Kick-Off Show
Charly Caruso hosts the NXT TakeOver: Orlando pre-show, alongside Nigel McGuinness and Sam Roberts.
We cut to outside of the building and see lots of fans lined-up and chanting names. We’re shown footage of No Way Jose coming down to the ring for a match at Axxess today, only to be attacked by SAnitY. Nigel McGuinness announces that Jose will not be able to compete tonight, so Tye Dillinger, Ruby Riot and Roderick Strong can either find a new partner or compete in a handicap match.
The #Axxess #fiesta was OVER earlier today when #SAnitY brutally assaulted @WWENoWayJose! #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/Tuv6bXAMqQ
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 1, 2017
A video package plays of the Tag Team Championship three-way feud. Nigel explains the rules of this match; once the first man who gets pinned, his respective team is eliminated and we go into a traditional tag team match. McGuinness says he thinks The Revival and D.I.Y need to team-up tonight, otherwise those titles are staying right where they are. Caruso asks if Paul Ellering hasn’t been expecting a team-up but Sam Roberts says no amount of perpetration can stop two teams like D.I.Y and The Revival.
We see a short video hyping the debut of Aleister Black, who bears a resemblance to CM Punk, both in look and in the ring, not to mention even his voice. The panel quickly discuss Black, saying he is deranged and brings something new to NXT, while saying Andrade has been on fire since finding his new attitude.
What does @WWEAleister have in store for @AndradeCienWWE? We find out TONIGHT when he debuts at #NXTTakeOver: Orlando! pic.twitter.com/KGaG5oUA7w
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 1, 2017
Next up is the Women’s Championship match, and, let’s not forget, Asuka’s incredible streak. I think it’s really smart to build this match around Ember hitting her finisher because, without that move, Ember doesn’t really stand much chance. Billie Kay and Peyton Royce have joined the pre-show panel, and immediately make fun of how Charly is dressed. In regards to getting hurt by Asuka, Billie says she feels a lot better since Peyton have her a massage. They say they want the Eclipse banned because it’s too dangerous, so Billie starts texting Triple H. Sam Roberts tries to explain to them that you cannot ban a move. McGuinness says that Roberts has never wrestled, so he doesn’t understand. Billie and Peyton say Nigel is looking great. They say Asuka doesn’t dress like a Champion because she came today wearing a pantsuit. They say they don’t care who wins tonight because they will be the next NXT Women’s Champions.
The final match for discussion is Bobby Roode Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura. McGuinness and Roberts argue over who might walk out as Champion but they agree that this will be a huge match with big ramifications for NXT moving forward. That’s it for the pre-show, now onto the main card!
Does the future of #WWENXT lie with #NXTChampion @REALBobbyRoode or The #KingOfStrongStyle @ShinsukeN? Find out TONIGHT at #NXTTakeOver! pic.twitter.com/Hnq3FJ45Py
— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) April 1, 2017
