It is amazing to sit back and think that it has only been nine months since NXT first took Texas by storm the weekend of Wrestlemania 32.
That night American Alpha captured the NXT Tag Team Championships from The Revival , Finn Balor retained his NXT Championship against Samoa Joe, Asuka captured the NXT Women's Championship from Bayley , and Shinsuke Nakamura arrived along with the phenomena known as Strong Style with win over Sami Zayn.
Watching it all from his seat was a free agent named Bobby Roode.
Fast forward to January 27 and the landscape of NXT has been altered dramatically.
Balor would be drafted to Raw and was the inaugrial Universal Champion.
American Alpha would be drafted to Smackdown Live and currently reign as its Tag Team Champions.
Bayley moved to Raw in August 2016 and will challenge Charlotte Flair for the Raw Women's Championship at the Royal Rumble
Sami Zayn moved to Raw full time and is a participant in the 2017 Royal Rumble.
Nakamura and Joe would trade the NXT Championship with Shinsuke currently enjoying his second reign on top.
In the wake of those who moved on, Asuka has maintained her grip on the Women's Championship and a new set of hungry men and women have come onto the scene.
Tonight in San Antonio, Texas new legacies will be forged as everyone aims to leave a lasting impression on all who witness the next Takeover spectacle.
Some destinies will be reached while others will be extinguished. The men and women of NXT each share the pride of their journey to the Alamo Dome and the night promises to be every bit of memorable as fans have come to expect from the brand.
The Kickoff Show begins at 7 P.M. with a panel of Charley Caruso, Corey Graves, and Nigel McGuiness offering their views and predictions on all the action taking place that night.
There are five matches scheduled to take place with three of them being contested for championships.
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1. Eric Young (w/SAnitY) vs. "The Perfect Ten" Tye Dillinger
It could be said that Tye Dillinger's worst enemy is often the man himself.
Posessing all the necessary tools to be a champion on any brand he competes for, the nagging feeling of doubt and inferiority often creep into his mind and keep him just a rung below the level of success many feel he is fully capable of.
In San Antonio, he will not only be on a quest for sustained redemption but for survival of his mind, body, and soul when he meets the leader of SAniTy Eric Young in singles competition.
Young's untamed band of followers are no stranger to Dillinger. As a matter of fact, SAnitY's message of disorder and chaos all began at the expense of the Canadian sensation.
In the opening round of the 2016 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, Dillinger and Bobby Roode took on then mysterious faction who had only been known for their unsettling vignettes.
When two of the four revealed themselves to be Alexander Wolfe and Sawyer Fulton, Roode bailed leaving Dillinger to take a beating and the loss. Little did he know it was only the beginning of the nightmare about to come to life.
After the match the other two hooded figures revealed themselves to be Nikki Cross and Young and further punishment was dished out.
Dillinger and Young would first collide on the December 14 edition of NXT with the winner qualifying for a spot in a #1 Contender's Fatal Four Way.
Sawyer Fulton had been mysteriously dismissed from SAniTy but a new monster would emerge. One that spelled danger for everyone outside Young's insane inner circle.
Surprisingly Dillinger took quick control and EY in position for the Tye Breaker when Cross jumped onto his back giving him a DQ victory.
Dillinger held his own against Young and Wolfe until the deadly newcomer Damo made his presence felt. While not fully afilitated with the group yet, he had already lent a helping hand to SAniTy in their battles with No Way Jose and Rich Swann among others.
Once again Dillinger found himself being made an example of the group's twisted ideals and message to be received by the entire NXT roster.
It wasn't the last time SAnitY or Damo came calling for the Perfect Ten.
On the January 18 edition of NT, Dillinger took to the ring to openly discuss his future on the brand and how many times he came so close to major success only to fall short despite his best efforts.
With losses to Bobby Roode at NXT Takeover: Toronto, then-NXT Champion Samoa Joe, and coming up short in the #1 Contender's Fatal Four Way all swirling in his head, Dillinger seemed on the verge of walking away when Young and company seemingly offered him a lifeline.
Young told him that he could have everything he had been chasing if he made the choice to join their cause.
