Witnessing NXT Seattle & Change In Professional Wrestling

Over the course of the past couple years, NXT has evolved from WWE's developmental territory into its own brand. NXT has showcased some of the best wrestlers in the world and changing the way many mainstream fans view WWE and "sports entertainment." Now, in 2016, NXT has become a touring force, bringing its version of sports entertainment to markets far from its origins in Orlando, Florida.

Tonight, myself and a group of friends were able to experience NXT live in person at the Paramount Theater in Seattle, Washington.

Seattle did a fine job in living up to the enthusiasm and interaction that made the original NXT fans in Orlando so unique in the WWE world. All the matches on the show had their place, but I'm going to hit the notable ones here.

In what might have been the best match of the night, American Alpha took on The Revival for the NXT Tag-Team Championship. All of us in the audience were hanging on every false finish of this bout. With the surprise finish between Finn Balor and Samoa Joe only a couple weeks in the past, it's no wonder why we were unsure about the outcome of this one. To sum it up, American Alpha and The Revival absolutely killed it. This one had everything. High IQ tag-team wrestling, technical sequences, excellent false finishes, and excellent character showmanship. More than once during the match, we all stood up and clapped to show appreciation for the performance we were receiving. These two teams are going to make a huge impact when they finally arrive on the main roster. Chad Gable really shined. His mat wrestling was so on-point throughout. Jason Jordan tossed Dash and Dawson around on a couple occasions with suplexes that even Brock Lesnar would endorse. Alpha ended up getting the win off their finish, much to the delight of all of us. All and all, this match was incredible and a testament to the strides and progress NXT has made as a product.

Bayley took on Alexa Bliss in a good match. Bliss seems to have a solid handle on her character and has shown that she's clearly improved in the ring. But at the same time, Bayley has reached a level of overness that maybe only two or three other NXT performers have obtained. She got one of the biggest pops of the night. Bayley has become so confident in her character and her in-ring work. I'm not sure if she's capable of having a terrible match at this point in her NXT career. 

Skipping ahead to the main event, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe had a great match. Nothing over the top here, probably because the two have some tricks left in the bag saved for their title match at the next TakeOver. The crowd was split 50/50, adding so much drama and an amazing atmosphere. Joe won with the Muscle Buster.

After the match, Joe extended his hand to Balor in what appeared to be a show of respect. They shook hands, but Joe clotheslined him to continue the feud. They battled a little more and Balor ended up hitting the Coup de Grace to end the show with a bang. 

There were so many memorable moments tonight. With that being said, one really stuck out in my mind. After intermission, The Drifter came out to be interviewed by Tom Phillips. He played a song and took some shots at the crowd and the city. Then, Shinsuke Nakamura's music hit. Now, the Paramount only holds about 2,800 people. But believe me when I tell you that when Nakamura's music started to play, the place came unglued with a pop so loud that I was in awe of the moment. 

To see Nakamura live meant a lot to myself and apparently everyone in attendance. It was only six months ago that the idea of The King of Strong Style in WWE was merely a fantasy. I've said this many times and for good reason. WWE, though creatively it still needs work, is changing for the better in terms of personnel. At the same time, professional wrestling as a whole is changing. I can't see into the future, but we seem to be on the brink of something big. Never before has WWE assembled a roster this diverse. We've seen many of the top independent names make the jump to WWE and have success. We're now seeing international talent make the jump. Outside of WWE, the independents have never been better. Ring of Honor is growing. PWG has arguably become the ECW of my generation. Lucha Underground has made waves. Evolve now has somewhat of a WWE affiliation. Overseas, groups such as Progress and ICW have become legitimate promotions. New Japan Pro Wrestling has the attention of many American fans that may have never watched in years past.

The point of all this is that we as fans are recognizing the talent that exists outside of the WWE bubble. It's talent that's so undeniable, that now WWE can no longer ignore it. It's no surprise to many of us that NXT has become what it's become while showcasing talent that became stars in other promotions. Professional wrestling fans around the world have spoken and now even WWE has acknowledged what is going on around them. Will wrestling ever match the viewership of the WWF Attitude Era? Maybe not. But there's something going on. There's a movement taking place. As a fan seeing Nakamura live for the first time tonight, I'm just proud that I may have witnessed a small piece of an even bigger revolution that could be on the horizon in professional wrestling.

