{"id":3565,"date":"2015-02-09T13:14:16","date_gmt":"2015-02-09T18:14:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/?p=3565"},"modified":"2015-02-10T10:36:22","modified_gmt":"2015-02-10T15:36:22","slug":"nxt-takeover-rival-taking-histories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/2015\/02\/09\/nxt-takeover-rival-taking-histories\/","title":{"rendered":"NXT Takeover Rival: Taking Histories"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"nxt\"<\/a><\/p>\n

WWE’s NXT is developmental in name only. In many respects, it’s the more mature version of the WWE product. Their latest special, WWE NXT Takeover: Rival<\/em>, will prove just that.<\/p>\n

WWE has been working harder lately to make sure their product is always in the minds of viewers. Having a gamut of shows throughout the week reflects this approach. You have your staple in WWE Monday Night Raw<\/em><\/a>, which airs weekly. That’s your standard dose of primary storylines from the world of sports entertainment. But you also have Smackdown!<\/em><\/a>, recently moved back to Thursday nights, as their secondary helping for the WWE Universe. If you’re looking for more regularly scheduled wrestling, you can always catch WWE\u00a0Main Event<\/em> <\/a>on Tuesdays. This\u00a0features the overflow of secondary superstars and their respective stories. If that’s not enough for you, WWE will gladly serve you a tertiary program in WWE Superstars<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

That’s not your thing? Consider trying WWE’s reality show, Total Divas<\/em><\/a>, on the E! Network. You\u00a0also have the power to stream\u00a0anything from the past few decades on their WWE Network, which just hit one million subscribers last month.<\/p>\n

Phew, that’s a lot of wrestling. At this point, WWE is clearly diluting their product for the sake of your enjoyment.<\/p>\n

There is one gem, however, seemingly both separate and joined to WWE’s line of shows. That show is WWE’s developmental program, NXT. What once started as a mock-reality show taking place before a taping of their larger shows, NXT is now its own territory within the larger context of WWE. Here\u00a0you can find a mix of talent being molded by WWE as well as veterans from the independent wrestling scene who are looking to hone their skills to ascend into one of WWE’s major programs.<\/p>\n

That’s not to say WWE NXT\u00a0<\/em>isn’t major by its own merit. The show, lasting only an hour every week on the WWE Network, is a throwback to simpler times in professional wrestling. Where WWE Raw will usually feature long scripted promos, NXT will usually devote their small time for a quick soundbite and just get to the wrestling. It’s the unspoiled treasure in an environment\u00a0where jaded fans are\u00a0chomping at the bit to declare something over<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, WWE will be airing their latest 2-hour special (don’t call it a pay-per-view) called NXT Takeover: Rival.<\/em> The card features matches with outcomes that inherently have a sense of depth and value to them. Some are grudge matches, others are for title belts, and others\u00a0feature even higher stakes.<\/p>\n

No Disqualification Match
\n<\/strong>Baron Corbin vs. Bull Dempsey<\/p>\n

For months, Baron Corbin and Bull Dempsey have been trying to one-up each other. First, the hulking superstars began competing with each other in matches against other opponents to see who would secure the pinfall victory in the least amount of time possible. The mysterious and silent\u00a0Corbin won that round, having victories that lasted 20 or so seconds. Bull Dempsey, whose entrance inversely features the loud chanting\u00a0of “BULL!” that is piped in through his theme entrance, would have none of it. He\u00a0began to\u00a0interfere in Corbin’s matches to get the best of him. The two have faced\u00a0off before in\u00a0the singles competition, but now they have the opportunity to settle their heated differences in a No Disqualification match. This allows\u00a0Corbin and Dempsey to vent out all their frustrations with anything at their disposal.<\/p>\n

NXT Championship No. 1 Contender’s Tournament Finals
\n<\/strong>Adrian Neville vs. Finn B\u00e1lor<\/p>\n

Having a singles match that is not for a title during a special (again, don’t call it a pay-per-view) is refreshing for wrestling fans. Usually a no. 1 contender’s match will be the foundation for a larger story. In\u00a0this case,\u00a0the match\u00a0provides its\u00a0own beast. Having competed in a tournament, newcomer (but independent veteran) Finn B\u00e1lor\u00a0will face former NXT Champion Adrain Neville. On paper, fans will be delighted to watch this match. As far as the entire NXT Takeover: Rival<\/em> card goes, this\u00a0showdown will have the most exciting spots, filled to the brim with incomprehensible flips and counters. In terms of the story, it has the darling newcomer pitted against the veteran. This veteran may be on his way out from NXT in order to move up to the main roster after the storylines are concluded and the narrative arc restarts the day after WrestleMania 30. Expect\u00a0B\u00e1lor to reign victorious in the end.\u00a0And definitely be on the lookout for his entrance, one that was\u00a0so\u00a0awe-inspiring that fans started chanting “HOLY SHIT”<\/a> as\u00a0B\u00e1lor walked down the ramp.<\/p>\n

NXT Tag Team Championship Match
\n<\/strong>Wesley Blake & Buddy Murphy (c) vs. The Lucha Dragons<\/p>\n

Pro wrestling\u00a0reaches its peak\u00a0when you don’t necessarily see an angle coming from a mile away. This is why\u00a0Wesley Blake and\u00a0Buddy Murphy’s recent win against The Lucha Dragons in a regular edition of NXT rekindled everyone’s attention on the tag team division. Blake and Murphy, who don similar\u00a0hairstyles and tights\u00a0while slowly gaining a sense of individualism in the eyes of the WWE Universe, won in\u00a0an apparent\u00a0fluke victory. The Lucha Dragons may be destined for greater things than the tag team titles or they may break up. This depends on whether you believe that WWE is gunning for Kalisto to be the next Lucha icon for the company. A win for Blake and Murphy will prove that they are not fluke champions, strengthening the tag team division. And if they do win, the Vaudevillains and Enzo Amore & Big Cass are ready to challenge them.<\/p>\n