It seemed like a #1 contender’s match from the time it was set-up, and it turns out Aleister Black’s bout with Killian Dain on the Mar. 7 episode of NXT did determine who the next challenger for Andrade “Cien” Almas’ NXT championship would be.
Black survived a beating at the hands of SAnitY’s big man, hitting his Black Mass finisher in Randy Orton-like fashion to pin Dain. Shortly after the episode aired on WWE Network, General Manager William Regal made the above announcement on all the company’s online outlets.
Next week on NXT, the two men will sign the contract for their TakeOver: New Orleans showdown. When that happens, Almas’ business associate Zelina Vega will undoubtedly be looking for an opportunity to play mind games with Black like she did with Cien’s last rival, Johnny Gargano.
Their match on Sat., April 7 in Smoothie King Center is a rematch for Andrade and Aleister. They faced each other at last spring’s TakeOver: Orlando show in the Dutchman’s on-screen WWE debut, and when Almas was drifting down the mid-card before his heel turn and partnership with Vega revitalized his gimmick - and his career.
Black vs. Almas is the second official match for New Orleans, joining an NXT tag title match between the still-be-determined winners of the third Dusty Rhodes Classic Tag Team Tournament and Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly of Undisputed ERA (head here for full spoilers from the Mar. 7 taping for more information about the build to TakeOver).
Excited for this one, Cagesiders?