With the jacket that once belonged to Fulton extended to him by Wolfe, Dillinger pondered for a moment accepting the offer before throwing it onto the floor.
Young's calm demeanor and tone changed and he informed Dillinger he wasn't asking him for his entry into the group but demanding it. A defiant Dillinger threw his ten hand gesture up as a means of a second rejection.
The familiar swarm of violence erupted but again Dillinger was able to fend off his enemies until a spear out of nowhere from Damo put him down.
Adding to Dillinger's woes, Damo accepted the jacket. This not only brought SAnitY's ranks back to four but added another menace at ringside for his match against Young at Takeover.
On the January 25 edition of NXT footage was shown of Dillinger all fired up telling Dasha Fuentes that no matter how many goons Young has in his fold, he wasn't going to be another one to detain him from reaching new heights.
Meanwhile Young, flanked by Wolfe, Cross, and rhe re-christened Killian Dain, made short work of Chris Atkins and screamed that Dillinger's poor choices would result in his demise at Takeover.
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Projection:
This should be a pretty intense match with the stakes being very high for both men.
Dillinger needs a win in the worst way possible to stay afloat while Young's endgame of overtaking NXT and re-imagining it as his personal lawless wasteland can't afford many setbacks.
While he appears to be completely unhinged, Young knows exactly what he is doing every step of the way which is what makes him a dangerous athlete.
In a pure one on one match, it is pretty even.
Dillinger uses strikes and high impact moves focused on the neck and back to set up the Tye Breaker.
Young is a mix of wild brawling with some reckless abandon maneuvers from the top rope, his elbow being particularly devastating..
It really boils down to who sets the pace early and if Dillinger can once more hold SAnitY at bay. Unless Mr. Regal hands down an edict banning them or they get themselves removed from ringside, it's going to be an uphill battle to victory.
In the end I see Dillinger digging down as deep as he ever has in his life and overcoming the odds for the victory.
His back is against the wall and someone with nothing else to lose at a certain point is the worst kind of opponent to face across the ring no matter who you bring with you.
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2. Andrade "Cien" Almas vs. Roderick Strong
Two of NXT's brightest stars will go head to head in a quest to climb the rankings and position themselves as the next viable contender to the NXT Championship.
While Almas and Strong may not have a storied history, it doesn't make their match any less personal or important as it relates to their respective paths and futures.
Andrade Almas came to NXT with a fair share of buzz and interest.
He was a celebrated wrestler in Mexico's CMLL and held New Japan Pro Wrestling's IWGP Intercontinental Championship, defeating none other than Shinsuke Nakamura for it in July of 2013.
Looking for a fresh start, the former La Sombra chose to unmask upon entry into NXT.
He started off with a key win over Tye Dillinger at Takeover: The End and was successful in subsequent outings on NXT TV as well. Still, something seemed off for the Lucha sensation.
Some in the NXT Universe had not universally accepted him though they respected his natural abilities and breathtaking high flying maneuvers. Undaunted he carried on until he ran into a Glorious debut at Takeover Brookyn II.
Bobby Roode handed him his first loss and it was only a matter of time from there that something had to give.
A subsequent loss to The Revival in the opening round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic alongside Cedric Alexander proved to be the final straw.
He attacked Alexander and suddenly his attitude changed instantly. Feeling disrespected by fans and fellow competitors, Almas vowed to look out for only himself and eventually become NXT Champion.
As it so happened, Roderick Strong also entered NXT during the Dusty Classic laying the foundation for what was to come.
Strong was the mystery partner of Austin Aries and after their win over Heavy Machinery they seemed primed to get to the finals and possibly outright win the tournament. However an orbital fracture suffered by Aries at the hands of Shinsuke Nakamura and a sudden death singles loss to Shane Thorne in the second round ended those hopes in short order.
Finding himself flying solo, The Messiah of The Backbreaker set his sights on singles gold. That new goal resulted in crossing paths with Almas.
Both were entered into qualifying matches where four winners would meet in a Fatal Four Way with the winner getting the next title shot against Nakamura.
Almas turned back a game No Way Jose while Strong earned a decisive, quick win over "The Drifter" Elias Samson.
They would come to blows during the Fatal Four Way and a rivalry was born.
