Matt Riddle versus Roderick Strong, Takeover XXV

Riddle runs his mouth. Strong wants to shut him up. Riddle kicks his flip flops at Strong, and from there it’s go time. This match starts fast and never lets up. It’s a 14 minute sprint. Strong is a wrestling machine. I get the feeling he easily could have gone another 14.      

Highlights of Johnny Gargano vs. Aleister Black At NXT Takeover ...

Aleister Black versus Johnny Gargano, Takeover War Games II

This is the only 6 star match in NXT history. No typo. Amazing characters. Gripping story. In-ring action so crisp, there were at least 4 times when I thought someone legit got knocked out. In the end, Black kicks Gargano’s face off with the most stunning Black Mass ever. It’s hard to call something the best match ever, but I won’t ever see one better.  

Up Next…Part IV, Random Goodness

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Opinion

Chris King: The Wyatt Sicks’ Wasted Potential By WWE

Chris King takes a look at the WWE and their wasted potential of Uncle Howdy and the Wyatt Sicks faction.

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Wyatt Sicks WWE

Chris King takes a look at the WWE and their wasted potential of Uncle Howdy and the Wyatt Sicks faction.

It’s that time of the year again, folks; it’s unfortunate and downright awful that so many WWE superstars got released today. I’m not going to list all of them, but I am going to talk about one of my favorite factions, 

The Wyatt Sicks. Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Erik Rowan, and Bo Dallas (Uncle Howdy) were something special. After Bo’s brother Bray Wyatt’s tragic passing, WWE felt like there was a hole that needed to be filled. Wyatt was one of the most creative and brilliant characters, and Bo would be taking over his brother’s concept and bringing it to life. In 2024, at the end of an incredible documentary highlighting Wyatt’s career and struggles, Bo appeared on the screen portrayed as Uncle Howdy. The last time Uncle Howdy was seen on-screen was at the 2023 Royal Rumble, where Wyatt defeated LA Knight in a Pitch Black Match. Howdy jumped off a structure onto Knight. 

This post-credit scene sparked so much speculation and excitement that Wyatt’s brother would carry on his legacy and possibly debut the faction that was Wyatt’s concept. On the June 17th episode of Monday Night Raw, The Wyatt Sicks made their dramatic debut ,destroying the backstage area as well as “murdering” Chad Gable. It was such an iconic arrival for Howdy as he made his menacing walk from the back into the audience who were chanting “Holy Shit.” The Sicks and American Made (Chad Gable and The Creed Brothers) battled for months, with The Sicks being victorious. On the September 9th episode of Raw, The Sicks defeated them, with Howdy getting the win with Sister Abigail. 

The following year, The Sicks would move over to Friday Night SmackDown, and it seemed like WWE had a plan in place. They would win the tag team championships from The Street Profits and start to look dominant. Now, what should have happened next is Howdy should have won the United States title. The Sicks could have held all the gold over on the blue brand, but it never happened. The Sicks entered into a never-ending feud with The MFT’s (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, JC Mateo, and Talla Tonga.) It started off exciting, and the WWE Universe was red-hot for their interactions. 

After months of repetitive matches and The MFT’s stealing their lantern, the feud grew tiresome and boring. Even Tama asked Solo why they are still holding onto the lantern, as it was destroying them as a whole. Finally on the SmackDown before Mania, Tama

gave the lantern back to Howdy against Solo’s wishes. Please explain to me why both factions fought almost every single week instead of just having one final blowoff match at WrestleMania. 

It should have been either a massive street fight or a falls count anywhere match on the grandest stage of them all. Instead, it turned into a meaningless week-after-week extravaganza that benefited no one. The MFTs won the rivalry, and The Sicks don’t even work for WWE anymore. This was the same criminalized creative process that Wyatt dealt with during his first run in the company. 

We’ll never know how much of a dangerous force The Wyatt Sicks could have been in the WWE. For all their careers’ sake, I hope they stay far away from the company for as long as possible. Every superstar that was cut deserves better!

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Opinion

Chris King: Bloodline Saga: Is This the Right Call For WWE?

Chris King questions the WWE’s logic in setting up Jacob Fatu as the next challenger for World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns 

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WWE Jacob Fatu Roman Reigns Backlash

Chris King questions the WWE’s logic in setting up Jacob Fatu as the next challenger for World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns is once again World Heavyweight Champion after his dominant win over CM Punk at WrestleMania 42. On the following night on Monday Night Raw, The OG Bloodline came back together as a well-oiled machine as The Usos stood side by side with Roman. With the WWE Universe asking who would be the first to challenge “The Tribal Chief,” Jacob Fatu shocked the world by answering the call. 

Fatu is running hot after his impressive win over Drew McIntyre and feels like he is ready to become the new world champion. This bloodline segment ended Raw, and it picked right back up on SmackDown with even Solo Sikoa and the MFTs involved. This is now two shows that have been centered around The Bloodline saga, and it’s made me question whether or not WWE should be retelling this story. 

The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, The Usos, and Solo Sikoa) ran WWE for over four years as Reigns’ henchmen, doing his dirty work to retain his title. Even though Roman has declared he doesn’t want Jey and Jimmy to serve him, it sure seems like WWE are spinning their wheels. Fatu could add a whole new chapter into the story, even if he’s not able to beat Roman at Backlash. “The Samoan Werewolf” could be forced to do the same thing as Jey did all those years ago and fall in line. 

 In my opinion, I feel like Fatu should be challenging for the Undisputed WWE Championship because that’s a title I feel like he should win. I understand standing up to your blood and trying to prove you’re the best, but I don’t think this is the right move. It feels like 2022 all over again, as The Bloodline is the central focus on both shows. If Fatu doesn’t win, what happens to all his momentum he’s been building over the last two years? 

Why did WWE make this the best choice for storyline purposes? Why couldn’t creative have come up with a different challenger for Roman? There are so many other superstars that could challenge The Tribal Chief, such as Rusev, Bron Breakker, Gunther, or even a returning Sheamus. 

I just can’t help but question WWE’s logic here, and it kind of reminds me of all the times The Shield reunited. Could WWE be pushing the same storyline too many times here? Could the WWE Universe get tired of this rinse and repeat cycle of The Bloodline Saga?

Are we about to see all the weekly episodes solely focused on The Bloodline again? Will it be cinema… Yes. Is there still money in The Bloodline… Yes. Was it the right call? That’s to be determined!

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