This is it: perhaps the biggest NXT TakeOver of the year. NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III could be one of the most historic events in the brand’s history, with three titleholders with long reigns putting their championships on the line. Tonight’s matches can shape the future of NXT and WWE as a whole.
Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas (w/Salina Vega)
This match is very important for both competitors. Johnny Gargano was recently betrayed by his former best friend Tommaso Ciampa and now he has to make it on his own as a singles competitor. Andrade “Cien” Almas faced a string of losses this year, but once Salina Vega showed up and started to keep his head focused, Almas could get back on track. The third-generation luchador takes on one of the most successful wrestlers in NXT.
Gargano looks to finish off Almas, but Salina Vega throws a #DIY shirt a Gargano. While Gargano’s confused, Almas hits him with a running kick and finishes him off with the Hammerlock DDT. Winner: Andrade “Cien” Almas
Predicted Winner: Johnny Gargano (0/1)
The Authors of Pain (c) (w/Paul Ellering) vs. Killian Dain Eric Young & Alexander Wolfe (w/Killian Dain & Nikki Cross) – NXT Tag Team Championships
It’s kind of unusual for these teams to be squaring off, but they are the two top teams in NXT right now, so it makes sense for the undefeated Authors of Pain to defend their titles against the ever dominant SAnitY. While Eric Young is the leader of the group, Killian Dain and Alexander Wolfe will be competing for the titles, or at least that is what was advertised. When Wolfe goes to tag Dain, Young appears on the apron and takes the tag instead, legally replacing Dain since the Beast from Belfast never entered the match.
In an incredible showing of psychological warfare and tag team wrestling, Young and Wolfe work together to land an emphatic double team to pin Rezar. Not only did they capture the titles, but they the only team to have ever defeated The Authors of Pain. Winners, and NEW NXT Tag Team Champions: SAnitY
While SAnitY are celebrating their win, Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly (known for their work in Ring of Honor as reDRagon) assault the new champions to make a huge statement. They also attack the Authors of Pain because they’re there. Fish and O’Reilly recently lost to Aleister Black in their respective debuts but now that they are back together, they seem to have a better chance of success.
Predicted Winners: SAnitY (1/2)
Hideo Itami vs. Aleister Black
Over the past couple months, Hideo Itami has been frustrated because he feels like he has not gotten the respect that he deserves. Ironically, he demanded respect by disrespecting Aleister Black, preventing Black from having a match on NXT until Itami got what he wanted. This led to an altercation between the two and after Itami also tried to jump Black in the parking lot, William Regal made this match official. These are perhaps the two best strikers in NXT (and perhaps WWE), so this should be a hard-hitting affair.
Itami seems to have Black put away, but Black is able to dodge Itami’s last kick attempt. Black turns the dodge into the spinning Black Mass heel kick, swiftly defeating Itami after a lengthy match featuring brutal strikes. Winner: Aleister Black
Predicted Winner: Aleister Black (2/3)
Asuka (c) vs. Ember Moon – NXT Women’s Championship
For the last 504 days, Asuka has held the NXT Women’s Championship in an undefeated streak that started with her debut. In a championship streak that surpasses Goldberg’s historic WCW run, she takes one Ember Moon, who seems to be Asuka’s biggest concern when it comes to dethroning the Empress of Tomorrow. In their last championship clash, Asuka won with some help of pushing the referee. Moon suffered an injury this summer right before her second opportunity, so she has been waiting all year for this.
Moon comes the closest anyone has ever come to defeating Asuka, but the champion keeps kicking out. Moon looks to pick Asuka up from the canvas, but it is countered into the Asuka Lock, giving Moon no choice but to tap out. Winner, and STILL NXT Women’s Champion: Asuka
Predicted Winner: Asuka (3/4)
Bobby Roode (c) vs. Drew McIntyre – NXT Championship
A few weeks ago, Drew McIntyre defeated Killian Dain (the only time Dain has lost) to become the new #1 Contender for Bobby Roode’s NXT Championship. After becoming the new challenger, McIntyre explained his disdain for Roode, who claims that NXT is his. McIntyre, like most faces on the brand, says that it is “our NXT,” meaning both the fans and the Superstars play parts in the unique promotion and its incomparable atmosphere.
After McIntyre kicks out of the Glorious DDT, Roode decides to hit him with two more. Before he can hit the second DDT, McIntyre fights out of it with a headbutt. McIntyre then hits a stunned Roode with his signature running kick called the Claymore then pins the champion in the center of the ring. Winner, and NEW NXT Champion: Drew McIntyre
While McIntyre celebrates, Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish appear again. While they are distracting the new champion, former Ring of Honor Champion Adam Cole attacks the new NXT Champion from behind. All three men gang up on McIntyre and stand tall to end the show.
Predicted Winner: Drew McIntyre (4/5)