Strong would go on to eliminate Almas from the match before being eliminated himself by Tye Dillinger.
The sting of defeat burned inside Almas and he held Strong directly responsible.
After avenging a loss in Osaka, Japan with a win over Oney Lorcan on the January 11 edition of NXT , Almas was asked about his next step in NXT. Angry, he sent a message to Strong that he was coming for him.
As a world traveler and former Mr. Everything in Ring of Honor, Strong wasn't going to be intimidated by Almas and he made that clear on the January 18 edition of NXT.
After his victory over Steve Cutler, Strong informed Almas he didn't care what he had in mind for him, he was going to go through everyone put in front of him en route to becoming NXT Champion.
The match was set for San Antonio but Almas had no interest in waiting to engage Strong.
On the January 25 edition of NXT, Almas was in the midst of saying he'd kick Strong's head off when Strong interrupted. When challenged to start right then and there, Almas feigned walking away only to cheap shot Strong and lay him out with several kicks to the ribs.
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Projection:
With each man fueled by championship aspirations, this should prove to be a hard hitting, all action encounter.
Each man brings into the ring a dizzying amount of styles and knowledge due to having worked in multiple countries over the course of their careers. It very well may come down to who makes the first costly mistake as neither would let up at that point.
Strong will have to keep his guard up as Almas isn't above taking shortcuts when he finds himself in a jam and he'll definitely need to project his arms if he hopes to avoid the Hammerlock DDT.
Almas will have to keep Strong off balance and not allow him to get into rhythm. Once he starts his succession of backbreakers, it's all a prelude to the Sick Kick.
In the end I see Strong having enough in his arsenal to counter Almas at his very best and win with the aforementioned Kick.
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3. NXT Tag Team Championship Match
#DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommasso Ciampa) (c) vs. The Authors Of Pain (Akam and Rezar w/Paul Ellering)
Pure determination and pride in making one's own success clashes with the culmination of a multi-chapter plan born out of genius and fused with brutality.
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso are all too well acquainted with adversity and the odds being against them.
During their classic series of matches against The Revival, their will to live and die by their own determination and confidence in themselves were severely tested. It a testament to a never say die attitude that they wound up on the winning side in the end.
Like many on the current NXT Roster, they are world renowned wrestlers who have thrilled arenas all over the globe. They have seen just about every shape, size, and style that exists in both singles and tag team competition.
However nothing has ever quite prepared them for the destructive force harnessed by the evil mastermind Paul Ellering.
From the day he unleashed The Authors of Pain at Takeover: The End, Ellering has been executing his plan of attack one piece at a time.
When initially pressed for answers regarding his association with Akam and Rezar, all he would offer was "In due time". Everything became apparent when the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic rolled around.
The Authors and DIY met in the tournament's semi-finals on the November 16, 2016 edition of NXT.
Though their power was on full display, the match proved to be the first time the big men were fully tested since their arrival. DIY used quickness and hard strikes to keep them rattled.
It seemed as if The Authors were going to also be handed their first defeat but outside involvement from Ellering and The Revival resulted in them securing the victory and a clear path to the Finals.
At Takeover: Toronto each team saw action and both walked away with monumental victories that wound up setting the stage for their clash tomorrow night.
In spite of their guru being held above the ring in a crash cage, The Authors of Pain defeated TM-61 and claimed the coveted Dusty Classic trophy.
Later that night DIY put every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears into a thrilling and emotional victory over The Revival to capture the NXT Tag Team Championships.
It was inevitable that the results of Toronto would immediately be factored into the events that followed.
DIY's celebration with their fans was interrupted by Ellering and The Authors, Precious Paul revealing the final piece of his grand plan was to include his men winning the tag team titles.
With The Revival laying claim to first crack at the new champions, GM William Regal announced that the Authors would face the winners of the return match at Takeover: San Antonio.
Never ones to take it easy, DIY saw fit to defend their gold in two different countries against a pair of home country heroes.
While Ellering prepped his Authors for war, Gargano and Ciampa were successful in turning back the respective challenges of Akira Tozawa and Yoshahiro Tajiri in Osaka, Japan on December 28, 2016 and TM-61 in Melbourne, Australia on January 4.