Brady Sauvageau

The Heater

WWE Payback About the McMahons, Not Wrestlers

WWE Payback is about a week in the past and some unanswered questions have come to light. To many fan's chagrin, the "special event" proved to be a vehicle to get the McMahon's storyline over, not the main event.

Let's be real here. The WWE World Heavyweight Championship main event was stellar. At least the in-ring parts were. I don't want to bash WWE here, but what did we really learn at Payback? Quite honestly, we were reminded that this show is about the people that run it, not the men and women that make it go.

AJ Styles turned out one of the best performances of his career, elevating Roman Reigns as the company's top guy. Reigns shined as a champion and at times, as a heel. The Chicago crowd was very much in AJ's corner and Reigns didn't pretend like that wasn't the case. Reigns jaw-jacked the crowd and finally seemed to come into his own in the persona that's going to get him truly over with the fans. What was troubling was the match's stoppages, which acted as openings for Shane and Stephanie McMahon to restart the bout to insure that it didn't end in count-out or disqualification. It was a vehicle to progress the storyline, but it certainly hurt the match and its momentum. If this is the beginning of the "new era" of WWE, it doesn't seem to be a positive one.

Many speculated that Finn Balor would debut at Payback, helping Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson attack AJ and form the Balor Club. While this didn't happen, it can't be ruled out. The fact of the matter is it was speculated that we'd see a major storyline development, but instead, we were given the beginning of the Shane/Stephanie power struggle angle. At this point, we ask ourselves: Is this angle in anyway groundbreaking to significant in terms of a new direction within WWE?

Payback's card included two standout match-ups: Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens and AJ Styles vs. Roman Reigns. Zayn and Owens was an epic, with both proving why they deserve some major time for their feud going forward. Owens was a masterful heel and at the same time, Zayn was the ideal babyface as he gained sympathy after shining bright during the match. As stated earlier, Styles and Reigns lived up to the billing, but both matches were overshadowed by the McMahon's feud that played out at the event.

After last Sunday, not much has really changed in WWE. Perhaps Payback was what we should've expected. Maybe it was simply a filler event coming off the heels of WrestleMania 32. Extreme Rules will be interesting, though. Will WWE start showing signs of a new creative direction? Maybe we'll get our answers in the coming weeks.

Brady Sauvageau
The Heater

Joe Wins NXT Title, Balor Linked to WWE Payback

In out of nowhere fashion, Samoa Joe defeated Finn Balor for the NXT Championship at a live event in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Joe's quest for the NXT title is now in the books, while many see this as a clear sign that Balor will be moving up to the main roster soon. With Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows present in WWE's angle between AJ Styles and Roman Reigns, the stars seem to be aligned for Balor to join. In all likelihood a Styles/Balor feud is on the horizon, with Anderson and Gallows acting as the former NXT Champion's supporting cast.

WWE Payback could prove to be very interesting in the wake of Balor's title loss to Joe tonight.

Brady Sauvageau
-The Heater

Raw Looking Fresh, WWE Payback Implications

We are weeks removed from WrestleMania 32 and surprisingly enough, things feel a bit different watching WWE. Admittedly, I sat on my ass for a few weeks and didn't write, because honestly, I had a sour taste in my mouth from both 'Mania and Raw the night after. 'Mania 32 had some great moments, but the outcomes left a lot to be desired. 'Nonsensical' is a word that comes to mind. Raw the night after reinforced that belief. But as the weeks have progressed, things seem a bit different.

Now, I'm not going to harp on this, but WWE did a lot to bury the idea of a meaningful finish at 'Mania. From AJ losing to Jericho to immediately becoming number one contender, to Shane being in control of Raw despite losing the stipulated Hell In A Cell match, things don't make a whole lot of sense. But then again, it's WWE. We've been subjected to so much short term booking and contradictive storylines that it's pointless to discuss it. So let's not.

To be quite honest, Raw has been pretty good. Cesaro returned. Sami Zayn is being featured. Enzo and Big Cass have arrived and are already showing a ton of promise. The two were the highlight of Raw the night after 'Mania 32. Apollo Crews and Baron Corbin have also debuted, but with less fanfare than Cass and Enzo. Sami Zayn has made waves with a few good showings in featured spots. His feud with Kevin Owens is still surreal to see play out on such a big stage, considering where they began on the independents. The positive about all though, is that they are fresh faces. The show feels fresh as well.

