BleedPhilly.com | Philly's preeminent sports & pro wrestling blog

The Straight Shooters Podcast Episode 35: NXT Call ups and AJ Styles the No. 1 Contender

 

This week, the guys talk NXT TakeOver: Dallas, WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, and WrestleMania 32. What was better, NXT or WrestleMania? Answer’s easy, and the guys tell you why.

WWE also called up a plethora of talent from NXT this week. Enzo and Cass, Apollo Crews, Baron Corbin, and The Vaudevillains just to name a few were introduced to the main roster this week. What does it mean for them and WWE’s future? The Shooters talk about it.

And AJ Styles is the No. 1 contender to Roman Reigns’ championship. The guys talk about whether that’s a good or bad thing. You won’t wanna miss this show.

 

Follow us on Twitter: @ShootersRadio

Like us on Facebook: The Straight Shooters

 

 

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and rate us.

 

Listen on Wildfire Radio.

 

Or just press play below.

 

 

The NXT Year-End Awards Voting Is Now Open

 

For the first time ever, NXT is having Year-End Awards to celebrate the best of the best in NXT in the year 2015. Fresh off the WWE's Slammy Awards, the NXT Year-End Awards have some of the same categories, which include the Overall Competitor of the Year, Male Competitor of the Year, Female Competitor of the Year, Tag Team of the Year and Match of the Year.

The award categories and nominees are listed below.

 

Overall Competitor of the Year

Finn Bálor

Bayley

Kevin Owens

Sasha Banks

Samoa Joe

Charlotte

Sami Zayn

Becky Lynch

Tyler Breeze

Asuka

 

VOTE HERE.

 

Male Competitor of the Year

Finn Bálor

Kevin Owens

Samoa Joe

Sami Zayn

Tyler Breeze

 

VOTE HERE.

Female Competitor of the Year

Bayley

Sasha Banks

Charlotte

Becky Lynch

Asuka

 

VOTE HERE.

 

Tag Team of the Year

Blake and Murphy

The Vaudevillains

Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady

Dash and Dawson

Lucha Dragons

 

VOTE HERE.
 

Match of the Year

No. 1 Contender's Tournament Final: Finn Bálor vs. Adrian Neville [TakeOver: Rival]

Women’s Fatal 4-Way for the NXT Women's Championship: Charlotte (c) vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch vs. Bayley [TakeOver: Rival]

NXT Championship: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Kevin Owens [TakeOver: Rival]

NXT Championship: Kevin Owens (c) vs. Finn Bálor [NXT, 03/25/15]

NXT Women's Championship: Sasha Banks (c) vs. Becky Lynch [TakeOver: Unstoppable]

NXT Championship: Kevin Owens (c) vs. Finn Bálor [The Beast in the East, Live from Tokyo]

NXT Women's Championship: Sasha Banks (c) vs. Charlotte [NXT, 07/15/15]

NXT Women's Championship: Sasha Banks (c) vs. Bayley [TakeOver: Brooklyn]

30-Minute Iron Woman Match for the NXT Women's Championship: Bayley (c) vs. Sasha Banks [TakeOver: Respect]

NXT Championship: Finn Bálor (c) vs. Samoa Joe [TakeOver: London]

 

VOTE HERE.

 

TakeOver of the Year

TakeOver: Rival

TakeOver: Brooklyn

TakeOver: Respect

TakeOver: London 

 

VOTE HERE.

 

The Awards will be presented on the January 13th, 2016 edition of NXT on the WWE Network. The voting ends on January 6th at 10 a.m.

Straight Shooters Radio Episode 18: Talking the Current State of WWE, NXT and the WWE Network

On this week's edition of The Straight Shooters, Vaughn and I discuss the most recent Raw, with the birth of the new heel group, the League of Nations. Also, where was Kevin Owens? And what the hell is WWE doing with Tyler Breeze?

We also talk some NXT and WWE Network’s banner week by introducing classic content on their on demand lineup. Listen to see what you’ve been missing out on!

 

Subscribe on iTunes now!

 

Visit us at Wildfire Radio for our complete archive.

 

Or just listen below.

Your NXT Takeover: Unstoppable Review Is Now Available at The Philly Voice

 

Last night, NXT presented its latest live event on the WWE Network, and it may have just been their best show ever. Samoa Joe made his WWE debut in spectacular fashion, and the undercard was great. It was legitimately a must-watch show, so I suggest you catch it on the WWE Network's On Demand section. We're in for a wild ride in NXT.

 

Check out my NXT Takeover: Unstoppable review right now at The Philly Voice.

Related articles

Your WWE Payback Review Is Now Available at The Philly Voice

The E:60 Piece on WWE's NXT Brand Last Night Was Spectacular

10 WWE Questions You Most Want Answered (May 17)

WWE 2K16: Speculations of Samoa Joe's Participation Rife

Samoa Joe Makes WWE Debut During NXT Takeover Unstoppable

Video: Scott Hall Was Intoxicated at a Wrestling Event... Again

The E:60 Piece on WWE's NXT Brand Last Night Was Spectacular

 

Last night, a report years in the making aired on ESPN's E:60 about the developmental system in WWE now called NXT. Formerly using Ohio Valley Wrestling and Florida Championship Wrestling, WWE completely revamped their developmental system in 2012 and Triple H [real name Paul Levesque] took over the day-to-day operations and made it what it is today - a legitimate alternative to the main WWE product. 

Beginning in 2011, ESPN cameras followed three developmental superstars to see what life was like trying to make it in the sports entertainment business with the globally-renowned WWE. Ray Leppan [Adam Rose], Austin Watson [Xavier Woods] and Matthew Polinsky [Corey Graves] all told their stories in a fascinating way, and in a way that a casual fan, or even someone that hasn't watched professional wrestling ever could understand. Short synopsis: Leppan was homeless for years, boozing it up, and only got a call from WWE after wrestling in South Africa for almost a decade. His first character, Leo Kruger, wasn't good enough for the company's brass, so he was told to come up with a new character or risk being released eventually.

Boy, did he hit a homerun.

Watson was working on his PhD while also trying to become a sports entertainer. He wants to be the first ever sports entertainer with a PhD.

Graves was told by WWE he was disqualified from in-ring competition after suffering too may concussions - they had told him he probably wouldn't stay healthy enough for them to invest in long-term. So they offered him a two-year announcer's contract. His reaction is awesome. 

If you missed it, I highly suggest you catch the replay, which is currently slated to air May 12th at 9 PM. More videos after the jump.