– He talked about Shayna Baszler and also mentioned former UFC fighter Jessamyn Duke’s capabilities in the ring, but that they are all full at the Performance Center.
– He discussed how even the most experienced wrestlers need to learn about TV and that’s why they go to NXT, even if they’re going to be there a short amount of time.
– He said there is interest from both sides on Ronda Rousey coming to WWE but that nothing has been signed yet.
In addition to Ohno vs. Dream, TakeOver features NXT Champion Andrade Almas vs. Johnny Gargano, NXT Women’s Champion Ember Moon vs. Baszler, Adam Cole vs. Aleister Black in an extreme rules match, and NXT tag team champions Fish & O’Reilly vs. Authors of Pain.
Most of the card for NXT’s next TakeOver special was made official at last night’s television tapings at Center Stage in Atlanta.
Two more title matches were set up for TakeOver, with Shayna Baszler challenging for Ember Moon’s Women’s Championship and Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly defending their Tag Team titles against The Authors of Pain. AOP won a number one contender’s match against The Street Profits to get their title shot.
Baszler made her televised NXT in-ring debut at the tapings. She defeated Dakota Kai by referee stoppage and continued to attack her after the match until Moon made the save. Baszler later appeared following Lacey Evans vs. Aliyah, but Moon made the save again as Baszler was attacking Aliyah.
After Adam Cole vs. Aleister Black was announced for TakeOver on this week’s recap episode, an extreme rules stipulation was added for it last night. As the build to their match continued, Cole got involved and distracted Black while Black & Roderick Strong were facing Fish & O’Reilly.
Johnny Gargano also retained his NXT Championship shot by beating Velveteen Dream at the tapings and will challenge Andrade “Cien” Almas in the main event of TakeOver. The fifth match for the event hasn’t been confirmed, but Lars Sullivan called out Killian Dain in an angle last night and Strong challenged Sullivan to a match.
TakeOver: Philadelphia will take place at the Wells Fargo Center on January 27th as part of Royal Rumble weekend.
After a new number one contender was decided at this week’s NXT television tapings, WWE officially announced the series of matches that will lead to the next challenger for Andrade “Cien” Almas’ NXT Championship.
One thing of note from WWE’s announcement was that the eventual winner wasn’t included. Four matches took place at the tapings to determine who would advance to a fatal four-way number one contender’s match, with Johnny Gargano defeating Kassius Ohno and going on to win the four-way. An angle should take place over the next few weeks to have Gargano replace Velveteen Dream against Ohno and end up challenging Almas at TakeOver: Philadelphia next month.
WWE released a video with William Regal saying Drew McIntyre won’t be able to get his rematch against Almas due to the bicep injury McIntyre suffered at TakeOver: War Games. The matches he announced were Ohno vs. Velveteen Dream, Aleister Black vs. Adam Cole, Killian Dain vs. Trent Seven, and Roderick Strong vs. Lars Sullivan. Black, Dain, and Sullivan advanced to the fatal four-way along with Gargano.
Velveteen Dream wasn’t featured on Wednesday’s tapings. In something that could play into the angle with Gargano, who has been on a storyline losing streak, taking his place, Regal called the eight wrestlers he announced people whose body of work over the past year has proved their worth.
Seven “earned” his way into the qualifiers by winning a battle royal at last night’s NXT house show in Lakeland, which took place after he lost to Dain on Wednesday. Gargano wrestled Pete Dunne in the main event of that show.
Almas vs. Gargano for the NXT title was the only match confirmed for TakeOver: Philadelphia at the tapings. The special will take place at the Wells Fargo Center on January 27th as part of Royal Rumble weekend, with NXT having one more taping before that date to further build up the event.
