For the first time in a long time, WWE has created a lesser brand’s event that’s worthy of predictions and analysis. Featuring several talents that could/should be on the main WWE roster, NXT (r)Evolution may have a really dumb name but it has potential to be the best WWE card of the year. So good that we’re withholding posting our End of 2014 rankings until the show is over. Discussing will be Aaron Wrotkowski, Adam Contant, Shawn Wilken and James Carlucci.
Itami and Balor vs. The Ascension
WINNER:
James, Shawn, Adam and Aaron: Itami and Balor
THOUGHTS by Adam Contant: Every one of my instincts tells me that Itami and Balor are the wrong choice, and that the Ascension need this win badly, especially since I don’t see them getting a call up to WWE until the new year. So why am I going against my instincts? It all goes back to something Finn Balor said last week on NXT.
“At Takeover, you’d better bring all you’ve got because I’m bringing something you’ve never seen before.”
Was this simply a line to add hype to the match for R-Evolution? It’s possible, but I believe there might be something more to it than that. Ever since his debut match, something has bothered me about Finn Balor that I couldn’t quite put my finger on until last week. His entrance doesn’t seem to fit a guy who thus far was been promoted as a super athlete. It’s all kinds of brooding with Balor himself making some strange gestures both on his way to the ring and while in the ring. It just doesn’t add up. It is my belief that NXT will try to fix this issue at R-Evolution by allowing Balor to start wearing the crazy face paint that was a trade mark of his in Japan. It likely won’t be as elaborate as some of the work he did overseas, but it would give his character another dimension and a little bit of an edge, which would also help differentiate him in a sea of other super athletes.
Does a change in appearance guarantee a victory for Itami and Balor? No, but history has shown that when adding something new to a character, WWE likes to make that change seem significant, and although there are other ways this could be accomplished, this might be the earliest opportunity for them to do so, and I believe they will want to take advantage of that opportunity.
This does however beg the question of if or how this will affect the partnership of Hideo and Finn. Will they continue to team after this, or would a change in demeanor lead to the international superstars going their separate ways? Come to think of it, a character change resembling his former identity in Japan would actually give Finn more in common with the Ascension than Itami. Is it possible that this could all be leading to a swerve from Balor, joining up with Ascension, or maybe something even bigger with the debuting Kevin Owens? Probably not, but then again, there’s a reason I usually trust my instincts.
NXT Womens Championship
Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte (c)
WINNER:
James, Shawn and Aaron: Sasha Banks
Adam: Charlotte
WILL THERE BE A RUN IN:
James: Becky Lynch and Bailey
Shawn and Adam: Yes
Aaron: Bailey
THOUGHTS by Aaron Wrotkowski: The WWE seems to have very little clue of what they have in Charlotte (Flair). Her debut on the WWE roster happened on Monday featuring a loss to Natalya in front of a home state Carolina crowd. For some the under five minute match was fine. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer ripped it as, “actively stupider than chimpanzees” and, “stupider than a dog with a lobotomy.” The rage was directly towards road agents/match makers having her do as many Ric Flair mannerisms and cut away any individualism Charlotte has in NXT. Charlotte has been running as more than the daughter of Ric Flair and more the evolution of The Nature Boy. If the match on Raw is any indication, WWE main roster has little to no idea how to handle what they have. What do they have? As NXT viewers know all too well, they have who could be one of the biggest stars in the company regardless of gender. Charlotte is the total package. She’s physically more impressive than most men on the main show. She’s solid on the mic and where it counts, she can perform in the ring. She will be going into (r)Evolution as one of the shining examples of the NXT development system and likely dropping the Womens championship to Sasha Banks. This might allow others to step up, but the hole created will not be easy to fill. Charlotte could be the best prospect in the WWE, male or female. With a botched debut that even HHH admitted to on an NXT conference call, WWE needs to wake up and wake up fast. Charlotte is great without reminding everyone who her father is. She’ll show that greatness for possibly the last time in front of Full Sail tonight.
NXT Tag Team Championship
The Vaudvillains vs. Lucha Dragons (c)
WINNERS:
James and Shawn: Vaudvillains
Adam and Aaron: Lucha Dragons
WILL THE TITLES CHANGE HANDS:
James and Shawn: Yes
Adam and Aaron: No
THOUGHTS by James Carlucci: The Lucha Dragons, while exciting, shouldn’t be much more than the face transitional champions to get the titles from The Ascension to the Vaudevillians. The Vaudevillians are overall a better tag team. Plus, a group like The Lucha Dragons works better in the face-chasing-the-titles role.
