Seems a bit redundant to replay the whole Balor/Owens match from a show available on demand via the Network, on a show on the Network.

I guess it could just be milking it, and possibly for those in NXT markets that don't have the Network. We still get NXT on television here.

NXT thoughts for week of 7/8:

I'm glad they didn't push Dana Brooke and Emma over Banks/Charlotte. Hope Dana breaks an ankle wrestling in Chuck Taylors.

Devin Taylor looked SUPER bangin during the Gable/Jordan interview segment.

Marcus Louis looks like Droford/a giant penis. I do not have an feelings for/against Solomon Crowe.

NEVILLE WEARS GLASSES. HOLY CRAP.

Not the biggest fan of the Vaudevillains, especially over Enzo and Cass, but they're solid and have an actual gimmick, unlike Blake and Murphy, for example.

Love bad Emma, but I hate the way they make her the less dominant one in that pairing. Inexperienced and unworthy (yet egotistical) Dana should be soaking up knowledge from Emma -- who should be somewhere between a tag team partner and a coach. The story with Charlotte helping out Sasha for a title shot makes perfect sense though. I look forward to them stealing the show in the main event next week (my prediction is it will close anyway), and possibly for Emma and Dana Brooke to make an impact after the match, and further the ties between the (potential) Four Horsewomen.

Bayley cut a pretty good promo in the back too. Really simple, sold herself as coming back stronger and with a purpose, and built to a match. Right now, I'd be happy for Bayley vs. Emma to be on the Takeover card. Lots behind that match.

Solomon Crowe has got something I like, but I can understand why people aren't hooked yet. What the dude really needs is a feud. I'm unsure if they put him against Rhyno or Baron Corbin first. Who is more likely to get offended at Crowe calling himself "NXT's Resident Little Monster?" An NXT version of the Monster's Ball could be coming.

Find the quirks of Chad Gable to be entertaining. Jason Jordan has got the look of a major player. If they have great matches, they might just be the best team in NXT overnight. I hope they get Devin Taylor as a manager. She'd be great for off-setting Alexa Bliss and/or Carmella. I also hope they bring back Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas for a few matches against the World's New Greatest Tag Team.

The Vaudevillains winning in the main event was cool. It makes sense to put them over, because after their absence, they needed some solidifying wins. Plus, Enzo & Cass are perpetually over at this point. The win looked crafty and lucky, but also credible. I don't expect that Enzo & Cass are out of the title run, but that some wacky shenanigans take place over the next few weeks that builds to a Triple Threat between the three sides at Takeover.

Still waiting for the day Devin snaps on Dana and wears her skin as a suit

Or, you know, just her own skin

Will she also become a badass submission machine?

I think Devin is great looking, but will we be able to buy her in the ring? I hope so.

Here is my dream Takeover Brooklyn card:

* Finn Balor (c) vs. Samoa Joe for the NXT Title
* Sasha Banks (c) vs. Becky Lynch II for the NXT Women's Title
* Blake & Murphy (c) vs. Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady vs. The Vaudevillains in a Triple Threat Tag Team Match for the NXT Tag Team Championship
* Tyler Breeze vs. Cesaro
* Carmella vs. Alexa Bliss in a Hair vs. Hair Match
* Rhyno vs. Solomon Crowe
* Bayley vs. Emma

<font color=goldenrod>That would be a really excellent card. And since I'm hoping to be there live I may as well complete the dream card with Devin Taylor vs. My Penis</font>

I'd watch that. Mainly for Devin more than you, Vito. No offence, mate.

<font color=goldenrod>I'd love to see Breeze get the win over whoever he winds up facing. His matches are always stellar but he's more than a year removed from his last win at a Takeover event. It'll be good to give him some momentum and push him back near the top of the NXT ranks especially for when Kevin Owens fully leaves the brand, leaving a bit of a void on the heel side of things.</font>

For those wondering, Cesaro is on that card because Tyler Breeze raises up a stink about not being on Takeover despite being the best attraction NXT has. William Regal announces that Breeze will have a match at Takeover...against Cesaro. Breeze calls Cesaro a "boring uggo" heading into the match. That sort of stuff. Cesaro wins after using the Swing and locking in a Sharpshooter. I'm tempted to put Breeze over so there is a potential rock-paper-scissors dynamic between Breeze, Sami Zayn and Cesaro when Zayn is ready to return, but I think Cesaro getting the win and Breeze taking it heavy allows for more development. Tye Dillinger scores Cesaro an "8".

