NXT: 5 Points to Note (August 03, 2017)

There's that amazing feeling in the air again! That exciting and thrilling vibe when you know that an NXT Takeover is almost upon us. This week on NXT was yet another round of surprises, action and the most component of compelling television, that has been lost in the current age of sports entertainment...storytelling!

New stars came to WWE's developmental brand to claim the yellow brand as their new home and the old guard showed new sides to them that we did not know existed. All in all, this was easily the best hour of television of WWE programming, all week long. We have picked out 5 essential components from the show, and present them to you in this 5-point countdown.

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#5 All of Ring of Honor is in NXT!

Black and O'Reilly put on an absolute modern-day classic

Remember how Nigel McGuinness mistakenly referred to NXT as Ring of Honor during an NXT Takeover event a few months ago? Looking at the landscape of the promotion, he wasn't too far off the mark. Recently, we saw Bobby Fish make his way to NXT and establish himself in a match against the brand's resident dark man- Aleister Black. This week, it was his tag team partner who took on the same guy and put on a clinic with an array of MMA strikes and shots.

It was a very impressive match for a purist, considering just how accurate and precise the men were with their strikes, and just how flawless their grappling was, all through the contest. Mauro Ranallo, never one to rein in his hyperbole, equated their chemistry to the legendary Flair-Steamboat matches.

#4 A brand new feud in the works?

Could these two strikers meet at Takeover: Brooklyn?

Now that the feud between Hideo Itami, the man who recently turned heel, and Kassius Ohno, a man who could not stop his friend from going over to the dark side, has concluded; we could be in for a real treat, maybe at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn? Hideo Itami came to the ring and was felled by a Black Mass from Aleister Black immediately before the main event of the evening got underway. We learned later that at the conclusion of the show, Hideo Itami attacked Aleister Black, as he was on his way home. There is a new feud underway. One that can leave us entertained with great matches.

Do dark days lie ahead for Hideo Itami, thanks to Black?

Bear in mind that Aleister Black is yet undefeated in NXT, ever since he adopted this gimmick and dropped the 'Tommy End' moniker associated with him in the independent wrestling scene. Will Itami cause him his first loss or will the strikes of Black persevere? This may be his first real feud and his launchpad to the top of the food chain in NXT.

#3 A feud that will never end?

We haven't seen the last of the Roode-Strong contest yet!

Bobby Roode was being interviewed backstage, in all his cocky glory, when he was confronted by Roderick Strong, a man who wanted to avenge the insult Roode caused to his girlfriend and kid. We had assumed we'd seen the last of these two men on NXT when they faced one another for the championship, but it turns out that the feud is far from done. At this point, it would be criminal for Roode to drop the title to anyone but Roderick Strong. Are these two men due for yet another clash?

However, like William Regal mentioned, there was nothing to be done at that very moment. Roode would be facing Drew McIntyre at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn. We wonder just how this storyline will play out, and what the eventual pay off will be.

#2 The Moon just eclipsed the Sun

Will the streak finally be broken at long last?

For the first time since she arrived in the USA, NXT Women's Champion Asuka looked vulnerable. While she managed to take out Ember Moon initially, she succumbed to Moon's top rope corkscrew stunner that she likes to call 'The Eclipse'.This was during a face-to-face confrontation between the two women, ahead of their big Takeover match. This move is going to be the X-Factor when Ember Moon takes on Asuka in the rematch for the NXT Women's Championship in Brooklyn. Asuka's reign has been long and really noteworthy, but it may finally be time for a new champion. Ember Moon is a worthy contender, and the main roster really does need Asuka.

If all goes well, this could be the match of the night at the third edition of NXT Takeover: Brooklyn in just a few days.

#1 Packed show next week

Will Almas' newfound friend help him win his match, next week?

Next week, we finally see Andrade 'Cien' Almas make his debut on NXT television, with the lovely Zelina Vega at his back. This should be a power packed affair, much like the other highlights in the show. The Street Profits, a brand new tag team finally make their NXT debut and Number 1 contender Drew McIntyre will sit down with NXT Champion Bobby Roode for a chat. We are certain that next week will be an important stepping stone, on the road to NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III in just a few weeks.

That concludes our countdown for this week. Join us again as we bring you the salient points from WWE's developmental brand, next week! Until the next time, stay good.

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