By Zack Zimmerman
NXT Takeover: Toronto
Aired on WWE Network
Toronto, Ontario at Air Canada Centre
The kickoff show opened with Charly Caruso, Lita, and Mauro Ranallo at the panel. They were inside the arena where either the doors appeared to had just opened. They showed Bobby Roode, TM61, Samoa Joe, and Shinsuke Nakamura arriving at various times earlier in the day. Lita talked about the new aggression Shinsuke Nakamura has shown and Mauro talked up the hard-hitting nature of the main event.
They threw to Dasha Fuentes who was up in the balcony with some fans who were chanting “NXT.” She introduced the video package for the NXT Women’s Championship between champion Asuka and challenger Mickie James. Asuka declared she would destroy everyone and they played clips of former opponents talking about how hard she hits. They showed clips of Mickie James during her previous run, including multiple reigns as WWE Women’s Champion. She said there was a different between good and great, and she’s the test… Mickie James was shown in the locker room…
Back in the arena, Lita noted that Mickie seemed nervous earlier, but it’s going to turn on once she steps into the ring. Mauro talked up Asuka. Predictably, Mauro predicted Asuka would win and Lita predicted Mickie. They plugged the WWE Network, Survivor Series, and all of the included free-ness that is going on right now… [C]
A graphic promoted the finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic between the Authors of Pain and TM61. Back in the arena, the panel noted that Paul Ellering would be hung above the ring in a cage. Mauro noted that Akam was an accomplished wrestler from Canada. Both Mauro and Lita predicted the Authors would come out victorious…
A graphic hyped The Revival defending the NXT Tag Team Championships against #DIY. They then aired the same video package that they showed on NXT this past week. It showed Gargano and Ciampa coming up short in their first title shot, The Revival costing them their match in the Dusty Classic, and the brawls that the teams have had recently. Gargano questioned what’s left if they don’t win this time…
Back in the arena, Lita noted that The Revival are getting over-confident. Mauro said that you can’t dismiss the only two-time tag champs Dash and Dawson. Mauro predicted #DIY anyway and said it’s their time, as did Lita… [C]
Dasha Fuentes was now down by ringside with the fans and she threw to the video for the main event; the NXT Championship match between Shinsuke Nakamura and Samoa Joe. It showed Joe attacking Nakamura and slamming him onto the steps and injuring him. It went week by week showing Joe taking out jobbers and demanding his title rematch before Nakamura returned with a vengeance…
Back at the panel, Lita confessed that she bought into Joe turning a new leaf before attacking Nakamura, and she labeled Joe dangerous. Mauro Ranallo recapped Nakamura’s history in Japan including becoming the youngest IWGP Champion. Lita said she doesn’t see Nakamura letting go of the title tonight, and Mauro agreed. The panel also pointed out fans in the arena chanting for Bobby Roode. Once again, the WWE Network was plugged. In case you were unaware, its super free right now…
Tye Dillinger was shown walking backstage in his light-up head frame jacket… A video package aired building up the Toronto hometown clash between Dillinger and Bobby Roode. It showed them forming a team for the Dusty Classic and Roode immediately walking out when faced with a match against Sanity. Dillinger was shown as Shawn/Gavin Spears in OVW and WWECW, as a champion in the former and a jobber in the latter. He talked about getting cut and spending five years trying to get back, meanwhile Roode scoffed and called him pathetic. Roode questioned what makes Dillinger a “Perfect 10” when he’s accomplished nothing. Dillinger said that it’s a confidence that he lacked his whole career and has finally found. Roode said Dillinger would fail miserably. With that, the pre-show closed…
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