MATCH: Bayley vs. Nia Jax for the former’s NXT Women’s Championship
PROMOTION: WWE NXT
EVENT: Takeover: London
YEAR: 2015
RATING: TV-PG for violence
GRADE: Pass
When you have a dream, the only way to achieve it is through lengthy journeys and honest-to-God hard work. Attaining such a huge goal may take weeks, months, years, possibly even decades, every second filled with the highs and lows of soldiering on. There may be moments when you feel like quitting, but if you do, all of the heartache will be for nothing. You fight, you scratch, you claw, and you bleed until what you want is within your reach. NXT diva Bayley wanted to not only wrestle, but to be a champion that little girls can look up to. When she defeated Sasha Banks in a grueling five-star match at Takeover: Brooklyn, she exceeded expectations. Congratulations, you tough chick. You’ve earned it.
But of course, winning a prestigious championship is only part of the equation. It takes a shit ton of hard work and sacrifice to win it, but it takes even more guts and brutality to keep it. Not only did Bayley successfully do so in a 30-minute Iron Man rematch against Sasha Banks, but also against Alexa Bliss and Eva Marie. That totals three different divas that Bayley scratched off the long list of those gunning for her diamond-encrusted championship. At Takeover: London, she had quite possibly the toughest challenge a woman of her size could possibly have. She had to defend her title against Nia Jax.
Who exactly is Nia Jax? She’s well over six-feet tall, her weight is well-established within the 200’s, she’s a former plus-size model, she has more strength than an entire African jungle full of wild animals, she fights like an army of barbarians wielding blood-stained axes, and she’s a cousin of WWE legend and movie star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. NXT color commentator Corey Graves wasn’t kidding when he said Nia Jax vs. Bayley was like watching Mike Tyson vs. Manny Pacquiao. In other words, they were both talented fighters, but the weight discrepancy is mind-boggling. Needless to say, Bayley was outgunned big time.
When the actual match took place in London, England, Bayley had two things that kept her alive throughout the match: a speed advantage and a crowd support advantage. About the latter, of course they’re going to fall in love with Bayley. She’s everything a role model should be: strong, positive, and tireless. Since the event took place in England, it was only appropriate that the crowd sing parodies of Beatles songs and change the lyrics to conform to Bayley. Crowd support can bring any wrestler to life, but in the end, that’s all they can do. When it comes to the actual fight, you’re on your own, lady.
Being so many sizes smaller than the ogre-like Nia Jax, Bayley stuck to her own advantages and used her superior speed to avoid being readily disposed of. She threw quick elbows, quick dropkicks, quick forearms, and although these moves kept the giantess at bay for a little while, they didn’t faze the bloodthirsty bitch at all. It would only be a matter of time before Nia Jax would have her turn at offence and goddamn, did she deliver.
While Bayley’s offence could only be comparable to an annoying fly buzzing around, it was Nia Jax who did the swatting. Turnbuckle body splashes turned Bayley’s insides into mush. Three consecutive fireman’s carry back drops smashed her bones into sugar bits. How about a leg drop from a leg that weighs about as much as a fallen tree. How about another leg drop that feels like a falling building, but this time across the left shoulder? All of these hard-hitting, body-smashing attacks were coming from a woman that outweighed Bayley by at minimum 100 lbs. After suffering it all, the super positive super heroine just laid on the ground lifeless, limp, and ready for a hearse. Rest in peace, Bayley-Pie. I’m not The Undertaker, but I’ll say it to you anyways.
But if the RIP analogy is true, then why does Bayley continue to kick out of these bone-crunching moves? The referee’s hand was only a micrometer from hitting the mat a third time and the little angel that could got her aching shoulder out of the pinning combination to avoid losing. Coming back to life repeatedly was only delaying the inevitable according to the sad saps at the commentary booth, which were the Millhouse look-alike Rich Brennan, the always dorky Byron Saxton, and the heavy metal stud muffin Corey Graves.
Bayley wasn’t going to give up that easily. Nia Jax was getting ready to slam the smaller wrestler on the mat in what would be a modified spine-buster. But the little chick wrapped her arm around Nia’s neck and squeezed so hard that her rhino skull was going to pop like a zit. But then Bayley was slammed down hard and lifeless once more. Nia knelt down to pin her and was again caught in that headlock choke. Once again, Bayley was slammed hard on her back and was ready to meet Jesus with a firm handshake.
