10 LIVE Observations From NXT TakeOver: New York
Adding to the roar of the crowd.
By the time I grabbed my seat in the Barclays Center, I had been awake for 22 consecutive hours.
I'd woken up at 2:30AM UK time, and driven to Newcastle airport. I very quickly drank two pints of reasonable grade IPA to take the edge off, and sank another on the connecting plane to London. After another beer, intended to subdue myself for the flight, the sheer, stiff physicality of the seat went over my groggy body. I didn't sleep. Relaxing music, counting sheep, laying out Triple H and Batista's 25 minute 'Mania match: nothing worked. I was condemned to sit there, drowning in an uncomfortable and unyielding pile of beer piss.
The eight-hour long-haul flight felt like forever. After walking for an age inside of the NY subway system, refreshed by stories of my WhatCulture comrade and perfect roommate Andy Murray spotting Atsushi Onita in full gear near Times Square, I took my seat. The seat itself was in the upper deck of a very steep arena. That edge returned, almost literally, as vertigo and insomnia double-teamed my delirious mind.
NXT TakeOver: New York needed to deliver, else I was going to involuntarily pass out. NXT TakeOver: New York, thank God (Triple H), was an incredible and special pro wresting show.
10. A Somewhat Strange Opening Atmosphere
The atmosphere surrounding a live TakeOver event, at least this one, is eerie. Daunting.
Despite the best efforts of the swaggering Street Profits and the relentless ball of lunging energy that is Oney Lorcan in particular, the crowd gave the Kickoff nothing. Only when a performer directly appealed to our support did we let out a default cheer or boo. It felt interesting to be a part of and to influence, in some small way. It didn't feel to me like a gesture or disrespect, or even disinterest. I'm one of many dorky hardcore fans, of the sort that attends these events, who wishes to see more of the chronically under-used Candice LaRae. And yet, she performed to near-silence. It felt like an almost collective oath to conserve our energy.
The TakeOver brand is so incredibly strong that we knew we needed all of it to last until the main event. The sobering lack of heat underscored just how vital a loud and supportive crowd is in loosening up the performer; I will remember only two very noticeable botches from the otherwise regulation fare of the three-match Kickoff. Spoiler: next week's NXT TV isn't particularly great.
TakeOver: New York was unbelievably f*cking great, however.