WWE NXT TakeOver: Toronto Discussion Thread

[Kross Rhodes]

NXT TakeOver: Toronto preview - Nov. 19, 2016: Joe and Nakamura collide, Mickie James returns and more
NXT storms into Canada with an action-packed live special, featuring NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura defending against Samoa Joe, Mickie James' return to WWE to challenge NXT Women's Champion Asuka and much more. NXT TakeOver: Toronto airs live tonight at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, exclusively on WWE Network!

NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Samoa Joe
Shinsuke Nakamura will put his NXT Championship on the line in a huge rematch against Samoa Joe in the main event of NXT TakeOver: Toronto.

Full TakeOver: Toronto coverage | Tickets available now

There is no love lost between champion and challenger, especially since TakeOver: Brooklyn II, where The King of Strong Style not only dethroned Joe, but left him with a dislocated jaw. The Samoan submission specialist, not content to let that be the lasting image of their rivalry, brutally attacked Nakamura several weeks later, sending him out of Full Sail University in an ambulance.

Samoa Joe later obtained the medical diagnosis of the NXT Champion, revealing that The King of Strong Style would be out of action for 6-12 weeks. Not wanting to wait for his title opportunity, Joe gave NXT General Manager William Regal an ultimatum: “Bring me Nakamura, or hand me my title!” The brute then made good on a promise to destroy the NXT roster until Regal rendered a decision, bulldozing through the Ealy twins and ruining the debut of Dan Matha. After he prematurely ended a match between Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake in ruthless fashion, Joe re-stated his demands and got an answer, but not the one he was looking for.

Nakamura returned, carrying the NXT Championship and sporting a neck brace. However, The King of Strong Style quickly showed that he was ready to fight, ripping off the brace and charging right at his rival. The two fought through a swarm of security guards, raining blows down on each other. In the end, it was Nakamura who made the ultimate statement, leaving Joe knocked out cold in the middle of the ring with a devastating Kinshasa. After the carnage cleared, Regal made this huge rematch official for Toronto.

Who will walk out of what is sure to be an all-out war for the NXT Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura or Samoa Joe? Find out during NXT TakeOver: Toronto, exclusively on WWE Network, tonight at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT!

NXT Women’s Champion Asuka vs. Mickie James
Asuka has claimed that no one is ready to challenge her. The NXT Women’s Champion’s theory will be put to the test at NXT TakeOver: Toronto, when she defends her title against the returning Mickie James.

Full TakeOver: Toronto coverage | Tickets available now

Since her arrival in NXT last fall, Asuka has dominated the competition. Everyone from the towering Nia Jax to the spirited Bayley has fallen before The Empress of Tomorrow. Asuka has remained undefeated since her debut, and though Superstars like Liv Morgan have tried to stand up to her in recent weeks, no one has been successful in knocking the champion off her pedestal.

With that in mind, NXT General Manager William Regal went outside the NXT roster to find Asuka’s next challenger. Mickie James is a 17-year veteran of the mat game, a five-time WWE Women’s Champion and a former Divas Champion. She’s defeated some of the greatest female competitors in WWE history, including Beth Phoenix and WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus. If anyone is ready for a war with Asuka, it’s James.

Will Asuka succeed the toughest test of her WWE career, or will Mickie James be the one to hand The Empress of Tomorrow her first defeat? Find out at NXT TakeOver: Toronto, live and exclusively on WWE Network, tonight at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT!

NXT Tag Team Champions The Revival vs. #DIY (2-out-of-3 Falls Match)
The Revival and #DIY will settle their heated rivalry in a 2-out-of-3-Falls Match for the NXT Tag Team Championship at TakeOver: Toronto.

A deep dislike between these two teams has grown over the last few months, as Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa set their sights on Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder’s titles.

The popular challengers pushed the titleholders to the limit in an epic title clash at TakeOver: Brooklyn II and have been champing at the bit for another opportunity to become NXT Tag Team Champions ever since.

During the Aug. 31 edition of NXT, The Revival ambushed Ciampa, further fueling the animosity between these duos. However, when faced with a Second Round showdown against #DIY in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, The Revival ended up forfeiting. Dawson curiously claimed he had to back out of the match due to a serious knee injury, but this seemed to only make Gargano & Ciampa even more determined to get their hands on their foes.

After the champions cost Gargano & Ciampa their Semifinal Match in the Dusty Classic, General Manager William Regal announced TakeOver: Toronto's 2-out-of-3-Falls Match, meaning whichever duo is the first to win two falls – whether by pinfall, submission, count-out or disqualification – takes home the NXT Tag Team Championship.

Will Dawson & Wilder continue to cement their status as NXT's “top guys” with another successful title defense? Or will best friends Gargano & Ciampa finally achieve their goal of becoming the NXT Tag Team Champions?

Find out at NXT TakeOver: Toronto, live and exclusively on WWE Network, tonight at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT!

