Lucha Underground shows it's maturity in some ways while NXT continues to put out great wrestling. Both shows had some high points while there were some things that were not all that well done. In the end Wednesday's continue to rule wrestling by a wide margin.
LU gave us the Texano Patron match a few weeks sooner than I thought they would. Dario tried to ask Alberto for time to promote the match. I gotta be honest here. I agree with Dario. They shouldn't just put that match out their unannounced. Still it served a purpose. The value of it tells viewers that every show is must see. They aren't hurt by that because they don't build to PPV's at this time.
The match was good, but the screwy finish where Alberto took a DQ was a bit mindless. The announce team acted like he had somehow triumphed, but he actually lost. Clearly they want that story to play out in AAA, and they didn't even mention if the title was on the line. I guess that's fine, but why have that match here unless you are trying to draw some AAA fans to this show as well. So maybe I'm answering my own question.
Alberto teased that he wants the next shot at the title after Cage. They didn't promote it for next week, but I'm assuming we could see that Cage/Puma match this coming week. I would say they should at least put that out there a week ahead of time, but it wouldn't surprise me to see it next week. Cage Puma is an absolute treat of a match. They have to go for a pinfall finish in the next match. I'm not sure what Konan's plan is, but they hype video they ran makes me think he has something up his sleeve.
Cueno and Mundo will do battle in the cage next week. This will be the first cage match on LU and I'm interested to see how they utilize it. This should be an excellent match and that has me sold on next week alone.
Mil and Fenix had a great match. Really good action in that match with the exception of the odd finish, but Fenix came out looking really good despite losing. Anyone that gets Catrina in the end is doing pretty well for themselves.
Dario was awesome in all of his segments. A lot of his decisions are not about only supporting bad guys, but also running a good wrestling company. I'm all for LU being a brand people are proud to follow like WWE in the late 90's and ECW. Dario can't just be all heel trying to hurt the faces. He needs to be impartial in a lot of ways. He's my favorite part of the show and considering how great the matches are that's saying something.
Last note on this. The Sexy Star Big Ryck match wasn't bad at all. Big Ryck could have punished her, but that would make little sense since he is a face at this time. They also didn't take the time to make him look bad. He did the logical thing and held her down for the pinfall. WWE needs to embrace logic.
On NXT Kevin Owens continues to prove he knows how to be a heel. When I watch the show I'm always rooting for something bad to happen to him or for things to wrong, but when I'm away from the show I think Kevin Owens is such a badass. Kevin Owens is drawing money. He's making you want to watch him for the reason of seeing him get his and he's being entertaining and not annoying.
This is different from the Authority in WWE who at this point are just annoying. Sure Steph and HHH can get heat, but most of their behavior is just annoying, which is a turn off for the most part.
Owen was all over Alex Riley again, which caused Riley to quit his announcing job, but I liked how Regal didn't just let him have a match. They will build to Owens/Riley. This will be a good comeback feud for Riley and another good feud for Owens.
The Zayn thing was a let down. It's almost like a repeat of what happened to him after the last Takeover where he was recovering and did an online video. I think it's ok for now and it helps build that Owen Balor situation, but I would have gone a different route. I would have brought him back next week and had him attack Owens. Then I would have said he can't wrestle until he's medically cleared.
I know this probably also related to their tapings schedule and that might be why he did that to appease his fans, but make up for being away for these last few tapings.
I'm a bit confused about the Balor/Owens match on the 25th. Is that going to be a live event? Is that a takeover special? Is that a longer than usual show? Is that already a taped match? That seemed like a non-committal promo and there was zero info online about that today. I have a feeling it's a taped match and it's probably because Balor is going to the main roster the night after WM31.
I previously commented that I think WWE should Nakamura the IC title with Daniel Bryan. For those of you who don't know Nakamuraing is when you take a lesser belt and put it on an absolute superstar. Then you pair that superstar in feuds against great workers thereby lifting the belt to a new status level. WWE needs to treat the IC title like it was as valuable as the World title they just retired (the big gold belt). In doing so they can elevate a second tier mid card that appeals to the smart fans.
Balor would be perfect in that role. He could engage Bryan in a nice feud. For all the baby face appeal they have had on Balor in NXT, don't be surprised if he goes heel. I think he is naturally more suited to be in that role. Whatever they do they just need to keep him away from that poison know as Roman Reigns.
Another side note. I caught an excerpt from what I believe was the second CM Punk Colt Cabana podcast. In the excerpt on youtube Punk talks about how WWE brass wanted him to make Roman look good in a match. It's funny how even that far back they were so protective of Roman. Imagine if they protected Balor in the same way? He would become ten times the start that Roman could ever be. We will see.
I liked the Women's match. Flair and Banks have gotten to know each other so well in the ring that they just click. They have put a ton into that match and it just keeps getting better. Again I know Flair is moving up, and I expect Banks to hold the belt through the summer before dropping it to Bayley. Then I expect her to move up as well. That feud has a lot of life left in it. That match will be even better in a year on the main roster.
I was disappointed by Solomon Crowe. He's got a unique look and I'm sure he can work, but his match was not all that good. They had him work from underneath too much in this spot. I think they would have done better to get him a jobber so he could get all his stuff in and look strong. He seemed to be chasing the match. His finish doesn't impress me all that much and has to be setup, so I think that he might want to go a different direction. That splash from the second rope is unique, but it seems like the Lion Salt, which almost never got a pinfall.
This is going to sound nuts, but I love Dempsey's music and I think that he could pass for Kevin Smith if he wanted too. The thing about Bull is that he will probably never be a top top guy, but he can work and has a unique look. I would love for WWE to bring him up and use him as a tag partner with Big Show. They have hat similar make up. He's almost like a little show. I would have it be a half serious half comedy team. Big Show knows how to be funny. I just think if you keep him funny as a heel you might actually get something out of him and Bull would do well as his protege.
People often try to make too much of everyone. Sometimes you just have to see that some guys are made for certain slots and in those slots they can make the product better. WWE doesn't seem to understand that. They tend to think any guy who can't get way over is a failure and chase them away after a couple of years.
That's all for now.
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