Here's what we really need to get to here. Roman Reigns is still struggling to get real reactions. Real reactions in that he hasn't gotten a reaction that wasn't driven by fans' disdain for him. The problem remains that his "heat" isn't "heat." Confusing, I know. Regardless of that, his feud with AJ Styles is getting hot.

Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson made their Raw debut by attacking the Usos. It seemed random until you consider that they're Reigns' cousins. Interesting.... A week later, they strike again, this time by beating down Reigns. Now we can see where this is going. The story reads that Reigns believes this is a plan by AJ, since Gallows and Anderson are his friends. AJ denies he ordered the beating and that's where we stand going into the Styles vs. Reigns match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Payback.

This is good stuff. How often has an angle in WWE had some depth like this? Yeah, AJ was booted from Bullet Club in New Japan the night after Wrestle Kingdom 10. Again, you apparently have to play along here and wipe some things from your memory. WWE doesn't expect you to know any of this, but whatever. The positive here is there's so many outcomes to the Payback main event.

Finish #1: Bullet Club Reunites

Can you imagine if Anderson and Gallows really were ordered to beat down Reigns by AJ and they helped him win the WWE Championship at Payback? I haven't worked a minute in the wrestling business and even I know that would be a hot angle. Can you say Shield vs. Bullet Club? Things are changing rapidly coming out of WrestleMania 32 and this would continue that trend.

Finish #2: Balor Club Is Formed

This one has a couple possibilities. Basically, the scenario is Gallows and Anderson interfere during or after the match, Finn Balor is involved, and the three take out AJ with no affiliation to Reigns. Keep in mind that the last news on Balor had him staying in NXT for the better part of 2016. He is still NXT Champion and there is still money in Balor/Joe III. Could he be working double duty? We'll get our answer soon enough. But the fact of the matter is an AJ/Balor feud would be quality, and Anderson and Gallows would add depth to the storyline.

Finish #3: The Roman Empire Is Formed

This seems unlikely, but then again, things much more dumb than this have happened. I'm not a fan of this scenario, but it's been talked about and speculated by many. This scenario sees Gallows and Anderson look as if they're going to help AJ, but end up turning on him in favor of Reigns. I'm going to interject my opinion here. THIS BETTER NOT HAPPEN. I understand the mindset, though. Turn Reigns completely heel and do it in a shocking fashion. The problem here is, Reigns becoming a heel will make or break him. The fans have accepted Gallows and Anderson quickly. They like AJ and the two together. It just seems that if WWE were to go this route, they would be running the risk of getting even more bad heat on Reigns. The fans might believe that WWE is doing another thing to push Reigns as the guy (sorry for that unintentional promo reference), but this time at the expense of two new guys that they like. Again, this is probably the most unlikely Payback finish of the three, but still very possible.

Speculation on the direction WWE is going has been rampant. Whether or not people hate that WWE didn't live up to the Undertaker/Shane stipulation, one thing is certain: the show feels different. It feels like this may be the beginning of a new era of WWE. With as many new faces and feuds that have entered the fold, WWE has a golden opportunity to capitalize on their momentum and genuinely improve the product. Payback will be a must-watch event for the company, and that is definitely a good thing.

Brady Sauvageau
The Heater

WWE & WrestleMania 32, In the Wake of NXT TakeOver: Dallas

Just hours removed from NXT TakeOver: Dallas, we as fans are reeling. At the risk of speaking for everyone, TakeOver was everything we wanted from a wrestling show. It had fast-paced athletic contests, breathtaking drama, despair, reflection, happiness, and every emotion in between. We saw Bayley valiantly fight until she couldn't any longer. Gable and Jordan emerged as the top tag team of NXT. We saw Shinsuke Nakamura make a lasting first impression that no one will ever forget. Finn Balor escaped Dallas with his title by narrowly defeating Samoa Joe. It was a night for NXT and professional wrestling that can only be summed up with one word: Historic.

Wrestlemania 32 is this Sunday. The question now, in the wake of TakeOver: Dallas is, how the hell do you follow it? It's a question we'll all know the answer to soon, though. From top to bottom, TakeOver was stellar. The entire card had meaning. Every match had the crowd interested and at times, completely gripped. Can the same be said about the 'Mania 32 card? Not top to bottom, surely. But there are some matches that could really compete with TakeOver.