After a few wheezes and coughs from Nia Jax, the heavier diva knelt down again for a pin attempt and for the third time in a row got caught in the headlock choke. Bayley’s arms don’t look at that big on television, but she might as well have had 24-inch pythons like the immortal Hulk Hogan. She squeezed so tightly that she would prove why that technique was called a guillotine choke. Before the monstrous diva could be decapitated, she tapped out and the referee awarded the victory and the NXT Women’s Championship to Bayley.
Walking through the fiery valleys of hell is a necessary part of achieving hard-fought victories in the WWE. Not only did Bayley walk them in this match, but she dragged her lifeless body across them until she was fingertips away from her milestone. When she slew the beast known as Nia Jax, Bayley was exhausted. She spent the longest time lying on the ground and trying to get to her knees. I wouldn’t have been surprised if she was taken to the hospital after the match was over. But she did it. She’s the biggest example in women’s wrestling of a strong heroine who overcomes the obstacles put in front of her despite the insurmountable odds. Little girls don’t have to grow up to be spoiled princesses. They can grow up and be raging warriors like Bayley. The example she sets for women everywhere is why this match gets a passing grade.
Okay, all you male supremacists out there. I’ve got a question to ask you. Do you still think a woman’s place is in the kitchen? Do you still expect your wives and daughters to cook and clean for you while popping out babies left and right? Raise your hands if you feel this way. Raise them high so that Bayley and Nia Jax can see them and beat the living piss out of all of you. These two women put on a show that nobody is going to forget for a long, long time. If you’d like to forget it so badly, go ahead and trust Bayley with an iron skillet. With one whack upside the head, you’ll probably forget pretty easily. A janitor will have to mop up your brains afterwards, but you’ll forget anyways. For the rest of us who live in the 21st century, we’ll enjoy this classic women’s wrestling match.
Showing posts with label Takeover. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Takeover. Show all posts
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
WWE NXT Rival: Hideo Itami vs. Tyler Breeze
MATCH: Hideo Itami vs. Tyler Breeze
PROMOTION: WWE NXT
EVENT: Rival
YEAR: 2015
RATING: TV-PG for violence
GRADE: Pass
Hideo Itami signing with WWE was a long time coming. In Japan, Itami, then known as KENTA, was a staple of his home country’s pro-wrestling. The number of championships and awards he won while wrestling in Japan is absolutely ridiculous. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter readership took a huge liking to him since he won Best Wrestling Maneuver in 2006 and 2007 (Go 2 Sleep) and was one half of the Tag Team of the Year in 2003 and 2004. The award-winning move known as the Go 2 Sleep is a fireman’s carry into a knockout knee to the face.
CM Punk used that move to win multiple world championships in the WWE from 2006 to 2014 when he retired from wrestling. Another KENTA move that was used by a WWE superstar was the Busaiku Knee, which is basically a running knee to the opponent’s face (he sure loves kneeing people in the face). Daniel Bryan, who’s been with the WWE since 2010, uses the Busaiku Knee as his finishing move and won many world championships himself with that move. The newly christened Hideo Itami was a godsend to WWE NXT.
One NXT staple who didn’t exactly greet Mr. Itami with a warm welcome was Tyler Breeze. After Hideo Itami had a successful feud with The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor), he and Tyler Breeze were part of a tournament to determine the number one contender for the NXT Championship, which at the time was held by Sami Zayn. Itami and Breeze’s first encounter together was in the quarterfinals of that tournament. Hideo won in convincing fashion, but was defeated in the semifinals by longtime friend Finn Balor (formerly known as Prince Devitt in Japan).
The “Hero of Pain” wasn’t sour at all about losing to Finn Balor. He was sour, however, when Tyler Breeze beat him up in the locker room shortly after conducting an interview with Devin Taylor. Tyler, who had been hanging around in number one contender situations for a long time now, was sickened that an “uggo” like Hideo Itami would keep him from another crack at the NXT Title. And now we’ve got a rivalry that needs to be settled. What better place to settle it than NXT Takeover: Rival?
