NXT television is in full swing once again! Sure, things had been slow to pick up, but if last week kicked things into high gear, this week showed us that the build to NXT Takeover: San Antonio, will indeed be filled with hard hitting professional wrestling.
The highlight, of course, was the crowning of a brand new NXT Champion at home, but there were many other developments as well. Yes, it is heartening to know that NXT has moved beyond filler episodes, and is staking its claim as the most exciting brand of wrestling once more time.
So, let’s travel to Full Sail Arena, as well as Osaka, Japan, for the ups and downs from this star-studded episode.
#5 The Kingdom of Strong Style reigns supreme
Every single time Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura step into the ring, they create magic. After dropping the title in Toronto, Shinsuke Nakamura had a chance to avenge the loss at home... in Osaka, Japan, in front of a packed crowd, pushing him on.
The match, in itself, had an exotic feel to it, with streamers falling from the roof and an international audience in the stands. We saw the same spots that we are accustomed to, from both men with few variations. This is a match we have already seen several times, and it has delivered time and again.
Shinsuke Nakamura picked up the victory and had his moment in Japan, celebrating in front of a crowd that wanted him to win. But soon afterwards, the gorgeous Charly Caruso had some breaking news for us.
#4 Huge rematch announced
We think this epic rivalry is finally drawing to a conclusion, not long from now!
NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura will take on the Samoan Submission Machine and former NXT Champion, Samoa Joe, inside a steel cage during NXT’s tour of Australia, for the NXT Championship. It is only a matter of time before one of the two men will be called up to the paper-thin main roster, and it’s likely to be Joe.
And that’s not all that was announced today. There will be a tournament to crown the Number 1 contender for the NXT Championship, with the winners meeting in a Fatal Four Way match. This tournament features participants such as Tye Dillinger, Eric Young, Oney Lorcan, Roderick Strong, No Way Jose and Bobby Roode.
#3 #DIY’s title reign in peril?
The action on tonight’s episode did not happen exclusively in Osaka, Japan. After picking up their tag team championships in what is sure to be a match of the year candidate, against the Revival in Toronto; Gargano and Ciampa made their way to Full Sail University and took the time to celebrate their historic win with the crowd.
Their celebrations were cut short, as the winners of the Dusty Rhodes Classic Tournament – The Authors of Pain, made their way up the ramp and staked their claim for a shot at the tag team championships. The Revival would demand their rematch as well. So NXT General Manager William Regal made it official.
The Revival will take on #DIY for the championships, and the winners will go on to battle The Authors of Pain at NXT Takeover: San Antonio. Before leaving the ringside area, The Authors of Pain would push down The Revival, leaving them completely terrified.
#2 SAnitY raises terrifying new questions
It was pretty funny to see SAnitY look scared, this one time. As they made their way down to ringside, for a tag team contest against No Way Jose and Rich Swann, we were surprised to see that the gigantic Sawyer Fulton was absent. Eric Young would even pick up his jacket and chuck it outside the ring, after spitting on the same.
But during the contest, the monstrous Damo would interfere in the match, allowing SAnitY to pick up the win. He would pick up the same jacket on the way back, and throw it back down? Is he a new member of the faction then?
Oh before we forget... Nikki Cross and Asuka had a terrifying stare down. We seriously wonder where that’s leading!
#1 Brand new announcer in the NXT commentary booth
Good things in life don’t last, do they?
While we were convinced that at least on NXT, we’d have a two-man announce booth, we were soon disappointed by the arrival of ‘Showtime’ Percy Watson. While he’s not bad at all, it begs the question... why does WWE try and ruin everything that’s working?
It seems like he’s the babyface announcer in the booth, in the same role as Byron Saxton and David Otunga. Let’s hope he can perform better than those two men.
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