NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II airs this Saturday, August 20, live on WWE Network. The latest NXT live special returns to Brooklyn with high profile matches for the NXT, NXT Women’s and NXT Tag Team Championship, as well as the in-ring debuts of Booby Roode and Ember Moon.
Here’s the complete NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II card as we know it:
1. NXT Championship Match: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
2. NXT Women’s Championship Match: Asuka (c) vs. Bayley
3. NXT Tag Team Championship Match: The Revival (c) vs. Johnny Gargano y Tommaso Ciampa
4. Bobby Roode vs. Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas
5. Austin Aries vs. No Way Jose
6. Ember Moon vs. Billie Kay
As always, we’re here with our full predictions and analysis. Here’s what we think will happen on the show, so make sure you drop down into our comments section and let us know what you think. Especially re: No Way Jose.
Ember Moon vs. Billie Kay
What You Need To Know: Billie Kay’s character is a slightly tall lady who loves Carmen, might be an ice queen (?) and wrestled once on Smackdown and let it go to her head. She wants a match at TakeOver. Conveniently, TakeOver is also set to be the debut of the “mysterious” EMBER MOON aka former independent standout Athena, a D&D ninja werewolf lady (?) with the greatest finisher in wrestling. The “D&D ninja werewolf” thing is based on the preview vignettes of her standing around in the woods so none of that’s for certain, but that finish, y’all are gonna trip.
What Will Happen: An easy win for Ember. She should be THE centerpiece of the women’s division going forward, and is reasonably the only person we could see eventually defeating Asuka. For real. Billie Kay will spend the rest of the night sulking around backstage while Peyton Royce repeatedly asks her if she’d like to smell this one flower.
Staff Picks
Bill Hanstock – Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly, indie stars gotta win their big debut matches. This ain’t Lucha Underground, mister. Ember Moon gets the O Face victory, renamed the Total Eclipse or something.
Scott Heisel – Yeah, like they’re gonna have someone with weeks of hype vignettes lose their first match.
Ross Bentley – If this is Billie Kay, it’s going to be a more competitive matchup than people think. Remember that Kay is being built up at least a little bit after getting some wins on NXT TV. There is absolutely no depth in the NXT women’s division right now, so people like Kay and Peyton Royce need to be somewhat protected. That said, Ember Moon will obviously take the win in her debut and likely get hotshotted into a program with Asuka because she is dope.
Joe Starr – On one hand, Billie Kay gently big booting Moon to death in her debut would make her instantly. On the other hand, lol Ember Moon.
David D. – I saw Athena wrestle at a show during WrestleMania 30 weekend and I’ve been waiting for this moment ever since. Ember Moon is a lock for breakout star and she and Asuka are destined to have a five star classic one day. I’m more excited for Ember’s debut than I am 95 percent of anything else happening this weekend.
Austin Aries vs. No Way Jose
What You Need To Know: Austin Aries is a very small, very arrogant man who is deeply concerned about his vitamin intake and whether or not he’s the biggest star in the company. He suffered a tough loss to Shinsuke Nakamura at the previous TakeOver, and took out that frustration on a surprisingly gigantic, dancing Dominican whose name is a saying.
What Will Happen: I’ve got a weird suspicion that this match and Bobby Roode vs. Cien Almas line up too perfectly. The conspiracy theorist in me thinks they’ll find a way to combine the two, turning it into an impromptu tag match and giving us two strong, new teams for the upcoming Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
If not, I think Aries gets the win. Jose can take a loss without really losing anything — he hasn’t gained or lost anything since showing up, and you either love him or hate him based on his basic existence — and Aries needs a big win. I’ll say Aries with a handful of tights, whether it’s a tag match or not.
Staff Picks
Bill Hanstock – This is another tough one to call, but it might be the match that I’m most looking forward to. Aries and Corbin had a great match that told an awesome story, and now we get to see that alignment the other way. Jose gets a mean streak and gets close, but Aries proves to be just too crafty. Ol’ Sparklebutt picks up the win here.
Scott Heisel – No Way Jose is the kind of character who really doesn’t ever need to win, so I fully expect him to lose to Someone Who Was Once The Hottest Free Agent In The Industry But Is Now Just Another Guy With Oddly Manicured Facial Hair.
Ross Bentley – The safe pick here is certainly Aries, but I’m going with Jose for the upset. Jose’s promo a few weeks ago where he showed his angry side really turned a lot of people into fans, and while there’s still a ways for him to go in-ring, there’s something clearly there. Aries doesn’t need a win here for any reason, so he should do the job for Jose to build him up going forward.
Joe Starr – Is there a third option that involves them just dancing together again? Because I want that. Or the match ends because the guards from the asylum No Way Jose broke out of come back for him and the whole thing ends in a no contest.
David D. – I can’t believe how No Way Jose has already evolved into a fully fleshed out character. How did this happen? Either way, Aries cheats and wins in a match that should help Jose become a better wrestler.
