Gutteridge’s NXT Takeover: San Antonio Hit List: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Bobby Roode for the NXT Title, DIY vs. Authors of Pain for the NXT Tag Team Titles, and Asuka vs. Royce vs. Kay vs. Cross for the NXT Women’s Title

By Darren Gutteridge

NXT Takeover: San Antonio Hits

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Bobby Roode for the NXT Title: I think I’m not alone in admitting I didn’t see this outcome occuring. The match was building well, but the knee injury really did get me invested, as it made a previously unfathomable Nakamura title loss much feel more likely. I still wasn’t convinced until the final pinfall however, so keeping me second guessing right until the end is a testament to the work both men put in. Roode on top doesn’t do much for me, nor does Nakamura taking another loss (though the cat is already out of the bag on that front after Samoa Joe beat him), but that is a worry for next week – Nakamura and Roode delivered a solid main event.

DIY vs. Authors of Pain for the NXT Tag Team Titles: I was dreading this match. I didn’t think the AOP could hold up their end of the bargain, and early on it looked like I would be right in that assumption. But DIY turned things up big time after the hot tag, and the AOP put forward their best performance to date to match them. The division still doesn’t look great with AOP on top (could we return to the doldrums of the Ascension?), but night one was a success at least.

Roderick Strong vs Andrade Almas: This was a huge surprise for me early on, as this was perhaps the most lacklustrer build to any Takeover match ever. However, both men pulled it out, putting on a hard hitting and fast paced match that grabbed my attention despite massive apathy going in.

Asuka vs. Nikki Cross vs. Peyton Royce vs. Billie Kay for the NXT Women’s Championship: They stacked the odds against Asuka, giving her an out for losing the title without being pinned, and yet they pulled a fast one and had her retain in surprising fashion. This solid match didn’t add much to Asuka’s legend, but it did allow her opponents to put themselves on a higher level just by competing for the title and having a few moments at Asuka’s expense, hence why it gets a Hit.

Tye Dillinger vs. Eric Young: A minor Hit thanks to a nice closing stretch. Early on it lived up to its hype-free feel, but they managed to get people onside with the run to the finish line. Hopefully Sanity get treated a little better from here on out, as their push has been inconsistent to say the least thus far.

NXT Takeover: San Antonio Misses

None: Don’t get me wrong – none of the bouts on this card will go down in the pantheon of great Takeover matches, but considering how utterly lifeless the build to this show was, the roster managed to pull things off on the night. A weaker Takeover, for sure, but if this was an “off” show, fans have nothing to worry about.

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