It might not be the popular opinion here but I still find Shayna's matches very entertaining. I think she's a brilliant heel and the reactions she gets back that up. It's difficult for anyone to be genuinely disliked in wrestling today (especially someone that doesn't rely on cheap insults) and she's done exactly that. Her run at the top might have lasted longer than we might have expected but it's going to feel like a really big deal when someone does beat her. The play for me now is to wait until Dakota is healthy enough to return and have her dethrone Shayna. That will end up being an absolutely epic story arc.

Jun 3, 2019 2:16:31 GMT @admin said:

It might not be the popular opinion here but I still find Shayna's matches very entertaining. I think she's a brilliant heel and the reactions she gets back that up. It's difficult for anyone to be genuinely disliked in wrestling today (especially someone that doesn't rely on cheap insults) and she's done exactly that. Her run at the top might have lasted longer than we might have expected but it's going to feel like a really big deal when someone does beat her. The play for me now is to wait until Dakota is healthy enough to return and have her dethrone Shayna. That will end up being an absolutely epic story arc.

Like I said it wouldn't be as a big a deal for me if there was more than one women's takeover match. But there isn't , and she's been in every single one since January 2018. I'd like some actual variety in the few long NXT women's matches we get (basically takeover matches are the only women's matches that got over 10 minutes in NXT)  that's just me.

Not having a second takeover match kills the division in long reigns. So you have Dakota feud with Shayna and win the title, what's Io , Bianca, or whoever else  doing during this twiddling their thumbs?   

@admin

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llet me ask you this have Shayna's matches matched what the division was producing before her reign on Takeover's? How lengthy are her matches compared to the other Takeover matches of the past? How important does the division feel since her reign started? Do you not think other talents would be having better matches if they were champ in Shayna's place? When was the last time you saw someone comment that the women's match was one of the best matches on a takeover, instead of one of the more forgettable?

I'd like there to be two women's matches on Takeovers too, but that pretty obviously isn't going to start happening. I'm not really invested in Mia vs Bianca but at least that has been a genuine secondary feud with some long TV matches - given the time constraints that's about as good as it will ever get realistically.

I can understand the argument about Shayna being champion too long, and/or her matches being a bit repetitive but I don't think criticising her general match quality is very fair, as the flipside to that structure has been that they've all been of a very similar quality. Would you get some more spectacular, fast paced matches with other wrestlers? Sure, but we know that Triple H loves to write this long storylines centred around individuals and they've clearly decided to keep Shayna around beyond the time when she was "ready" to go to the main roster. It is what it is.

The Highers cut a good promo this week. Props are always fun!

Shayna vs Io in a cage match should be good - pretty safe to say Shayna will be winning again though as she won't be dropping the title on TV.

I am still holding out hope that Dakota Kai returns soon and is the one who dethrones Shayna. The story writes itself.

SPOILER: Click to show

It's looking like our Takeover Toronto match will be....

{Spoiler}
Mia vs Shayna for the title 



There are so, so many better choices . I get that she's the one they've been pushing recently , but they really should have used that time for someone with more upside. Even Xia or Kacy would have been much more interesting, especially since this is probably another filler defense. 

SPOILER: Click to show

– NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler defeated Io Shirai in a steel cage match to retain her title

Fun times. Not that I necessarily wanted Io to win after a few failed attempts but anything is better than this. Even Mia.

SPOILER: Click to show

SPOILER: Click to show

Just hope she actually loses it and they don't go the vacate route as they've done with other champions...

I thought Xia vs Taymara was pretty fun. It wasn't the smoothest match but I thought it was a bit more creative than the average NXT match. I really like Conti's personality in the ring.

Jun 20, 2019 1:25:51 GMT dex said:

I thought Xia vs Taymara was pretty fun. It wasn't the smoothest match but I thought it was a bit more creative than the average NXT match. I really like Conti's personality in the ring.

It seemed to me like it was supposed to be a face vs face match in the beginning but Taynara is such a natural brat heel that she fell right into her old ways lol

This match is a good example of the PC doing a very good job at highlighting each individual’s talents and skills... Xia’s agility and kung fu, Taynara’s TKD and maneuverability. I can’t wait for six months to a year from now when they’re a lot smoother and a little less hesitant.

I liked what I saw from Xia Li, she def has potential.

I still don't care for Taynara Conti though... I always let out a groan of despair, when she gets TV time.

Jun 13, 2019 2:57:59 GMT The Dazz said:

I am still holding out hope that Dakota Kai returns soon and is the one who dethrones Shayna. The story writes itself.

Honestly, I feel like that is the plan.  Kai is so damn good there is no way she does not get a title run.

Well, Io beating the shit out of Candice was interesting at the very least. It would be really nice if they could give those two a takeover match in August.

Wow that was a great match. Absolutely destroyed that snoozefest that Kofi and Dolph had at Stomping Grounds.

Hopefully they manage to book Io as a strong badass heel rather than generic cheater 101, and hopefully her vs Candice can make it on to the Takeover card as a second women's match.