Bobby Roode vs. Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas
What You Need To Know: Bobby Roode wants to make NXT a better place to work. He wants to replace the people in the crowd with presidents and dignitaries. To do that, he has to be … good at wrestling? I don’t know, but he’s having his official on-screen in-ring NXT debut here against Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas, a world-traveled Chippendales dancer suffering from Apollo Crews Disease. He’s great and he’s got all the tools, but he’s got less than zero character development and a lukewarm crowd response for his troubles.
What Will Happen: Copy/paste the Aries/No Way Jose blurb. These matches are just too similar.
If they don’t end up being jammed into a single thing, I’ll take Almas here. Bobby Roode’s character is that he’s “glorious” and better than everyone, so having him shockingly lose his NXT debut to a guy like Almas would be a fun call. Roode could get hot about it, and we could build to a rematch that would feel like an actual thing, and not like filler thrown together to get two deserving guys a spot on an underdeveloped card.
I’d love to see Roode take forever with his entrance and get caught with something quick, but hey, if they want to go 15, I’ll take that too.
Staff Picks
Bill Hanstock – Roode is clearly destined for the main event scene for the NXT long haul, but I can’t think of anyone on the roster who needs a high-profile victory more desperately than Almas. This is a match with huge pivotal potential for both men, but the Brooklyn crowd has the potential to tank Almas for a good long while. I’ll say Roode wins via cheating, just so he can back up his words and not be the Eric Young of NXT.
Scott Heisel – [insert witty #GLORIOUSBOMB reference here, and then say something punchy like “Roode gets the decisive victory.” Whatever you do, don’t let on that you’ve never seen a single one of his matches in TNA before and truly know nothing about him except that he kind of looks like current-era Triple H and has the best theme song in the business right now]
Ross Bentley – Glorious Bobby Roo is so simple yet so brilliant. Almas has absolutely no momentum going for him, and dropping the mask might have been the worst thing that’s happened to his career. This is Roode’s time to shine and he could certainly be positioned for a future title opportunity.
Joe Starr – Roode by a mile. Finding Savio Vega’s gear in an old treasure chest isn’t going to win you any big matches, Almas. Secondary prediction: After Bobby Roode wins, they just play his theme song on a loop for a half hour.
David D. – The crowd gets really obnoxious and Roode wins a match that is overshadowed by a theme song and a singalong.
NXT Tag Team Championship Match: The Revival (c) vs. Johnny Gargano y Tommaso Ciampa
What You Need To Know: The Revival go hard, all day all night. They want to hear you say yeah. They’re probably the best tag team in the world, but they look like undersized Andersons so they’ve got a really confrontational superiority complex. They’re up against a hot upstart team of Cruiserweight Classic competitors who’ve already pinned them once and might be able to do it again.
What Will Happen: This one’s tough. I love The Revival and would love to see them be tag champs for a good minute, but I also know the Dusty Classic’s coming up, and that if Aries and Roode are gonna be a team (like I’m totally just guessing) you’re gonna want to get the belts on them quick. What better way to do that than by having the thorn in the Revival’s side surprise them again and win the straps, only to get wrecked and transition them to the Dirty Heels?
I’m going to formally pick the surprise win, but I’m not confident in it. This could just be one of those TakeOvers where all the champions retain, and it was still great because the match quality was so high.
Bonus points if Kota Ibushi and Cedric Alexander show up for any reason.
Staff Picks
Bill Hanstock – This is probably the toughest match on the card to call, if not the toughest match of the weekend. Tommaso and Johnny winning the titles feels like the logical end to this story, but it also feels … way too soon, kinda. Perhaps the Revival take advantage of the CWC match causing the good guys to not ENTIRELY be on the same page? I feel like the Revival retains here, and the tag division continues to build around them, TM61 and the Authors of Pain until Garg and Chomp get built back up again.
Scott Heisel – I feel like everyone thinks Gargampa don’t stand a chance here, but I’m gonna pick the underdogs in an upset, only so whoever is on the announce team can mimic Mike Breen’s “Cleveland is a city of champions once again!” call from the NBA Finals.
Ross Bentley – Unless you’re calling them up (which you’re not), there’s no reason to take the belts off The Revival right now, who are maybe the most underrated wrestlers of 2016. I’m expecting big things out of this match after Gargano/Ciampa’s performance in the Cruiserweight Classic, but it’s not their time yet and Dash and Dawson will retain.
Joe Starr – It is so rare that WWE is able to build towards a match without the teams fighting each other over and over again, so appreciate this gem while we’ve got it, kids. They even used the Cruiserweight Classic to push this story. That’s every part of the buffalo, y’all. Ciampa and Gargano are taking the titles. Because the Authors of Pain need someone to kill to death.
David D. – A title has to change hands, right? Maybe not. This is a tough call since I have mostly heels winning, I guess Gargano and Ciampa gotta win here and give us a celebration. This is the sleeper for match of the night.
NXT Women’s Championship Match: Asuka (c) vs. Bayley
What You Need To Know: Bayley is the true heart and soul of NXT, a character that has been around for years, spanned “generations” of NXT talent and inspired arenas full of young girls to be happy and live their dreams. She’s great, and she’s on the cusp of main-roster mega-stardom. Before that, she wants to regain the NXT Women’s Championship and become the first-ever two-time champ. To do that, she needs a f*cking miracle.
