NXT TakeOver: Back to Brooklyn is in under two weeks, and it is time to finish shaping up the card. With Bayley/Asuka II and Samoa Joe/Shinsuke Nakamura, it already has potential to be just as good, if not better than last year’s TakeOver special (nothing will be better than Sasha Banks/Bayley for the rest of time).
Opening Segment
To kick off the show, NXT General Manager William Regal is in the ring regarding the NXT Women’s Championship match. Bayley lost the Women’s Championship to Asuka at TakeOver: Dallas, and has been preparing for her guaranteed rematch in the following months. Now that Bayley has prepared enough, she cashes in her rematch clause to hopefully become the first woman to defeat Asuka, and to become the first woman to be a two-time NXT Women’s Champion.
NXT TakeOver: Back to Brooklyn is in a week and a half, so as usual, the big title match requires a contract signing. Both women sign, and while Asuka extends her hand for a handshake, Bayley rudely shoves past the Women’s Champion, more serious than ever.
Authors of Pain w/Paul Ellering vs. Enhancement Talent
The Authors of Pain debuted at TakeOver: The End, and have practically dominated every team they have faced (except for American Alpha) since their debut. They face some enhancement talent tonight, and they make quick work of them. Winners: Authors of Pain
The Authors of Pain look to continue the assault after the match, but TM61 rushes the ring to make the save. However, their attempt was squashed when Nick Miller and Shane Thorne both could not stop the Authors of Pain.
Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Angelo Dawkins
Andrade “Cien” Almas might be one of the most overlooked NXT Superstars to debut recently, since he is still undefeated after debuting at NXT TakeOver: The End. After his series of matches with Tye Dillinger, Almas has been under the radar while other Superstars like No Way Jose have gotten more spotlight.
Angelo Dawkins as been part of the NXT roster for quite a while now, and he has been on the wrong side of tons of matches. If Dawkins picked up some more victories, he could be a top star in NXT, but instead he is staying on the low end of the totem pole.
Almas hits Dawkins with double knees in the corner, and finishes him off with a planting DDT for the victory, keeping his undefeated streak alive. Winner: Andrade “Cien” Almas
After the match, Bobby Roode (former TNA World Heavyweight Champion and recent NXT signee) comes down to the ring to congratulate Almas. He does not congratulate him on his win as one would expect. Instead, it is because Almas has a match against Bobby Roode at TakeOver: Back to Brooklyn.
Backstage Segment
We switch gears to Austin Aries in William Regal’s office. Aries says that TakeOver would not be special without the “Greatest Man That Ever Lived” on the card. As a surprise to nobody who has been watching NXT lately, William Regal schedules a match for Aries at TakeOver: Back to Brooklyn against none other than No Way Jose.
Billie Kay vs. Liv Morgan
Two weeks ago on NXT, Billie Kay picked up a victory over Santana Garrett, and NXT continues to enhance the backbone of the NXT women’s division. With Carmella, Alexa Bliss, and Nia Jax all on the main roster now, William Regal and company need to create some more female stars. Billie Kay has shown some great ability in her few matches, and Liv Morgan has potential to become a mainstay for the women’s division.
Kay ducks a spinning kick attempt from Morgan and plants her with a big boot for her second consecutive victory in three weeks. Winner: Billie Kay
Backstage Segment
William Regal has Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa in his office to announce yet another match for TakeOver in a next Saturday. Gargano and Ciampa will compete against The Revival for the NXT Tag Team Championships.
Tucker Knight & Patrick Clark vs. Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa
Now the new #1 Contenders, Gargano and Ciampa faced each other in an incredible match last week in the Cruiserweight Classic, where Gargano managed to defeat Ciampa with a crucifix pinfall. Even though they had a brutal match against each other, Gargano and Ciampa seem to be back on the same page, and they need to be for the Tag Team Championship match.
Tucker Knight gets hit with superkicks “in stereo” by both of his opponents to give Ciampa and Gargano the win. Winners: Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa
Mojo Rawley vs. Samoa Joe
Last week, Mojo Rawley was supposed to compete in a match, but instead Samoa Joe decided to assault Rawley and make a statement. Tonight, Mojo Rawley tries to get revenge on the NXT Champion.
Rawley gives a surprisingly good showing, but he can’t put away Samoa Joe. Joe locks in the Coquina Clutch on one half of the Hype Bros to pick up another victory. Winner (via submission): Samoa Joe
After the match, Shinsuke Nakamura starts sauntering down to the ring, and security rushes down to separate them before anything even starts.
