NXT Women Invade Monday Night RAW

There is a surge of electricity still buzzing throughout social media over the blockbuster announcement laid forth by Stephanie McMahon. With the resurgence of women’s sports sweeping the world, the Principle Owner of WWE nourished the Divas division with a crop of new talent from the NXT developmental system. And let’s just say this invasion angle is awesome.

After weeks of trying to bring change to the Divas division, Paige was at the end of her rope trying to thwart Nikki Bella’s stronghold on the Divas championship of nearly 240 days. But with the Bella Army including Nikki’s sister Brie, and the newest groupie Alicia Fox, Paige was initially fighting a losing battle. Rumors went around the inter-web that the women from NXT would join Paige in the fight, but the card is always subject to change.

Then the rumors started taking shape as photos leaked on twitter of some of those NXT women shown arriving to RAW in Atlanta. But that could’ve meant anything, they could have been there to film a vignette or gain some experience by simply observing. But when Stephanie interrupted Nikki’s self-praising, that’s when the landscape of the Divas division changed.

Accompanying Paige in her crusade is the lass kicker from Dublin, Ireland, Becky Lynch. The steam punk’d, orange-haired wrestler made a hell of an impression at the last NXT Takeover when she took the current NXT Women’s champion to the limit. Also joining the team is the genetically superior Charlotte. The second generation wrestler dominated the NXT women’s division for the better part of a year.

But the fight against the Bellas doesn’t just involve Paige and her new team, which the inter-web has already dubbed as the Powerpuff Girls, Naomi and Tamina Snuka have been against both Paige and The Bellas. Juxtapose to this fierce duo is the self-proclaimed boss of NXT and current reigning and defending NXT Women’s champion Sasha Banks!

Talk about a dream come true. Two years ago, Paige made the jump to Monday Night RAW from NXT, to make a name for herself and to prove that the future was with NXT. Now we have three amazing talents blazing their own trails.

And how awesome was that sight as history was being made and the battle lines were drawn. Team Bella were staring at both Paige’s team of Becky and Charlotte and Naomi’s team of Tamina and Sasha Banks? The Atlanta crowd were losing their minds! It was like a superhero battle of the ages. It was like the X-Men vs. The Avengers vs. the Guardians of the Galaxy! Then the Divas champion made the drastic mistake of pushing the Women’s champion, then all hell broke loose.

It was a moment in time created by these three women, who have broken the barriers of what women can accomplish when given a chance.

What are your thoughts on the NXT Women taking over Monday Night RAW?

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About the blogger: I love pro wrestling and all of its layers of athleticism and entertainment. I also love to read and write, which is why, hopefully, WrestlingTimesX will come across as different, in a better way, than anything else that you read on the web. My mantra on wrestling, in any state, is to love it then, now, and forever.

The Summer of Samoa Joe

Speculations ensued whether or not Kevin Owens would retain the NXT championship at NXT Takeover: Unstoppable since he has a match cinched in for WWE’s Elimination Chamber event. There’s still speculations, but none concerning Kevin Owens’ grasp on the title going into his match with John Cena, which will make him the first NXT champion to compete on a WWE pay-per-view special. The speculations are now targeted towards WWE’s newest acquisition: Samoa Joe.

Written in a previous post, the reason I strayed away from TNA IMPACT Wrestling was because all the wrestlers that I loved were parting ways from the company one way or another; which included Samoa Joe. After TNA, Samoa Joe made a quick resurgence over in Ring of Honor Wrestling, the promotion where he made a name for himself as the Samoan Submission Machine. And much like Kevin Steen, Samoa Joe was never really in the cross hairs of WWE because of his look.

Even though the inter-web or the IWC… whatever you want to call it, have discussed the rumors that Joe and WWE were finally in negotiations, I just wasn’t expecting one of the top independent prospects to make his way over to the WWE. Sure, it’s not Monday Night RAW, but to debut at the conclusion of the main event of an NXT Takeover special is the next best thing.

