NXT Takeover Brooklyn III

Blacktight Invasion

Turns out Takeovr Brooklyn III was almost exactly as good in reality as it was on paper. Certainly the weakest Takeover in recent memory.


Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade Almas: Almas should win this one

And he does. Decent match, though  nothing exceptional. The "GargaNo Escape" is an awful name for a submission finisher and I hope they rethink that sooner rather than later. Almas won after Vega distracted Gargano by throwing an old DIY T-Shirt at him, which was a nice touch, even if the announcers didn't call it until the replay. (1/1)

Authors of Pain vs. Sanity (NXT Tag Team Championship): Sanity wins

To me, and somewhat shockingly, this was the match of the night. I mean, it was sloppy as fuck, veering between intentional and unintentional chaos the whole time, but it was entertaining as hell. And damn, that table spot with Dain and Cross and one of the Authors. Sanity picks up the win and the belts and is immediately assaulted post-match by bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly, reforming ReDragon in NXT, presumably. (2/2)

Aleister Black vs. Hideo Itami: Black wins.

STOIC FIGHT! This was OK, but this match had almost no build, no story, and both guys are stone-faced silent serious types, so emotional detachment was damn near total. Black won clean, possibly proving my suspicion that they're more interested in him than Itami right now. (3/3)

Asuka (c) vs. Ember Moon (NXT Women's Championship): This has to be Ember's moment, right?

Wrong. I don't know what they can do with Asuka at this point. Well, I have one idea, but it's a long shot, based loosely on an old rumor. Asuka decides she's beaten everyone in NXT (true) clean (true), and there's no credible challenge for her there (true) so she vacates the title, moves to the main roster, and the NXT Women's Belt becomes the prize in teh Mae Young Classic. Otherwise, I guess Asuka beats up Liv MOrgan some more? (3/4)

Bobby Roode (c) vs. Drew McIntyre (NXT Championship): Roode retains.

Congratulations to new NXT Champion Drew McInyre, the least interesting NXT Champion since I've been watching it. Bo Dallas was more interesting, and I never knew who he was supposed to be, either. Roode is at his best in the ring when he h as a more dynamic, interesting moveset to play against, and McINtyre doesn't have that, so this was a bit of a snoozer.

Things did pick up with the post-match debut of Adam Cole, who, along with Fish and O'Reilly, beat the shit out of McIntyre, foretelling a possible ROH mini-invasion angle. I could go for an INdie Dudes Vs. NXT Homegrowns angle, with Roderick Strong as the swing vote as a guy who loves NXT but owes a debt to the indies. We'll probably just get the three of them as a stable, though. (3/5)