By Zack Zimmerman
NXT on WWE Network
Taped July 12, 2017 in Winter Park, Florida at Full Sail University
The opening video played… Inside the arena, the commentary team of Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson, and Nigel McGuinness checked in and talked up the face-to-face between NXT Champion Bobby Roode and Brooklyn challenger Drew McIntyre for later in the show.
Suddenly, Nikki Cross was in the ring. She was screaming and summoned her team of Killian Dain and Alexander Wolfe without music. They called out the NXT Tag Team Champions, who also came out without music.
The Authors made their way towards the ring with Paul Ellering, when suddenly Eric Young ran down from behind and attacked one of them while the other members of Sanity isolated the other Author in the ring. Young zip-tied Rezar to the barricade alongside the ramp and then joined his partners for the beatdown in the ring on Akem.
Dain hit senton after senton on Akem while Rezar struggled from the barricade. He managed to break the section of railing loose and dragged the whole thing with him to the ring, however it was a futile effort as he was beaten down and given a senton for his trouble.
Sanity then lifted Aken back up to lay him out with a combination back suplex from Wolfe and diving neckbreaker from Young. At ringside, Nikki Cross retrieved the NXT tag title belts and brought them to her team in the ring. They looked at them hungrily and posed with them before dropping them across the bodies of the fallen champions…
A replay from last week showed the exchange between NXT Women’s Champion Asuka and Brooklyn challenger Ember Moon which ended with Moon laying out Asuka with the Eclipse…
A graphic advertised a contract signing between Asuka and Ember Moon next week to make the Brooklyn title match official…
A Street Prophets vignette aired and advertised them up next… [C]
Zim Says: I liked the retaliation story, but I’m still not sure who we should be cheering. The Authors are the babyfaces in this situation but is this meant to be a turn for them? I guess time will tell, nonetheless it’s still not a match I’m particularly looking forward to in Brooklyn.
Backstage, the “Iconic Duo” of Billie Kay and Peyton Royce were apparently going to give a makeup tutorial on air, when Ruby Riot walked across their shot way off in the background. She wasn’t within earshot so they mocked her in a way that will probably lead to a match next week or the week after…
Back in the arena, The Metro Brothers made their entrance looking like a cruiserweight version of Deuce N Domino. Ranallo noted they were trained by the Dudley Boyz. Their opponents, the long-awaited Street Prophets, were out next. Angelo Dawkins did the same silly “stir it up” motion as always, but his partner Montez Ford was carrying a red solo cup and doing some charismatic dancing.
1. The Street Prophets (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) vs. The Metro Brothers (Chris and JC). The Prophets used a combination running dropkick by Ford and big splash by Dawkins. Ford hit a nice back suplex a short time later. The Metros briefly got the better of Ford until he (barely) flipped out of back suplex attempt and made the tag. Dawkins came in hot with a spear. He hit a pop-up spinebuster and then tagged in Ford who came off the top with a frog splash for the win.
The Street Prophets won in about 2:20.
Replays aired and the Prophets danced in celebration of their win. Ford left with his red Solo cup in-hand…
The face-to-face between Bobby Roode and Drew McIntyre was advertised up next…
Before that however, they threw to footage captured after the show last week where Hideo Itami tried to attack Aleister Black in the parking lot. Black defended himself until the scrap was broken up…
A graphic revealed that a match between Hideo Itami and Aleister Black had been officialized for Takeover Brooklyn…
Zim Says: Not the smoothest debut. We’ve seen Angelo Dawkins for what feels like five years in NXT and this was the same old stuff from him, but his partner Ford seems to bring a nice mix of athleticism and charisma. I’ll be curious to see what sort of ceiling these guys have or if they’re able to break through and exceed my expectations.
Back in the arena, NXT GM William Regal was in the ring to introduce the champion and challenger for the Takeover Brooklyn main event. He brought out Drew McIntyre first, followed by the champion Bobby Roode. Roode did not come out alone however, as he was accompanied by a five security guards.
Once in the ring, Roode explained that he brought his own security detail to ensure that “the madman” Roderick Strong didn’t run out and do something that could hinder the main event for Brooklyn. He then turned his attention to McIntyre and insincerely welcomed him back to WWE.
Roode compared the sense of entitlement Drew had when he first arrived in WWE to the entitlement that Bobby Roode has in NXT, and noted that the biggest difference is that Roode didn’t need a second chance. Roode said that it’s not Drew’s NXT and it’s not the fans’ NXT, it’s his.
McIntyre admitted that Roode brings some truth. He admitted that Roode has had a great championship year, but added that Roode is also an ass. He said that he feels sorry for Roode because he can see that as inflated as Roode’s ego is, he’s going to fall so hard and so far when McIntyre takes the NXT Championship from him.
Just then, Roderick Strong’s music hit and security jumped into the ring to protect Roode. Strong came out onto the stage and made his case. He said he understands what Regal told him about the title match in Brooklyn, but his issue with Roode isn’t about the title it’s about standing up for his family and himself as a man.
Roddy spoke directly to Roode and called him out for a fight. He said that he wants a fight and questioned whether or not Roode is man enough. Regal began to speak when Roode blew his gasket. Roode said that Roddy can shut up and have his fight, even a title fight, after he goes through Drew McIntyre.
Both McIntyre and Strong nodded, but Regal noted he’s the one who makes the matches in NXT. McIntyre also advocated for the match, but Regal was hesitant as it would likely interfere with the main event of Brooklyn. Roode advocated for it again, and the crowd chanted “make the match.”