Samoa Joe came at a strategic time in the development of the Kevin Owens storyline. Because Owens has been non-stop laying people out with his pop-up powerbombs, and with his recent thrashing of his former best friend Sami Zayn, he was truly unopposed. But when Joe entered the NXT squared circle and just cold stared at Owens, and then stepped closer when Owens stepped back, he became Owens’ opposition. It was like when John Cena first debuted against Kurt Angle, or when Kurt Angle crossed the line and opposed Samoa Joe; there was an instant electricity that the wrestling fans have been craving for.

Does the emergence of Samoa Joe spell the end for Kevin Owens’ reign as the NXT champion? Does it mean that Owens is about to get called up for a permanent spot on the main roster? Or will this rivalry become the best summer in NXT Wrestling history? So much to speculate on, and yet how great is it to see Samoa Joe finally in a WWE capacity setting?

What are your thoughts on WWE’s latest acquisition and how they handled Samoa Joe’s debut?

That’s it for the post, follow WTX on: YouTube / Instagram / Twitter / Google+ / tumblr

Don’t forget to like the post, share it, and subscribe! Links are available on the right hand column.

About the blogger: I love pro wrestling and all of its layers of athleticism and entertainment. I also love to read and write, which is why, hopefully, WrestlingTimesX will come across as different, in a better way, than anything else that you read on the web. My mantra on wrestling, in any state, is to love it then, now, and forever.

Give Divas a Chance

WrestlingTimesX is not a misogynistic blog. WTX gives Divas a chance no matter how bad they may be on the mic or in the ring (that’s right, Bellas). WTX supports the exposure of talented women like a Paige or an AJ Lee (not like that… #NakedPaige)

When the #LikeAGirl spot aired during the Super Bowl, WWE followed with their own #LikeAGirl spot featuring WWE Divas from the main roster and NXT to demonstrate that their Divas are role models because they are strong and beautiful. But after a brutally short Divas Tag Team match on Monday Night RAW, the #GiveDivasAChance movement was born because, clearly, WWE needs a reminder that the Divas should not be overlooked.

Before making her return to WWE this past Monday, AJ Lee blindsided Stephanie McMahon on twitter stating that the Divas were grossly underpaid despite being on the highest rated segments and having record-selling merchandise. Stephanie McMahon was said to be livid–wouldn’t you be if your employee made you and your company look bad on social media? But her response–probably advised by office staff members and Vince McMahon himself–was curt, yet professional. Because it’s not like Stephanie could berate AJ Lee on twitter after just tweeting about Women’s Rights and Using Your Voice to be heard. She would’ve been a total hypocrite.

Much like her husband, AJ is not afraid to voice her opinions in a public forum such as an episode of Monday Night RAW or on the twitter. And despite the fact that she does not like the term “Diva”, AJ is very vocal on the importance of women’s wrestling.

Yet, in true WWE fashion, while Vince may “hear” the fans clamoring for more women’s wrestling, the movement has already been downplayed to where R-Truth, who will be one of the participants in the Intercontinental championship ladder match at WrestleMania, promoted his own hashtag at commentary #GiveTruthAChance. This of course trended on twitter for some time because: A) It was entertaining; and B) Wrestling fans what to see more talents being utilized.

With WrestleMania so close and the predominate Divas storyline focused on Paige’s title hunt against Nikki Bella with Brie Bella, and now a returning AJ Lee, will WrestleMania have a Fatal Four-Way bout for the WWE Divas championship; or will it subject us to a multi-free-for-all Divas Battle Royal as in previous years?

But in the mean time and in between time, while we wait for the WWE to give Divas a chance on the main roster, check out NXT on the WWE Network and watch the women’s matches there. At NXT Takeover R-Evolution, Charlotte and Sasha Banks had a fantastic match for the NXT Women’s championship. Then at NXT Takeover RIVAL, we witnessed a great Fatal Four-Way and the crowning of a new champion. The women on NXT outshine even some of the guys from the main roster because they don’t play cute and dumb. When that bell rings, those women show the world that #LikeAGirl they can be strong and beautiful.

