Recapping one of the final episodes of WWE NXT before Takeover: Chicago on May 20.
Bononi Blacks Out
Cezar Bononi, contrary to what any NXT fan would assume, actually put up a fight against Aleister Black. It was a short fight that ended with the Black Mass, but still a fight. NXT’s main event featured Hideo Itami vs. Roderick Strong fighting for a chance at Bobby Roode’s NXT Championship at Takeover: Chicago, but I can’t help but feel that Aleister Black is more worthy of that opportunity than either of those guys. There’s so much to love about Black: he’s the most must-see superstar on NXT this side of Bobby Roode; he has the second-best solo entrance in NXT (again, besides Roode); his finishing move is the best for any male superstar in NXT; and he would win the NXT superlative for “Name You’d Most Likely Find In A Harry Potter Book.”
Later in the show, we learned that Tyler Bate will defend his United Kingdom Championship against Pete Dunne at Takeover: Chicago. Since Aleister Black was in the UK Tournament under his indie name of Tommy End, I can see him stepping up to be the next guy to fight for this belt. Plus, with guys like Kassius Ohno and Buddy Murphy trying to get their names in the NXT Championship picture, it would make almost too much sense for Black to try and grab what he has already shown a desire for: the UK Championship.
Moonless Landscape
It’s never good news when a superstar gets injured, especially when said superstar was about to fight for the most coveted prize in her division. She wasn’t just going to be in the match; I’d say that besides the champion, Ember Moon would have the second-best odds to win.
In one hell of a match against Asuka in Orlando, Ember Moon came inches from winning the gold. She was more motivated than ever to go into Chicago and finish the job. Unfortunately, her quest has been temporarily delayed.
So now that Ember Moon is out, others will need to step it up. We got to see a teaser of Velveteen Dream, but unless she’s going to somehow be thrusted into this championship match, it will now be between Asuka, Ruby Riot, and (my daughter) Nikki Cross in a Triple Threat match for the NXT Women’s Championship. Peyton Royce, Billie Kay, and Liv Morgan are three women who could contend in the near future, and fill that Moon-sized hole. Who knows, maybe the Lady of NXT, Lacey Evans, could surprise us all and dominate the next few weeks, and have us fans clamor for to get a push. That’s all fun to speculate about, but when it comes to what matters, it looks like Asuka just lost her biggest competition, which, given her recent heel turn, I’m sure she’s more than okay with.
DIY Confirms Position
Has there ever been a longer gap between rematches than DIY waiting for their chance for redemption against Authors of Pain? They lost the NXT Tag Team Championships to AoP back in January at Takeover: San Antonio, and are still waiting for their rematch. Sure, they had an opportunity for the titles at Takover: Orlando, but it wasn’t the same match, as The Revival were also competing.
It looked like DIY was finally going to call out AoP and demand their contractually obligated rematch until a couple of guys whose hearts were bigger than their brains, Riddick Moss & Tino Sabbatelli, decided that now would be a good time to plant their flag on top of the Tag Team division. Unfortunately for Riddick Moss and Tino Sabbatelli, they must not have realized that they were Riddick Moss and Tino Sabbatelli, or as they’re known around most households, “Who?”
After DIY cleaned house, William Regal came out to announce that DIY will in fact get their rematch at Takoever: Chicago, except it won’t be an exact rematch; this will be a Ladder Match! The thought of one of those behemoths (Rahzar and Akam) trying to climb up the ladder makes me giddier than three pickleback shots.
And The NEW Number One Contender Is …
…Crap.
Not as in, “Crap, Hideo Itami doesn’t deserve to be in the main event of Takeover: Chicago after getting hurt in the last few feuds he’s had, leaving me with no confidence he’ll even make it to the match.” More like, “Crap, WWE hit me right in the feel spot after the past two weeks of Roderick Strong montages, and then kicked me right in that same feel spot when I had to see him lose.”
Strong has been treading water since becoming allies with Tye Dillinger and No Way José, but I could see him in the title picture soon enough. He just needs a couple of instant classics under his belt. This match was a great foundation to build on for him, as it was an 18-minute barn-burner. After NXT went off the air, WWE.com posted a video of Roderick being violently attacked by all three men from SAnitY.
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As bad as it looked for him, it’s good to know that Strong has a feud going into the immediate future, so we could see more from him. A match at Takeover against Eric Young (or, really, any of these guys) could be another huge career leap for him.
As for Itami, I don’t think he will be the one to knock Bobby Roode off of his throne. If he stays healthy enough to fight in a rematch later this summer, then maybe give it to him briefly, but I’m much more interested in seeing Bobby Roode hold the belt until someone like Drew McIntyre — or Roderick Strong, eventually — takes it from him.
Regardless of my opinion, we have our main event for Takeover: Chicago, and the two men’s opposing styles should make for an entertaining bout. I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks Roode will retain.