The Intercontinental Championship ladder match is high on the list of anticipated 'Mania bouts. This match is going to be fun. Fun as hell. Like so many mid-card wrestlers of the past, the guys taking part in this one are going to look to steal the show. Sami Zayn has so much momentum coming out of his TakeOver match with Nakamura and will be looking to continue it. Kevin Owens will be making his 'Mania debut and is always a prospective show-stealer. Don't sleep on Ziggler, The Miz or the rest of the match's participants either. They're just as stoked to be in the spotlight as the rest of them.

Triple H vs. Roman Reigns has been heavily built, regardless of peoples' thoughts on Reigns and his character direction. I'm not going to get deep into this, simply because much has been discussed about a Reigns heel turn that seems completely hopeless to wish for at this point. The story here is, how can Reigns and HHH put together a match that captivates the 'Mania crowd if the finish really is Reigns over Hunter? There has to be something coming. At least, a lot of hope there is. But if not, what do we really have here? Just another "point A to point B" scenario? Let's hope that some kind of swerve makes us all wish we'd never bashed the Reigns/Triple H matchup.

The last match to really hit here is Shane McMahon vs. The Undertaker. This might be the most important, if not, the most anticipated match of Wrestlemania 32. Let's set the plot holes aside here. If Shane wins, he gets control of Raw while The Undertaker will never wrestle at 'Mania again. Vince McMahon has pitted the Undertaker against Shane, while Shane feuds his father. The Undertaker is trying to protect his own legacy, though it means doing the bidding of Vince. The dynamic here is strong. Shane has promised change in WWE if he wins, something that the fans are in strong favor of. But The Undertaker never wrestling again at 'Mania? It's quite the move by WWE to set this up. They have to get credit for this storyline. They went outside of the box. They actually presented something different and cannot be faulted for the attempt. This is one of those matches that you can't imagine until you're actually witnessing it, and that is best for business.

Taker vs. Shane certainly has the potential to emotionally move its audience. But Wrestlemania 32 has a goliath task of living up to, or past, NXT TakeOver: Dallas. But why is that? Conventional wisdom would say that the main brand's biggest event of the year should never be in jeopardy of being outperformed by its "developmental" brand. That seems to be the case, though.

So why is 'Mania facing this kind of adversity? Well, NXT has really thrived during its existence. I'll speak for myself on this one. When I watch Raw or any of the main roster's productions, I feel like I'm seeing a formula repeat while participants are filtered in and out. It's stagnant, though once in awhile, a person comes comes onto the scene and adds a freshness and edge to the show that it desperately needs (For example, Shane McMahon). When I watch NXT, it just feels more personal. Maybe you have to be a fan of wrestling outside of WWE to feel this way, but I'll explain nonetheless. Let's use Sami Zayn as an example.

Like so many people, I've watched Sami Zayn grow up on the independents before he finally got his break in signing with WWE. In NXT, we saw him grab opportunity by the throat and deliver in the most high-pressure situations. It was personal for me to see Zayn, when given the chance, show what he can bring to the table if brought up to the main roster. Not only that, but he illustrated how he can help WWE evolve as a product through his believable character and incredible ability to adapt his style to WWE's. Evolving should be at the top of WWE's priority list when it relates to the main roster.

WWE must evolve. It can't rely on The Undertaker and part-time performers forever. People could argue that point all day, but the product has suffered as a result of its reliance. You know, I don't necessarily want to see Roman Reigns defy the Authority and culminate his journey by winning the WWE Championship in the main event of Wrestlemania. There's something innate about Reigns that you can hate, but WWE refuses to deviate from the formula and take a risk by turning him heel.

Yes, guys like Kevin Owens, Dolph Ziggler, and Dean Ambrose represent the new guard of WWE. But so far all of them have hit a ceiling on the main roster. It's certainly not because of a lack of ability that they've hit a ceiling, but rather the constraints that go along with being a main roster talent. At NXT, the guys and girls are given open opportunity to prove themselves. Along with that, it appears that they have a lot of extra freedom to showcase their talent. They aren't made out to be just like everyone else in the middle of the card.

