In a few days from now, the world will tune in to watch one of the most unpredictable Royal Rumble matches in the history of sports entertainment. However, the more hardcore wrestling fans are far more excited about NXT Takeover: San Antonio, which happens a day prior to the Rumble and boasts a card that is just as exciting as the pay-per-view event.
While Raw and Smackdown have been pretty hit-and-miss when it comes to building the Royal Rumble over the past few weeks, we are happy to report that the prelude to Takeover: San Antonio has been exemplary.
Even a show that did not feature either NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura or the number 1 contender Bobby Roode, got us excited for what’s going to transpire in San Antonio. Without further ado, here are five important points from this week's episode.
#5 The women showed us just how it's done
Many had speculated that Ember Moon would be the one to eventually take on Asuka for the NXT Women's Championship. Turns out that’s it’s going to be a fatal four way between Billie Kay, Peyton Royce and Nikki Cross.
We wondered how Cross would fare on such a massive stage, considering we haven’t seen much of her. Well, worry no more because Cross is quite spectacular.
William Regal announced that the four women involved in the Fatal Four Way would be having a faceoff, but it wouldn’t come to blows. Yeah, right. As one would expect, Royce and Kay teamed up to take on Asuka and the crazy Nikki Cross.
The latter cleared the ring and the two even fought off security guards who had come to take them away. Asuka decked Cross with a spin kick, but Cross would have her revenge as she jumped off the top rope on some security guards.
While Kay and Royce stood tall at the end, the two of them looked petrified. This is awesome! The women have stepped up and they’re kicking butt.
#4 The other women stepped up as well
Long time NXT viewers have been saying that the women's division had been depleted with the loss of Bayley, Alexa Bliss, Carmella and Nia Jax. While that may be the case, the new women have stepped up their game.
So much so, that this week’s episode opened and closed with the women. Ember Moon was always good, and quite naturally she picked up the win with her breathtaking finisher.
The main point to note here is how much Liv Morgan has improved as well. Morgan is still not Asuka in the ring, but she’s definitely growing by the week. In fact, Morgan took a very scary looking bump on the floor, as Moon tossed her out of the ring.
We are certain that an Ember Moon vs. Asuka match is coming soon. Maybe the program for Wrestlemania weekend then? There’s only so long you can hold off the two women from colliding.
#3 Non-PG match, and new feud?
No Way Jose wrestles in a rather eccentric manner. Not only does he gyrate his hips against his opponent’s crotch in a non-PG way, he also throws in some dance moves here and there. Kona Reeves, from Hawaii, matched him in eccentricity, challenging him to a mid-match dance-off and then surfboarding on his back.
Only in professional wrestling is this not a strange thing to do!
The main story here is the new feud that may be building between No Way Jose and The Drifter Elias Samson. The Drifter interrupted Jose’s celebrations with a song of his own. Jose made the NXT Universe chant ‘drift away’ to the pulsating rhythm of ‘No Way Jose’.
As two of the bigger men on the NXT roster, we are certain this should be a rather interesting feud indeed. We wonder which of the two men will be pushed here.
#2 Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas took out Roderick Strong backstage
Speaking of mid-card talent that needs a push, here are the two most promising stars in NXT today. Roderick Strong is one of the best workers in the world, and while Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas had cooled off, he has become a fresh character after going heel.
This week, in a backstage interview, Almas had choice words for Strong, who had chosen not to react to threats from Almas. Strong confronted him and said he wasn't a hard man to find. Andrade retreated but attacked Strong when he wasn’t expecting it.
We know both men can work like world class performers and steal the show. Will they bring their A-Game to San Antonio this Saturday night?
#1 SAnitY has found its missing link
Big Damo is now Killian Dain. After Tye Dillinger's refusal to join the heel stable, he is now also a member of SAnitY.
He accompanied Eric Young to ringside as Young took on the rather promising Chris Atkins. Eric Young showed just how good he was, as he worked brilliantly, squashing a much bigger guy in this week's episode. Through the match, Young kept mocking Atkins by chanting 'ten' all throughout. Killian Dain then put the young man to rest.
We can’t wait for NXT Takeover this weekend. It will be epic. Can it maybe come any sooner, please?
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