WWE may be marketing this NXT TakeOver event as “The End”, but that doesn’t mean it’s not still an important show to appear on and to make a name for yourself. Everyone in NXT should be utilizing every opportunity available to show off their characters to the WWE Universe in the hopes they’ll take one step closer to the main roster.
That being said, there are always those who are unfortunate enough to be sitting on the sidelines, and when it comes to who was booked for this show, a handful of names still stand out despite the roster being as thin as it’s been since it was relaunched with the WWE Network.
The card is always subject to change and there’s still at least one person who has not yet been announced, as Andrade “Cien” Almas will need an opponent—likely Tye Dillinger or Murphy—but who are the others who might have been able to claim a legitimate spot for themselves, yet aren’t going to be featured?
Elias Samson
This guy did a 180 pretty fast, didn’t he? After spending months as a jobber, he was repackaged and pushed for what felt like almost no time before he’s been cast aside and forgotten about. The Drifter has done just that, leaving much to be desired. Not even a win against someone like Mojo Rawley? Ouch.
No Way Jose
Speaking of someone who probably should have been on the card if WWE wants anybody to care about him, No Way Jose has yet to wrestle on a TakeOver event. This should have been his first, and it almost seems like a given for a match should be for him to face the aforementioned Elias Samson, yet nothing of the sort has been announced.
When your name is “No Way” Jose and that can also be the answer to the question “Am I going to wrestle on this special event?” you have to feel sorry for the guy.
80% of the Women’s Division
Whenever a stable breaks up, there’s always potential for every member to branch off and receive some kind of push. While Blake is out with an injury and Murphy seems to be doing not so great, Alexa Bliss was in the best position to maybe earn a title shot against Asuka. That’s not the case, as evidenced here, but she’s not the only woman on the roster to be taking a backseat to the still relatively new Nia Jax.
Bayley was basically written off with an injury and Carmella has just lingered in the void, most likely because she’s a babyface who has to find a new niche to carve since splitting from Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady. Peyton Royce and Billie Kay are perpetual enhancement talent while Aliyah and Liv Morgan haven’t even gotten their feet wet, so of course they weren’t going to be booked. Conspicuously absent for quite some time is Eva Marie, and I’m very suspicious this is because she’ll be just coming back to the main roster soon enough instead.
Eric Young or Bobby Roode
Eric Young made his debut on NXT television several weeks ago, picking a bone with Samoa Joe and then disappearing. Bobby Roode was shown in a WWE crowd, but has not made any sort of official debut.
Both men, however, are completely absent from NXT TakeOver: The End. Perhaps this is due to some sort of contract dispute where things have not yet been finalized, so WWE doesn’t want to put them on screen and run the risk of them leaving like James Storm. Alternatively, maybe a decision was made to skip NXT and to bring both of them onto the main roster with the impending brand extension, which means they have to wait a little longer before getting in the ring.
Whatever the case may be, the longer it takes to bring them into the fold properly, the more frustrating it gets, particularly when this card leans so heavily toward rematches instead of keeping things fresh.
Who are you most upset to see not booked for NXT TakeOver: The End? Were you hoping Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa would go up against Nick Miller and Shane Thorne in a rematch? Are you an ultra rare Sawyer Fulton fan?
Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
