WWE NXT 16th March 2016 - 5 Points to Note

It was a night of major announcementsThis week’s NXT episode was a step towards bigger things. Takeover: Dallas is on its way and so is part of WWE’s build up to Wrestlemania 32. Matches were made and the card looks as interesting as any Takeover card.Zayn made quite a determined statement that NXT’s going to steal the show during Mania weekend and then Regal made a game-changing announcement which you may already know if you were following the spoilers.This was a great way to kickstart NXT’s Road to Wrestlemania as Aries Vs Corbin was already set in stone and we had three more matches being made official this week.Here are the 5 points to note from this weeks’ show

#1 Zayn gets a match at Takeover

Zayn will be at Takeover Dallas

Sami Zayn made his way to the ring, still happy to meet his NXT audience despite his loss to Samoa Joe last week. He knows that NXT will steal the show during Wrestlemania weekend, but he was still unclear what role he’ll play since he’s nowhere near the title picture.

William Regal came out to tell him that he is special to NXT and that’s why he’s got something for him for probably NXT’s biggest Takeover. Shinsuke Nakamura made his presence felt for the first time on NXT and in a briefer than brief promo – where you couldn’t decipher much since the audience was quite overwhelmed and were freaking out – he said he’ll see us at Dallas.

Way to kick off the show.

Zayn will now have double duty during Mania weekend since he might face Owens for the IC title at Mania

#2 Emmalution continues

Emma has been consistently winning her singles matches since her loss to Asuka

Deonna Purrazzo’s theme song sounded a bit like Tyler Breeze’s. She’s being used as a catalyst to continue Emma and Asuka’s feud.

She previously lost to Asuka and this week she lost to Emma. Dana Brooke was her entertaining self at ringside, but since Emma has no match right now for Takeover: Dallas, what should be interesting is that her feud with Asuka still exists.

It’ll be an intriguing prospect for her to face Asuka when she wins the title from Bayley, or hopefully so. But we’re running ahead here. For the time being let’s just be entertained by Dana Brooke and her trash talk at ringside during Emma’s matches.

#3 Bayley faces the best

Bayley and Asuka listen to Regal’s announcement

Speaking of Asuka, she faced off against Nia Jax and Eva Marie by teaming up with Bayley. The match saw Asuka and Nia Jax not facing off against each other much and the Hugster gained the pinfall after Eva Marie got a kick by Asuka leading her into a Bayley to Belly.

William Regal then came out to make his second big announcement of the night. He made Bayley face the best in NXT right now for Dallas – Asuka. Bayley looked nervous and stuck gloriously to her character and so did Asuka. This was very well done.

And since Bayley may get a main roster call up soon, there is no female performer as great as Asuka to take the title away from the champ.

#4 Aries Promo

Aries was quite impactful in his interview

After this match, we went to an interview with Austin Aries. Aries was attacked last week by Baron Corbin and he was asked about how he felt about it. Aries firstly thanked the NXT audience for welcoming him and despite the many contract offers he had, it was NXT where he wanted to be.

And then he went out to give, what would initially seem like a typical promo, but was in fact, heartfelt and impactful. He said he wasn’t handed anything in his career because he wasn’t six feet six, that he’s faced ‘insecure’ guys like Corbin before and if The Lone Wolf really needs the championship, he should first be taught a lesson by a guy who’s won championships everywhere he’s been.

Then he doled out the best line of the show – “On April first, it’s going to be a great day to be great and a bad day to be you”

#5 Tag Team Title Scene

Gable can now do this at Takeover Dallas

The main event of the evening featured American Alpha taking on The Vaudevillains. It was shades away from being a great encounter, but it was still a main event worth watching given the standards NXT has set.

American Alpha was always ready to fight for the tag titles and they became the number one contender for Takeover: Dallas. Dash and Dawson have put on some spectacular work during their reign and Gable and Jordan may well be their perfect counterparts, given how great all of them are in the ring.

And they are very much ready to take over the tag team division after Enzo and Cass leave for the main roster.