WWE's NXT promotion looks to repeat the success of last years Takeover: Brooklyn. This show features just two wrestlers from last year's event. Despite the roster turnover, the mid-card matches look stronger than last year. The two singles championship matches should deliver as well given the talent involved. As usual, the build to the show was strong and the show should live up to the hype. In particular, the NXT title match feels like a bigger showdown than the two title matches at SummerSlam. Here is who this writer believes will be victorious in Brooklyn.
Ember Moon vs. Billie Kay
Ember Moon is best known for her work on the independent circuit as Athena. Moon spent what felt like an eternity wrestling on house shows and dark matches while creative came up with a name and gimmick for her. It appears the writers settled on a Mortal Kombat type character. Creative set this up in a similar fashion to the Tye Dillinger/Andrade "Cien" Almas match. Billie Kay complained to general manager William Regal about not being on the card. The GM granted her a match on the show against the debuting Moon.
These two ladies are vital to the future of the NXT women's division with WWE gutting most of the talent for the draft and a Bayley call-up coming soon. Kay and Moon should have a pretty good match, but it will not overshadow the Women's title match. The former Jessie McKay has some momentum with a couple of decisive wins over the past month. Yet, this match will be a showcase for the debuting Moon and she should win this match clean as a sheet. Much like the Dillinger/Almas match, Kay will get in plenty of offense. She can always complain about not being ready for Moon or claim the win was a fluke to get her heat back.
Prediction: Ember Moon pins Billie Kay.
No Way Jose vs. Austin Aries
To nobody's surprise, Austin Aries is a tremendous heel. The turn on No Way Jose was a little telegraphed but well done. Aries is playing the journeyman wrestler, appalled that someone like Jose would give him career advice. "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived" needed the heel turn as his face run wore thin and he's a natural antagonist anyway. Jose has shown great fire in this feud, including a promo explaining he can turn a fiesta into a fight. It seems like NXT creative has learned from Adam Rose and Bo Dallas, giving Jose more than a one-dimensional gimmick.
Jose has looked impressive in his enhancement matches, and Aries is one of the best wrestlers in the world. This should be a good match but nothing that will steal the show. I have a feeling that this feud will continue past this event. An Aries win using underhanded veteran tactics is a good possibility, but not a necessity. Jose could catch an overconfident Aries with a flash pin and the upset. Of all the heels on the show, Aries is the one who can afford to lose the most. A good back and forth match and a win can elevate Jose and gives Aries something to seethe about. The first two-time ROH World Champion loses nothing in defeat. Much like Billie Kay, he can get his heat back on the microphone or a beatdown after the match.
Prediction: No Way Jose rolls up Austin Aries for the win.
Andrade "Cien" Almas vs. Bobby Roode
Bobby Roode has done a nice job as a heel since making his debut on the August 3 NXT. Roode came out and cut a long, bloviating promo. Then, he turned on the fans, vowing to bring in a more sophisticated audience to Full Sail University. This was another smart move as Roode, like Aries, is a better heel than a babyface (it also opens the door for a "Dirty Heels" reunion down the line). After Andrade "Cien" Almas won an enhancement match the next week, Roode came out and marginalized the former La Sombra's victory. Roode's line claiming Almas' win was "a little sloppy" was likely a subtle dig at Lucha Libre as well.
WWE has done a poor job getting Almas over with the crowd. Fans react to his offense but has not gotten a star reaction since debuting. It did not help that his first couple of matches came against the popular Tye Dillinger. It will be interesting to see how the Brooklyn crowd reacts to both men. I suspect Roode will be the overwhelming fan favorite.
Just like the Aries/Jose match, this bout appears to be more than just a one-shot deal. Almas needs something to get the crowd behind him. An extended feud with "The It Factor" could help him find some footing on NXT. I could see both men winning this match. Roode could get cocky, leading to a surprise defeat and embarrassment for his character talking a big game and choking on the big stage. The better scenario involves Roode winning and giving the babyface an obstacle to overcome.
Prediction: Bobby Roode pins Andrade Almas with heel chicanery and a Roode Bomb.