TM61 vs. The Authors of Pain (Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Final)
TM61 and The Authors of Pain will clash at NXT TakeOver: Toronto in the final of the 2016 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. In the interest of keeping the playing field level, NXT General Manager William Regal has declared that Akam & Rezar’s manager, WWE Hall of Famer Paul Ellering, will be suspended high above the ring in a cage, to prevent him from meddling in this historic battle.

Shane Thorne & Nick Miller have taken the NXT tag team division by storm since their arrival earlier this year. The world-traveled pair of Australians have hung in with the best teams NXT have to offer, including #DIY, The Revival and The Authors of Pain. TM61 have looked impressive in the Dusty Classic thus far. Their road to Toronto started with a win over Tino Sabbatelli & Riddick Mossin the opening round. It took a unique turn in the second round.

With Austin Aries unable to compete due to injury, Thorne took on Roderick Strong in singles action to determine which of their teams moved on. Thorne emerged victorious, setting up a showdown with SAnitY in the semifinals. TM61 was able to withstand the chaotic onslaught from Sawyer Fulton & Alexander Wolfe and the interference of Eric Young and Nikki Cross to cement their place in the final.

The Authors of Pain have unleashed pure devastation since their arrival in NXT, and the Dusty Classic has been no different. The undefeated Akam & Rezar bulldozed over The Bollywood Boyz in the first round. With an assist from Paul Ellering, The Authors defeated No Way Jose & Rich Swann to advance to the semifinals. The monstrous duo defeated #DIY to move on to Toronto, thanks to Ellering and NXT Tag Team Champions The Revival.

Because of Ellering’s interference, Regal considered banning the Hall of Famer from ringside, but was threatened with legal action. Taking inspiration from Mattel’s WWE Crash Cage playset, Regal found a way to keep Ellering at ringside (or above it), but unable to interject himself in the bout.

Which teams will have their names etched on the Dusty Cup as the winners of the 2016 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic? Find out at NXT TakeOver: Toronto, live and exclusively on WWE Network, tonight at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT!

Tye Dillinger vs. Bobby Roode
Tye Dillinger will have one thing on his mind when he faces Bobby Roode at NXT TakeOver: Toronto – payback.

Before the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic began, the glorious Superstar had approached The Perfect 10, saying that to win the tournament, he didn’t just need any partner, he needed the perfect partner. Roode also appealed to Dillinger’s close relationship with the tournament’s namesake, The American Dream. Dillinger accepted Roode’s offer to join forces, but made it clear that he was doing this “for Dusty.”

The NXT Universe was thrilled at the prospect of the “Glorious 10” becoming a regular tag team between the yellow ropes, but their hopes were dashed with the arrival of SAnitY. Represented by Alexander Wolfe & Sawyer Fulton, the chaotic crew cornered and pummeled Dillinger. When The Perfect 10 reached out to tag in his partner, Roode exchanged a glance with SAnitY, then cinched up his robe and ditched Dillinger, leaving him to be battered by all four anarchists.

While icing his bruised body at the WWE Performance Center one week later, cameras caught up with a furious Dillinger, who laid out a challenge to Roode for TakeOver: Toronto. Later that night on WWE Network, Roode claimed ignorance of why The Perfect 10 would have any gripes with him, saying that he only tried to make Dillinger glorious. A furious Dillinger charged the ring and got the upper hand on Roode, sending “The Glorious One” scrambling for cover.

Will Tye Dillinger make TakeOver: Toronto the perfect night, or can Roode ensure that his record in NXT stays glorious? Find out at NXT TakeOver: Toronto, live and exclusively on WWE Network, tonight at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT!

 

[Crippler]

Paul Ellering being in a shark cage above the ring tonight

 

[Cwalker]

Paul Ellering being in a shark cage above the ring tonight

Vince Russo back on payroll

 

[Crippler]

Vince Russo back on payroll

i legit had to rewind to see if 1 i heard right, and 2 if Russo was somewhere in the shot. This has to lead to fuckery right?

 

[Cwalker]

i legit had to rewind to see if 1 i heard right, and 2 if Russo was somewhere in the shot. This has to lead to fuckery right?

One of the Samoans gonna toss him the key so he can unlock himself

 

[Dale]

Bought the Network just for Mickie's return

Oh and Survivor Series not looking too bad either.

 

[Kross Rhodes]

Miss Charly Caruso taking over the Renee Young role for Toronto.

 

[Crippler]

Charly is one hot number

 

[Kross Rhodes]

Charly is one hot number

She sure is. Love NXT giving another lass a chance.

 

[Crippler]

Mauro doing the

totally made this pre-show worth the watch

 

[Kross Rhodes]

What is that Tye? What is that?

 

[Kross Rhodes]

I was pretty disappointed when they released Gavin Spears. He's always had heart.

 

[Crippler]

This Tye Dillinger back story

 

[Cwalker]

Still hoping Tye gets a shot on the main roster some day but it seems less and less likely

 

[Cwalker]

Package about Canada and they show Sami before Bret