That’s it for the post, follow WTX on: YouTube / Instagram / Twitter / Google+ / tumblr

Don’t forget to like the post, share it, and subscribe! Links are available on the right hand column.

About the blogger: I love pro wrestling and all of its layers of athleticism and entertainment. I also love to read and write, which is why, hopefully, WrestlingTimesX will come across as different, in a better way, than anything else that you read on the web. My mantra on wrestling, in any state, is to love it then, now, and forever.

Kevin Owens Takes Over NXT

For the first time, a championship changed hands not via pinfall or submission, but by referee stoppage. It was an outcome no one was expecting, but then again, the WWE Universe had never experienced the savage nature of the man known throughout the world as “Mr. Wrestling”.

At NXT Takeover RIVAL, Kevin Owens entered his championship bout with one factor weighing heavily on his mind–to win at all costs. Because to him that championship meant more money and a better life for his wife and kids. Although that meant jeopardizing a twelve-year friendship, Kevin’s resolve to become champion outweighed that consequence.

Kevin Owens viciously dominated Sami Zayn with five consecutive powerbombs. Now if the referee hadn’t stopped the match as Owens was attempting powerbomb number 6, Sami Zayn’s career might have ended. The medical examiner from ringside actually demanded that the referee stop the match. So it’s not like Sami got screwed out of the title, he was honestly deemed unfit to compete.

Wrestling logic would have pegged Sami Zayn to retain the championship because he had worked so hard to “arrive” at NXT Takeover R-Evolution. Then again, it took Kevin Owens 14 years to get to the WWE, and he vowed that he would fight whoever stood in his way.

Two months to the day after debuting on NXT, Kevin Owens is the face of the NXT brand and that should scare the hell out of the locker room. Because if he did that to his best friend, imagine what he would do to someone he didn’t like?

Speaking of the locker room, Finn Bálor is next in line for a title shot. Can the man who uses face and body paint to intimidate and strike fear into his opponents overcome Kevin Owens?

Congratulations to both Kevin Owens on becoming the new NXT champion and to “The Boss” Sasha Banks on realizing her dreams by becoming the new NXT Womens champion. The future is definitely bright in NXT.

That’s it for the post, be sure to hit me up on the: Instagram / Twitter / Google+ / tumblr.

Don’t forget to like the post, share it, and subscribe! Links are available on the right hand column.

About the blogger: I love pro wrestling and all of its layers of athleticism and entertainment. I also love to read and write, which is why, hopefully, WrestlingTimesX will come across as different, in a better way, than anything else that you read on the web. My mantra on wrestling, in any state, is to love it then, now, and forever.

CM Punk in UFC and Kevin Owens in NXT

After a series of tell-all podcasts, CM Punk ignited the biggest pipe bomb Saturday night at UFC 181, alongside Joe Rogan, to reveal that he had signed a multi-fight deal and will start competing in the octagon in 2015 either in the middle-weight or welterweight division.

CM Punk signs multi-fight deal with UFC.

A major shock wave that “broke the internet” once again, CM Punk is fulfilling a dream to see what he is capable of as a fighter. While many wrestling fans might be sad with the sudden news, it’s what’s best for Phil Brooks as UFC is his new career path. He’s been training in jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts, and after this past Saturday he says its full steam ahead.

We still don’t know which camp Punk will train with, or what name he will go by for that matter. A question, which seemingly was asked by his life-long buddy Colt Cabana, host of the most talked about podcast The Art of Wrestling. Based on the names of other UFC fighters’, I would go with Phil “CM Punk” Brooks. I can hear UFC announcer Bruce Buffer now, “PHIL “CM PUNK” BROOKS!!!”

From the squared circle to the octagon, CM Punk’s career switch has brought on a lot of mixed reviews, especially from the “internet wrestling fans” and “internet MMA fans”, …is that a thing?

Personally, I just want to see the man compete. Win or lose, I’m still going to cheer for him. I may not be a fan of MMA, I’ll watch it every now and then, but Punk is Punk. And I’m a fan of CM Punk.