They really need to have Io/Candace on Takeover. They can easily fit it in if Shayna/Mia is short. The match had one of my least favourite spots of idiot babyface doing a high-risk move off the cage instead of winning, but it was solid apart from that and was great how big of a deal the whole thing felt like. And although the Full Sail Crowd can be annoying (the yowie wowie chant) they did a great job of reacting to the turn by flooding Io with boos.

Oh man, I love heel Io. She is so fun working heel.

IO turning on Candice was great, probably my favorite NXT moment in a long time.

A face turning heel in developmental when there's already a dominant heel on top usually feels weird to me since after their initial feud it's not like they can move up right away (see Almas when he turned) but it worked out pretty well for him eventually, so I'm looking forward to where it goes with Io since something seemed like it's been missing since her debut.

Jun 28, 2019 15:13:07 GMT PB said:

The match had one of my least favourite spots of idiot babyface doing a high-risk move off the cage instead of winning

I think they could have done a better job telling a story leading to Io's turn like having her be distracted by trying to win over the crowd's support/feeling the pressure of having to live up to her reputation as an elite high flyer by emphasising how she would go for those big spots in matches rather than doing the smarter thing. 

So if anyone is interested in watching the developmental women's house show matches this channel www.youtube.com/channel/UCRPOsoOjkTVy4BGk8OA2Gww has quite a few of them. Unfortunately, a lot of them have not been super impressive. Needs more Lacey and Kacey matches.

Bianca is unreal

Was expecting a running powerbomb for the 3rd spot, but it didn't disappoint.

I know it's to give Shayna a fresh match but Mia getting put over Bianca really is one of the most egregious mispushes in a long time. Bianca is so, so much better than her in absolutely every facet.

Jul 4, 2019 2:09:12 GMT @admin said:

I know it's to give Shayna a fresh match but Mia getting put over Bianca really is one of the most egregious mispushes in a long time. Bianca is so, so much better than her in absolutely every facet.

The Mia push is really weird it's not like she's even a home grown talent where you could at least understand them wanting to push someone developed by the PC, but she's not. If they really wanted a fresh challenger they should have gone with Kacy. That would have at least been an interesting contrast of styles, and would have given Kacey some big match experience.It also could have been justifiable a  shorter than usual for a takeover match which could have given more room for a Candice vs Io match.   

I totally agree that Bianca has the bigger upside and is much more entertaining than Mia, but they need someone different for Shayna and this is probably the highest profile match-up Mia's going to get in her career, so I'm cool with it. I think throwing Kacy in would have been just a glorified squash, and I would hope they have higher hopes for her than that. So I'm cool with it. I just wished they'd signed Mercedes instead and she was in Mia's role, it would be infinitely more interesting.

I really want to know what WWE is doing with Bianca Belair. She was ready to go a year ago and now is just stuck in this weird ass limbo. I really wonder if she is not used if she will resign or see what it is like working elsewhere. Think this may be a NXT problem soon, as with the pipeline to WWE not working, they may be training up people for other feds to use.

Jul 4, 2019 14:45:54 GMT c said:

I really want to know what WWE is doing with Bianca Belair. She was ready to go a year ago and now is just stuck in this weird ass limbo. I really wonder if she is not used if she will resign or see what it is like working elsewhere. Think this may be a NXT problem soon, as with the pipeline to WWE not working, they may be training up people for other feds to use.

Ready to go a year ago? Based on what? She obviously has huge potential but her matches with Shayna were the least interesting matches Shayna has had. And a year ago we had no idea what she was capable of in a proper match. She has all the athletic skills in the world but she's still very much a work-in-progress.

Aliyah outworked Mia in that match and Mia’s little promo at the commentary table was embarrassing. In fact, her entire gimmick is cringe and disingenuous.

Jul 4, 2019 15:13:08 GMT PB said:

Jul 4, 2019 14:45:54 GMT c said:

I really want to know what WWE is doing with Bianca Belair. She was ready to go a year ago and now is just stuck in this weird ass limbo. I really wonder if she is not used if she will resign or see what it is like working elsewhere. Think this may be a NXT problem soon, as with the pipeline to WWE not working, they may be training up people for other feds to use.

Ready to go a year ago? Based on what? She obviously has huge potential but her matches with Shayna were the least interesting matches Shayna has had. And a year ago we had no idea what she was capable of in a proper match. She has all the athletic skills in the world but she's still very much a work-in-progress.

Totally. This week's squash was a perfect example of how she's still definitely improving.

Bianca is probably the absolute last person that would ever leave WWE for another promotion, having been hand scouted by Mark Henry, pushed strongly from the beginning, her husband on the cusp of a call up, and her commitment to the "ew Indies" bit. Not winning the title really means nothing for her potential future, just look at Lacey compared to Ember.

Perhaps the next Japanese talent WWE is after Sareee.
Some matches for those not familiar with her



One problem is that she doesn't have the natural charisma talents such as Kairi and Asuka do. She's a top-level wrestler though.

Jul 5, 2019 1:05:36 GMT dex said:

One problem is that she doesn't have the natural charisma talents such as Kairi and Asuka do. She's a top-level wrestler though.

Might be best from that perspective as just a MYC appearance then - but all power to her if she wants to secure the bag. 

Her match with Hashimoto is getting a lot of chat, I'll have to watch it.