Can we just give all the women's titles to Nikki Cross?

Make 205 Live a women's show, at least as a trial run. Can't get excited for the signings if all we get is one feud on NXT.

Anyone else think the NXT women's booking has been atrocious ever since Ember Moon left? I can't think of a single memorable thing that's happened up to Baeszler vs Dakota.

What's the division right now? Nikki Cross and a bunch of ladies from the Mae Young Classic. Bianca Belair. Lacey. Sailor girl. Dakota. Does Candice LeRae count? Most of them haven't done much other than participate in irregular meaningless matches. I don't remember a single match Dakota Kai has been in since the Mae Young Classic, yet she gets a lot of attention and a title shot solely because she's terrified of the champion. What happened to undercard feuds? Number one contender's shots?

May 31, 2018 1:41:34 GMT The Dazz said:

Can we just give all the women's titles to Nikki Cross?

Yes please.

I admit I was worried when Sanity got called up without her, but I'm interested in a Nikki Cross/Shayna Baszler feud/series of matches.

Jun 2, 2018 16:40:12 GMT Emperor said:

Anyone else think the NXT women's booking has been atrocious ever since Ember Moon left? I can't think of a single memorable thing that's happened up to Baeszler vs Dakota.

What's the division right now? Nikki Cross and a bunch of ladies from the Mae Young Classic. Bianca Belair. Lacey. Sailor girl. Dakota. Does Candice LeRae count? Most of them haven't done much other than participate in irregular meaningless matches. I don't remember a single match Dakota Kai has been in since the Mae Young Classic, yet she gets a lot of attention and a title shot solely because she's terrified of the champion. What happened to undercard feuds? Number one contender's shots?

We've been talking about that for a while but they have started to straighten things out lately. Dakota has victories over Vanessa and Lacey so it's not like her title shot came completely out of nowhere. 

And they have Lacey and Kairi in a secondary feud with each having a win over each other (and the rubber match coming up this week).

I liked the title match segment this week. Shayna got the rare chance to cut a promo and did a solid job, and the switch from Dakota to Nikki as her current challenger is a great 180 piece of booking - going from the timid and intimidated opponent to the unpredictable and volatile threat makes things feel really fresh.

Lacey vs Kairi was alright - I think Lacey has really benefited from getting to work Kairi (which is really what developmental is about) and her new moonsault is pretty cool. Hopefully they can really ramp up Kairi from here. Her vs Shayna isn't the freshest match but she needs a title match to start being presented as a genuinely big deal again, and start to rebuild the momentum than was lost during her injury.

I was never a fan of Shayna but she’s been less of a chore to watch in her recent programs. I also noticed she was quick on her toes after forgetting one of her lines.

I’d say Lacey was more impressive than Kairi in their match. Mostly because Kairi has literally been using the same five moves in every match. Spear > backhand > sliding d > flying elbow > diving elbow. I hope to see more science in her matches soon.

As you mentioned it, does anyone know why it's called the sliding d? Am I just being dumb and missing something really obvious?

Jun 8, 2018 5:39:22 GMT surrender said:

I was never a fan of Shayna but she’s been less of a chore to watch in her recent programs. I also noticed she was quick on her toes after forgetting one of her lines.

I’d say Lacey was more impressive than Kairi in their match. Mostly because Kairi has literally been using the same five moves in every match. Spear > backhand > sliding d > flying elbow > diving elbow. I hope to see more science in her matches soon.

She added the destino ( the flipping reverse ddt) recently and used an armbar this match, but shes neve rbeen one for a huge move-set. Stardom matches generally aren't structured that way.  

Bianca again looked impressive in a short showcase this week but I'd love to see her actually get a feud rather than just all these one-off matches. Her vs Dakota in a #1 contender rivalry could be fun and develop both their characters a bit more.

EDIT: WAIT! They had Bianca interrupt Dakota's interview and set up a match for next week. YAS HERE FOR IT

Jun 15, 2018 5:43:25 GMT @admin said:

They had Bianca interrupt Dakota's interview and set up a match for next week. YAS HERE FOR IT

And they delivered - this was a very fun little match. Nice fast pace and really crisp execution. The crowd reaction to Bianca's amazingly long delayed vertical suplex was fantastic. Belair winning makes me wonder whether they might actually put her against Shayna next. I would prefer that to Baszler vs Kairi again to be honest. 

Well Kairi's new attire is pretty dope.

SPOILER: Click to show

I don't really like the fact that they've basically given away the fact that Kairi won't beat Shayna with Baszler's promo about the MYC being needed to find her a real challenger. Kairi vs Candice vs Nikki could be a good match though.

Dakota losing again to Lacey makes me feel like they're going with a "she can't win an important match" angle which will lead to Tegan's TV debut.

Jun 22, 2018 5:44:15 GMT @admin said:

SPOILER: Click to show

I don't really like the fact that they've basically given away the fact that Kairi won't beat Shayna with Baszler's promo about the MYC being needed to find her a real challenger. Kairi vs Candice vs Nikki could be a good match though.

Dakota losing again to Lacey makes me feel like they're going with a "she can't win an important match" angle which will lead to Tegan's TV debut.

I don't know if I agree with that interpretation. I read it more as her just being cocky and looking past her potential opponents, which in the story they're telling could be meant to be her undoing.   

Completely disagree HR.

