:lol: that Eva Marie promo. Wasn't bad or good but hilarious that her botching is actually part of the storyline now.

I kind of want Enzo and Cass to win the tournament... Would make a good "tribute" to Dusty for the "most over" actual tag team to win.... also be a good "thanks" to Enzo and Cass... make it up to them for not winning the tag titles yet....

But I don't see them getting past Balor and Joe, because those two need something to do at Takeover, and it is "too late" to build some storylines for them...

Unless Joe turns heel against Balor and they square off at Takeover...

Just need some backstage segments now where she is being "overly friendly" with some referees...

Or is seen leaving the referee's locker room with her hair all messed up and fixing her clothes, etc...

<font color=goldenrod>Joe going out of his way to tap the title and say something like "isn't that right...CHAMP?" during every promo feels like a subtle hint that they'll be fighting for the belt soon enough.

With Bayley/Banks main eventing the next Takeover though it's probably more likely that Joe turns at Takeover itself, setting up the match for the next Takeover.</font>

I want a gif of Carmella having a seizure in the ring....

Is Eva Marie supposed to be face or heel?

Obviously a heel?

Looks like Eva Marie's push is off.

Thank the Lord Steven Regal. Nowhere near ready.

Showed a friend the Sasha/Bayley match... his response: "That Sasha Banks is good, huh?" and also "What a good match"

He passed the friendship test

I think it's one of those Japanese language things, where desu is pronounced "dess," but "dessu" isn't technically incorrect. The Japanese sometimes rush through those vowel sounds instead of elongating them as they would be in another context. I imagine they will be calling her "Ah-soo-ka" on commentary and such.

Dunno if they will.... already had the crowd chanting "Ass-ka"...

My thoughts from this week:

* I'm not anti-Eva Marie, but I think she should be losing all of her matches. Have her play the face role (since it makes sense for her opponents to school her), then have her start winning when she gets better and starts cheating. I didn't like Eva Marie in blue. She is "All Red Everything" -- build to that Blue Pants match.

* I like how they turned around Bull Dempsey. He's not the best part of the show, but he's embracing this thing, even if it has gone a bit too far towards the goofy side of things. I LOVED the spot where they teased the countout. If you remember, the genesis of Bullfit came from Dempsey getting counted out in a match against Tyler Breeze. A nice little nod to show how he's growing.

* I like Asuka being in the suit. Regal tried his best to make her sign like a huge deal. I've always wanted a joshi in the WWE, but I'm not yet as excited for this as I potentially should be. I liked that she didn't do the cliched "beat up both girls" thing. I feel like she's a smart, calculating competitor now. I'd like her first match to be against Emma. That would be hot.

* I know people love Bayley, but I'm worried she's going to get the "jammed down our throats" treatment, and even someone as adorable and beloved as Bayley is going to struggle with that. Part of me thinks her run with the belt should be short so that we can feel sorry for her again. I'd even consider switching it to Banks at Respect, even though people would feel it weren't right. Keep Bayley vs. Banks going into the winter while you have other girls being built up.

* Emma and Adam Rose would actually make a completely logical on-air pairing. Their gimmick is basically the same now.

* I hope they put Breeze over Crews at Respect. Build that up as an actual feud.

* I'm not really feeling Joe turning heel, per se, as I'd rather see him go into his match with Finn Balor undefeated. But the money might be in Joe going really nasty, and pissing on the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic would certainly get heat. I really want Jordan & Gable to be in the semi-finals, but I have a feeling they might go with The Hype Bros vs. Rhyno & Corbin, with Rhyno & Corbin advancing and then Joe turning on Balor; but Balor still winning. Joe gets his heat, but remains undefeated in the process.

* I have this weird feeling that Jordan & Gable might not be long for the tag scene, because there is enough appeal in them as singles competitors. I'm not saying that the WWE should break them up, but I think they might. They could get knocked out of the tournament and Jordan could turn on Gable, leading to a fiery face run for Gable. They're going to need to build up singles stars soon.

* I felt The Vaudevillains and Blake/Murphy did a good job. That double Japanese arm drag English does just looks ridiculous go. They actually had me thinking they were going to switch the belts back for a second there. Good work.

I agree with all of this, but I don't think that they've officially gotten rid of their names, have they? I thought that was just their shortened team name.

And yeah, I would have much rather seen those guys pull off their "biggest win" than Eva Marie v. Carmella on the most recent show.

Without quoting anyone, it seems ridiculously obvious that Joe is eyeing the title. Which I'm fine with.

There hasn't been enough of a Jordan and Gable run yet for anyone to be interested in a break up. They are both awesome individually, but I think they help bring the best out of each other. No reason to split them yet.

I don't want them to break up, I'm too ready willing and gable for them to make a long run

I want them to stay together too, but I dunno, it's just a feeling I had recently. To be honest, I had the same feeling about The New Day once they started getting over, so I might just be imagining things.

Rather they stay as a team because both would probably get lost in the shuffle if they broke up any time soon (or maybe even at all). The tag division has usually been the weakest out of the big 3 divisions in NXT so more depth is always welcomed.

Then again tag division is also pretty weak on the main roster so its not just a problem exclusive to NXT.

That's the Russo effect

That's just you working with WWE's inner logic; they don't really put guys together in the hope of creating the next Road Warriors, they do it hoping for a Shawn Michaels.

I think there are some very good points above. :y:

Spoilers for the next couple of weeks:

Spoiler video:

Devin Taylor still there for this taping :)

Nia Jax needs to lose some poundage. Looks too much like Tamina Snuka.

Stay in France.

Johnny Gargano looks like CM Punk.

Some slightly more flattering ring gear might help as well.

She just came to see "Honk if You're Horny" in peace!

Not sure why they went with that blue set but her gear does get changed by her next official match. Its either the same or something more similar and flattering to what she had for her pre-debut house show matches.

Just watched this....

Nia Jax def looked weird.... "dark and forboding" promos for week.... then comes out in bright blue (very unflattering for her shape), "upbeat" music, and smiling.....

Anyways... just seems like she will be "fat Tamina" eventually....

I liked the look of that Evie chick, though.... she signed on?

Yeah dunno.. Are they going for a Awesome Kong character here? Either way hopefully what Smeat said about new attire is going to happen sooner than later. I kinda liked her opponent more.

so Nia Jax gonna be Tamina's replacement in a year since she's Samoan, has the bloodline and doesn't have a murderer for a father?

BAHGAWD THAT'S THE COWBOY

Also, "15 years on the independent circuit" = hey TNA

https://38.media.tumblr.com/2c3e6827...zhteo1_400.gif

What year did James Storm get "fat"? I remember when I was watching TNA regularly, I saw him split from Chris Harris and turn heel.... and he was "in shape"/"smaller".... And I remember really enjoying him and thinking that he had a ton of potential....

And then after I stopped watching TNA, the next time I checked it out, Storm was all "bloated"... face a different shape... etc.... Looked like he had aged like 15 years....

Also: glad this was an Asuka week and not a Nia Jax week.

https://33.media.tumblr.com/e74895d0...0qvto1_400.gif
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Us__Go30_kk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Huge potential, but I can't imagine her playing the same character on the main roster... can only "picture her" on main roster as "evil foreigner" or "goofy face", but not as "badass, kind of scary, face".