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NXT PREVIEW
AUGUST 30, 2017
WINTER PARK, FLA. AT FULL SAIL UNIVERSITY
By Joey Galizia (@RamJam89), PWTorch contributor
“THE NEW ORDER OF THE WORLD”
NXT Takeover Brooklyn has become the landmark event for the developmental brand much like WrestleMania is to the WWE. Every special constantly resets the entertainment bar, and every time it delivers even with giant expectations.
Drew McIntyre defeating Bobby Roode to become the NXT Champion would have been enough on its own to catapult us into the next chapter.
BUT WE RECEIVED SO MUCH MORE.
Post matchup, Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly appeared and stood on the apron eyeballing the Scotsman, as if to say, “your time is already up.” The reDRagon duo already laid out the new tag champs SANITY, but what beef did they have with McIntyre?
ENTER… ADAM COLE… BAY BAY. Cole’s signing had been rumored ever since he officially left Ring of Honor, and some speculated that he would make an appearance as early as Takeover Chicago. Unfortunately for fans, with his exit from a wrestling promotion came a short non-compete clause. Fortunately for fans, the wait was totally worth it. The trio’s beat down of the champ could signal the beginning of a new era for NXT. One that, if handled correctly, could possibly grow superior to the early Kevin Owens stages. As for tonight at Full Sail, I’m certain we will here from the new champ as he addresses this faction of rebels.
“OFF TO BLUE… NOT DONE WITH YOU”
As for the Glorious One Bobby Roode, well he’s already debuted on Tuesday nights, so a rematch may not be in his current interests. However, he does still have an angry Roderick Strong who was promised another crack at the Canadian. Strong’s time to have a triumph is now, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he realized this inevitable future and uses it to challenge McIntyre.
“THE TRAGEDY OF PERFECTION”
Asuka has yet to be conquered and her undefeated streak continues to grow more impressive. Her latest victory over Ember Moon means she has now successfully defended her championship roughly nine times, each time the odds stacked higher and higher against her. Ember isn’t leaving totally empty handed though. She was able to break the Empress, or break her collarbone to be more specific. This injury will shelf Asuka for at least a couple months, and because of this, she has been stripped of the salient NXT Women’s championship.
The main roster is now in Asuka’s future, but what of the rest of the division? Ember Moon will now get to focus on life without Asuka unless she’s being looked at for a main roster run as well? Peyton Royce and Billie Kaye are still around causing mischief, and they seem to be picking on Ruby Riot. Nikki Cross is still crazier than ever, but at least now her boys hold tag-team gold. With the Mae Young Classic occurring and a slew of new signees already confirmed, the NXT women’s scene is about to get very interesting.
“MY LIFE IS BETTER WITH OR WITHOUT YOU”
-Andrade Cien Almas scored a massive victory in Brooklyn when he defeated Mr. Wrestling himself, Johnny Gargano. Zolita Vega has given Cien a new competitive awakening, and you should expect that to continue in the near future.
-Another massive victory in Brooklyn was when SANITY surprised everyone and defeated the then unbeaten Authors of Pain. The decision to have Eric Young compete in the match instead of the monstrous Killian Dain proved to be the winning component, but that’s not to say that Dain didn’t get an assist in the victory. It was a full faction effort and the decision to put them over the Authors was an unexpected treat. In the end it doesn’t really matter…Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly laid out both teams…and are hungry to dominate the tag division.
Spoilers for the tapings are already out, so I won’t reveal what has already happened, but I think it would behoove you to start tuning in, because NXT is about to be can’t miss television again.
Or at least I hope.
NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S COLUMN: NXT PRIMER 8/23: Spoiler-free preview of tonight’s episode which was taped in front of Barclays Center crowd before Takeover aired live
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