A year on from the original TakeOver from Brooklyn, NXT returned to the Barclays Center for TakeOver: Brooklyn II. Going into the show, Brooklyn II would have to do a lot to live up to its predecessor, but NXT not only matched it but they surpassed it.
This year’s TakeOver was arguably the best one so far, something we often say after every new TakeOver. The show had just 6 matches on the card but each one of them delivered, from the opener between Austin Aries and No Way Jose to the main event.
Trending
Aries and No Way Jose got the show off to a blistering start before Jose eventually tapped to the Last Chancery, which was followed up by Ember Moon’s victorious NXT debut. Ember Moon was really impressive in her first outing, as was her opponent Billie Kay. This was followed by the glorious debut of Bobby Roode who took on the undefeated Andrade “Cien” Almas. The two had a great match and the veteran, Bobby Roode, eventually won on his in-ring debut with a Glorious Bomb for the pinfall.
The first championship match of the night saw The Revival retain their titles against Gargano and Ciampa in a match that tore the house down. This one’s a contender for match of the night. This was followed up by the rematch between Asuka and Bayley. They topped their match from Dallas and more.
The final match of the night was the dream match between Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura for the NXT Championship. Nakamura and Joe almost literally went to war with each other before Nakamura eventually pulled out a win to become the new NXT Champion.
It was an almost perfect show from the guys and girls down at NXT and SummerSlam has an uphill battle to top this. With the show behind us, let’s take a look at 5 points to note from NXT TakeOver: Back 2 Brooklyn.
6: Ember Moon is a game-changer
From the moment she stepped out for her debut, it was obvious that Ember Moon was special. She just has “it”, whatever “it” is and she’s just what NXT’s women’s division needed. Now that Bayley is going up to the main roster, Asuka and Ember Moon will be a fantastic base for NXT’s new look women’s division to build upon.
With her glowing red contacts, flaming hair and fantastic in-ring ability, Ember Moon made an impact. The former Athena showcased her range of moves in her match against Billy Kay, which she controlled for the most part, and had the crowd on their feet for her stunning finisher – a twisting catch stunner after jumping off the top rope.
Billie Kay, for her part, looked really good in defeat and showed that she can be a player in the women’s division in the future.
5: Glorious debut from Bobby Roode but Almas gets booed
When Bobby Roode made his NXT television debut a few weeks ago, no one realized just how popular his new theme song would be. The song has caught fire amongst wrestling fans and the crowd sang along with every word last night at Brooklyn. Bobby Roode followed it up with a stunning performance in the ring and showed just how valuable a player he can be for NXT in the future. As more and more NXT Superstars get called up to the main roster, veterans like Roode will help to bolster the roster.
To think, that Roode has been wasting his talents in TNA for so many years. He’s hotter now, just at the beginning of his NXT run, than he’d ever been during his time in TNA.
Andrade “Cien” Almas, on the other hand, is in a weird predicament. He’s one of the most talented luchador’s I’ve ever seen but he got roundly booed by the Brooklyn audience who we’re all about the glorious one on this night. The terrible suspenders Almas wears to the ring during his entrance can’t be helping his case much. As he showed here tonight, he can still win over the crowd with his work, and that’s a unique talent.
4: Tag-Team Championship tears the house down
The match between The Revival and DIY, Johnny Gargano and Tomasso Ciampa, was one of the best tag-team matches this year, if not the best. They had the crowd eating out of the palm of their hands from the very beginning to the very end. There were a number of near falls that had fans in attendance and at home at the edge of their seats.
The Brooklyn crowd were firmly behind the challengers but were ultimately left a little disappointed when The Revival once again managed to win by the skin of their teeth. This match could very well be the match of the night or even the entire weekend. It was that good.
This can’t be the last match between these two teams and expect the next match in the series to be just as good, if not better. Gargano and Ciampa, who recently signed exclusive WWE contracts, look like they have a very bright future in WWE.
3: Win, lose or draw, Bayley lights a crowd on fire
Bayley connects with the crowd in a way the no one else on the current WWE roster does. She’s universally loved by everybody from little girls to grown men, who are as much a part of her unique journey as she is. Bayley received the loudest pop from the crowd last night, louder than Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Roode, and her opponent Asuka.
She returned to Brooklyn a year after beating Sasha for the NXT Women’s Championship in the same building. Even though she lost, it was a valiant effort that was appreciated by the fans. Bayley is a unique character, for whom winning or losing doesn’t matter, none of that affects how much the fans love her.
Bayley, from the looks of it, will now finally be moving up to the main roster following SummerSlam and fans all over the United States and the world cannot wait.
2: Asuka is the closest thing we’ve ever had to a female Brock Lesnar
Asuka has been an unstoppable force in NXT’s women’s division since her debut. She mowed down everyone in her path so far from Dana Brooke and Emma to Nia Jax and Bayley, from whom she won the NXT Women’s Championship at Dallas.
Bayley was no match for Asuka that night and even though Bayley fought valiantly again last night, it wasn’t enough to take out the Empress of Tomorrow. Asuka looks unstoppable right now and she’s the closest thing to Brock Lesnar that WWE has ever had in their women’s division, either on the main roster or NXT.
Is there anyone in WWE women’s division who can beat Asuka? So far, no.
1: NXT is Nakamura
Shinsuke Nakamura is a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion, a former IWGP Intercontinental Champion, and a former G1 Climax winner as well as a former New Japan Cup winner. Now, just a few months after his NXT debut, he’s added the NXT Championship to his list of accolades.
Nakamura and Joe went toe to toe and fist to fist last night in a war over the championship and I can honestly say, the NXT Championship is the most prestigious title in the entire company right now. Nakamura as NXT champ can only further enhance the prestige of the belt.
The King of Strong Style has made a strong start to his NXT career and still remains undefeated. He’s a fan favourite as was clear last night. Nakamura is now the new face of NXT along with Asuka and the Japanese duo will look to take the already successful brand to the next level.
Note: We can firmly say that WWE has possibly finally done away with all the Japanese stereotype gimmicks of the past and they are past the notion that foreign non-English speaking wrestlers can’t draw. Both of NXT’s top two belts are now held by Japanese wrestlers Shinsuke Nakamura and Asuka, something that would have seemed unthinkable a few years ago.
Meet Randy Orton's lovely wife HERE
