Throughout the day on Sun., June 13, and in the entire build to tonight’s TakeOver: In Your House event, chaos has reigned at NXT. There was a brawl in the parking lot before the show, and brawl inside the Capital Wrestling Center during the show - hell, the reason we had a five-way main event is because the Triple Threat to determine a #1 contender for Karrion Kross’ NXT title was interrupted.
Get it together, @RealKingRegal. #NXTTakeOver @JohnnyGargano @ShotziWWE @DakotaKai_WWE @RaquelWWE pic.twitter.com/Hij5Ak0lzX
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) June 14, 2021
But that’s just a wrestling show, right? I mean, there have always been jokes about how dangerous the parking lot at the Performance Center is for a reason.
Of course tonight's chaos would begin in the #WWENXT Parking Lot. #NXTTakeOver @KORcombat @JohnnyGargano @RealKingRegal
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) June 13, 2021
*insert Paul Rudd Hot Ones GIF* pic.twitter.com/r0IMYsWi0X
But it seems NXT has something else cooking. And I’m here to tell you, Cagesiders, I don’t like the smell. In Your House closed with this scene of a teary-eyed General Manager William Regal hinting he might not be the man for the job anymore...
"It's been seven years since I became the GM of #WWENXT and I've never seen so much bedlam. It's complete madness. I think it's time for a change." - @RealKingRegal #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/sH995Ch8jA
— WWE (@WWE) June 14, 2021
In addition to my above “of course there’s bedlam there are a bunch of pro wrestlers working there” arguments, I’d also say that for myself and much of the NXT Universe, Regal is not only synonymous with the brand - he’s one of the best authority figure types in the last 20 years of the business, maybe ever.
A straight shooter with a streak of the Old Villain, who will put his babyfaces in challenging situations and revel in twisting the knife in his heels. A performer who can be intense or silly as the scene calls for. Just look at non-verbal work he did in this scene from last Tuesday’s show:
So, yeah... I can’t really imagine this show without Mr. Regal. They also better not be thinking about making Triple H the regular on-screen boss, either. No offense, Haitch, but having lived through your title reign on Raw in the Aughts, and The Authority run of the 2010s, I do not want to watch another show even kind-of centered around your character.
The only sort-of acceptable option I can think of is to bring Samoa Joe around as Regal’s week-to-week right-hand/enforcer. Joe’s rumored to have been seen around Orlando of late...
Just don’t take our Regal, you bastards!
Get complete NXT TakeOver: In Your House results and coverage of every match on the card right here.