Rhyno vs. Crowe is based on Crowe claiming to be NXT's Resident Little Monster. Rhyno -- coming off a loss to Samoa Joe -- wants to fight out what Crowe is really made of. The two have a hardcore match, and Crowe wins after hitting a new finishing move after Rhyno misses a Gore through a table.

Bayley vs. Emma has already been set up. This is essentially a #1 Contender's Match for the NXT Women's Championship. Dana Brooke is at ringside with Emma. This is where Devin snaps, attacking Dana at ringside after being shown some disrespect (and maybe even being beaten down the week before). Bayley capitalizes and becomes #1 Contender.

Carmella vs. Alexa Bliss in a Hair vs. Hair Match sounds extreme, but don't tell me it doesn't have you intrigued. Plus, it suits Carmella's gimmick of being an ex-hairdresser. For some reason, I imagine Bliss winning this, because I can see Carmella pulling off the shorter hair thing better. It could make her a more "serious" character within the Women's Division.

I kind of like that Breeze is always the bridesmaid and never the bride at this point. It feels like they're trying to build some sort of sympathy for him. Like how Leonardo DiCaprio never wins the Oscar. He's been on the defense in most of his matches (playing essentially the face), but has yet to do a proper turn.

I'd like to see his heel run conclude with him finding some sort of more humble ground, before he "snaps" and kicks it up a gear, getting the fans behind him.

Breeze is pretty much main roster ready at this point anyway.

Sounds like a squash to me.

Eva Marie's back story was quite spectacular. Not psyched for debut though

Chad Gable is impressive. I just wish he were a bit bigger.

<iframe src="http://gfycat.com/ifr/AcclaimedSpiritedAmericanblackvulture" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="600" height="338" style="-webkit-backface-visibility: hidden;-webkit-transform: scale(1);" ></iframe>

the wait for the debut of that tag team was well worth it.

Just got five tickets to TakeOver!

BROOKLYN!

BROOKLYN!

IS COMING TO NXT BROOKLYN

Spoilers for the next set of tapings:



Also Eva Marie's new gear from the tapings:

I wonder if this will lead to a Hall of Fame induction

It's been posted on Twitter and WWE.com, so I don't think his announcement for Takeover is a "Spoiler"

So, full heel turn from Dark One:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">More on International Superstar Jushin &quot;Thunder&quot; Liger appearing at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NXTTakeOver?src=hash">#NXTTakeOver</a>: Brooklyn. <a href="http://t.co/NWgVkpxShf">http://t.co/NWgVkpxShf</a> <a href="http://t.co/sbJSogBUwd">pic.twitter.com/sbJSogBUwd</a></p>&mdash; WWE NXT (@WWENXT) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/621847169344122880">July 17, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Actual spoiler:

Sounds like a lot of squash matches, but there's some good stuff in there.

Yes, it will.

Eva Marie for the 2016 HOF.

Smackdown's #1 Announcer approval to the news:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-cards="hidden" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WOW! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NXTTakeOver?src=hash">#NXTTakeOver</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NXTBrooklyn?src=hash">#NXTBrooklyn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWENXT?src=hash">#WWENXT</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/WWENXT">@WWENXT</a> INDEED! <a href="http://t.co/WiWA6fqR2o">pic.twitter.com/WiWA6fqR2o</a></p>&mdash; FUNAKI (@shofufu824) <a href="https://twitter.com/shofufu824/status/621859360927449088">July 17, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Sasha's reaction:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">Omgskfjisbkfksjva ������������ <a href="https://t.co/UIJLSHHXJP">https://t.co/UIJLSHHXJP</a></p>&mdash; WWE Sasha Banks (@SashaBanksWWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/SashaBanksWWE/status/621846228251353088">July 17, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Holy. Shit.