The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder) (c) - Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa, NXT Tag Team Championship Match
Dash and Dawson may be my favorite team in wrestling right now. They are the best heel tag champions in the brief history of the titles. WWE called up The Wyatts before their reign got going. The Ascension and Blake and Murphy were boring. They play the crafty heel champions so well and their confidence has increased tenfold since becoming tag champs. Their two title matches against American Alpha were very good, especially their two out of three falls match.
WWE set this up by having Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa beat The Revival before Takeover: The End. Gargano and Ciampa declared themselves top contenders for the titles not long after, but the champs dismissed both men as "good hands" but not "top guys", ironic considering Dash and Dawson's original name was "The Mechanics", an insider term for good wrestlers with no charisma. WWE did a nice job tying in the Cruiserweight Classic into the NXT canon, with Ciampa and Gargano telling general manager Regal their first round match would not affect their continuity heading into Brooklyn.
Insider terms aside, this has the potential to steal the show. Again, this match feels like the first chapter in a longer story. Both teams do not appear to be part of the expected fall call-ups, even though both teams should be. That notwithstanding, I don't think a title change is out of the question here. The other two title bouts will likely end with the champions retaining (more on them later) and creative seems to fancy switching the tag straps more than the other two. If both teams are staying (I'm sure they are), it makes no sense to move the belts off The Revival at this point. The better story is Ciampa and Gargano chasing the calculating heel champions. I have The Revival here, but my guard is up for a title change to pop the crowd.
Prediction: The Revival pin Gargano and Ciampa after heel tomfoolery and a Shatter Machine to retain the NXT Tag Team Championships.
Asuka (c) - Bayley, NXT Women's Championship match
This feud started all the way back at WrestleMaina weekend when Asuka forced Bayley to pass out to the Asuka Lock. With the victory, Asuka earned her first NXT Women's Championship. WWE held off on this match by running an injury angle with Bayley, saving it for Brooklyn. The NXT writers built this match up well over the past couple of weeks, establishing Asuka as a killer and giving Bayley a bit of an edge in the contract signing.
WWE planted the seeds of a possible heel turn for "The Empress of Tomorrow". In her match with Alliyah on the August 3 NXT, the Women's Champion stopped her own pin count and held on to the Asuka Lock for an extended period before Bayley, who stood ringside, made the save.
This match will be no different from the one in Dallas. Bayley will fight with valor, but Asuka will be too much in the end. With "The Hugster" earmarked for the main roster, there is no reason for a title change here. The question is whether Asuka will deliver a harsh enough beating to cement a heel turn. Asuka has been a great babyface and excels at fighting from underneath. However, she can thrive as a heel champion. I doubt it happens due to the lack of over acts babyface in the women's division, but it's still a possibility. There is also an equal chance Asuka beats Bayley and shakes her hand to send her off. The only thing indisputable is the result.
Prediction: Asuka pins Bayley to retain the NXT Women's Title.
Samoa Joe (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, NXT Championship match
Both men have done excellent character work in the build. Samoa Joe plays the ornery, disrespected champion to a tee, while Shinsuke Nakamura is wonderful as his foil. The show's closing sit down interview with Byron Saxton highlighted this. Joe complained about Regal not consulting with him about Nakamura's contendership status while giving the GM the side eye. "The King of Strong Style's" playful attitude chipped away at the champion's patience until Joe snapped, leading to security intervening. WWE gave Joe/Nakamura the best build of the three world title matches, and the match itself should live up to the build.
Picking a winner for this is tough. WWE may be calling up more NXT talent in the fall, which has implications on this match. The loser of this match may end up on RAW or SmackDown, although both men deserve to be on the main roster. I doubt WWE brought Nakamura in to be a long term NXT Champion, so even if he wins, it won't be long term.
Since turning heel last year, Joe has been outstanding. He represents the safe pick to win here. I cannot see either man taking a clean loss. Given the track record of Takeover's, a non-finish is out of the question as well. Although, the company may feel they have built up enough good will with these shows to pull it off. I will take Nakamura to win here and get his first taste of WWE gold. WWE can call up Joe after their obligatory rematch. Then, Nakamura can drop the title to Roode a couple of months later, freeing him up for a main roster call up. NXT should have their next top babyface ready by then to chase Roode for the rest of the year.
Prediction: Shinsuke Nakamura pins Samoa Joe to become the new NXT Champion.
NXT Takeover: Brooklyn II takes place this Saturday at 8ET on the WWE Network.