Regal said he’s all about giving the fans what they want, so he said next week it’ll be Strong vs. McIntyre. He specified that nothing for Brooklyn will change, but if Roode can beat McIntyre, he gets his fight with Roode after Brooklyn. Roode celebrated and declared that this will be “glorious!” Roode left with his security detail while McIntyre stared a hole through him from the ring…
A video graphic advertised the rematch between Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch from several weeks ago, coming up next… [C]
Zim Says: Effective segment. I like the dynamic between Roode and his enemies, as it really leaves the finish for Brooklyn feeling up in the air to me.
Backstage, Johnny Gargano was standing by for an interview. he said that physically he feels great, but he was admittedly a bit nervous about going through the curtain alone. He recalled the rush that hits when you walk out in the Barclays Center and said he needs that again. Gargano officially requested a match for Brooklyn, and left it at that…
Back in the arena, Oney Lorcan made his entrance. His opponent, the ever-improving Danny Burch was out next.
2. Oney Lorcan vs. Danny Burch. The opening few minutes were a relatively slow feeling-out process, including a lengthy cravat from Lorcan. They went to the first high spot a short time later with Burch catching Lorcan’s leg on a leapfrog attempt and bringing him crashing to the mat.
The two began to exchange uppercuts and forearms before Lorcan charged across the ring and drove Burch into the opposite corner with an Alabama Slam. [C] Back from break, Lorcan went for a quick pin attempt and then began wearing Burch out with chops in the corner. Lorcan charged in with a hard back slow in the corner.
He looked for a second, but Burch caught him and came off the middle turnbuckle with a dropkick. He looked for a Tower of London, but settled for a German suplex and hard lariat when Lorcan tried to fight out. They battled over a suplex, which Burch got the better of by draping Lorcan across the top rope and yanking him down with the Tower of London for a near-fall.
Burch looked to follow up, but Lorcan caught him with a hard uppercut. He missed a Blockbuster, but came right back with a hard running uppercut and a successful second attempt at the Blockbuster for a near-fall of his own. The two stood face-to-face mid-ring and began to exchange shots when Burch flipped Lorcan over with an inverted headlock takeover and than ambushed with a knee strike.
He was unable to follow up however, as Lorcan battled back and sank in a deep Boston Crab. Burch looked to be in trouble when he rolled through and cradled Lorcan tight for a surprise pinfall.
Danny Burch pinned Oney Lorcan in about 9:55.
After replays, Burch offered his hand to Lorcan. Lorcan initially blew past him, but stopped before exiting the ring and reconsidered. He opted to shake Burch’s hand after all and they seemingly agreed to face off in a third match before Burch held the ropes for Lorcan on his exit…
A graphic advertised the main event of No Way Jose vs. Andrade Almas with Selena Vega up next… [C]
Zim Says: That started slow but picked up nicely. These two always work hard, and when they’re out there together they bring a level of back and forth physicality that’s just great to watch. They bring it individually, but it’s compounded when they work together. Looking forward to their next match.
A graphic advertised Drew McIntyre vs. Roderick Strong for next week, with the stipulation added per William Regal that Strong will get a post-Brooklyn shot at Bobby Roode if he wins…
Back in the arena, No Way Jose made his entrance dancing through the crowd and bringing a conga line around the arena with him. Andrade “Cien” Almas was out next, accompanied by Selena Vega. A replay from last month showed Almas attacking Cezar Bononi and Jose trying to make the save. The commentators tried to say that Vega has brought out a “new” Almas.
3. No Way Jose vs. Andrade Almas (w/ Selena Vega). Almas hit the tranquillo pose early, but Vega pulled him out of the ring and yelled at him for being nonchalant. Jose got a small flurry of offense and then booted Almas to ringside when he went for another tranquillo pose in the ropes. Once again, Vega was there to give Almas an earful about his antics.
Almas began to work Jose over aggressively in the corner. Jose tried to show some fight, but Almas put him right back down in the corner and charged with the running double knee strike. Almas was going to pose afterward, but Vega yelled at him to go right for the finish. On command, Almas picked Jose up and promptly put him away with the hammerlock DDT.
Andrade Almas over No Way Jose in about 3:45.
Almas was leaving with a big smile on his face, but Vega motioned that she’s not done yet. She walked over to the commentary table and tok a microphone. She asked if everyone saw what Almas did, and noted that he deserves the spotlight. She said the spotlight shines brightest at Takeover Brooklyn so if Johnny Gargano is still looking for an opponent, he has one now. The show closed with Vega raising Almas’s hand on the top of the stage…
Zim Says: I like the story with Vega and Almas, but admittedly a lot of the tranquillo stuff is what makes Almas himself, so to eliminate that from his act doesn’t seem ideal. That said, not much about Almas’s run has been ideal. I have a feeling he and Gargano will have a solid outing in front of the Brooklyn crowd despite the cold pairing though, so there’s that.
As a whole I enjoyed this show. I thought like last week there was enough compelling content within the show as well as a strong push for Brooklyn that it makes for an easy to watch hour and builds nicely to what is supposed to be their biggest annual show. I’m not sure I’d say that about this Brooklyn show given the lineup, but I have no doubt that when push comes to shove the show will be one of the stronger American shows of the year. I’ll be by with a special all-access audio review of this show tomorrow, which means that it’s available to anyone reading this so be sure to stop back and check that out. Until then, take care and thanks for reading along!
Throw comments, questions, criticisms, or corrections @DotNetZim or DotNetZim@gmail.com; always happy to discuss.
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