With WWE NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III concluded, it’s time for another 3-Count reaction and Smack Talk Pay-Per-Viewpoint post-show podcast review!
As always, click the video at the bottom of this post to check out the podcast breakdown of everything on the show, but before we get into that, I want to focus on three things that standout from my mind in regards to NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III.
For this edition of what I suppose we should temporarily change to the III-Count review, I wanted to focus on three possibilities to come up to the main roster either tomorrow night at SummerSlam or the following evenings of Raw and SmackDown based off the results of this event.
The Authors of Pain
Is it coincidental that Akam and Rezar just so happened to upgrade their ring attire while dropping the titles to a heel team that was then immediately thrust into a feud with a new stable? I think not.
If you had asked me which of the two teams in tonight’s title match were better suited for the main roster, I would have gone with SAnitY, but if the events that transpired are any indication of what WWE’s plans could be, The Authors of Pain seem to be heading in the direction of Raw or SmackDown.
They were a dominant team that finally tasted their first loss while also being protected in the process, so they shouldn’t have any issues adjusting to the main roster as far as credibility goes. Having Paul Ellering by their side to cut a promo about how the book has a prophecy of them coming to the main roster can ease the transition even more, and they can even possibly be the way to end the storyline with The Fashion Police—although that’s a bit sillier than what I would picture AOP doing.
The possibility of a Superstar Shake-Up happening soon may determine which of the two rosters they end up, but I think with what happened here in Brooklyn and the potential for the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic to be returning before NXT TakeOver: Houston, The Authors of Pain probably won’t be sticking around the yellow brand much longer.
Ember Moon
Was that a send-off? Did she get the same in-ring applause moment that most others have gotten before they moved up to Raw or SmackDown, or am I just overthinking it?
Ember Moon seemed to be not just the best choice but the only option to dethrone Asuka, so with her coming up short, where does she go? They can’t just keep having the two face off another 20 times where Asuka keeps cheating and retaining, and if Moon goes into a feud with Mandy Rose or Nikki Cross, who cares?
I don’t think Moon is necessarily the best choice to move up to the main roster, particularly since Billie Kay and Peyton Royce seem far better suited in my opinion, but Moon’s booking definitely kept her in an admirable position and that post-match acknowledgement is playing into my conspiracy theories quite a bit.
If Moon comes up, then of course that Shake-Up could mess with every intention, but I would think SmackDown needs her more at the moment. Becky Lynch and Naomi are true and true babyfaces, but Charlotte struggles in that role and if they were to turn her heel, the balance of villains and heroes would be far too great on the evil side, so Moon would be a necessity to help even the odds.
Bobby Roode
Once you drop the main NXT Championship, you’re immediately in the sights for a promotion to the main roster and more often than not, it happens within the next few weeks.
Bobby Roode is a veteran and there’s no need to worry about whether or not he’ll succeed, particularly after seeing how well Samoa Joe has done despite the awkward stop and go pushes he had from his debut on Raw.
We can tell that Drew McIntyre will be working with Adam Cole, so my gut reaction is to think that we’ll see Roderick Strong continue his feud with Bobby Roode for just a few weeks on the regular NXT shows, sending The Glorious One off with another loss and not just this one.
Then, Strong will remain in NXT and start something new—possibly teaming with someone for the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic (Kassius Ohno?) and Roode will come up in time to start feuding with AJ Styles for the United States Championship by Hell in a Cell or Survivor Series.
We know he and Styles have good chemistry together and we know he could feud with Nakamura as well, but there are so many other options to think about, too, between Finn Balor, John Cena, Seth Rollins and even Chris Jericho, so I’m very excited to see Roode lose the title despite being a fan of his. This frees him up for a wide variety of feuds on the main roster that I’m hoping to see start very, very soon.
For more opinions on the show as a whole, check out the latest edition of the Smark Out Moment wrestling podcast SMACK TALK as the panel reviews NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III with our immediate reactions following the event before the dust has fully settled.
Hosted by Anthony Mango with Callum Wiggins
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