The Big News: Shinsuke Nakamura taunted Samoa Joe and faked taking the champion’s nose while Joe was angrily trying to go through a dozen security guards to get to Nakamura.

The Medium News: Bayley and Asuka put pen to paper to make their NXT Women’s Championship match at TakeOver official.

The Little Beaver Sized News: Bobby Roode’s in-ring debut, a tag team title match, and No Way Jose vs. Austin Aries were made official for TakeOver.

*********

Moments before the show began, Bobby Roode walked into William Regal’s office. They shook hands and went their separate ways before Roode rubbed his hands together and said this would be great.

*********

On the other side of the credits, Mr. Regal was standing mid-ring to oversee a contract signing between NXT Women’s Champion Asuka and Bayley. Asuka defeated Bayley for the title in Dallas, and the rematch will test if Bayley can climb that mountain one more time.

Bayley brought up that she has faced every woman that has walked in the door for the last three-plus years and she was always the underdog until last year when she won the title in Brooklyn. She said if Brooklyn was a dream, Dallas was a nightmare. 

She said she was not prepared for how tough Dallas would be, but she is prepared now. The Asuka mystique is gone for her, and she plans on beating Asuka in NXT’s return to Brooklyn for the belt.

Asuka said that she respects Bayley, but told her opponent she doesn’t have what it takes to win. Asuka extended her hand but Bayley would not shake it, instead telling her to sign the contract and be ready for the fight of her life.

After signing the contract, the two women went face-to-face, with Asuka holding the seven pounds of silver and purple aloft before walking away.

*********

The Authors of Pain defeated Nails & Ryzin

For those of us keeping count, The Authors of Pain go into this match with a 3-0 record in NXT, they’ve been on TV for 63 days, and still do not have names. At least this week their opponents have names, albeit last names only. Ryzin got pinned with the combination leg sweep/clothesline in less than a minute.

The Authors of Pain were about to beat up Nails some more when TM61 randomly ran in for the save before being killed to death in a confrontation that didn’t even last as long as the match.

*********

Shinsuke Nakamura told Cathy Kelley that he is not hard to find, but he’ll find Samoa Joe when he wants to.

*********

Andrade “Cien” Almas defeated Angelo Dawkins

Andrade Almas is back for his third match and the crowd is still completely indifferent to him. Angelo Dawkins hasn’t been around in a while and is most fondly remembered for always wearing two headbands.

Dawkins did a 360 degree turn while splashing Almas in the corner, and despite being the heel, the fans were ever so slightly more into Dawkins. Almas won with a hammerlock DDT.

GLORIOUS! The greatest theme in NXT history prefaced Bobby Roode’s entrance into the arena. Roode came out and applauded for Almas, congratulating him on having the honor of facing Roode at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II.

Roode then mocked Almas by talking slowly because Almas didn’t understand English. He told Almas that no one in the arena will be paying to see him, they are paying to see Bobby Roode.

*********

Austin Aries was talking about oranges in Regal’s office, before saying NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II is not special because The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived doesn’t have a match. Regal mockingly agreed with him and booked him in a match with No Way Jose at the show.

*********

Billie Kay defeated Liv Morgan

Billie Kay is making a career off the time she did a three-minute job against Dana Brooke on SmackDown. Liv Morgan is back for the first time in a couple months, causing Corey Graves to flip out about New Jersey.

Both women looked good here but have a long way to go. Morgan is very enthusiastic, which can be good. Kay won her second match in a row with a big boot.

*********

Rich Swann, Noam Dar, and Jack Gallagher (the greatest wrestler ever) were shown at ringside. Graves and Tom Phillips talked about how the first round was still going on before they showed highlights of Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa, which was actually the last first round match.

This led to Gargano and Ciampa meeting with Regal. He put over their match last week before informing them they are challenging The Revival for the NXT Tag Team Championship at TakeOver.

Gargano and Ciampa vowed to become champions in Brooklyn.

*********

Ember Moon is debuting at TakeOver.

*********

Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa defeated Tucker Knight & Patrick Clark

One year ago, Gargano and Ciampa debuted in NXT during the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament. And one year ago, Patrick Clark was on Tough Enough.

This was more competitive than most squash matches. Tucker Knight is a fast man for being close to 300 pounds and has potential. The number one contenders picked up the win with the double kick to Knight.

*********

Mojo Rawley was hyping himself up for the main event, saying he’s bringing the fight right to Samoa Joe.

*********

NXT Champion Samoa Joe defeated Mojo Rawley

Mojo Rawley is angry about being laid out by Samoa Joe last week, so he charged at Joe to start the match. They exchanged headbutts on the floor and both men no-sold it. For the first minute, this was the most intense (in a good way) I have ever seen Rawley.

Unfortunately for Rawley, the match went longer than one minute. Joe beat him down hard. Rawley hit a full nelson slam, but he was mostly at Joe’s mercy here. Joe screamed Nakamura’s name as he slapped on the Coquina Clutch for the submission win.

After the match, Joe put the clutch back on and screamed for Nakamura until his music played. Nakamura walked down the ramp, but a dozen security guards got between them to hold Joe back. Nakamura was content with taunting Joe while he tried to fight through security to get to the King of Strong Style.

Nakamura faked taking Joe’s nose and then slapped him in the head as the show went off the air.

We are just one week away from TakeOver, and until next week’s go-home show, thank you for reading and remember to say your vitamins and take your prayers!