Tonight’s NXT Takeover isn’t just “The End” – it’s the beginning of the stage setting of how a post-WWE roster split NXT will look. As a result, not only will some of these matches end feuds, they may also end the stay of the participants in NXT as they “ascend” to the main roster. Top to bottom this looks like a solid card and I can’t wait for 8pm to roll around to watch!
Andrade “Cien” Almas vs Tye Dillinger
This match will be the official debut of the man formerly known as La Sombra. Manny Andrade wrestled a dark match at NXT Takeover: Dallas, which I missed as we were still fighting in line to get in. That was my only “regret” of my WrestleMania weekend. I’ve seen Andrade wrestle online in CMLL and New Japan, never thinking at the time he’d be in a WWE ring. If you haven’t seen him, check this out. Boy’s good. Boy’s real good. And you can tell he knows it in that video. When anyone, regardless of skill is in their arena and that confidence is palpable you’ll get my attention. Sports, movies, shoot I’ll watch home shows mainly because the contractor knows he or she is a boss…
Look at that hair. That’s the hair of a champion!
I’m only being slightly over the top. In my opinion Andrade can be the Latino face that Vince has been looking for since Rey Mysterio Jr’s decline and departure. His only detriment has been an area of focus for him since being hired – learning to speak English well enough in promos. With the Global Cruiserweight Series Cruiserweight Classic coming soon, that would be a great chance for him to showcase his skills vs some of the best talent in the world. If you’d like a great bio on La Sombra’s rise to the WWE – check out thecubsfan’s great work here.
His opponent tonight, however will be another favorite of mine – Tye Dillinger. Ever since he took to his “Perfect 10” gimmick, Tye has been a must watch for me whenever he’s on NXT TV. When a wrestler is all in on a role, it makes it more enjoyable and it’s apparent that Tye is all in. The crowd also plays into the enjoyment – putting up ’10’ signs or rating his opponent throughout the matches. Tye has landed in the role formerly held by Tyler Breeze it seems as gatekeeper of NXT and a person trusted to have good matches with debuting talent. Not a bad gig to have – and I’m sure he’ll more than hold up his end of the bargain in what I’m assuming is a Almas win.
PS – The fact that Cien Almas translates to 100 souls is just cool. #GeekingOut
American Alpha (c) vs The Revival
American Alpha are main-roster ready. Since winning the title at Takeover: Dallas, they have had a few matches to prove their dominance and look like THE team to beat in NXT. I’m already imagining them facing off versus the New Day, Anderson and Gallows and the rest of the main roster tags.
However, until that day comes, they have to answer the bell when the contenders come calling. And in this case, that’s the former NXT Tag Champs, The Revival.
The Revival really needed to jump in on the whole “controversy” surrounding the Ricochet vs Will Ospreay match, given their “no flips, just fists” team mantra. Since their defeat at the hands of American Alpha, The Revival have been taking it out on the rest of the tag division.
I think American Alpha win, if only because they can drop them in grand fashion in Brooklyn SummerSlam weekend.
Asuka (c) vs Nia Jax
Asuka is by far my favorite women’s wrestler on the roster. While Bayley is the one I see making the most money for the company, Asuka is the wrestler that screams “legit”. When you see her in a match you know she’s gonna mess up whomever is in there with her.
Enter Nia Jax.
Built akin to the old school big women wrestlers like Bull Nakano, Dump Matsumoto and Aja Kong, Jax has been seen as a force of nature in her own right, crushing her opponents and dominating the division, outside of her submission loss to Bayley. Asuka choked Bayley out. So seeing the two of them fight for the NXT Women’s title is going to be a nice little car accident we all get to watch live. I’m thinking Asuka pulls it out and eagerly awaits her re-match with Bayley in Brooklyn.
Also, I am waiting for when Asuka can finally slide over to the villain side of the ledger so we can be treated with her Japanese horror war paint:
Yup. I’m a little freaked out.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs Austin Aries
The winner of this match will be number one contender. Nakamura has been my dude since I saw him 5 or 6 years ago and seeing him vs ROH/TNA Stalwart Austin Aries is interesting – mainly because (like Andrade) I never thought I’d see any of these men in WWE. This match, similar to the main event was borne of jealousy emerging from tagging together, a very old school set up.
While both are going in as fan favorites, Aries’ past as a good heel leads me to think he’ll leave The End as an embittered loser and seek to ruin Nakamura’s run to the NXT Title. This match has a chance to steal the show given the two men’s talents and I anticipate they will show the uninitiated why they’re two of the best in the world.
Samoa Joe (c) vs Finn Bálor
The main event of the show – where the question lies with not only who wins in the cage, but does the loser show up on Raw? Samoa Joe and Finn have been at each other’s throats for the past 6 months – with Samoa Joe winning the NXT title at a house show in Lowell, Massachusetts. Since that, Joe and Bálor have thrown themselves at each other at every event. Because of that insanity, William Regal determined that this match was going to be the first cage match in NXT history.
Since NXT isn’t one for using gimmick matches, when they use them allows it to feel special. Finn and Joe are gonna continue their bloodbath from Takeover:Dallas and add additional chaos working around the cage. I’m of the mindset that Joe wins and Finn (eventually) makes his way onto the main roster, especially if Nakamura wins his match against Aries. Since the WWE will be splitting up the rosters in July, pulling up all the ready talent in the NXT pipeline makes sense – and if Nakamura can beat a monster Joe in Japan prior to Joe going up, win-win-win.
So, what do you think? Let me know on Twitter @rdotdeuce and be sure to tune in to tonight show on the WWE Network at 8pm eastern!
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