First off, apologies for this post being a little late. The end of Henry's Universe Mode took up most of my time over the past few days.
Brooklyn has basically become NXT's WrestleMania, and they've delivered some pretty big moments in the past on these shows. This show did feature some pretty big changes, as championships changed hands in NXT for the first time since January. There were a couple of absolutely fantastic matches, and an overly long, stagnant main event, which has become pretty standard fare for Takeovers.
Brooklyn has basically become NXT's WrestleMania, and they've delivered some pretty big moments in the past on these shows. This show did feature some pretty big changes, as championships changed hands in NXT for the first time since January. There were a couple of absolutely fantastic matches, and an overly long, stagnant main event, which has become pretty standard fare for Takeovers.
NXT Takeover: Brooklyn II Score: 8/10
- Maybe the trick would be to move NXT Championship matches to the open of the show is a smart idea? NXT crowds are so hot at the start of these shows, and it really helps elevate matches to the next level.
- Not that Andrade Almas and Johnny Gargano really needed any help. These guys have the reputation they do for a reason, and this is perhaps the best both have looked since coming to NXT. Gargano is one of the very best pure faces in all of wrestling, and Almas' heel work over the past few months has been top notch. The way NXT has booked around Tommaso Ciampa's injury and still developing his story with Gargano is incredibly intelligent, and this was a very smart finish.
- It's high time the Authors of Pain start getting their due, because they proved on this night that they truly can go. What's amazing to me about AOP matches is how unique and different almost every match feels. From their title win in San Antonio, the triple threat match in Orlando, the ladder match in Chicago and now this clash with Sanity, each match is good in its own way. This match put Alexander Wolfe, Killian Dain, Nikki Cross and Eric Young over in a huge way, all but completing a face turn for the group along the way. Just marvelous stuff.
- Aleister Black's presentation on NXT has been very solid, and he had a good match with Hideo Itami here. On a night full of big moments, this was a true mid card match, which isn't a huge complaint. I do feel this match felt a little too much like an exhibition rather than full carnage, but that isn't a big deal.
- Why Asuka and Ember Moon didn't main event this show is absolutely baffling. I mean, I do have a pretty good idea why, and I'll discuss that at the end, but this was clearly the biggest match on this card. Asuka did have a very good match last year in Brooklyn with Bayley, but this match was far superior in my opinion. This was absolutely the emotional high point of the evening, and nothing else had a prayer of following it. Asuka's dominant run on NXT has taken a lot of the suspense and drama out of her matches, but with many(including myself) believing that this would be her first loss, there was plenty of it here. Those ridiculous near falls in the closing moments were heart-stopping, and the crowd was completely invested. This is simply one of those matches you have to see for yourself.
- I've given Bobby Roode a lot of slack in these reviews, but I actually didn't mind his performance in the main event. A lot of the problems in this match were to do with the crowd, who were burned out after the previous match, and his dance partner. Drew McIntyre simply isn't a natural babyface, and NXT has really bungled his return. Instead of a man desperate to prove himself on the grandest stage after failing once before, he's just become a stereotypical white meat face. His athletic gifts are obvious, but he just didn't really feel like he belonged in this spot. In a lot of ways, he didn't. This should've been Roderick Strong's moment, especially given what happened after the match. Maybe there's some hope for Drew's run as champ, but I get a feeling it won't be lasting very long....
- Because Adam Cole has arrived to NXT! There have been a lot of rumors hinting a possible ROH-stable, and together with Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly, they've got themselves a really hot start. Again, though, this should've been Roderick Strong's spot. Cole could've cost Roode the belt, helping Strong finally become champ. Then, you can stay the course with Roddy as a face, battling Cole, or turn him heel and have lead the group. Either way, it could've been magic. But I suppose we can't think about what might've been.
7/10
The lack of a strong(pun intended) main event costs NXT dearly, as with Asuka and Ember in that spot, this is among the very best Takeovers ever. Even with the match order the way it was, this was still a solid, enjoyable show, that should help continue to lead NXT into the future.
- Not that Andrade Almas and Johnny Gargano really needed any help. These guys have the reputation they do for a reason, and this is perhaps the best both have looked since coming to NXT. Gargano is one of the very best pure faces in all of wrestling, and Almas' heel work over the past few months has been top notch. The way NXT has booked around Tommaso Ciampa's injury and still developing his story with Gargano is incredibly intelligent, and this was a very smart finish.
- It's high time the Authors of Pain start getting their due, because they proved on this night that they truly can go. What's amazing to me about AOP matches is how unique and different almost every match feels. From their title win in San Antonio, the triple threat match in Orlando, the ladder match in Chicago and now this clash with Sanity, each match is good in its own way. This match put Alexander Wolfe, Killian Dain, Nikki Cross and Eric Young over in a huge way, all but completing a face turn for the group along the way. Just marvelous stuff.
- Aleister Black's presentation on NXT has been very solid, and he had a good match with Hideo Itami here. On a night full of big moments, this was a true mid card match, which isn't a huge complaint. I do feel this match felt a little too much like an exhibition rather than full carnage, but that isn't a big deal.
- Why Asuka and Ember Moon didn't main event this show is absolutely baffling. I mean, I do have a pretty good idea why, and I'll discuss that at the end, but this was clearly the biggest match on this card. Asuka did have a very good match last year in Brooklyn with Bayley, but this match was far superior in my opinion. This was absolutely the emotional high point of the evening, and nothing else had a prayer of following it. Asuka's dominant run on NXT has taken a lot of the suspense and drama out of her matches, but with many(including myself) believing that this would be her first loss, there was plenty of it here. Those ridiculous near falls in the closing moments were heart-stopping, and the crowd was completely invested. This is simply one of those matches you have to see for yourself.
- I've given Bobby Roode a lot of slack in these reviews, but I actually didn't mind his performance in the main event. A lot of the problems in this match were to do with the crowd, who were burned out after the previous match, and his dance partner. Drew McIntyre simply isn't a natural babyface, and NXT has really bungled his return. Instead of a man desperate to prove himself on the grandest stage after failing once before, he's just become a stereotypical white meat face. His athletic gifts are obvious, but he just didn't really feel like he belonged in this spot. In a lot of ways, he didn't. This should've been Roderick Strong's moment, especially given what happened after the match. Maybe there's some hope for Drew's run as champ, but I get a feeling it won't be lasting very long....
- Because Adam Cole has arrived to NXT! There have been a lot of rumors hinting a possible ROH-stable, and together with Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly, they've got themselves a really hot start. Again, though, this should've been Roderick Strong's spot. Cole could've cost Roode the belt, helping Strong finally become champ. Then, you can stay the course with Roddy as a face, battling Cole, or turn him heel and have lead the group. Either way, it could've been magic. But I suppose we can't think about what might've been.
7/10
The lack of a strong(pun intended) main event costs NXT dearly, as with Asuka and Ember in that spot, this is among the very best Takeovers ever. Even with the match order the way it was, this was still a solid, enjoyable show, that should help continue to lead NXT into the future.
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