Kevin Owens Debut
WILL HE INTERRUPT SOMEONE
James, Shawn and Adam: Yes
Aaron: No
WILL SOMEONE INTERRUPT HIM
James, Shawn and Adam: No
Aaron: Yes (Tyler Breeze)
THOUGHTS by Shawn Wilken: The moment a lot of people are waiting for, myself included. Having followed Kevin Owens, when he was Kevin Steen, working church basements and gymnasiums in Montreal, wrestling in front of no more than 50 people, there comes a certain level of pride. Having nothing to do with his success and only speaking with him once, I’ve had nothing to do with his career or his success that led to signing with the WWE, yet there is a certain level of pride when it comes to seeing a fellow Montreal-native making it in the big league. If there is one independant star that deserves to be there, it’s Kevin Owens. A father of two, proud husband and family man, Owens has sacrificed too much to not make it. Like he said, he’ll fight anyone and everyone and nobody should question that. Ever. Down in Montreal, he went by the moniker of “Mr. Wrestling”. Once he leaves his stamp, he’ll become “Mr. NXT”… move over, Bo Dallas.
I’d like to think he’ll be inserted into the main event picture right away and come down to the ring post-match to celebrate with Zayn before dropping him with a package piledriver to set the tone that friendship aside, he’s here to be the man but… look more for a Hideo-like debut, where he does something not many indy stars in his time do as good as him… talk. Owens is an excellent talker and the WWE would be foolish not to give him the stage and let him express himself during his debut. Then, you could have an interruption, fisticuffs exchange and Owens chases the foe away, likely to set up a program between he and that person. Tyler Breeze would be a good bet.
NXT Mens Championship
Sami Zayn vs. Adrian Neville (c)
WILL SOMEONE CHEAT:
James: Both
Shawn: No
Adam: Yes
Aaron: Neville will, Zayn will change his mind (a la Roddy Piper)
WINNER:
James, Shawn, Adam and Aaron: Sami Zayn
THOUGHTS by Adam Contant: Every once in a while a company works towards a moment in time that impacts the future of the company in such a way that it will never be forgotten. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant from Wrestlemania III, The formation of the NWO at Bash at the Beach 1996, or Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rock at Wrestlemania X-7 are great examples. Obviously this match doesn’t have the reach or scope as those other classics, but in relation to NXT, the end results may be just as historic.
If nothing else, there is the possibility of a new NXT Champion being crowned. If that were to happen he would only be the 5th champion ever, and it would also end the nearly year long reign of Adrien Neville, which is what I imagine will happen. Except, I see the night ending in a very different way than what fans might be expecting.
Last week we saw a different side of Sami Zayn that was a little bit darker than what we’re used to. For months leading up to this confrontation, Adrienne Neville had shown some less than admirable tendencies in order to retain his NXT Championship, but never once has he technically broken the rules, and he remains adamant that he has nothing but respect for Zayn, he just believes he’s the better man and that Zayn can’t win the big one. A little arrogent to be sure, but there have been plenty of arrogant champions that were still beloved by the fans. In the final build up to this championship match, Neville came out to once again explain his position when he was interrupted by his challenger Sami Zayn. When Neville offered his hand to Zayn, it was Sami who this time showed a darker side, not only rejecting the handshake, but slapping Neville across the face in an unprovoked attack.
Although it was played off as Zayn showing some fire and aggression heading into the match, it looked more like frustration to me. Zayn is one of the best NXT has to offer, but maybe he has lost some confidence in himself and now believes that he can’t beat Neville. Imagine what that does to a person’s psyche? It makes you desperate. What will Sami Zayn do if he again throws everything he has at Neville and realizes in that moment that he just can’t beat him?
He’ll cheat. It is my belief that Zayn will be victorious once the final bell rings at the end of NXT R-Evolution, but instead of the happy celebration the NXT Universe is expecting, we’ll get an audience that feels confused, betrayed, and angry for putting their trust in the man they thought was good, and shunning the superior athlete who never fully turned his back on them.
So just how will he do it? It could be something as simple as a handful of trunks, his feet on the ropes, or even putting the NXT Championship belt to use in ways it was never intended. Then again, there may be a more sinister plan (or person) waiting in the shadows to help an old friend…
However he does it, I think Sami Zayn will beat Adrien Neville, and in the process give the show’s title an extra emphasis. Once NXT goes off the air on Thursday, we will have seen the evolution of the NXT Championship through a competitor demonstrating that it has become a title so important that he’s willing to sell his soul in order to obtain it. We’ll also have seen the evolution of Sami Zayn into something we hadn’t seen from him in the past, but something that was needed to reach the next level, and in the end, isn’t that the definition of Evolution?
You can watch NXT (r)Evolution on the WWE Network tonight with the pre-show kickoff at 7:30PM EST (Pre-Show can be viewed on WWE.com and YouTube, main event on WWE Network only at 8PM EST.
Feel free to comment below, and follow the site @lastwordonsport. Also follow @AaronWrotkowski, @AdamContant, @CrimsonSkorpion and @LWOSCarlucci of the Last Word on Sports Wrestling team.
Interested in writing for LWOS? We are looking for enthusiastic, talented writers to join our wrestling writing team. Visit our “Write for Us” page for very easy details in how you can get started today!
For the latest in sports injury news, see our friends at Sports Injury Alert.
