PWP Nation’s Zack Heydorn previews NXT Takeover: Brooklyn with five things that must happen at the event on Saturday.
NXT’s version of “WrestleMania” is upon us as TakeOver Brooklyn is only a day away. With last year’s event at the Barclays Center in New York being so successful, the WWE and its NXT Superstars are really going to have to pull out all the stops for year two to outshine the inaugural event from 2015.
Here are 5 things that we must see for that to happen …
5. A tag team classic between The Revival and Gargano/Ciampa
With the loss of American Alpha, Enzo and Cass, and The Vaudevillians, NXT needs the next great babyface tag team to help carry the division. The Revival is incredibly successful, but as heels, they need a top opponent to interact with on a weekly basis. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa look to be the yin to their yang.
But, we need a classic out of these teams on Saturday to lock that down for certain. Gargano and Ciampa don’t need to win the titles, but they need a match that gets them to the next level. Much like American Alpha did during the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Gargano and Ciampa’s gimmick is that they are great wrestlers.
A classic in Brooklyn will solidify them as top players and set up a nice chase for the belts throughout this fall.
4. Bobby Roode needs to deliver … BIG
Bobby Roode’s debut in NXT has been nothing short of brilliant. He has brought a unique character to the table that will be able to have extremely entertaining programs with anyone on the roster. That is, if he can deliver in the ring. Roode has always been a solid worker, but on this stage in Brooklyn, his performance needs to be well, glorious. Pun certainly intended.
His character is in its infancy at the moment and without a solid match to go along with his mic work, the character loses its luster. Further, Roode has “top heel” written all over him once Samoa Joe gets the call to the main roster.
However, its clear in NXT that you can’t be a top player without stellar ring work. Saturday is Bobby Roode’s chance to prove he has what it takes. He needs it and the show needs it as well.
3. Ember Moon Shines Bright
Ember Moon is making her much-anticipated debut this Saturday. The first thing that comes to mind when watching the promos for her arrival is … female Undertaker. That is the mystique that I feel when I watch her. The WWE and NXT need to capitalize on that. She must hit on all cylinders.
A legendary entrance and squash victory will give her instant credibility with the toughest fans in the world and will provide a unique tone and memory for the show that will last years.
2. Will the Serious Bayley Please Stand Up
At last year’s TakeOver Brooklyn event, Bayley and Sasha banks stole the show with a historical women’s match that saw the underdog Bayley overcome the odds and win the NXT Women’s Championship for the first time.
Fast-forward a year and Bayley is back once again challenging for the title, this time against the champion Asuka. This match is going to have every opportunity to steal the show again. For it to surpass last year’s match though, we are going to need to see a different side of Bayley. The underdog story is over with her. It’s clear at this point that she simply isn’t an underdog, only one of the best women’s wrestlers on the planet today. In this match she needs to act like it.
On NXT TV, Bayley has shown elements of her serious side, which has been great for this feud. On Saturday in Brooklyn, she needs to carry on further down that road. It will give her character and the match added depth and make it different from last year’s title match. If done successfully, Bayley will be who we’re all talking about come Sunday morning.
1. Shinsuke Nakamura Becomes the New Face of NXT
NXT TakeOver Brooklyn is the time and the place to the pull the trigger on Shinsuke Nakamura. Yes, Samoa Joe’s reign hasn’t been all that long or fruitful, but good timing is good timing. Joe and Nakamura are the biggest stars on the NXT roster. They are facing each other head on at the biggest show of the year. Nakamura needs to win. When he does, he automatically becomes the face of the brand that will yield big dollars as NXT picks up steam touring.
Rematches between Joe and Nakamura will be on the horizon after with a jealous and revenge obsessed Joe chasing a calm and collected Nakamura for the title. The next three months of stories write themselves with a Nakamura win on Saturday. More than that, timing is everything.
Can you imagine the Austin era being what it was without his first crowning win happening at a WrestleMania? Me neither.
Nakamura needs that win and it will do wonders in making this show incredibly special and memorable.
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