Just one more episode to go before Takeover takes over on the weekend during Wrestlemania. They talked more about Shinsuke Nakamura and already got people excited for his debut match on NXT against Sami Zayn.
Zayn. Also, they had a pretty great promo for the NXT DVD. It was a nice touch about how everything started here for the future of WWE.There was a Finn Balor match on the cards and it wasn’t the main event, which was refreshing. On a sidenote-WWE should just go ahead and give Bayley and Asuka the main event spot for Takeover: Dallas.
Here are the 5 points to note from this week’s show -
Another match for Dallas
NXT began with a pumped up audience but all of that energy just died down when Elias Sampson’s music hit the arena and it was picked up somewhat when Johnny Gargano’s music hit. The match was short and began interesting the moment it ended when Gargano rolled up The Drifter after the audience was done chanting ‘Drift Away’ to the undefeated Sampson.
Gargano was able to pin Sampson and give him his first loss ever in NXT. That led to a vicious beatdown by the loser which led to Apollo Crews running in to make the save. Takeover seems to have another match added to it.
The Champ prepares himself for Takeover
The Champ faced Rich Swann who absolutely brought the energy back which was on display by the audience in the beginning of the show, with his presence and dancing.
The announcers Corey Graves and Tom Phillips were doing a great job of putting some context into this rare match up - Balor is trying to prepare himself for Dallas by facing this new opponent and getting ready for whatever unexpected props up, everything is quite new with Swann since he’s never faced him.
Swann pulled the audience to his side with his agility and energy, pulling of hurricanranas in mid-air, stunning the champ with a vicious kick but it was all brought to a halt after Balor threw him out the ring and then brought him back in for the Coup de Grace and then the 1916. There was a notable sense of alertness and aggression during the climax of the match on the champ.
Samoa Joe is angry
Samoa Joe was in no mood to talk until he interrupted what was supposed to be a match between Bull Dempsey and Danny Burch. He locked the Coquina Clutch on both the performers and then let out a primal scream of a promo warning Balor that the condition he’d put the two wrestlers just at the moment is what awaits the champ.
Joe also stated that Balor would not be able to survive the assault that awaits him as Joe who wants to take away the title that he thinks belongs to him. With his spectacular mic skills and wrestling, he deserves to win the title. He may as well become the next major heel in NXT since Kevin Owens.
American Alpha Story
The promo for American Alpha had victory written all over it. It was a great insight into how they got into wrestling, how they have the same background when it came to amateur wrestling and how they’ve both have had their failures but together as a team, they just work better towards their goals.
They face Dash and Dawson at Takeover Dallas and they have much belief in themselves that they are ready, willing and Gable. It seems like a title change may just be round the corner.
Asuka and Emma meet again
The main event featured a match between two of NXT’s bitter rivals Asuka and Emma. And though it wasn’t as lively and energetic as the one they had in London, that is in no way a criticism to this match. It was worthy of being a main event and a perfect warm up for Asuka for Dallas where she will get a more energetic crowd and her moves will look all the more vicious.
But credit where it’s dues for Emma. Now that she is back on the main roster, her partnership with Dana Brooke will be direly missed and one has to be unsettled at how the main roster will treat the returning Emma who is now a heel.
Teddy Long snaps when Swerve Strickland's race is brought up HERE
