With several NXT call-ups in the books, NXT needs to fill the gaps with more big name stars. Luckily for NXT, they have the return of Hideo Itami tonight. On top of that, former TNA World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Roode makes his NXT television debut tonight. Itami and Roode will fill the exact gaps that NXT needs to fill, and will add a great layer of depth to their NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn card.
Hideo Itami vs. Sean Maluta
Hideo Itami came into NXT at the same time as Finn Balor, but was sidelined for about a year due to injury. Itami’s biggest career moment in WWE so far was competing in the inaugural Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Tonight, the man formerly known as KENTA looks to get his NXT career restarted on the right foot.
Sean Maluta competed in the Cruiserweight Classic, where he lost in the first round to Kota Ibushi. Ibushi is one of the hardest strikers in the wrestling industry, and Daniel Bryan says that Hideo Itami is the only one who strikes as hard as Ibushi. With Maluta facing Ibushi in the Cruiserweight Classic, he already has an idea of what to expect from Hideo Itami.
After hitting Maluta with a hesitation dropkick in the corner, Itami finishes him off with a running knee strike to end an impressive debut match. Winner: Hideo Itami
Chris Atkins vs. Mojo Rawley
Mojo Rawley was drafted to Smackdown Live, so this is assumedly his last match on NXT. However, he could finish an NXT run a la Kevin Owens last year.
Rawley pins Atkins, and NXT Champion Samoa Joe appears out of nowhere. Joe starts attacking Rawley and Atkins, and sends them out of the ring. Result: No Contest
Since General Manager William Regal did not consult Samoa Joe about his NXT Championship title defense against Shinsuke Nakamura, Joe feels that he can rampage all over NXT whenever he pleases. Rawley attacks Joe from behind, but Joe retaliates and eventually locks in the Coquina Clutch on the entrance ramp to send a message to Regal and Nakamura.
Aliyah vs. Asuka
Before the match starts, Bayley makes her way to join Tom Philips and Corey Graves at the commentary table. Bayley lost the NXT Women’s Championship to Asuka at TakeOver: Dallas, and still has her Women’s Championship rematch in store. Hopefully tonight will give Bayley a good idea of how Asuka has changed and improved since April 1st. Asuka sets up a chair at the entrance ramp to give Bayley a closer seat to her match. Bayley throws the chair to the side and stands at ringside.
After staring Bayley down through the whole match, Aliyah taps out to the Asuka Lock. Winner (via submission): Asuka
In-ring Segment
“The It Factor,” Bobby Roode, makes his way to the ring for his first-ever WWE appearance under contract. Roode has been in the audience and backstage over the last several months, but it is now confirmed that Roode is an NXT competitor, and a WWE Superstar. Roode says that he is the Superstar to take NXT to the global level (not Nakamura, Aries, Itami, Joe, or literally anyone else they already have on the roster).
TM61 vs. The Revival
TM61 has competed all over the world facing the best tag teams everywhere they have gone. They continue that trend tonight when the face The Revival. If TM61 win this match, they are put in the NXT Tag Team Championship title picture. However, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa (who face each other later tonight in the Cruiserweight Classic) defeated The Revival a few weeks ago in a non-title match. Perhaps we could get a triple threat tag team match in Brooklyn.
Wilder pulls Shane Thorne off of the ring apron, and Nick Miller chases Wilder around the ring. Right after Miller enters the ring, Dawson hits him with a vicious DDT to pick up the victory. Winners: The Revival
After the match, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa lay out The Revival, and Gargano “pins” Wilder while Ciampa counts for three.