Couldn't find a single GIF of Eva Marie's hot rear end :(

Of her new gear or just in general since gifs of it exists from Total Divas.

Wooooooo! Also Chad Gable was cool.

I like Chad. Seems like a funny guy.

So Owens is set to lose again at the NXT Brooklyn special. I'm not sure if it is a good idea. The dude's been losing a lot of steam as of late.

I think they should be going with Balor vs. Joe or Joe vs. Owens with Balor defending against someone else (Rhyno in a Hardcore Match?).

<font color=goldenrod>The fact that WWE are making a very big deal out of this NXT special the night before SummerSlam kinda makes me think Owens won't be in a particularly big match at the PPV itself. Maybe a multi-man match of some sort.

Dunno, feel like they'll want his character's "focus" for this next month to be winning back the NXT Title.</font>

If dirtsheets are to be believed, he wont' be in any match.

and i actually kinda liked it

It no longer sounds like porn music

What is up with with her monotonous facial expression?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6Az3HQcreGo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

That sucks.

Eva Marie seems lazy as fuck in the ring by WWE standards.

Ditto.

Eva Marie still seems pretty bad in the ring.

lovin' heel Emma rn

she even seemed to ramp up the sexuality this week, which was weird/welcome.

:lol: at the DBZ guy against Baron Corbin. No clue why Corbin is still stuck doing quick squash matches instead of doing more meaningful/longer matches. Same problem the Ascension had when they were on NXT.


Yeup. Maybe its the side effect of hanging out too much with Dana Brooks.

it's because corbin is godawful

Why is Emma so sexy now?

Cause she is evil, and bad girls are hot.

still waiting for Devin Taylor to snap and go on a face eating rampage of all the heel NXT divas.

Devin snapping is the best long term build since Taz vs. Sabu.

Emma is freakin' incredible. I wish the WWE never fucked her up in the first place, and she should really be a part of the Diva Revolution, but I'm just glad for the success she is having.

Eva Marie looks tremendous. She'll get better in the ring. Still, I don't see why they just don't have her valet. Why rush her into roles she isn't ready for? Dana Brooke is also a pretty good personality, but she doesn't really belong in the ring yet. She should just be Emma's disciple.

Love Cassie McIntosh too. I think she's adorable. There's serious ring potential there too.

NXT is going to need some real heels soon. Send Natalya and Layla down or something. Cassie is a bit too cute. Jessie McKay could play a nasty bitch pretty well. Emma does a good job, but might get too over. Alexa Bliss is the only real heel left.

I liked how much this week's episode focused on tag teams. The main event wasn't the best match I've ever seen, but man does Simon Gotch keep getting more impressive. It seems there are a few teams with a stake to the Tag Team Titles. Heading into Takeover: Brooklyn, I'd probably have The Vaudevillains, Enzo & Cass beat Blake, Murphy & The Mechanics in an eight-man, which leads to Blake & Murphy & The Mechanics fighting. Fatal 4-Way in Brooklyn for the Tag Titles. Jason Jordan & Chad Gable can face The Hype Bros.

Baron Corbin should be the champ

The pic of balor hitting his head on the ceiling is hilarious

Totally freaking bullfit!

If he fails and gain the weight back

Time to get Bull Fat

LOL, what happened there?!?! (real or Photoshop?)

It's real. Was actually tweeted out. See 100k replies wrestling edition thread.

Goddamn Bayley and Charlotte

Alright Daddio made it on tv

LIGERVIDEOPACKAGE

Balor / Owens ladder match? In a PPV-sized arena? In front of a New York crowd?

Unnnfff.

Debut date and new name for Uhaa Nation from this week's NXT episode:

Can't wait :D

What's the best/cheapest way to get a hotel in area? Was thinking AirBNB because there will be five of us.

I still can't. :| Looks like a triangle. Spandex trunks usually makes everything look better (watch like ANY collegiate volleyball game for proof). Apparently, she botches that, too.

