This week, NXT continues to set the stage for TakeOver: Brooklyn III, which airs on August 19 and could be the developmental brand’s biggest show yet. After a #1 Contender’s match last week, the main event is already set: Bobby Roode defending the NXT Championship against former Intercontinental Champion and 3MB member Drew McIntyre. Tonight’s episode focuses on the Women’s and Tag Team Championship, as well as the crumbling friendship between Kassius Ohno and Hideo Itami.
Ember Moon vs. Lei’D Tapa
Last week, Ember Moon competed in a great match against Ruby Riot after both women made their cases for being the new #1 Contender for Asuka’s NXT Women’s Championship. Riot almost had her beaten, but Moon’s Eclipse finishing move quickly led to victory. Tonight, Moon looks to continue her path to the NXT Women’s Championship by facing Lei’D Tapa, one of the biggest women’s wrestlers in the world who has wrestled for Impact Wrestling and will compete in the Mae Young Classic.
Tapa gets the advantage early on, but Moon quickly turns things around after a tornado snap suplex. Moon takes advantage of a groggy Tapa and climbs to the top rope to set up for the Eclipse, which of course, gets her the win. Winner: Ember Moon
After winning her second match in two weeks, Ember Moon demands a title match against Asuka at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III. Earlier this year, Moon challenged Asuka for the championship but came up short after Asuka used some underhanded tactics to stay undefeated. Moon was supposed to get her second opportunity at the Women’s Championship at TakeOver: Chicago in a Fatal Four-Way Match against Asuka, Nikki Cross, and Ruby Riot, but she was pulled from the match after suffering a shoulder injury. Now that she’s recovered, she seems more confident than ever and says that she is ready for Asuka, but the question remains, is Asuka ready for her?
Timothy Bumpers & David Ramos vs. The Authors of Pain (w/Paul Ellering)
There is only one way this match could go. The Authors of Pain debuted in NXT over a year ago and still have not lost a single match. Their most recent appearance was their NXT Tag Team Championship title defense against Heavy Machinery, where they were surprisingly outmatched in terms of weight, but they were still victorious. After that match, SAnitY made themselves known as the next team to chase down the champions.
As the Authors of Pain walk down to the ring, Nikki Cross of SAnitY appears and stops them in their tracks. While they are confused, Killian Dain and Alexander Wolfe (also of SAnitY) attack their opponents to be. When Dain and Wolfe are left standing, AoP rushes the ring and the two teams brawl. The champs get the better of the exchange, but that does not seem to faze the unstable SAnitY, with Wolfe laughing on the entrance ramp after getting attacked.
Promo Video
The Street Profits, another tag team coming to NXT soon, gets another video hyping their debut. It is hard to tell exactly who they are in terms of personality and character, but it seems like they love taking videos with Snapchat.
Backstage Segment
After his altercation with Andrade “Cien” Almas last week, No Way Jose is approached by Salida Vega (formerly known as Thea Trinidad), the woman who has been seen with Almas over the past few weeks. She says that Jose stuck his nose in their business, which is something he can’t “dance around.”
Velveteen Dream vs. Cezar Bononi
It seems like this match is overwhelmingly in Velveteen Dream’s favor given his recent track record, but Cezar Bononi did pull off a huge upset over Andrade “Cien” Almas a few weeks ago. Bononi is a 6’6” powerhouse, while Velveteen Dream has an impressive combination of speed and strength in just his early 20s.
Dream counters Bononi from hitting a powerslam and he counters with the cartwheel fireman’s carry slam. He then climbs up to the top to finish Bononi off with the Purple Rainmaker elbow drop. Winner: Velveteen Dream
Announcement
General Manager William Regal is asked about Ember Moon’s comments earlier tonight about being ready to challenge Asuka and he is very interested. He is so interested, in fact, that he makes the title match official for TakeOver: Brooklyn III. In response to this announcement, Asuka will finally make her return next week. She was last seen defeating Nikki Cross in a Last Woman Standing Match.
Hideo Itami vs. Kassius Ohno
Ever since Hideo Itami lost to Bobby Roode a couple months ago, he has turned his frustration into a newfound aggression. Sometimes, he has gone a bit overboard with his aggression, like when he hit Oney Lorcan with the GTS repeatedly until Kassius Ohno rushed the ring to stop him. Ohno has been trying to calm Itami down and get him to solve his issues “the right way,” by competing in clean matches.
After a huge boot to Itami’s jaw, Ohno attempts his signature rolling elbow, but Itami counters by kicking him for a low blow. He then attacks his friend with the GTS twice before throwing his former friend face first into the steel steps. Itami walks to the back and the show ends as Ohno is being attended to. Winner (via disqualification): Kassius Ohno