NXT feels real. It makes you want to suspend your disbelief. The emotion that has radiated from the product time and time again is special. Grown men shed tears when Bayley beat Sasha Banks in Brooklyn. People were moved as the Four Horsewomen of NXT embraced and threw up the four fingers shortly after. It was emotional because these performers were revolutionizing women's wrestling. It was real and the fans knew it. They knew how much that match meant to Banks and Bayley, let alone what it meant for women's wrestling. It wasn't forcibly billed, nor disingenuous in nature. On the main roster, Roman Reigns' initial title victory at this past Survivor Series felt forced and was certainly expected for quite some time. The people could see WWE's initiative to position Reigns at the top of the card as opposed to wanting to see him win the biggest prize in the company. There was nothing organic about anything leading up to that moment and the crowd reacted negatively.

As stated, NXT's emotional moments have come organically. At TakeOver, Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura told a story while the two hadn't even interacted face to face prior to the match. Nakamura debuted as the new hero looking to make a lasting first impression, while the man that helped build NXT stood and listened to the crowd's outpour of support for the newcomer. It seemed for a moment that they'd forgotten Sami and everything he had accomplished. Nakamura shined to open the match, but Zayn responded, reminded the NXT faithful that he nearly built the product they were watching. They battled intelligently until both men were exhausted by the bout. After seeing his own blood, Nakamura stomped Zayn's head violently. Zayn again responded, doing the same to Nakamura. The match culminated at its peak, with Nakamura gaining the victory. He celebrated, but then turned his attention to Zayn. He extended a hand, and Zayn accepted. Nakamura left the ring to Zayn as the crowd sang the familiar tune loudly, 'Ole.' While fighting back tears, Zayn acknowledged the NXT fans for what might have been his last time as an NXT competitor.

The emotion was real, in every sense of the word.

The point of all of this is we want to feel what we felt tonight watching NXT when we watch Wrestlemania 32. At times during 'Mania, we will. But we also know that there will be moments during the show that we'll surely forget. The truth is, WWE needs to evolve and it takes time. NXT is the model for which WWE should follow and learn from. Fans want to believe in the wrestlers. They want to feel emotionally attached to them. Most all of us feel that way about Taker after his incredible career of endurance, evolution, and ability to adapt. At the same time, not all of us have immediately felt that way about Reigns, as it seems we've been told to emotionally invest ourselves into him. WWE needs to allow their fans to attach themselves to any given performer. When that happens, it would be refreshing to reward the fans' commitment, even when it's for a person the company may not view as a "top guy."

Wrestlemania 32 has an incredible task ahead. The emotion and excitement that TakeOver: Dallas evoked has posed a legitimate threat the "grandest stage of them all." NXT has proven to be an evolution within the WWE product. Now, the time has come for the main roster to respond. But will they?

Well, we all hope so.

Brady Sauvageau
-The Heater

Previewing NXT TakeOver: Dallas

This Friday, April 1st, will mark a historical night in professional wrestling. NXT TakeOver: Dallas will illustrate how truly broken down the invisible wall between WWE and the rest of the wrestling world really is. We have to remember, it wasn't very long ago that WWE wouldn't acknowledge other wrestling promotions. An independent wrestler had about a 1% chance of getting to WWE, let alone get a push. Well, it's 2016 and things are drastically different. Independent talents are getting matches on NXT television. Hell, Johnny Gargano picked up a singles win on the last NXT episode going into Friday. It's a wild time to be a fan of professional wrestling.

Let's get to some of the smaller matches on the TakeOver card. Austin Aries will be making his in-ring debut for NXT taking on Baron Corbin. Aries has proven himself everywhere he's ever gone and NXT should be no different. Corbin has been improving ever since he made his debut and running as a heel has accelerated that process drastically. Expecting a solid match from these two, solidifying both as important figures in NXT.

The Revival will be defending their tag team titles against American Alpha. Dash and Dawson are the ideal old school throwback team, making an impact during their title reign. Jordan and Gable have also established themselves as a force, though. This match could be a show stealing bout, as evident by The Revival's title defense at WWE RoadBlock with Big Cass and Enzo Amore.

Also on the card is Apollo Crews vs. Elias Samson. Maybe the least attractive match at the event, but a chance for Crews to shine nonetheless. Crews hasn't had much room to shine since debuting, so look for him to try to make an impact vs. Samson.

Time to get into the meat of this card.

