Over the next three weeks I am going to review NXT TakeOver Respect. That begins with the semi-final round of the Dusty Rhodes tag team classic tournament. Rich Brennan, Corey Graves and Byron Saxton are on commentary for this match. Finn Balor makes his way out first, he's the current NXT Champion.I believe this is the first TakeOver event with no NXT Championship match. The fans cheer along with Balor's entrance before his partner joins him in the ring. Dawson and Wilder are an amazing team that I look forward to seeing here, they would later be known as "The Mechanics"
THE MECHANICS VS. FINN BALOR & SAMOA JOE
(Dusty Rhodes Classic Semi-Final)
NXT TakeOver: Respect (7th October 2015)
Finn Balor is knocked from the apron by Scott Dawson, but Joe is on the attack. The fans chant “Joe is gonna kill you” as Samoa Joe tries to do just that with punches in the corner. Dash Wilder is sent across the ring into the turnbuckles, Dawson moves him away from a charging Joe and Wilder leaps on Joe in the corner. Joe goes down so Wilder boots him and tags Dawson in. The Mechanics double team Joe in the corner using the 5 count. Scott Dawson keeps the pressure on Samoa Joe as we see Finn Balor finally get back up to the apron. Scott Dawson hits Joe with forearms to the gut before grinding Joe's face across the top rope and tagging out. Samoa Joe is sent into Dash Wilder's knee before Wilder is in the ring. Dash Wilder snapmares Joe out of the corner and covers but Joe quickly kicks out. Wilder jabs Joe back into the corner but Joe avoids a charge and hits a jumping enziguri! Scott Dawson gets the tag, he tries to go after Balor but Finn Balor drops to the floor, Joe ducks a right hand in the ring and tags Balor in.
Finn Balor knocks Dawson back with an enziguri and drops him with a running clothesline. Dash Wilder is knocked off the apron with an enziguri and Dawson eats running chops in opposite corners. Balor dropkicks Wilder through the ropes and sidesteps Dawson, who rebounds into a standing dropkick sending him out of the ring. Finn Balor follows them outside with a running somersault senton! Finn Balor sends Scott Dawson back into the ring and hits him with a running dropkick in the corner setting him up for the Coupe de Grace. Dash Wilder enters the ring so Balor jumps over Dawson and sends Wilder through the ropes. Scott Dawson hits Balor with a chop block as his back is turned. Dash Wilder is back on the apron and he gets the tag. He attacks Balor's knee with boots and punches before tagging back out, Scott Dawson kicks the knee as Wilder holds it as Corey Graves mentions the oldschool style of The Mechanics. We see a replay of the chop block as Finn Balor fights out of the grapevine. Scott Dawson cannonballs on the leg and tags back out.
Dash Wilder throws his opponent back in the ring and tags in, grabbing the champion by the ankle. Finn Balor is able to break free and tag in Samoa Joe! Joe comes in with jabs and Wilder lands on an inverted atomic drop. Samoa Joe clotheslines Wilder down and hits the back senton. Samoa Joe sends Wilder into the corner and he walks out into a scoop powerslam. Samoa Joe charges Wilder in the corner but gets sidestepped, Dash Wilder runs into an STJoe and gets set up on the top turnbuckle for a Muscle Buster. Finn Balor asks for the tag and gets it. Samoa Joe hits the Muscle Buster and Finn Balor follows up with a Coupe de Grace! Finn Balor tweaked his knee on the landing, so he's slow to cover but Samoa Joe keeps Scott Dawson at bay so they can win the match.
Finn Balor took a lot of punishment in this match, essentially turning the finals into a handicap match for Joe. It was an exciting match and I almost wish there was a 3rd place play-off match so I can have an excuse to review Dawson and Wilder again before next month. WORKRATE: 3.5/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 2.75/5 OVERALL: 6.25/10
After the match, Samoa Joe asks if Balor's alright. He says yes but can't stand on his left leg without assistance so the jury's still out.
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