What Will Happen: Asuka.
I kinda wanted to leave it at that, but yeah, Asuka’s gotta take this. I don’t want Bayley to go up to the main show and get all petulant and weird as a character either, but it’s time for her to get to be a happy TV millionaire. Asuka vs. Ember Moon needs to happen, and it needs to happen with the highest stakes, so yeah, Asuka puts the fear of God in Bayley again, a little respect is earned, and we cry and cry and cry as we wave goodbye to the last true babyface.
Staff Picks
Bill Hanstock – Last year, Bayley harnessed the power of hugs and believing in yourself to achieve her dream. This year, she’s going to use her serious side and mean streak and … fall short of her goal of becoming the first two-time Women’s Champion. Asuka proves that monsters are real, but they earn each other’s respect in the process. This is Bayley’s swan song in NXT, but she ends up on the losing end before the crowd showers her in tears and adulation.
Scott Heisel – There are no strong female heels in NXT right now, so might as well have the champ take up that role. Here’s what I really want: Asuka should absolutely brutalize Bayley, a la Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn. Have the match end from ref stoppage. Hell, make it Lost in Cleveland Pt. II, with Asuka as Vader and Bayley as Cactus Jack. (If we see a piledriver to the exposed concrete inside the Barclays Center, I will run through the streets of Cleveland in nothing but John Cena sneakers and record it for With Spandex’s Instagram account.)
Ross Bentley – The Smackdown women’s division needs Bayley yesterday. Outside of Becky Lynch, there are no babyfaces to anchor the division (sorry, Carmella). We already know she can have great matches with Lynch, Bliss and even Eva Marie, so SD seems like the home for her come next week. Because of that, I’ll pick Asuka to retain here, but after much closer match than their bout in Dallas.
Joe Starr – I honestly don’t know what this is supposed to end up looking like. Right now NXT has nobody in the women’s division that could believably run with Asuka until the one called Ember Moon gets settled in. Does Asuka kill Bayley again, or does Bayley pick up her second title reign? Either way, it probably needs to end with Bayley on the main roster. She seems (understandably) bored.
David D. – I think we’re getting a full on nasty Asuka heel turn. I’d love it if this was the NXT version of Brock vs. Cena at SummerSlam where Asuka just destroys Bayley from beginning to end and savages her. It’s time to get Asuka to the next level.
NXT Championship Match: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
What You Need To Know: Shinsuke Nakamura is one of the most popular, charismatic and seemingly unstoppable competitors in the world. He’s defeated Sami Zayn, Finn Balor and even WESLEY BLAKE, so it’s time for him to challenge for the top prize in the company. To win it, he’ll have to face a pissed-off wrecking ball with a short fuse and a bone to pick with the people running the show.
What Will Happen: Nakamura is the greatest, sure, but does he need the NXT Championship? Of course not.
The smart call here for me would be to give Nakamura his first loss, even if it’s not clean as a whistle. SOMEBODY has to be able to beat him or at least temporarily stun or intimidate him, and hell, Samoa Joe beat THE DEMON. The next most powerful thing is Nakamura, right?
I’ll take Joe, but no matter what happens, this should be one of the best matches of the year. An absolute must-see. Bonus points if they use it to transition the champ into a feud with Hideo Itami, who should probably be on this damn card somewhere.
Staff Picks
Bill Hanstock – I’m with Brandon on this and I just want Samoan Joseph to SummerSlam ’14 Nakamura into oblivion. I don’t think that’s necessarily going to happen, but I think Joe will still retain here. Nakamura will play cat and mouse with him for a while, but eventually they’ll get down to business and get their Strong Style juices all over everything. Nakamura comes up just short and probably heads to the main roster soon enough.
Scott Heisel – This one is a serious coin-flip for me. I, for one, welcome our new Samoan overlord, and would love to see him have, like, an 18-month title reign to really cement him as NXT’s unbeatable monster. But like everyone else with two eyes, two ears and a functioning heart, I also adore Shinsuke Nakamura. It seems a little early for him to get an NXT Championship run, but I’ve been wrong many times before. I’m gonna pick Joe to retain, but I’m also gonna predict that no matter who wins, the loser is getting called up ASAP.
Ross Bentley – It’s really tough to imagine anyone in NXT pinning Shinsuke Nakamura anytime soon, but Joe is still relatively short into his title reign. I know this is the biggest NXT show of the year, but I’m still projecting some sort of dusty finish here, likely a Joe disqualification setting up a rematch.
Joe Starr – I love Nakamura, but hot streaks were meant to be broken. I’m assuming his is broken by a cheap win and Samoa Joe standing over him holding the title, flanked by two Authors of Pain. Let’s give Nak some deeper motivations to chase the title beyond ‘because he is rad.’
David D. – I really like Joe as NXT Champion who recreates his long run at the top that he had at ROH. Joe should just demolish everyone for the next year, even Nakamura. I think Nakamura is getting a call up soon, so he’s bowing out. After Joe wins, Itami comes out and gives him a GTS for injuring him last year even though I have no clue if Joe was even in NXT at the time.
