Controversial opinion: 3 reasons why NXT TakeOver: Toronto II is rock solid proof that NXT has declined in quality

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are those of the author and not necessarily those of Sportskeeda.

Earlier this year, I released a post detailing why I believed the seemingly bulletproof NXT brand had taken a sharp decline in quality in 2019. Unfortunately, NXT TakeOver: Toronto II confirmed my opinion on the yellow brand's malaise. Compared to the brilliance of 2018, let alone 2014-15, the decline in quality is easy to see. TakeOver: Toronto II was the most disappointing NXT live special I've seen in years.

That's not to say the show was entirely bad, of course. The wrestling itself was for the most part on point (more on that later), with an intensity you just don't see on the main roster.

Velveteen Dream was as good as ever. Io Shirai is nothing short of a revelation in her new heel persona. She was the star of the entire show, putting on a match with Candice LeRae that was as brilliant as it was brutal. It was easily WWE's best women's match of 2019 so far, and the best women's match in NXT since Asuka's departure.

Unfortunately, the rest of the show didn't deliver the way it could have. From bizarre booking to disappointing bouts, TakeOver: Toronto II didn't feel like NXT's biggest show of the year. Instead of shaking things up, the same stale status quo continued.

Here are three reasons the latest TakeOver didn't live up to the hype.

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#3 The Undisputed Era chokes again

One thing's for sure, they didn't live up to the hype.

Don't get me wrong, no one is happier to see Velveteen Dream remain as North American Champion than I am. He's easily NXT's MVP of 2019. Yet, the Undisputed Era have been proclaiming all year that they would be draped in gold. Their words have been rendered hollow. Now, it looks like they will never come true.

The result is that NXT's midcard needs repair, because thanks to something we'll get to next, the Undisputed Era isn't going away. Yet, the other members failed to live up to their hype, so there's not much room for them to maneuver. That won't stop them from taking a lot of airtime, though, even though they're basically zombies at this point.

#2 A muted title reign

Adam Cole retained his NXT Championship last night in the worst of his trilogy with Johnny Gargano. Part of that was because we'd seen this match twice in a row already, so it was getting played out, but the match did go on longer than it should have, with some puzzling kickouts.

Despite his victory, Adam Cole's reign as NXT Champion feels like it's less than it should be, thanks to his companions' failures in their own matches.

Adam Cole as the head of a faction draped in gold would have been far more formidable than the state he's been in, and is currently in. Where does his reign go from here? What is the point of him being champion all by his lonesome?

NXT's failure to build a dominant faction last night muted the effectiveness of its top champion, who's gimmick has always been as the Undisputed Era's leader.

Obviously, NXT will think of something, but it's not what it should be. As much as I didn't want Dream to lose his championship last night, I understood that the Undisputed Era holding all the gold would have been better for the direction of the show, so long as Cole is champion.

With Cole being champion anyway, despite his companions' failures, NXT is spreading itself too thin, rather than going all out on an angle. It's trying to be something to everyone and thus appeals to no one.

#1 A shambolic women's division

It was obvious long ago, but let's say it loud and clear - the NXT women's division is in complete shambles. In fact, it's worse than in shambles. It's in a state of nuclear winter, complete with irradiated blizzards that blow through every week.

The Shayna Baszler vs. Mia Yim match was the most emblematic example of the decay of the division since Asuka's departure. It was easily one of, if not the worst, NXT Women's Championship match in TakeOver history.

The other candidates, of course, all belong to Baszler. The fact that Yim still lost despite all the hullabaloo about Duke and Shafir's absence was the rancid cherry on top of the cake. It's totally illogical, main roster style booking.

Baszler has long overstayed her welcome in the women's title scene, and her reign, which has long been depleted of any value, continues with no end in sight.

Contrast what we saw in the title match with the Io Shirai vs. Candice LeRae match, and the champion's current state with Shirai's. Contrast the explosive crowd response to Shirai/LeRae and the dead silence for the title match. You'll see immediately how wrong the direction of the division is.

This has been NXT's biggest infected wound of the past year and the infection just gets worse. Something needs to be done, quickly.