Honestly, that may be to his benefit.

I feel like with the crop of upcoming call-ups (Owens, Balor, maybe Joe, etc.), he'd be the most likely to suffer from the "Itami-effect," basically what happened to Kenta debuting alongside Balor. He's a really great talent and connects with the crowds, but I don't nkow if he'd be able to stand out in contrast to Owens and Balor, especially in the main roster environment where he'd probably be having 3-5 minute matches.

Maybe being on the shelf for a bit and emerging afterward will work out better.

Spoilers for the next set of episodes:

I chuckled when I heard a kid from the crowd shout "Joe's gonna kill you". I thought the "headlock city / that's a chin lock" chants were adorable. Felt "somewhat" emotional during the Ballor package.

I can't wait for Devin to snap on Dana and cost her a big match and go and fend for herself. I hope she's decent in the ring.

She had her first match against Carmella in 2014. So, it's possible that could happen.

She's hot as hell. She's got such a "Diva" look that I wonder if people will take her seriously though? She's got a good window to make a connection in front of her though.

I really want Layla and Alicia Fox to team up for some reason. Maybe have Summer Rae align herself with them. I know the "three bad girls" stable has been done to death, but I think it would inject NXT Women's Division with some interesting talent once Charlotte and Sasha Banks end up on the main roster.

I think Carmella could be a huge star (as far as Divas go)

Love Enzo/Cass/Carmella trio and think they could make a big splash on the main roster.

Pretty good but filler-ish episode last night. Get this feeling that they're at the end of their tapes because of the live special. Owens needs to go up to the main roster permanently and they're pushing Finn super hard.

Pretty excited for a potential Banks/Devin Taylor tag team.

Only halfway of the current set but nothing remaining spoils the July 4th title match.

Alexa Bliss has got a ton of main roster potential. She's Diva-ish, but she can work. I'm loving the Australian girls in NXT too. Once the current crop move on, they'll hopefully get to dominant NXT for a little bit and really flesh out characters.

I want Becky Lynch to lead a revolution, but I'm not sure she'll get a proper chance.

Next NXT Takerover special happening in New York the day before Summerslam. Same arena as Summerslam itself this year.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-cards="hidden" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FutureIsNow?src=hash">#FutureIsNow</a>...<a href="https://twitter.com/WWENXT">@WWENXT</a> takes over the <a href="https://twitter.com/barclayscenter">@barclayscenter</a> on Aug. 22nd. Tickets available Sat. July 18th at 12pm. <a href="http://t.co/XTzkBTuBFF">pic.twitter.com/XTzkBTuBFF</a></p>&mdash; Triple H (@TripleH) <a href="https://twitter.com/TripleH/status/617000053643853824">July 3, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Oooh

This is going to be a big test to see if NxT can tour.

Lots of things going for it here with SS the next night. If this were the night before WM, this would be sold out in hours if not minutes with all the travelers coming in. Not sure how SS draws for out-of-towners these days, but they must have done the research after their recent mini tour to figure that its worth it to rent out the Barclays in the NY market.

Damn, can you imagine NXT at the American Airlines Center Saturday, WM Sunday at Jerry World, Raw after WM on Monday back at AA?? Thats a thing right there.

That's a freakin trip. Meet you in Dallas?

Got movement

Sweet Jesus, I hope they sell it out.

Filler-ish? We got the landmark announcement that Tyler Breeze has a seasonal residence in Cairo.

They are pushing Finn hard, and I find it surreal they are using footage from other companies and names outside the WWE to make this kid. Now is the time to switch the NXT Title to Balor and move Owens on.

I've wanted to see Devin Taylor get in the ring against Dana Brooke for a while now, but I actually think that Charlotte would be the best pick for a tag team partner. Banks and Charlotte don't get along, but Charlotte is a common target of Emma and Dana as well. Plus, putting the two on the same side can continue "Four Horsewomen" speculation.

:y:

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.

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