'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the story?
WWE.com has just announced what is sure to be an incredible match for the tapings that will take place before NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia. We're going to get Roderick Strong Vs. Tyler Bate in a #1 contendership match for Pete Dunne's WWE UK Title.
Also announced for the pre-show taping, which will make up the majority of next week's episode of NXT will be the in-ring return of TM-61 and Nikki Cross Vs. Lacey Evans.
In case you didn't know...
The card for NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia is already pretty good as it is, let alone with an hour-long pre-show and three extra matches. The main event is Andrade "Cien" Almas vs Johnny Gargano for the NXT Title, and there's also Author's of Pain Vs. The Undisputed ERA for the tag titles, Ember Moon taking on Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women's Title and Adam Cole Vs. Aleister Black in an Extreme Rules match and last but not least Kassius Ohno Vs Velveteen Dream
The heart of the matter
The card really is stacked and now that they've announced the former UK Champion Tyler Bate Vs. Roderick Strong in the #1 Contendership Match for the UK Title the crowd in attendance at Philadelphia are getting one of the strongest lists of wrestlers and matches in NXT history.
It's unclear who TM-61 will be returning against but with Heavy Machinery, SaNItY, The Street Prophets, Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan, Tino Sabatelli and Riddick Moss and maybe even War Machine (name pending imminent change) all available there's plenty of choices.
As for Nikki Cross Vs. Lacey Evans. It's sure to be a great match with Evans calling out Nikki Cross after the recent match.
What's next?
Interestingly this seems to completely derail the build-up towards a feud between Roderick Strong and Lars Sullivan. During the last NXT episode Strong called out Sullivan, but now with the UK Title #1 Contendership match, it seems these plans have either been delayed or dropped altogether.
What does this tell us about Lars Sullivan? Well, maybe he has other, bigger plans on Royal Rumble weekend...
Author's take
It looks like, once again, NXT TakeOver has a chance of outperforming the main roster Pay-Per-View that it precedes. If I was the Royal Rumble I'd be very, very concerned.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