From the beginning of this match, it was highly apparent that Tyler Breeze and Hideo Itami learned a lot about each other after their first match. They countered pretty much every move they could throw at each other and did so in an intelligent and athletic fashion. Remember, these two wrestlers are known for their speed, agility, and technique. If they’re going to move away from each other’s moves, they’re going to do so like a bolt of lightning. The feeling out process was fast and furious, which is weird for a feeling out process.
And then Tyler Breeze got the idea to target Hideo Itami’s legs. The Japanese superstar was at one time an amateur kick boxer, so when he kicks you, you’re going to feel it until the grave. Hell, it might be an early grave if he kicks you in the right place. Twisting Hideo’s legs in painful submission holds, dropping knees and elbows on them, even the occasional Dragon Screw (which is throwing someone down by their calf muscles) came off as intelligent strategy by Tyler Breeze. There was even one point in the match when Tyler not only slammed Hideo’s knees against the ring post, but also performed a Figure Four Leg Lock on them with the steel ring post as the fulcrum between Hideo’s legs and his groin. Ouch!
But if there’s one thing about Hideo Itami fans of Japanese wrestling know, it’s that no matter how savagely beaten up he is, his opponents will never take away his warrior spirit. If you had to spend years on end training for six hours a day in a wrestling dojo and then having to scrub down the gym, do laundry, and cook meals for the experienced wrestlers, you’d have a hard time giving up your warrior spirit as well (that is, if you don’t quit your first day).
Even with one injured leg after Tyler Breeze’s constant aggression, Hideo Itami still found the resolve to throw disgustingly strong kicks. And when Hideo threw them, Tyler sold them to perfection. “Prince Pretty” flew around the ring and grimaced in severe pain after each strike. Then again, even if you’re a wrestler who no-sells all of your opponents, you pretty much have no choice after taking a kick to the ribs, legs, and head. Even a lower corner drop kick is hard to regain oxygen from. And then we had the exciting finish to this match in the books: Hideo Itami knocking Tyler Breeze loopy with a single leg dropkick appropriately known as the Shotgun Kick. One, two, three, and your winner is Hideo Itami in a match that could be accused of stealing the entire show.
Ever since that historic badass match, Hideo and Tyler continued to feud over the number one contender status of the NXT Championship, which was taken away from Sami Zayn at Takeover: Rival by 300-lb. Canadian juggernaut Kevin Owens. Some matches Tyler Breeze won while others Hideo Itami won. There was supposed to be a triple threat number one contender’s match at NXT Takeover: Unstoppable between Breeze, Itami, and Finn Balor. The match was watered down to a one-on-one battle when Hideo Itami suffered a serious shoulder injury that would keep him out for six to eight months.
If you haven’t learned anything about Hideo Itami from watching Japanese wrestling, then you should have learned something from watching him on NXT programming on the WWE Network. This guy doesn’t quit for anything. You can punch him, kick him, break every bone in his body, but as long as he still has the tiniest puff of breath in his lungs, he’ll never give up. A shoulder injury is just another obstacle for him to conquer, which he’ll no doubt do in convincing fashion. The rise of the Japanese warrior has only begun. Konnor and Viktor of The Ascension were the first to fall. Tyler Breeze was the second. When Hideo Itami returns to action, there will be a third.
PROMOTION: WWE NXT
EVENT: Rival
YEAR: 2015
RATING: TV-PG for violence
GRADE: Pass
Hideo Itami signing with WWE was a long time coming. In Japan, Itami, then known as KENTA, was a staple of his home country’s pro-wrestling. The number of championships and awards he won while wrestling in Japan is absolutely ridiculous. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter readership took a huge liking to him since he won Best Wrestling Maneuver in 2006 and 2007 (Go 2 Sleep) and was one half of the Tag Team of the Year in 2003 and 2004. The award-winning move known as the Go 2 Sleep is a fireman’s carry into a knockout knee to the face.
CM Punk used that move to win multiple world championships in the WWE from 2006 to 2014 when he retired from wrestling. Another KENTA move that was used by a WWE superstar was the Busaiku Knee, which is basically a running knee to the opponent’s face (he sure loves kneeing people in the face). Daniel Bryan, who’s been with the WWE since 2010, uses the Busaiku Knee as his finishing move and won many world championships himself with that move. The newly christened Hideo Itami was a godsend to WWE NXT.