Both matches were extremely competitive and two more key examples of what kind of men DIY are with everything on the line.
For the average team, that kind of grind would eventually catch up to them and allow another team to strike at the right moment and knock them off their throne.
But DIY thrive in those conditions which was never more evident on the January 11 edition of NXT.
A determined Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson carried out an onslaught in their effort to become NXT's first ever three time champions but it wasn't to be. DIY withstood all that was thrown their way and successfully defended their gold for a third straight week.
There is no rest for the weary though, not with Paul Ellering pulling the strings like a sadistic marionette.
The Authors of Pain hit the ring and delivered a final message to the champs ahead of their title encounter. A very painful message at that and one DIY will not have forgotten when they meet again.
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Projection:
While this will be a battle of style clashes, it will also be a clash of two well oiled tandems.
Each duo thinks alike and are in sync with their partners to a tee. Each also possess tandem moves that very few, if any, have ever survived.
DIY proved in November that they are capable of taking The Authors out of their comfort zone though the question remains if they can close the match and finally give them the taste of defeat for the first time ever. They will need to keep their eyes on Ellering and keep the pace of the match brisk if they are to stand a chance of retaining.
World class tandems like American Alpha and TM-61 found themselves left in a broken heap by The Authors which is a fact that should not be discounted in the slightest. Their pure brawling and power strategy works for them in spades when they don't allow smaller teams to get out of the starting gate.
In the end I believe The Authors will fulfill their destinies and capture the tag team titles.
Ellering has them programmed for mayhem and ultimate victory. They are the equivalent of alligators and sharks who only know how to maim and feast. DIY won't go down easily at all but I think they'll go down in the end.
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4. Fatal Four Way for the NXT Women's Championship
Asuka (c) vs. Nikki Cross vs. Peyton Royce vs. Billie Kay
Asuka is arguably one of the most, if not THE most, dominant athletes male or female to find their way to NXT.
At Takeover: Dallas she upended Bayley to become NXT Women's Champion as well as one of the very few in all of professional wrestling to capture a title undefeated.
Not only is she undefeated, she has made nearly every challenger look like a first day rookie before either pinning or submitting them.
Bayley showed a new side of aggression that served her well at Takeover: Brooklyn II but it wasn't enough to topple The Empress of Tomorrow.
Nia Jax had previously laid waste to the women of NXT and very nearly dethroned Bayley during her title reign. The size and power difference seemed to be a winning combination when challenging Asuka.
However the champ simply welcomed the challenge and at Takeover: The End she only needed nine minutes to knock Jax out.
Jax may have been later drafted to Monday Night Raw but she never forgot that defeat.
On December 28 in Osaka, Japan she returned for a second bite at the apple. And while she came close on a few occasions, Asuka was determined not to lose in her home country; she would once again successfully defend her title.
Mickie James made a surprise comeback in November and was tapped to challenge Asuka at Takeover: Toronto. Though she had been away from WWE for six years, James looked as if she hadn't been gone a day and took Asuka to limits not previously experienced by the champion.
Yet again though Asuka rallied and James wound up another conquest by the final bell.
It was no wonder when Asuka repeatedly declared with all the confidence in the world that there was nobody that could step up to challenge for the title let alone defeat her.
The old saying goes "Be careful what you wish for" and as the NXT Women's Division experienced an overhaul once Bayley, Nia, Alexa Bliss, and Carmella headed for Raw and Smackdown Live, new faces cropped up and suddenly the target on Asuka's back was never more prominent.
When Nikki Cross underwent a sudden transformation from her NXT debut and fell under the spell of Eric Young's SAnitY, it didn't seem as if her focus was on winning the NXT Women's Championship or even winning matches at all. She was content to dish out pain and blow up every conventional rule she could think of.
But in late December while the group stormed by Fuentes backstage, her gaze was averted to the championship. When Asuka entered the scene to retrieve her belt, their eyes locked on one another and the ticking time bomb was set.
Before it could fully detonate though, a pair of Aussie mean girls set out to capture Asuka's attention as well.