Bayley (c) vs. Asuka 

NXT Women's Championship Match

The women of NXT have changed everything we thought we knew about women's wrestling in WWE. Bayley has been an intricate part of it as well. Asuka fits right into the movement we've seen from these women over the past couple years. Fans of NXT know how good Bayley is. No one will ever forget her matches against Sasha Banks in late 2015. I'm not sure though, how many people truly understand how good Asuka is.

Now, I could go on and on about Asuka's career in Pro Wrestling Wave and Smash, where she wrestled under the name, Kana. The fact is, she's one of the best in the ring, man or woman, in WWE. Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer has gone on the record saying that Asuka might be the best worker in all of WWE. If you don't know Meltzer, well, he's been around the block and he knows what he's talking about. Asuka has already become a fan favorite since debuting a short time ago. The girl knows how to get over.

Bayley vs. Asuka is going to be another huge moment in the "Divas Revolution." I'm not a fan of the term "Diva," but whatever. I can't really predict the finish of this match. That's ok though. It's good really. I can see Bayley dropping the title to move to the main roster, but for some reason it just seems too soon. She's ready, no doubt. But there's still women for her to work with and most importantly, women to learn from her. I can't wait to see this match, which is fantastic considering how women's wrestling has been billed in the past in WWE.

Finn Balor (c) vs. Samoa Joe

NXT Championship Match

The first Balor/Joe match was spectacular in London. The two have incredible chemistry and tell a fantastic story in the ring. Joe has been built up to be a monster heel while Balor has solidified himself as NXT's number one babyface. Though we've seen this match before, it's still standing up as a dream feud for wrestling fans. For so long, Joe has been known as one of the best performers in the world. We can go back a decade to Joe's series of matches with CM Punk in Ring of Honor. Believe this: Joe hasn't slowed down since that.

Finn Balor, as Prince Devitt, really broke through during his time in New Japan Pro Wrestling. There's something that people need to understand about this accomplishment. Think about this: New Japan doesn't allow just any foreign wrestler to be featured as a top act. Balor became an ultra high level babyface and heel in the promotion. He's credited with founding Bullet Club, a stable known to pretty much everyone, whether they've actually seen New Japan or not. The man has made an impact all over the world. Now he's doing it in the United States in NXT.

Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe is important for a number of reasons. Like I said earlier, there was a time when there was no chance that we'd see a non-WWE created guy featured strongly on a WWE show. Think about what we're seeing here. A guy that made his name in Japan taking on a guy that destroyed the independents and accomplished so much for TNA wrestling. They're not WWE guys and they're headlining a WWE show for NXT's biggest prize. Think about that. These guys are paving the way for future international and independent wrestlers to succeed in WWE. This match is very important and make no mistake about it, they will deliver. Oh yeah, how great would it be to see Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson pop up soon with 'ol Finn? It's an exciting time, people.

Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Continuing the theme of matches no one thought they'd ever see at a WWE associated event, we have Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn. Even though we're this close to the event and seeing this match, I still can't believe it's happening. This past January, Nakamura wrestled AJ Styles at New Japan's premier event, Wrestle Kingdom for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. If someone had asked me if four months later they'd both be wrestling for WWE, I would have said probably not. The barriers were breaking, but I still couldn't wrap my head around the future that was ahead of us. Well now they're in WWE. It's a reality that I could never imagine.

This match on paper is insane. Sami Zayn has proven himself time and time again as a major player in NXT. His transition to the main roster will be difficult considering the track record of NXT call-ups outside of Kevin Owens. He has the ability though, to make a huge splash on Raw and SmackDown. Zayn has a knack for delivering in big time situations. He has an incredible track record in Ring of Honor and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, wrestling under the name and character of El Generico. He was a part of what is arguably the greatest NXT match of all time against Adrian Neville at TakeOver R-Evolution. What I'm saying is, Zayn is ready for this type of big-fight matchup. 

Shinsuke Nakamura is not unfamiliar with pressure as well. For New Japan, Nakamura delivered outstanding performances on a regular basis. Just looking at the past two Wrestle Kingdoms, Nakamura's matches against Kota Ibushi and AJ Styles respectively both stand as match of the year level work. If you don't know who Nakamura is now, you will be absolutely blown away by him on Friday. His charisma is unmatched and his in-ring ability is elite. WWE should feel lucky to have signed him, honestly. 

