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As is customary, NXT Takeover kick started SummerSlam weekend in Brooklyn for the third year in a row. As is tradition, it set the bar so high for the main roster to match on the following day, that chances are that SummerSlam will only be a shadow of the action that transpired here. This was an eventful and memorable show, and in many ways, everything that us as wrestling fans could ask for, from start to finish. Our team deliberated upon whether to even do a 'Best and Worst' feature, considering that picking out some of the 'worst' points may be nitpicking. However, tradition must continue and we bring you the 'Best and Worst' of NXT Takeover :Brooklyn in its third ever edition.
#1 Best: Adam Cole, bay bay!
Remember how we had reported speculation that WWE may be putting together a stable comprising of ROH talent on NXT? Yes, they are here at last. Bobby Fish, Kyle O'Reilly and their leader, former Bullet club member, Adam Cole. The landscape of NXT has changed, and truth be told, we love it bay bay.
We especially love the fact that Cole wasn't just sitting at ringside, but instead invaded the ring much like The Outsiders did in WCW. We love the fact that reDragon also inserted themselves into the tag team championship picture. As exciting as the roster was, in itself, this invasion makes us think that bigger things are forthcoming.
The faction is wasting no time, and they are gunning for the gold right away, right now. We cannot wait to see how this particular storyline develops!
#1 Worst: The musical performances
We understand that one man's music is another man's noise, generally. Also, on paper, live music sounds like a very cool idea indeed. However, the band at the start of the show was underwhelming and the bagpipers were almost a disaster, drowned out by the sound of the song playing on the system. If anything, the music actually left us with a sour taste in our mouth, through the night. Maybe book Chris Jericho's band for a performance, when the next Takeover event does come around?
#2 Best: Unpredictable outcomes
Heading into this event, none of us actually saw some of the outcomes that transpired through the course of the show. We did not foresee Ember Moon not winning the championship, after the massive build that she was given. We did not predict Johnny Gargano losing his debut match. We did not think SAnitY would become tag team champions, although we were in two minds about that particular match.
At a time where it is easy to predict what happens inside a wrestling ring, we loved the fact that we were genuinely taken by surprise, this night. None of the outcomes felt out of place, and in many ways, the element of surprise added to the said matches.
#2 Worst: Percy Watson
At a show that featured a full-time panel comprising of Mauro Ranallo and Nigel McGuinness, (who were on point except for a few botches from the former towards the main event) and guest appearances by Corey Graves and Jim Ross, Percy Watson just seemed out of place. His inputs were very obvious, and he just seemed to be out of his depth at the table. We do not doubt that he will improve in due time, but he seems in an inferior league to the men whose names we have mentioned.
Of course, he made the unforgivable sin of calling Aleister Black- 'Alexander Black'. That truly deserves a black mass spin kick!
#3 Best: Two big title changes
Title changes signal a big dynamic shift in the roster, and we got two of those, this evening. We loved the fact that SAnitY dethroned the seemingly unbeatable Authors of Pain, working together, as a formidable unit. Moreover, Drew McIntyre is ready to make his second splash in WWE, and stay on par to becoming a future WWE Champion someday. After so many years, he finally is truly 'The Chosen One'.
It's interesting that both title winners were attacked by the brand new faction that formed, with talent from ROH. The coming months should really be very interesting.
#3 Worst: 1-2 Sweet
'1-2 Sweet' is the new 'What' and 'CM Punk'. Maybe more annoying. We are all for crowd participation in a match, but such chants distract from what is going on inside the ring, when they happen ten times in a row, in the span of minutes.
While we are at it, can we ban the '10' chants too, when the participants of any given match fall outside the ring? It would make our viewing experience considerably better, in every single aspect. Not like the chants are doing Tye Dillinger any good!
#4 Best: The in-ring action!
From the opening bell to the final one, every single moment of this Takeover special, felt like a treat for wrestling fans. We were treated to a nail-biting contest in the beginning, an overbooked but entertaining tag team match, a strike fest between Itami and Black, an astounding women's championship title match, with a very unpredictable finish and a solid main event match.
Even the main roster was in attendance, and they are in awe of the next class of talent. We bid farewell to you for the time being, and promise to join you again for the best and worst of SummerSlam, in twenty-four hours. Here's the main roster bidding you a hearty farewell.