For weeks as Billie Kay and Peyton Royce tormented the likes of Liv Morgan, Aliyah, and Ember Moon their message was fully directed at Asuka. Both ladies repeatedly warned the Empress that they were running the women's division and sooner or later she'd be seeing them.
On the January 11 edition of NXT, they finally struck. As Asuka arrived to FSU she was confronted by Kay which allowed Royce to jump her from behind.
A vicious assault followed resulting in Asuka being thrown into a promotional van as Kay and Royce taunted her the entire time.
Having been humiliated like never before, Asuka was out for blood.
Still in her street clothes she rushed the ring after Kay and Royce defeated Sara Bridges and Macy Evans only to be overpowered by the numbers advantage.
It was Nikki Cross who shockingly made the save and sent the Aussies running for their lives.
For a brief moment it appeared a weird bond had been formed between she and Asuka.
Very briefly as it turned out; Cross immediately delivered a missile dropkick and several wild forearms and punches to the Women's Champion. Asuka had been put on notice by three new challengers.
At the end of the night, she burst into Mr. Regal's office with a different look. Gone was the confident, deadly smile she always flashed and in its place was an angry, hurt, and vengeful woman. She demanded Regal make a match and when he inquired as to who she wanted, Asuka screamed "ALL of them!"
Never one to deny many talent requests, Mr. Regal made it official. At Takeover: San Antonio Asuka would defend her title against Cross, Royce, and Kay in a Fatal Four Way Match, the first one since Bayley vs. Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch at Takeover: Rival
On the January 25 edition of NXT Regal, against his better judgment, offered a platform for all four women to have one final message for their respective opponents ahead of the match.
Kay and Royce gloated that they would not only give the "psycho one" a beating she was owed but also take home the NXT Women's Championship. Asuka would finally learn the cold hard fact that the women's division fell under their swift jurisdiction.
Cross made her entrance and wasn't too keen on speaking; she wanted to destroy anyone in her sights. Regal was able to maintain order if only for a second.
Asuka didn't even wait for her music to hit, she simply hit the ring.
All of a sudden Kay and Royce had somewhere else to be but Cross was more than happy to pick up where she and the champion had left off.
A wild brawl ensued that not even security could break up. As a matter of fact, Asuka and Cross paused beating on each other to beat them up as well.
Asuka delivered her trademark spin kick to Cross but amazingly it failed to knock her out as it did so many others. When the security was finally able to drag Asuka onto the floor they unwittingly put both themselves and her in the line of fire.
A crazed Cross dove onto the pile. As Royce and Kay surveyed the carnage from the top of the ramp, the looks on their faces told the story: What in the hell had they gotten themselves into?
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Projection:
With all four women in the ring at the same time and the DQ and Count Out rules non-existent, this match will be a wild affair.
Both Asuka and Cross go full tilt every single match while Royce and Kay are a bit more cerebral when it comes to their offense.
I expect the latter two to pick and choose their spots to attack, tossing one opponent out of the ring allowing them to focus on the other. Whether or not they'll be able to contain the tenacity of either remains to be seen.
It will be fascinating to see Asuka and Cross finally go at it without restrictions. Asuka has faced and defeated a variety of world class wrestlers but is she fully prepared for the unpredictable nature of Cross? Especially when she'll already have payback in mind for Royce and Kay?
In the end, while the odds are against her I see Asuka taking the win. If she can maintain her usual discipline she will cut through the others like a buzz saw. She's THAT good which is why she'll remain champion.
The fallout will be key. I don't expect any of the three challengers to simply go to the back of the line should they fall short tonight. And waiting in the wings is the undefeated Ember Moon. As good ol' JR wold say, business is about to pick up!
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5. NXT Championship Match
Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs "The Glorious" Bobby Roode
At the beginning of this preview I wrote of the fateful night NXT took over Dallas, Texas. Many consider that event to be the pinnacle of what NXT has grown into.
Now it comes full circle for two men who made their debuts that very show.
Bobby Roode, then one of the hottest free agents on the market, was seen front row with a watchful eye on the proceedings. One man in particular grabbed his attention.
Shinsuke Nakamura was an instant sensation the second his entrance music hit. His classic victory over Sami Zayn will always be considered one of the elite matches in NXT history.