Ick. This is like saying Eric Rowan as is should be champ the second he comes back from his injury.

They keep saying he has "that presence"- and he does- but unfortunately, that and being tall is all he has. He's over as fuck in NXT because of those things... that and his not being overexposed yet, but it isn't something that can translate into long term unless he can improve in the ring and on the mic (the only long matches I've seen were his 3 match series with Dempsey, and that shitshow with Rhyno; and Rhyno did some pretty heavy lifting to carry that match to try to get Baron to look like a million bucks). Simply being tall and looking the shit isn't enough anymore, and WWE is on the path of making yet another tragic example of it with this guy.

He shouldn't squash match his way to a championship. He's no Goldberg. Honestly, he should back someone up as outside muscle. The "simply looking menacing" thing is going to wear thin, and when people start asking for the "...and *then* what?" about him, hopefully there will be some kind of answer. Ohh and ahh only lasts so long.

Oh yeah, and this sounds pretty much inspired by Simon Says, which is fitting, considering what the intro to his theme was inspired by in the first place... the Godzilla opening.

lick his face

Bayley and Charlotte tore it down, didn't they? I'm excited for Bayley vs. Becky Lynch next week, but I'll be sad when Becky loses. I've kind of lost interest in Bayley, but she appears to still be over and that mega-fan girl in the front row was pretty powerful stuff.

They seem to be doing exactly the same thing in NXT that they are on the main roster -- having a bunch of tag teams get the leg up on each other to over-saturate the division. The Mechanics beat Enzo & Cass last week, but lose to The Hype Bros this week? Why? Also, I hate Rawley & Ryder as a team. Rawley is like that annoying jock at school and Ryder's best work was still in like 2009 against Christian. It seems so forced, and the team work between them hasn't been too good yet. The Hype Ryder is a cool move, but Ryder could hit that with anyone who can lift a guy up on the roster.

Good video package for Jushin Liger. Kevin Owens is still great at talking.

Rhyno and Joe had a damn good match. Joe should get a bit of an undefeated run going, I hope. Beating him could mean something. I hope they don't give it to Corbin, because he's still missing quite a few things.

corbin is missing everything in the ring minus a finisher. he's still utter shit.

i still don't understand why they've regressed to featuring him in squash matches against nobodies. what good is that doing anybody? unless they are using it to get him cheap heel heat, which seems pointless. find another way to get heat on him. or he still just can't wrestle an actual match that involves doing moves, in which case get him out of the ring until when he's ready. if he's ever ready.

he is the only thing in nxt that has ever really bothered me. just doesn't seem to fit with what they are doing with everything else down there.

The squashes are pretty over and inoffensive. I'd have him keep doing them for as long as they remain that way. If you move him into longer matches, people stop caring. It's not because he's the drizzling shits (he's not great, but he's not the worst), but because the squashing is so over. Well, maybe it's a combination.

Corbin can work longer matches at house shows, but the TV stuff should be kept short and sweet.

are we seeing different crowds? at best, the full sail crowds seem indifferent to the squashes now. it's just boring when pretty much everybody else down there on tv can work an actual match, and we've seen, what, 2 actual matches out of him? and they were godawful. maybe i'm being hard on the guy, but i expect a little more from him by now. at the very least, i expect more out of how he's being booked.

on a more positive note, bayley and charlotte put on a hell of match. best i've ever seen bayley look hands down.

They're not as over as they were, true, but the fans still count along. They've gotten wind to Corbin working long matches and don't care anymore.

I for one, think we'll all see Bayley's arm injury that kept her from being called up in the "divas" revokution on RAW may just be a blessing in disguise. Of course, I'm expecting a lot by hoping she doesn't get lost in the shuffle.

I do hope she beats Banks at the TakeOver: Brooklyn show the night before SummerSlam. Give her 5 or 6 months with the NXT Women's Championship before calling her up. The run with it and continued improvement will do her a world of good.

Hmm. The build to Bayley's win kind of felt like it was taken over by Becky Lynch after that AMAZING match those two girls had. I still think we should be seeing them fight for the title at Takeover. Hell, I think THAT should be the Ladder Match.