Exciting news for Punk and also exciting news for Kevin Steen who finally debuts this Thursday live on the WWE Network on NXT. The former ROH World champion, now going by the name Kevin Owens, an homage to Kevin’s favorite wrestler Owen Hart, has been advertised for NXT Takeover [R] Evolution.

Kevin Owens will finally make his debut at NXT live on the WWE Network.

He’s been a long time favorite of mine, having seen him compete for both Ring of Honor and Evolve Wrestling. Kevin Steen may not have the typical appearance of your average WWE Superstar, but after you see his moonsault off the top turnbuckle, you forget everything you ever knew.

While CM Punk may have been the best on the mic during his WWE career, Kevin Steen was the best talker, in my opinion, in the independents. Now that Punk is out and Steen is in, the WWE Universe are going to be amazed by how great he is.

For both CM Punk and Kevin Owens, they have set out to do one thing, and that is to FIGHT!

That’s it for the post, don’t forget to like it, share it, and subscribe! And don’t forget to check out our official video podcast on YouTube at YouTube.com/WrestlingTimesX

Also, follow me: Instagram / Twitter / Google+ / tumblr

About the blogger: I’m an avid fan of pro wrestling and all of its layers of athleticism and entertainment. I also love to read and write, which is why WrestlingTimesX will come across as different from anything else that you read on the web. My mantra on wrestling, in any state, is to love it then, now, and forever.

What if Sami Zayn loses at NXT Takeover R Evolution…?

If Sami Zayn does not win the NXT Title, then he will leave WWE.

The critics say that Sami Zayn cannot win the big one. And after numerous championship losses, Sami is starting to believe it. This is why, at NXT Takeover R Evolution, Sami has given himself the ultimatum: either become the NXT champion, or leave the business. Because if Sami, he feels, cannot win the NXT championship from his friend Adrian Neville, then he doesn’t have what it takes to be a WWE Superstar.

Now, how many wrestlers do you know that would place such an ultimatum on themselves? Usually it’s the one being challenged that gets to set the rules; but Sami has always stepped to a different beat. He’s also a nice guy, but as the old saying goes, nice guys finish last. And the current champion Adrian Neville knows Sami is a nice guy, and despite being friends with his opponent, also takes blatant advantage of the fact that he is so nice.

In their last encounter, Adrian hurt his knee on a vicious Falcon Arrow corkscrew that misfired. Sami could have gone for the pinfall, but he was more concerned over the safety of his friend. Adrian took that moment of weakness to get a quick roll up to retain his championship. Adrian has told Sami that the difference between them is that he knows what it takes to be a champion. Sami doesn’t see it that way.

Times are different now, things aren’t what they were 50 years ago when wrestlers fought with a code of honor and respect for their fellow competitor. Things are nitty-gritty now, and WWE Superstars will take a victory however they can because as Paul Heyman has advocated about his client Brock Lesnar, the one who holds the gold, holds the power. Adrian follows that philosophy to heart, not to say he’s a bad guy, but he understands that in order to make it into this business, there is no room for friendship when it comes to the championship.

If Sami Zayn loses in this championship match against Neville, there is no do-over. Sami will leave the business of sports entertainment. In the event that this does happen, what will happen to the psychological state of Sami Zayn? Just look at his name – Sami Zayn. Sounds awfully close to insane… What if he goes insane and has an identity crisis?

Before being signed to WWE, Sami Zayn used to hide his face behind a mask. So in the event that Sami Zayn does lose the big one at NXT Takeover R Evolution, what if he leaves the WWE but comes back as someone else? Someone they were not expecting? Someone that is in-Zayn? What if he comes back as El Generico?

That’s it for the post, don’t forget to like it, share it, and subscribe! And don’t forget to check out our official video podcast on YouTube at YouTube.com/WrestlingTimesX

Also, follow me: Instagram / Twitter / Google+ / tumblr

About the blogger: I’m an avid fan of pro wrestling and all of its layers of athleticism and entertainment. I also love to read and write, which is why WrestlingTimesX will come across as different from anything else that you read on the web. My mantra on wrestling, in any state, is to love it then, now, and forever.