NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 2016 Preview and Predictions

I’m not calling it “Back 2 Brooklyn.”

Giving their thoughts and predictions on what to expect from the PPV are members of the site @JoeyOnEarth, @TimWelcomed and @TomBlargh.

No Way Jose vs. Austin Aries

Joey:

I love No Way Jose! I have the opposite feelings of love for Austin Aries! I am interested in this because I get to witness No Way Jose make his grand entrance. The weird combination of these two feuding is one of the rare NXT TV things I’ve been into. Very excited about it and hope No Way Jose wins.

Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: No Way Jose wins.

Tim:

No Way Jose does nothing for me! In fact, I think his gimmick is lame and is very close to getting annoying. I like to have as much fun as the next person but his whole thing just isn’t for me. Austin Aries can be an awesome wrestler (even though I haven’t seen it in his WWE run) but I do not care for him as a person. He’s a no-gooder, I say! This match can hit the bricks.

Interest Level: 0/10
Prediction: No Way Jose wins.

Tom:

NO WAY! JOSE! NO WAY! JOSE! NO WAY! JOSE! I’m just hoping Brooklyn doesn’t root for Aries and we get a Jose fiesta popping the roof off the spectacular Barclays Center.

Interest Level: 6/10
Prediction: Fuck Austin Aries.

Bobby Roode vs. Andrade Almas

Joey:

This is another wacky pairing that I’m intrigued by. Similar to Aries/No Way Jose, I’m not sure if it will deliver but I’m excited to watch it unfold. Bobby Roode is hit or miss but I’ve always appreciated him. The GLORIOUS music adds 10x the interest in him. Andrade Almas desperately needs a big match here. I legitimately forgot he was a part of NXT until this match announcement.

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: Bobby Roode wins.

Tim:

Andrade Almas has been a no-go since his debut. They act like he is special but where is the proof? It’s not in this fucking pudding. This pudding taste like shit. Oh, this is coco butter body lotion? Weird.

Bobby Roode comes off heads, shoulders, knees, and toes above the rest NXT roster. All he has to do is talk on the mic and you’re all like “yeah, this guy has it.” Also, it doesn’t need to be said but his theme is untouchable. This is a wild pairing but I’m looking forward to seeing how the two warriors of the squared circle play off of each other. Hopefully Almas shows off.

Interest Level: 5/10
Prediction: Bobby Roode wins (with the help of James Storm?)

Tom:

Man, I feel bad for old Andrade “Cien” Almas. His current character and attire is up there as one of NXT’s all-time worst – it feels as bad a misstep as Becky Lynch’s original Irish riverdancing routine. Hopefully they repackage him soon into something less appalling, because the nerds on Twitter say he’s actually pretty great, so it’ll be a shame if he gets wasted.

All I’ve seen of Bobby Roode as an NXT Superstar are the “Glorious Bomb” videos young Jonathan Gargano and Tommy Ciampa have been doing, so needless to say, he’s already my absolute favourite. His last couple of years in TNA were fairly meandering, but I still have happy memories of his title run and he’s a TNA refugee I’m actually glad to see show up in “Paul’s playground”. Given his size, look and ability, he’s something that stands out in NXT right now, and that’s always interesting.

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: Big Bobby brings one home.

Ember Moon vs. Billie Kay

Joey:

Ember Moon is good! I like her! It’s very telling that WWE is choosing to debut her on such a big show.

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: Ember Moon does well!

Tim:

I was super excited when E-Moon was signed. I’m not sure I am a fan of her new name! It sounds like an item you’d choose at the first of a Dark Souls game and not ever know what to do with it. I really think B-Kay is a good pick for her first televised opponent. I’m expecting this to be one of those solid and quick debut matches NXT does.

Interest Level: 5/10
Prediction: Ember Moon wins.

Tom:

Very excited to see Ember debut as NXT could use someone fantastic to spearhead the second wave of the women’s division. I’m not hugely familiar with her work on the indies, except for her stunner-esque finisher, which I can’t wait for Stone Cold to whine about.

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: Ember Moon, she’s a hell of a talent, but that stunner needs to have more of an explosive impact, yah dig? Now lemme ask you ’bout the lost art of the promo.

The Revival vs. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa for the NXT Tag Team Championship

Joey:

Guys and gals, this is my most anticipated match of Summerslam weekend. I’ve read the tweets stating these two teams have been having tremendous matches on the NXT house shows. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa are by far my favorite stars in NXT. The Revival have also won me over! I’m expecting this to steal the show. NXT will need new stars and I’m thinking Gargano/Ciampa will split to become singles stars in the near future. Revival wins.

Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: The Revival wins.

Tim:

Hey, this big boy right here thinks this will be good. Toe to tip this match looks like a winner. Ciampa and Gargano are excellent together. Their CWC match really helped make them stick out even more in WWE. I want them to win the titles and not go for the Ciampa turn yet but it’s probably the best time for it to happen.

I don’t care for those rotten Revival boys as characters but they can have some great matches. This one is for the wrestling fans. I’m expecting “fight forever” chants to Take Over this match if you catch my drift.

Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: The Revival wins.

Tom:

Gargano and Ciampa are a very fun team and, while I think The Revival have improved a good deal, there’s still something hokey about them and their ’80s tag team tribute act. From the jackets to the spots they use, it can all feel a little shallow. What they do can still result in good matches, but it’s not bringing much new to the table and I don’t know how sustainable it is.

Also, Scott Dawson seems like a miserable prick. I know, he’s working that #MemphisHeat, getting the #InternetMarks riled up because he’s a #RealHeel. However, this tweet he sent out when American Alpha debuted on Smackdown made me question his actual personality:

You’re welcome. #SDLive

— Scott Dawson (@ScottDawsonWWE) August 3, 2016

That doesn’t come across as being “in character”, that comes across like a guy trying to take some amount of credit for the success and hard work of two other guys.  Unless “bitter arsehole” is his character, in which case, I got worked!!!!

Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: #QTMarshall wins.

Asuka vs. Bayley for the NXT Women’s Championship

Joey:

These two had an effective but somewhat lackluster match at TakeOver: Dallas. Asuka has failed to follow the title reign of Bayley and this match is pivotal to turning that around. I can’t imagine they match the Sasha/Bayley match from last year but I’m looking forward to watching them try. I hate how positive I am about everything too, guys. Sorry.

Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: Asuka wins.

Tim:

Asuka is great but I think NXT booking has been pretty boring for most of her reign so far. The last match between these two did what it needed to do but I felt like there was so much more these two could do together. I’m glad they’re getting a second chance to go at it for the belt on a big show. I’m letting myself be excited for this one. I doubt they’ll fully walk out of the shadow of last year’s classic between Banks and Bayley but I know they’re going to try.

Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: Asuka wins.

Tom:

I’m still very onboard with Asuka and seeing how she and Bayley have developed their characters in this feud is really the only thing I’ll regularly check the weekly NXT TV show for. Their Dallas match was good but not on the same level as other NXT women’s title matches, so I’m really hoping this one hits those same peaks that last year’s Brooklyn match hit.

Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: Asuka wins.

Samoa Joe vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the NXT Championship

Joey:

This was the right call for the main event. Shinsuke Nakamura will be by far the most popular performer and Samoa Joe is the perfect man to beat for his first NXT Championship reign. Joe is ready for the main roster and his heel run has been successful enough for his title loss to mean something. I’m most excited to see the pageantry of Nakamura in front of such a big crowd.

Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: Shinsuke Nakamura wins.

Tim:

This has everything it needs to be an incredible experience. The build has been simple but entertaining to me. These two men have so much going for them. I have hardly any doubts about these two going all out for Nakamura’s big victory over Samoa Joe. Hurry and bring Samoa Joe to Smackdown, please! *taps mic* Lifelong Samoa Joe fan here. *mic squeals* Yes, even through the dark times. *mic falls off the stand* YEAH, I REMEMBER HIS MACHETE

Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: Shinsuke Nakamura wins.

Tom:

I really, really liked Joe’s match in Dallas and I hope we get something in a similar vein here (and no, even with the “vein” wordplay, I don’t mean in terms of hoping there’s blood. However, I will never apologize for my love of seeing grown men roll around in each other’s bodily fluids).

I haven’t been keeping up with these two on the NXT weekly show but I’m sure it’ll be a good time. I think the last time I saw Nakamura have a match with a guy of Joe’s size, it was with Kevin Steen at that ROH/New Japan show. I loved that one a good bit and, even though there’s some pretty key differences between Kev and Joe, I’m still hoping for something on that level.

Also, I’m hoping that Joe drops the title and we see him given a chance on the main roster – Smackdown seems like it’d be the best fit for him, especially since we’re getting less and less time for a high-profile Joe/Cena match to become a reality.

Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: Shinsuke Nakamura wins.