NXT preview (Apr. 24, 2019): Multi-brand act

NXT returns tonight (Apr. 24) with their second episode of the most recent set of tapings. They’re continuing the TakeOver: New York fallout, and there isn’t yet another announced TakeOver to build to.

Advertised for tonight:

• Johnny Gargano vs. Roderick Strong
• The Viking Raiders vs. the Street Profits
• Vanessa Borne & Aliyah vs. Candice LeRae and mystery partner
• Jaxson Ryker vs. Humberto Carrillo

As per usual, here are our five questions about NXT tonight:

1) Are the Street Profits the next tag team champions?

With the War Raiders Viking Experience Viking Raiders full time fixtures on Monday Night Raw, their NXT tag title run is probably not long for this world.

That means they will need to drop them to someone. Is that someone the Street Profits?

It certainly could be and a non-title win for Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins tonight could get them that title match. It’d be a quick turnaround from losing big matches to new tag champs, but the Profits may be one of the top tag teams in NXT currently. (Outside reDRagon, but the Undisputed ERA may be having some issues... more of that in a bit.)

The Forgotten Sons and the UK team of Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner, a team that just lost to the Profits, would be the other teams to consider.

If the Profits pick up a W tonight, we may have our answer.

After TakeOver: New York, which seemed like it was designed to make the then War Raiders a big deal, the champs dropping the titles quickly to the Profits would feel unceremonious. But there’s no point in the Raiders holding the titles while they also work Raw.

2) How many time did commentary have to come into the studio to recall this match?

When Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson, and Nigel McGuinness initially called this tag match, they probably used the team name “War Raiders” to describe the former Hanson and Rowe as that was their name at the time. But two Mondays ago, they debuted as the Viking Experience with the names Erik and Ivar.

So likely, the booth was called into the studio to redub the match using the new team name. Yes, “War Raiders” likely appeared on the tron, but creative editing could limit that.

Then, last night it was revealed they’re now named the Viking Raiders. So Mauro, Percy, and Nigel probably took another trip to the sound studio and called the match yet again.

Likely, they’re not going to pick up their phones in the next few hours in case WWE decides on the team name War Experience some time today.

3) Is the Undisputed ERA having trouble?

After Adam Cole failed to capture the NXT title at TakeOver: New York, cameras caught him chewing out his Undisputed ERA mates. This was the first time we’ve ever seen any cracks in this stable.

Last week, they assured us everything was fine, but Cole didn’t seem pleased when he learned Roderick Strong was going to have a match against Johnny Gargano instead of him.

Roderick Strong can advance his own cause with a win over Johnny. Beating the champ would rocket him to the front of the line for an opportunity at the NXT championship, which may be in his best interests, but not Adam Cole’s.

And if the ERA try to interfere but end up costing Roddy the match, that would only make things worse.

4) Who’s the mystery partner!?

What’s more fun than mystery partners?

Sure, it’s usually a letdown, but it’s fun up to the moment of the reveal.

Tonight, Candice LeRae has to find a partner to deal with the devious duo of Borne and Aliyah. So who can it be?

I doubt it’s someone who’s already established on the roster, such as Bianca Belair or Io Shirai. This feud would be beneath their spot on the card. This is a good way to introduce a new talent or give someone a spotlight to move them up the card.

Someone like Kacy Catanzaro would fit the bill quite well.

5) Where’s Jaxson headed?

Jaxson Ryker has received a lot of time on TV lately. They’ve all been matches to showcase the big man of the Forgotten Sons in winning efforts. Tonight’s match against 205 Live talent Humberto Carrillo is going to be more of that.

Eventually, Ryker needs to move past the squash stage and into something more substantial. Perhaps a feud with someone like Keith Lee is in his future. Or maybe even an eventual North American title match.

We’ll see if we get answers to these questions tonight at 8 PM.

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