In the months that followed, each man would begin blazing a trail with the intent to be the premiere star of NXT.
Nakamura would go the honorable route and seek out the best competition. Subsequent victories over Austin Aries and Finn Balor made him the top contender to then-NXT Champion Samoa Joe.
Roode would not step foot into an NXT ring for another several weeks. When he did, he didn't waste time outlining what he was in FSU to do.
He wanted to not only become NXT Champion but remake NXT in his own image; businessmen as far as the eye could see making the brand the classiest it had ever been.
Both would compete at NXT: Takeover: Brooklyn II and make key advancements towards their goals.
Nakamura defeated Joe to win the NXT Title while Roode made a grand entrance and put away Andrade Almas.
In the months that followed their paths didn't cross but the foundation was laid for it to occur.
The King of Strong Style would go on to lose and regain his title against Joe at Takeover: Toronto and a special event in Osaka, Japan respectively.
In their final encounter held inside a steel cage at the Melbourne arena, Nakamura ended the war with Joe in victory.
With Joe vanquished, a new challenger would have to emerge to test Nakamura. Someone.. GLORIOUS.
Bobby Roode continued his wining ways to be that man.
On the December 14 edition of NXT he defeated Oney Lorcan to qualify for a Fatal Four Way Elimination Match to determine who would face Nakamura in San Antonio.
The following week, the world get a glimpse of what Roode is fully capable of.
Up against a loaded field including Roderick Strong, Andrade Almas, and Tye Dillinger (whom he defeated at Takeover: Toronto) the former TNA all star forced fans to grudgingly accept he was every bit of good as he claimed.
The action was fast and furious as one would expect given the stipulation and what was on the line.
Roode strategically allowed the other three to go at it and made his move at just the right moment.
One Glorious DDT to Dillinger later, Roode punched his ticket to Texas with Nakamura and his championship directly in his line of fire.
When Nakamura sat down with Tom Philips to discuss his new challenger, he was presented with Roode's ticket from Dallas as a sign that he'd been the endgame all along.
On the January 18 edition of NXT the two would finally come face to face for the official contract signing. Roode wasn't shy in offering Nakamura his full opinion of him.
Dripping with arrogance, but also certainty in what he was saying, Roode ran down the NXT Champion. He told him that he failed to impress him that night or any night for that matter. All his accomplishments in Japan paled in comparison to the makeover he'd engineered in just his short time in NXT.
All he needed to cement his status as the leader of the Glorious revolution was the championship and he would win it at Takeover.
Nakamura was unfazed by the criticism. He riled up Roode first by comparing him to a dog and then interrupting his catch phrase to tell him that he'd be winning at Takeover and would be the man bringing the glorious to the Dome.
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Projection:
This will be an awesome match and quite possibly the best either man has looked since arriving in NXT.
That's not to say they haven't looked amazing already however.
Roode has looked, yes, glorious in his wins over Dillinger and the Fatal Four Way.
Nakamura was nothing short of amazing in his series of matches against Joe. He handed out strong style beat downs while withstanding brutal offense from the Samoan Submission Machine. His matches prior against Aries, Zayn, and Balor were all among the best in any promotion in 2016.
But now they will stand across the ring against each other in their respective biggest setting in North America with one of the most coveted championships on the line. It is that moment where their very best will go on full display.
Neither will be rattled by the crowd though. Nakamura has seen some of his biggest victories take place at the massive Tokyo Dome while Roode is filled to the brim with confidence from the moment he wakes up until he goes to bed.
Roode will have to grind Nakamura to halt and avoid his lethal kicks. Making him work his pace early will allow him to stand a better chance of landing high impact moves later on.
Nakamura will have to be the one to strike the hardest first. No doubt he'll try and get inside his head with a little good vibrations and his usual bag of mental tricks. His swagger alone has set off almost every opponent he's stepped into the ring with.
In the end I see Nakamura retaining after one hell of a hard fought contest. Bobby Roode's conquest of NXT may eventually happen but it won't be on this night. It might take a few Kinsasha's to get the iob done but Nakamura's hand will be raised.
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Enjoy the show everyone and thanks for reading! Always look at wrestling on the Bright Side!
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