I feel like they've missed a chance to create a set of NXT Women's Tag Team belts. You have Emma & Dana running around like colossal bitches; Charlotte & Bayley have a newfound respect for each other; you have the two cute Australian girls who could use a leg-up somewhere; you can always call down the occasional heel from the main roster that isn't doing much. Hell, Brian Kendrick could have made a call to a great female talent to help sculpt Eva Marie into a great female wrestler.

Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch would remain feuding over the Women's Title. Becky really has something to prove there. Alexa Bliss wants the singles gold for herself, and steps over Carmella on the way to get there.

Yeah, I dunno -- I think it would have been pretty great television that would have almost written itself.

Just checked out Charlotte vs. Bayley...a 5-star classic, IMO. And how sweet was it of Bayley to hug and give her little superfan a headband? That little girl will probably remember that for the rest of her life. :y::love::heart:

Whoa, the match wasn't that great. It was really, really good, but it wasn't a MOTY or anything. Glad you enjoyed it though.

I hear what you're saying, Noid, but I really feel like Bayley may be at the peak of her popularity right now, and just feel like it would be a humongous fuck up if she doesn't win the belt off Banks in a couple of weeks. Strike while the iron is hot or whatever.

Besides, what does Banks have to gain anymore by continuing to retain an NXT brand championship when she could be focusing on becoming next in line to challenge Nikki for the Divas Championship now that she's on the main roster?

Fucks sake they went almost 15 minutes exchanging counters, reversals, holds and grapples, and the crowd was going apeshit. What more do you want?

I'm not shitting on them. It was a really good match, but it didn't make me jump out of my chair or anything.

Ticket sales for the Brooklyn special ended up reaching official sold out status. Shattered previous NXT records for ticket sales and likely means more specials being done outside of Full Sail (maybe even all specials from now on).

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-cards="hidden" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It's official <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NXTTakeOver?src=hash">#NXTTakeOver</a>: Brooklyn is
S O L D O U T!! Record crowd of 13,000+ <a href="https://twitter.com/barclayscenter">@barclayscenter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYou?src=hash">#ThankYou</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreNXT?src=hash">#WeAreNXT</a> <a href="http://t.co/WqUq1qZWg8">pic.twitter.com/WqUq1qZWg8</a></p>&mdash; Triple H (@TripleH) <a href="https://twitter.com/TripleH/status/630740902089228289">August 10, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Original plan was just for a small section of the arena to be available for sale but WWE kept expanding after each new batch of tickets sold out quickly.

Good for NXT and the WWE's pocket.

<font color=goldenrod>I don't often have much to criticize on NXT but I absolutely hate that Enzo and Cass aren't in the tag title match at Takeover. I love the Vaudevillians and all that and I know Enzo/Cass already had a title shot...but the setting is absolutely perfect for them. The roof would be blown off the fucking building if they were to win the belts in NY.

Just feels like a wasted opportunity I think. They could always drop the belts back on the next taping if they were going to be elevated to the main roster or something.</font>

When you get a title in NxT, the problem is that the next logical step is the main roster. Don't fret if they aren't given the titles yet. There is enough influx of talent going from NxT to Raw right now that the further off they can hold back NxT talent in the short term, the better. It can be a toss up on if an NxT talent gets used properly as well as if what made them successful in NxT will translate to Raw, so the less chance talent has to get lost in the shuffle, the better odds they have IMO.

This match may get the debut of a new Diva to counter Alexa Bliss. An infusion of new talent is going to be needed now especially in the Divas division if Flair, Banks and Lynch are on Raw to stay. If that's the case, the match has more of a purpose than just this show.

enzo and cass are so over they don't need the titles right now anyway. might as well use them to establish some of the other guys and get them more exposure. they'll get them eventually.

<font color=goldenrod>Picture spoiler regarding a couple of new faces who debuted on NXT during tonight's taping:</font>

Oh shit did they lose 2 on 1 one to Baron Corbin?

Spoilers for the next set of shows: