CONTACTABOUTFACEBOOKTWITTERPODCAST IPHONE APPANDROID APPAMAZON APPRSS
Pro Wrestling Torch
Pro Wrestling Torch Reaches The Most Wrestling Fans Every Week: #1 in iTunes • #1 on iPhone and iPad • #1 on Android • #1 on Kindle
GOT THE PWTORCH APP YET?
iPhone & iPad
Android
Amazon Kindle
Windows Phone
PWTorch Phone App
THE SPECIALISTS
INSTANT REACTION - WWE NXT 2/27: NXT arrives in style with Cesaro-Zayn and other superb storytelling

Feb 28, 2014 - 1:12:38 AM
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO BOOKMARK US & VISIT US DAILY


NXT_wide_7.png



Instant Reaction - WWE NXT Arrival 2/27
By Benjamin Tucker, PWTorch TV specialist


Overall Score - 9.0

The future is officially better than he present. I am astounded. Despite spending months hearing about the high-quality of NXT, I had only watched a few of its early episodes online. After tonight's event, I don't see myself skipping a broadcast any time soon.

So, yes, I am actually excited about a wrestling show. Shocking, right? NXT's simplification of WWE's modern-day storytelling is a treat to watch unfold. If anything, it reminds me of the booking in the late 1980s to early 1990s WWF - larger than life characters in slow burning feuds that are simple but well told. NXT doesn't make overly complex authority storylines the focus of the show, instead putting the spotlight on the individual wrestlers and their aspirations to climb higher up the card.

This return to a more sports-esque model is greatly supported by the fantastic work of the NXT broadcast team. I don't know how the other announcers will fare being on the Thursday show, but tonight's commentary team was extraordinary at making each character and match feel important, while pointing out various nuances in each contest that made every move seem that much more important. William Regal's call of Cesaro's stretch muffler in the opening contest was tremendous, and the team didn't stop all night. If this announce team replaced the three-man Raw booth next week, I wouldn't be happier.

So, in other words, simplified storytelling, combined with insanely entertaining matches, great pacing, and a stellar announce team create the best wrestling show on (almost) television. Who woulda thunk it? Now, let's go through this show match-by-match to see what was really worth watching.

- Sami Zayn vs. Cesaro IV was easily better than their two-out-of-three falls match, and was one of the most impressively-designed matches I have ever seen. It was a 22-minute masterpiece that featured incredibly innovative spots (which all looked brutal, by the way) and perfect pacing, all the while highlighting the defining characteristics of each wrestler.

Cesaro was portrayed as a monster in the ring, while Zayn was shown to be his equal with his fighting spirit and refusal to give up. Zayn repeatedly getting up after Cesaro's uppercuts were fantastic, and his hope spots were placed impeccably. Zayn's near falls towards the end were some of the best I've seen in wrestling, with his Code Red on Cesaro being a particular highlight. This single match is worth a one-month long subscription to the WWE Network. Please watch this match.

Verdict: Match of the Year 2014. Mark it down now. Watch it.

- Mojo Rawley has such an insane gimmick, but it's also vaguely fun to watch. His victory over C.J. Parker (killer dancing, by the way) was nothing to write home about, but it served as a fine comedown match.

Verdict: Skip it.

- The Tag Title match was probably the low point of the show, even though that isn't saying much. The Ascension looked good dominating Too Cool, but the action wasn't on-par with the rest of the evening. This would have meant more if we didn't just see Too Cool in action a month ago on "Old School" Raw.

Verdict: Skip it.

- Oh, and here comes the 2014 women's match of the year. Paige and Emma worked excellently together, creating a fantastic contest that was highlighted with some of the most brutal-looking submission moves I've seen. And some of them were just restholds! The set up for the ending seemed to come a bit suddenly, but nonetheless this was another treat to watch. Now I have to go cry as I prepare myself to watch a main roster Divas match next week...

Verdict: Watch it!

- You want to know a perfect gimmick? Try Tyler Freaking Breeze. Everything, from the camera zoom into his face to his iPhone showing up on the "Full Sail Tron" is perfect, and the Zoolander/Rick Rude hybrid is more than holding up his own end of the bargain. Too bad his match with Xavier Woods was cut short to promote the eventual debut of Alexander Rusev, who still hasn't proven to me that he's more than a chunkier Vladimir Kozlov in a boxing outfit.

Verdict: Skip it (after you watch Tyler Breeze come out, of course).

- The women's match was shockingly better than the main event, though that isn't a knock on Adrian Neville and Bo Dallas. The two had an entertaining ladder match that was a bit slower-paced but still featured numerous memorable spots. Neville's finishing move is outrageous, and it was to see in action. On a ladder no less!

Verdict: Watch it!

If you can't tell, I'm infatuated with NXT. The "low" points of the show were still entertaining to watch, the pacing is great, and the characters all jump off the screen like it's 1991. Yes, I will be watching NXT next week. And the week after. And the week after. And the week after...

Questions? Comments? Reactions? Find me on Twitter @BTuckerTorch, where I talk about wrestling and... stuff!


We suggest these recent related articles...
10/5 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Natalya vs. Paige, Owens vs. Cara, Stephanie McMahon, Sasha Banks, Xavier Woods
COLLECTIBLES COLUMN: The History of Foam Hands in Pro Wrestling
9/28 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Kane's Split Personality, Divas Revolution, Heyman & Big Show, Reigns vs. Wyatt
prowrestling.net
CLICK HERE FOR EVEN MORE PW.NET HEADLINES


CLICK TO EMAIL THIS ARTICLE
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN LISTING

NEW! SIGN UP FOR FREE PWTORCH BREAKING NEWS EMAIL ALERTS
BECOME A PWTORCH VIP MEMBER
-FORMER MEMBERS LOGIN HERE TO RENEW
-NEW MEMBERS CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
SELECT BY ARTICLES CATEGORY
SEARCH PWTORCH.COM



CLICK HERE FOR LIST OF UPCOMING PRO WRESTLING EVENTS
MORE HEADLINES AT AFFILIATE SITES
MMATorch
LATEST HEADLINES - CLICK TO READ CLICK HERE FOR MORE MMATORCH HEADLINES


PWTORCH POLL - VOTE NOW!
RAW POLL 10/12: Vote on Monday's show
 
pollcode.com free polls


RAW POLL 10/12: What was the Best Match on Raw?
 
pollcode.com free polls
MCNEILL LIVECAST POLL: TNA will have a 32-person tournament to determine a new Hvt. champion - your thoughts?
 
pollcode.com free polls
CENA POLL: If John Cena takes a year-end break, who should win the U.S. Title from Cena?
 
pollcode.com free polls
VOTE IN OR SEE RESULTS OF PREVIOUS POLLS



LATEST HEADLINES - CLICK TO READ CLICK HERE FOR EVEN MORE INC HEADLINES

_
LATEST FREE AUDIO SHOWS - CLICK TO LISTEN VIEW MORE PWTORCH LIVECAST EPISODES
DOWNLOAD PWTORCH LIVECAST APP
SUBSCRIBE TO PWTORCH LIVECAST IN ITUNES


ABOUT US

THE TORCH REACHES MORE COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT FANS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

PWTorch editor Wade Keller has covered pro wrestling full time since 1987 starting with the Pro Wrestling Torch print newsletter. PWTorch.com launched in 1999 and the PWTorch Apps launched in 2008.

He has conducted "Torch Talk" insider interviews with Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Steve Austin, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Eric Bischoff, Jesse Ventura, Lou Thesz, Jerry Lawler, Mick Foley, Jim Ross, Paul Heyman, Bruno Sammartino, Goldberg, more.

He has interviewed big-name players in person incluiding Vince McMahon (at WWE Headquarters), Dana White (in Las Vegas), Eric Bischoff (at the first Nitro at Mall of America), Brock Lesnar (after his first UFC win).

He hosted the weekly Pro Wrestling Focus radio show on KFAN in the early 1990s and hosted the Ultimate Insiders DVD series distributed in retail stories internationally in the mid-2000s including interviews filmed in Los Angeles with Vince Russo & Ed Ferrara and Matt & Jeff Hardy. He currently hosts the most listened to pro wrestling audio show in the world, (the PWTorch Livecast, top ranked in iTunes)


REACHING 1 MILLION+ UNIQUE USERS PER MONTH
500 MILLION CLICKS & LISTENS PER YEAR
MILLIONS OF PWTORCH NEWSLETTERS SOLD
PWTORCH STAFF

EDITORS:
Wade Keller, editor
(kellerwade@gmail.com)

James Caldwell, assistant editor
(pwtorch@gmail.com)

STAFF COLUMNISTS:
Bruce Mitchell (since 1990)
Pat McNeill (since 2001)
Greg Parks (since 2007)
Sean Radican (since 2003)

We also have a great team of
TV Reporters
and Specialists and Artists.

PWTORCH VIP MEMBERSHIP

PWTorch offers a VIP membership for $10 a month (or less with an annual sub). It includes nearly 25 years worth of archives from our coverage of pro wrestling dating back to PWTorch Newsletters from the late-'80s filled with insider secrets from every era that are available to VIPers in digital PDF format and Keller's radio show from the early 1990s.

Also, new exclusive top-shelf content every day including a new VIP-exclusive weekly 16 page digital magazine-style (PC and iPad compatible) PDF newsletter packed with exclusive articles and news.

The following features come with a VIP membership which tens of thousands of fans worldwide have enjoyed for many years...

-New Digital PWTorch Newsletter every week
-3 New Digital PDF Back Issues from 5, 10, 20 years ago
-Over 60 new VIP Audio Shows each week
-Ad-free access to all PWTorch.com free articles
-VIP Forum access with daily interaction with PWTorch staff and well-informed fellow wrestling fans
-Tons of archived audio and text articles
-Decades of Torch Talk insider interviews in transcript and audio formats with big name stars.


**SIGN UP FOR VIP ACCESS HERE**

CONTACTABOUTFACEBOOKTWITTERPODCASTIPHONE APPANDROID APPAMAZON APPRSS
VIP SIGN-UP
VIP LOGIN
THE TORCH: #1 IN COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT COVERAGE | © 1999-2013 TDH Communications Inc. • All rights reserved -- PRIVACY POLICY