With the release of the WWE Network, subscribers now have more content just a few clicks away than they could ever hope to sift through themselves. Last Word on Sports is here to do the work for you, highlighting the best the WWE Network has to offer. (Note: this article is somewhat of a cheat as most NXT episodes are only available on Hulu.)
After weeks of post-WrestleMania hype, Bo Dallas finally made his (re-)debut on this past Saturday’s episode of SmackDown. After an initial run that was received poorly, Dallas brilliantly re-tooled his character as an over-the-top, insincere, motivator. He’s someone who preaches integrity and believing, excuse me, Bo-lieving in yourself, but doesn’t realize that the fans can’t stand him and ignores the fact this his greatest accomplishments have come via underhanded tactics.
So, without further ado, here is your WWE Network guide to Bo Dallas.
Royal Rumble 2013: Royal Rumble Match
To put my current opinion about Dallas into perspective, I’ll say this: I have bought three shirts since I’ve gotten seriously back into pro-wrestling back during summer 2011: CM Punk’s “Best in the World” shirt, Daniel Bryan’s “Yes! Yes! Yes!” shirt, and the event shirt for WrestleMania 29 (which I attended). The next one on my list is this bad boy right here. That’s just to put it into perspective when I say that I absolutely abhorred Dallas here. Don’t watch this to appreciate Bo then, watch it to put into perspective how far he’s come.
Highlight: That this all ended in a few weeks.
NXT Season 7, Episode 173: vs. Big E Langston
Here is where it all truly started to come together for Bo. After winning an 18-man battle royal to become number-one contender, the 23-year-old from Brooksville, Florida battled Big E Langston for the latter’s NXT Championship. Following a solid enough affair, Langston lifted Bo up for the Big Ending, but the challenger managed to grab onto the turnbuckle, exposing it in the process. Two throws into the turnbuckle and a finisher later, and we had a new NXT Champion.
Highlight: His post-match interview with Renee Young.
NXT Season 7, Episode 191: vs. Sammi Zayn
If I had to pick Bo’s best foil during his NXT run, it would be Sammi Zayn. Zayn was the genuinely nice guy trying to overcome the dirty tactics of the champion, who like all great villains, thought he was in the right. Zayn appeared to have won the title after connecting with a Helluva Kick, but NXT Commissioner JBL came out and restarted the match due to Bo’s foot being on the bottom rope. After the match restarted, the two battled back and forth for a while until Zayn, like Langston before him, falls victim to an exposed turnbuckle.
Highlight: When the going gets tough, Dallas’s morals get going.
NXT Season 7, Episode 196: Homecoming Celebration
For the first time, I’ve listed a non-wrestling segment on one of these lists. Personally, I enjoy Bo most as a character who happens to wrestle, not the other way around. Nothing so perfectly encapsulates his persona as well as this opening segment. After taking a hiatus from NXT to go on his “Bo Dallas vs. The World” Tour, the NXT Champion returned to tell his Bo-lievers all about his trip. I don’t want to go into further detail and spoil anything for you, just go watch it now.
Highlight: Everything. Literally everything.
NXT Episode 222: vs. Big E
It’s only fitting that while Bo’s apex in NXT began against Big E, his nadir came against him as well. After repeated failed attempts at recapturing his title, Bo was given an ultimatum: if he won this match he’d get a shot at the championship, but if he lost he’d be banned from NXT. Bo was unable to recapture the magic of his first victory over the former Intercontinental Champion, and wound up losing to the master of the five count. Luckily for us fans, that just means we’ll get to see more of him every Monday and Friday night.
Highlight: Bo’s harsh language.
Bonus: SmackDown Fallout – May 23, 2014
Compare this to his first main roster debut, and it’s night and day. Here we have a fully fleshed out character that is bound to invoke vitriol from the fans. His finisher still needs work, but that’s something that can be easily remedied. The Bo we saw debut on Friday is here to stay, and that makes me un-Bo-lievably happy.
Highlight: “You did good! Never stop trying!”
Photo via WWE.com
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