Setting the Bar High: Ranking Every Match from the NXT TakeOvers before WrestleMania

#4 Bobby Roode vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (NXT TakeOver: Orlando)

Bobby Roode works the knee in an attempt to claim the newly redesigned NXT Championship

There were no real surprises in this match, although fans could be forgiven for hoping against hope that Nakamura would extend his stay in developmental and delay his main roster debut by reclaiming his NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver: Orlando.

The finish, where Nakamura eventually succumbed to a defending Bobby Roode, set up Nakamura to join SmackDown Live in the blue brand's fallout show, and the half hour clash relied more on solid technique than the oohs and ahhs that defined Nakamura's NXT debut the previous year.

The biggest shock to fans, though, was that Nakamura's knee injury in the story of the match was a work; Swagsuke sold the leg injury perfectly, and a pair of near-falls from a Glorious DDT and a spinebuster near the end popped WWE's smarkiest crowd like no other.

Shades of Arn Anderson on display as Roode hits one of the best

spinebusters

in the business

Roode played the heel to perfection, and feigned the use of the ring bell to terminate Nakamura; The King of Strong Style wasn't fazed, and Roode had to employ the most glorious of Glorious DDTs to stay on top of WWE's minor leagues.