SPOILER: Click to show

I think NXT is planning to give the MYC winner a title shot and setting up Io vs Shirai.  This will also free up Shayna to start working with Ronda.  Can run the bitter rivals / best friends arc with these two and turn either Ronda or Shayna to align the MMA girls by post Rumble time.  Right now it makes no sense for Ronda to join to Shayna for WM, as Ronda female face on Raw and Shayna the top female heel in NXT so they need a transition and having them tag afterwards will give them an easy way to just tack on the other two girls.  If Shayna loses, she can save face by saying she is better than NXT anyway and not even remotely broke character.[/spoller]

SPOILER: Click to show

OK I could be wrong - just the way I read it. It might just be my vibe that Kairi doesn't have the momentum behind her to take the title off a champion that has been as dominant as Shayna has. This match seems to be happening just because it's the MYC final rematch and they want to tie in with the fact that it's coming around again - Dakota vs Shayna has more emotion behind it as a storyline/potential title change in my opinion.

Io vs Kairi seems like something WWE definitely wouldn't do (as a priority). They love the "polar opposites" feud - just look at what's happening at the moment; Shayna vs Kairi, Asuka vs Charlotte, Ronda vs Alexa.

Biancia continues to impress. I was disappointed Kai dodged the hair whip. That's always such a mark out moment.

SPOILER: Click to show

Part of me feels the Io/Sane match is like Cesaro/Hero. Fans expect it, but it never happens. Don't see Shayna losing.

Apparently, Kaitlyn was spotted at Full Sail with Rhea and the ninja warrior. 🤔

Jun 22, 2018 20:03:09 GMT @ness said:

Biancia continues to impress. I was disappointed Kai dodged the hair whip. That's always such a mark out moment.

SPOILER: Click to show

Part of me feels the Io/Sane match is like Cesaro/Hero. Fans expect it, but it never happens. Don't see Shayna losing.

Lol at thinking Kairi vs Io isn't going to happen. Cessaro/Hero is a bad example as they were never really in FCW/NXT at the same time, they signed at around the same time but Hero's singing got delayed and by the time he debuted in FCW Cessaro was already close to being on the main roster and only made sporadic appearances on NXT. 

I don't see why anyone would want Shayna's reign to continue, her matches are slow, boring, and bad. If she doesn't lose the title soon what are people like Kairi going to do?

 They never have more than one women's matches on Takeovers anymore. Not having Io or Kairi in the title scene or as champ is incredibly stupid. 

I love Shayna's title run. She is amazing. I just think she locking her into NXT until the Mae Young Classics 2 finales in the Fall is kind of a bad move when she is set to headline Survivor Series in Nov. If the show is taping in August, and airing in Sept, that is very little time to get Shayna over on RAW.

I personally prefer fast-paced matches, so Shayna's pseudo-shoot style is boring. I was probably a little too harsh, as it comes down to personal preference. I also tink the whol bully storyline has run it's course and there is not much more they can do with it, and it just makes everyone look weak.

I can't, however, see anyone wanting to watch a Shayna match over and Io match.

Shayna vs Toni was a good match and probably Shayna's best so far. That's the first time I've actually seen Toni wrestle and I can see why she's developed a reputation. Her selling stood out in particular. It will be interesting to see what their plans for her are going forward - I would hope she won't just be exclusively in the UK division as I wasn't overly impressed by either Charlie or Kelly.

WWE made it official. They have signed Io Shirai!

Cute match between Dakota and Santana this week. It's odd how they treat her as more than just a jobber but seemingly aren't interested in signing her to be a full time talent. I'd be in favour of them signing her and Chelsea Green (who was at the recent tryouts) and use them as they start to build up the women's tag team roster.

I really liked Bianca's pretape promo as well. She's a natural talker. I think I posted a while ago that I wished they would do a bit more with her than just the short showcase matches - and they've done a good job of that in recent weeks.

Bianca Belair is what she says she is. She is the best in NXT. Shayna is also excellent. Both of them are a cut above the rest at the moment. I did like Kairi Sane's short interview. Her English is pretty good and she had conviction. I prefer her as a real human being than an OTT pirate.

They've really got things back on track lately and (re?)created the feeling of a competitive division. Shayna has little threads going with basically everyone and feels like a dominant champion whilst simultaneously being everyone's target. And the new trend of having a interview/segment to set up next week's match makes such a difference to how important/relevant that match ends up feeling rather than just chucking the undercard girls out there.

Vanessa had a good showing this week I thought. She's the rare breed where no one seems to really stan for her but she's got charisma (trash talking in the ring is always good in my book) and she showed some good ring psych in this match with all her offence targeting Kairi's back.

Bianca Bel Air is out of the #1 contenders match. Apparently she got hurt on her honeymoon. Rumor is she got her hair caught in a door and injured her neck.

Jul 15, 2018 12:35:36 GMT Mistress said:

Bianca Bel Air is out of the #1 contenders match. Apparently she got hurt on her honeymoon. Rumor is she got her hair caught in a door and injured her neck.

Ouch.  I guess that's real proof that her hair is a weapon.

I don't really understand why they advertised her in the match on the show when they had already taped it as a triple threat why she was away.

Something that I've noticed is that I don't think the division has had a tag match on the weekly show in forever, in fact, that division rarely interacts with one another outside of feuds or promos to set up matches. It's weird.