I'll throw out a prediction for this one. Nakamura will beat Zayn in an incredibly hard fought bout. I understand that Nakamura is a newcomer to WWE, but I think it makes sense. Zayn doesn't need the win and he's currently transitioning to the main roster. I mean I could be dead wrong on this. But I don't see WWE bringing in a guy like Shinsuke and beating him on his first night in the company. Regardless of the finish, expect and match of the year candidate from these two at TakeOver Dallas.

So that's it. Are you excited yet? Yeah, you didn't need any hype to get you stoked on NXT TakeOver: Dallas. The fact of the matter is, this show might outperform Wrestlemania 32. Sounds crazy, I know. But if you really look at it, you'll understand. The NXT crew is looking to prove a point. The point? They're the new blood. They're the evolution of wrestling and the WWE brand. They're all looking to steal the spotlight over 'Mania weekend and I can't wait to see them do it.

Brady Sauvageau

The Heater Wrestling

Seth Rollins Will Return To WWE Better Than Ever

Seth Rollins' injury last November could not have come at a worse time. In the midst of his first WWE World Heavyweight Championship reign, it seemed that he was never able to reach the full potential that his run had. Not to say he wasn't on his way to getting there, though. Rollins had classic matches with Cena and Ambrose, an intriguing battle with Brock Lesnar, and even added the United States Title to his resume on the way. But a torn MCL and ACL abruptly cut short a reign that may have been leading him to a main event match against The Game, Triple H. Guess we'll never know what would've been. But that's what makes Rollins' pending return to the ring that much more interesting.

Recently, it's been reported that Rollins has been training and is well on his way to returning to WWE. Seth isn't the only wrestler out due to injury. Cesaro, Tyson Kidd, and Neville are also on a long list of injuries that have downright plagued WWE since 2015. No disrespect to any of the other wrestlers that are out, but Rollins' return seems to be the most important, or at least most impactful one.

Keep in mind, Rollins never lost the WWE Championship. There's loose ends to the storyline of Seth as champion. So many angles could come out of this. Triple H will most likely lose the title at Wrestlemania 32 to Roman Reigns. This is a longshot, but could Rollins be involved in some capacity of that main event? Will he return and take back his spot in the Authority? Surely, Rollins will receive a huge positive crowd reaction upon his return. I know, he's supposed to be a heel. But think back to Triple H's return at Madison Square Garden over a decade ago. Full blown heel, but got one of the biggest pops of all time when his music hit. Rollins may experience something similar. That's where things get tricky. If the plan was for him to eventually feud with Triple H, does Rollins ride the momentum to become a babyface and move into that program? And what about the title? Will we see Rollins take on Reigns, assuming we know the finish of 'Mania 32? Like I said, there's so many possibilities.

There's no risk in saying that Seth Rollins will return better than ever, even though he's coming off a serious injury. He's a rare athletic specimen. Before the injury, he was really hitting his stride on the mic and as a character. The spoiled, protected golden boy was becoming a man, a real force in WWE. His match with John Cena at last year's Summerslam illustrated how good he really is. Who could forget Rollins taking the cross body from Cena, rolling though, lifting him up, and tossing him onto his shoulders for the Attitude Adjustment? That sequence alone said so much about Rollins. He can take on anyone and deliver in the most high pressure situations.

Seth Rollins is a student of the game. His rapid rise to the top of Ring of Honor and the WWE's main roster didn't happen by accident. The guy is constantly learning, training, and doing anything he can to get better. Right about now, he's itching to get back into the ring. He's desperate to show that this injury did not derail his momentum. He's ready to take it. Sometimes, for a guy to break through to the next level, it takes something catastrophic to allow reflection. Rollins has had a lot of time to reflect, to see the little holes in his work, and how he's going to get to the highest tier of WWE.

Rollins' return to WWE is going to shake things up. It's going to jump start the brand in a way it so desperately needs. With Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose currently filling the top of the card, Rollins immediately has "top guy" feuds to enter. Looming is the possibility that he will square off against his mentor, Triple H. The stars could be aligning for Rollins, and make no mistake about it, he's ready to cement his status as the best wrestler in the company.

The fact of the matter is WWE needs Rollins. His importance to the future of the company is unquestionable. What's interesting is that long term, the more important thing about 2016 might not be Wrestlemania 32, but rather the return of Seth Rollins.

That's a bold statement, but one that Rollins can't wait to prove to be true.

Brady Sauvageau
The Heater