Tonight’s show finds us at Full Sail, for the second episode from a taping (spoilers from which are here) that starts the jouney to May’s TakeOver: Chicago. Here's what to expect.
The Headliner(s)
In Orlando, Tye Dillinger put together a group to answer SAnitY’s numbers. But when Eric Young and crew took out No Way Jose at the last minute, Tye needed a last minute replacement. Kassius Ohno didn’t have much time to acclimate to the group, and EY, Alexander Wolfe, Killian Dain and especially Nikki Cross were still willing to do whatever it takes to win, so Dillinger came up short at TakeOver once again.
Even the culmination of a 15 year journey, getting promoted to SmackDown days later, wasn’t enough to get The Perfect Ten past his unfinished business with Young and company. So Dillinger went to General Manager William Regal, and we have ourselves the second steel cage match in Full Sail history!
The #Perfect10 @WWEDillinger looks to settle the score AND eliminate the numbers game with @TheEricYoung inside a STEEL CAGE on #WWENXT! pic.twitter.com/TWb3L6oQSb
— WWE (@WWE) April 18, 2017
This is pro wrestling, so expect Young’s followers to get involved... but Tye still has friends, too. Will they be enough to keep things on the up-and-up and let The Perfect Ten ride off to the main roster on a winning streak?
The Title Scene
Things have been pretty on the Glorious front. NXT champion Bobby Roode probably wanted to let his old rival Shinsuke Nakamura have a moment to say goodbye before starting to totally make the place in his image, right? So... what will the next steps of Roode’s makeover look like, and who will emerge from a crowded field of challengers to try and end his reign?
We know who wants to end the reign of Women’s titleholder Asuka. After the Empress of Tomorrow resorted to a few dirty tricks to beat Ember Moon at TakeOver, Moon feels cheated out of her destiny. But it seems to have only motivated Ember to finish the job next time - if the undefeated champ will give her another shot.
Still waiting on the next challengers for tag champs Authors of Pain, too. Their manager Paul Ellering has been telling everyone the dominant duo is unstoppable... maybe the rest of the division is listening.
Other stuff to keep an eye on:
- Both Drew McIntyre and Aleister Black had good showings last week... could they be next on Roode’s dance card?
- Andrade “Cien” Almas’ TakeOver record isn’t much better than Dillinger’s, but his dance card seems filled with lovely ladies from dance clubs in every city NXT visits. Will the lucha legend get focused enough to climb the NXT ladder?
- She couldn’t cost Ruby Riot a win last week, but Nikki Cross made sure the punk rocker knew she was watching. These two seem to be a collision course, and I for one can’t wait to see that wreck!
- After their latest backstage run-in, this time with old foes Aliyah & Liv Morgan, Billie Kay of the Icons ended up taking an unplanned bath last week. This being a show which airs on WWE Network, I bet that leads to a tag match (playa). More Peyton Royce is always a good thing.
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See you tonight for NXT, Cagesiders!