Well another NXT: Takeover has come and gone. NXT: Takeover The End once again delivered a thrilling 5-Star event at the home of NXT Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida. From the opening bout to the main event steel cage match the card proved intriguing. So now let’s take a look at 5 things we learned from NXT: Takeover the End.
1. The Authors of Pain have arrived!
When Jason Jordan and Chad Gable (American Alpha) came out to defend their NXT Tag Team Championships against The Revival they were in for one hell of a night. Sadly the hugely popular tag team failed to retain as Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder made history, as they became the first ever two-time NXT Tag Team Champions.
However, the night was not over as two savage looking men ambushed American Alpha and completely destroyed Jordan & Gable. Then WWE Hall of Famer Paul Ellering made his way out to the ringside to watch his new team. We would later learn that Ellering is going to manage Sunny Dhinsa and Gzim Selmani who were dubbed The Authors of Pain. This has the potential to be a huge heel tag team.
2. Shinsuke Nakamura may have a date with destiny
Both Shinsuke Nakamura and Austin Aries laid claim to a future title shot against the NXT Champion who ever it was going to be. The match that these two athletes put on was one that made you go "Oh My God," especially when Aries tried his outside dive only to go face first into the barricade which allowed Nakamura to hit Kinshasa to pick up the win.
Now surely this has put the NXT Champion Samoa Joe on notice that The King of Strong Style is coming for the title. A Nakamura v Joe feud would be the next big battle for supremacy in NXT.
3. Asuka proves she is dominant, but now she must look to Bayley
Asuka took on Nia Jax in what was arguably the hardest hitting NXT Women’s Championship match ever as these two went to war. Nia Jax will become a star as her stock continues to rise. It looked as though that Asuka was in for a tough night, but she dug deep a with a series of earth-shattering kicks retaining the title and will now more than likely look towards a date with Bayley. Bayley was unable to invoke her rematch due to an injury. She will look to reclaim her NXT Women’s Championship.
4. Will anyone be able to end the reign of Samoa Joe?
Well, what transpired in the steel cage main event was a truly back and forth match with Joe and Bálor trading shots till they no longer had anything left in the tank. Now Samoa Joe had to rely on champions luck at times in this match but for the most part, Joe was fairly dominant. He picked up the victory with a huge Muscle Buster from the middle rope to win. Now with Finn Bálor in his rear view, Joe has many potential suitors to his NXT Championship. Joe for all intents and purposes it looks like he can dominate in NXT for a long time. However, Shinsuke Nakamura is now right at the top of the line to face Samoa Joe
5. NXT is going from strength to strength
In an interview on Facebook after Takeover WWE COO and Head of NXT, Triple H was discussing what Takeover: The End meant. He discusses how far NXT has come over the last few years. From being a developmental brand to becoming the hottest brand in sports & entertainment.
With the likes of Shinsuke Nakamura, Austin Aries & Bobby Roode all signing with NXT it shows the drawing power that NXT now has alongside the fact that they are also crafting some of their own talents.
NXT has moved into Full Sail University and beyond as they head to the UK & Ireland on tour which just goes to show the accelerated growth that has helped NXT become a brand leader in sports entertainment.