So, how are you enjoying Wrestlemania weekend so far? For my part, this Takeover delivered in terms of offering decent matches, but left me scratching my head in terms of where NXT goes next from here.
War Raiders (C) vs. Ricochet and Aleister Black (NXT Men’s Tag Team Championship)
Called it. Nice to see the War Raiders got their special entrance. I hope Sarah Logan did a stint as one of the Vikings there – it’s a better spotlight than she’s likely to get in the Not-the-Moolah on Sunday.
Velveteen Dream (C) vs. Matt Riddle (NXT Men’s North American Championship)
So at first the Velveteen Dream gimmick seemed regressively homophobic, but the Statue of Liberty entrance might be a genuinely genius and progressive combination of political symbolism and good old fashioned “get a pop by getting over with the locals” nonsense. A good match, the contrast of styles was fun and it feels like this was the right result.
WALTER vs. Pete Dunne (C) (NXT UK Men’s Championship)
Damn, that top rope powerbomb. Right call I think, the NXT UK division needs to grow beyond Dunne.
Shayna Baszler (C) vs. Kairi Sane vs. Io Shirai vs. Bianca Belair (NXT Women’s Championship)
Hm. This might mean we still have a ways to go before the Horsewomen vs. Horsewomen feud, might mean that WWE want to give main roster-only audiences the message that Shayna Is Strong by having her called up holding the belt, just like Paige and Kevin Owens.
Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole BAYBAY (NXT Men’s Championship, Two Out of Three Falls)
Johnny redeemed himself by beating the odds and became Johnny Champion. So, where does this leave Undisputed Era and their mission for gold? NXT doesn’t seem to be working for them any more, in kayfabe – and on an out-of-character level, they don’t seem to have much to do these days except act as a complicating factor. Could a callup be imminent, since they don’t seem to have much on their schedule here?
Nothin' Means Nothin'! 