One NXT staple who didn’t exactly greet Mr. Itami with a warm welcome was Tyler Breeze. After Hideo Itami had a successful feud with The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor), he and Tyler Breeze were part of a tournament to determine the number one contender for the NXT Championship, which at the time was held by Sami Zayn. Itami and Breeze’s first encounter together was in the quarterfinals of that tournament. Hideo won in convincing fashion, but was defeated in the semifinals by longtime friend Finn Balor (formerly known as Prince Devitt in Japan).
The “Hero of Pain” wasn’t sour at all about losing to Finn Balor. He was sour, however, when Tyler Breeze beat him up in the locker room shortly after conducting an interview with Devin Taylor. Tyler, who had been hanging around in number one contender situations for a long time now, was sickened that an “uggo” like Hideo Itami would keep him from another crack at the NXT Title. And now we’ve got a rivalry that needs to be settled. What better place to settle it than NXT Takeover: Rival?
From the beginning of this match, it was highly apparent that Tyler Breeze and Hideo Itami learned a lot about each other after their first match. They countered pretty much every move they could throw at each other and did so in an intelligent and athletic fashion. Remember, these two wrestlers are known for their speed, agility, and technique. If they’re going to move away from each other’s moves, they’re going to do so like a bolt of lightning. The feeling out process was fast and furious, which is weird for a feeling out process.
And then Tyler Breeze got the idea to target Hideo Itami’s legs. The Japanese superstar was at one time an amateur kick boxer, so when he kicks you, you’re going to feel it until the grave. Hell, it might be an early grave if he kicks you in the right place. Twisting Hideo’s legs in painful submission holds, dropping knees and elbows on them, even the occasional Dragon Screw (which is throwing someone down by their calf muscles) came off as intelligent strategy by Tyler Breeze. There was even one point in the match when Tyler not only slammed Hideo’s knees against the ring post, but also performed a Figure Four Leg Lock on them with the steel ring post as the fulcrum between Hideo’s legs and his groin. Ouch!
But if there’s one thing about Hideo Itami fans of Japanese wrestling know, it’s that no matter how savagely beaten up he is, his opponents will never take away his warrior spirit. If you had to spend years on end training for six hours a day in a wrestling dojo and then having to scrub down the gym, do laundry, and cook meals for the experienced wrestlers, you’d have a hard time giving up your warrior spirit as well (that is, if you don’t quit your first day).
Even with one injured leg after Tyler Breeze’s constant aggression, Hideo Itami still found the resolve to throw disgustingly strong kicks. And when Hideo threw them, Tyler sold them to perfection. “Prince Pretty” flew around the ring and grimaced in severe pain after each strike. Then again, even if you’re a wrestler who no-sells all of your opponents, you pretty much have no choice after taking a kick to the ribs, legs, and head. Even a lower corner drop kick is hard to regain oxygen from. And then we had the exciting finish to this match in the books: Hideo Itami knocking Tyler Breeze loopy with a single leg dropkick appropriately known as the Shotgun Kick. One, two, three, and your winner is Hideo Itami in a match that could be accused of stealing the entire show.
Ever since that historic badass match, Hideo and Tyler continued to feud over the number one contender status of the NXT Championship, which was taken away from Sami Zayn at Takeover: Rival by 300-lb. Canadian juggernaut Kevin Owens. Some matches Tyler Breeze won while others Hideo Itami won. There was supposed to be a triple threat number one contender’s match at NXT Takeover: Unstoppable between Breeze, Itami, and Finn Balor. The match was watered down to a one-on-one battle when Hideo Itami suffered a serious shoulder injury that would keep him out for six to eight months.
If you haven’t learned anything about Hideo Itami from watching Japanese wrestling, then you should have learned something from watching him on NXT programming on the WWE Network. This guy doesn’t quit for anything. You can punch him, kick him, break every bone in his body, but as long as he still has the tiniest puff of breath in his lungs, he’ll never give up. A shoulder injury is just another obstacle for him to conquer, which he’ll no doubt do in convincing fashion. The rise of the Japanese warrior has only begun. Konnor and Viktor of The Ascension were the first to fall. Tyler Breeze was the second. When Hideo Itami returns to action, there will be a third.
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