BRM Reviews the 12/14/2016 NXT

[Big Red Machine]

STEEL CAGE MATCH FOR THE NXT TITLE: Shinsuke Nakamura(c) vs. Samoa Joe- 6.75/10
Dave Meltzer wrote in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter about a potential fear (I don’t know if it was his or WWE’s) that the Tye Dillinger “TEN!” chants could become this generation’s “WHAT?!” The presence of those chants in this match in place of the standard “YAY!-BOO!” when guys are exchanging strikes has me afraid that this fear is accurate.
The crowd also seemed very quiet here, much like in Osaka, and also like in Osaka the match was nothing close to their pair of Takeover matches. In hindsight, the title change and then change back has to be considered a big mistake even by those who didn’t think it was a mistake going in.

AUSTRALIAN MEAN GIRLS INTERVIEW- these two are sooooo great! Daria showed up when they were making fun of her. I also enjoyed Daria’s version of the “no-nonsense fighter.” She is doing it slightly different than others by being much quieter about it. Others (Goldberg or a babyface or tweener Samoa Joe being a good example) would almost be in your face about it. Daria feels like a dangerous person who is just here to win matches. She doesn’t want to be loud, but she will tell you how she feels, so her threats of violence have a casualness about them that makes her interesting.

At the same time we have ROH, Lucha Underground, and NXT all in the middle of #1 contendership tournaments. That’s a crazy coincidence.

NXT #1 CONTENDERSHIP FIRST-ROUND MATCH: Tye Dillinger vs. Eric Young (w/Sanity)- DUD!
Nikki cross runs in for an early DQ. This does nothing for Dillinger, and takes Nikki from “scary crazy” to “dumb crazy,” as she now appears to be completely unthinking , which makes her feel less dangerous.
Then we got Dillinger making his own comeback against all of Sanity, which was stupid. Why would you hurt Sanity- some of whom have long-term potential- just to get over “Developmental 4 Life! Tye Dillinger?”
Damo came out to finally beat up Dillinger, and we’re all once again left to wonder if he wants to join Sanity or not.

NXT #1 CONTENDERSHIP FIRST-ROUND MATCH: Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. No Way Jose- 5.75/10

SHUT UP AND THEN GO DIE IN A HOLE, DRIFTER!

NXT #1 CONTENDERSHIP FIRST-ROUND MATCH: Roderick Strong vs. “The Drifter” Elias Sampson- 4/10
Would have been better if The Drifter had had his fingers broken so he couldn’t play that f*cking guitar.

NXT #1 CONTENDERSHIP FIRST-ROUND MATCH: Oney Lorcan vs. Bobby Roode- 6/10

A decent show from NXT, despite the disappointing cage match. This was one of those shows that was easy and pleasant to sit through so it feels like it was better than it really was.