NXT Minus 6: This Is The End???

Brad reflects on TakeOver 36 and with a change in format; was this an adequate swan song? How will everyone remember the Super Indy era of NXT?

6. Samoa Joe versus Karrion Kross 2.5 stars I’ll say it. At this point in his career, I’m more interested in the idea of Samoa Joe than the wrestler Samoa Joe. He looked old, out of shape & not remotely close to the powerhouse we thought he still could be. Hopefully he is a transitional champion and nothing more. As for Kross, good luck on RawDown. 

5. Kyle O’Reilly versus Adam Cole 3 stars Long, random, unnecessary. I just couldn’t get interested in this story. Sadly, this entire feud exposed O’Reilly’s limits on the mic. Poor Adam Cole doesn’t know how to wrap a chain around his hand. Has he never watched 1980’s Jerry Lawler??? The icing on the cake is Cole will go right back to cutting boring promos about how his opponent got lucky and he’s still the best. Blah blah blah. Time for a total overhaul for Mr. Undisputed.  

4. Cameron Grimes versus La Knight 3 star match with a 5 star ending Once again, Grimes bumps his ass off to try and make Knight look like something. The highlight was the Million Dollar Man. Even at his age, he threw the best punch of the night when he clocked Knight. Then throwing the belt into the ring to distract the ref was vintage heel. For a brief moment, Dibiase looked 30 years younger. Beautiful stuff.

3. Dakota Kai versus Raquel Gonzalez 4.3 stars The beginning was fantastic. Kai knew she had to outsmart Gonzalez, and it almost worked. She said she taught Gonzalez everything Gonzalez knows but she didn’t teach her everything she knows. Then that ending. Avalanche Chingona Bomb! That’s illegal in 18 states. Then Gonzalez rolled Kai up for what would have been an 8 count, just to rub salt in the wounds. Then we get Kay Lee Ray!?!?!?! My Forever Champion here in NXT!!! I hope she gets someone before Gonzalez because I’m not a fan of anybody walking into a championship feud. 

2. WALTER versus Ilja Dragunov 4.8 stars When you’re talking about MOTY territory, you have to split some hairs and pick some nits. Yes, the action was insane. Yes, Dragonov turned in one of the most superhuman performances I’ve ever seen. I’m even cool with WALTER tapping out. It did take about a thousand elbows to the head to do the job. I do have a problem with the post-match when Dragunov stood with one foot on WALTER’s chest. The Ring General has done too much and been too good to deserve that disrespect. Without that moment, this is 5 stars easy. It’s still in the running for MOTY, but that small gesture by the Czar left a bad taste in my mouth.     

1. If this does mark the end of an era and NXT gets repackaged, it was not a fitting swan song for the Black & Gold Standard. Most of this action was barely fitting for a Wednesday night throwback themed special. With the exception of two matches, It certainly didn’t live up to the elevated expectations of Takeover. Maybe I’ll rewatch Takeover New Orleans to remind myself of better times.