WWE NXT preview (Sept. 27, 2017): RAWR

Tonight’s show finds us at Full Sail, for the first episode from a taping (spoilers from which are here) which continues the build toward November’s TakeOver: Houston. Here's what to expect.

The Headliner(s)

Last Wednesday, the new heel faction backing out of Full Sail Live like the proverbial scalded dogs. The Undisputed Era had just taken one on the chin for the first time since debuting as a unit, and they fist was formed by the unlikely alliance of tag team champions SAnitY and NXT titleholder Drew McIntyre. McIntyre definitely still has issues with the trio from Ring of Honor, but with his belt on the line against Roderick Strong next week, he’s letting his new comrades handle the next battle as Eric Young goes one-on-one with Adam Cole.

One-on-one might be a stretch. There’s no reason to think Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly won’t represent for Undisputed, or that Killian Dain, Alexander Wolfe and Nikki Cross won’t be there to corner EY (if anyone will be missing, it’s Cross, who’s got a side-project going where she’s teamed up with Ruby Riot to help the Punk Rock Ragdoll win matches against The Iconic Duo, while also annoying her).

For however long it remains a singles match, this will be Cole’s first televised one as a WWE Superstar. We’ve seen him superkick people in street clothes, but now it’s time for the real thing, BAY BAY!

Both groups might want to be looking over their shoulders for Authors of Pain. No one’s seen or heard from Paul Ellering and his men since Brooklyn, and if they haven’t debuted on the main roster by this point, they’re probably eventually going to want a chance to reclaim the tag straps.

The Title Scene

UK champ Pete Dunne actually had an earlier run-in with Cole, Fish and O’Reilly, but chose not to engage. His WWE rivals and Progress mates Trent Seven and Tyler Bate took the fight to Undisputed but were done in by the numbers game. Is that it for the UK roster this TakeOver cycle?

The NXT Women’s championship remains vacant, and we should be to the point in the taping schedule where General Manager William Regal will reveal Mae Young Classic winner Kairi Sane will compete for the title in Houston. How will her opponent or opponents be determined? A few ladies started lobbying for spots in that match last week; more are sure to follow once it’s official*.

Other stuff to keep an eye on:

- In his first words to the NXT faithful, Aleister Black was rudely - yet seductively - interrupted by Velveteen Dream. However you’d describe the tension between the two, it’s not going to just go away. They’re going to have to f... ight.

- Hopefully No Way Jose wasn’t serious when he said tweeted that he wanted another shot at Lars Sullivan, because he got destroyed the last two times they were in the same building. Seeing as we’ve already watched Lars beat-up a sizeable man in Jose, not to mention three men at once, what’s next for this Monster?

- Months after the betrayal that ended #DIY, Johnny Gargano seems to be getting some momentum as a singles star. But he’ll have to prove it against more than just Tino Sabatelli and Riddick Moss (no offense guys).

- Lots of cats and kittens we haven’t seen in a while... Andrade Almas, Ember Moon, Kassius Ohno*, Hideo Itami, Heavy Machinery... is tonight the night any of them return?

* In a preview on WWE.com which went up after this was written and scheduled, they announced that Liv Morgan and Vanessa Borne will have a match where they’ll try to impress Regal as he thinks about who should face Sane at TakeOver: Houston. That post also reveals Ohno will be in action against Italy (and the Cruiserweight Classic)’s Fabian Aichner.

NOTE: Spoilers are out there for these pre-taped broadcasts (including here), but many Cagesiders don't partake. If you are going to post or discuss spoilers for this show before they happen, or results of future shows, please use the spoiler bar in your comment.

See you tonight for NXT, Cagesiders!