Armchair Booking: NXT TakeOver: Reunion

The best of the best come back home.

Source: WhatCulture

NXT is about to enter a new era as part of the USA Network. What started as the WWE’s developmental brand has evolved into something much greater than what fans and producers had ever imagined, bringing the independent style of professional wrestling to the mainstream and providing some unlikely names with the greatest of opportunities.

Now household names, the likes of Finn Balor, Kevin Owens, Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch have all reaped the rewards of NXT’s popularity. With a ton of fresh, new talent tearing up Wednesday nights, maybe it’s time for the alumni of Full Sail to make a return to the black and gold brand as part of a special TakeOver event on the USA Network.

Having some of WWE’s hottest superstars make a one-night-only return to NXT would bring plenty of new eyes to the product, as well as giving the brand a fantastic start on USA. But who would we pit against one another as part of this historic reunion show? We run down our fantasy card for what could be the biggest show in NXT history, putting champion against champion, all-star vs all-star.

Make sure you drop your own dream matches in the comments below.

 

Pre Show: 20 Man Battle Royal

Battle Royal

We all love a good battle royal to kick things off, and if we’re having a reunion party, then what better way to give the past and present of NXT a chance to showcase their talent in a massive car-crash. Naturally, not everyone from NXT’s storied history can make it onto this stacked card, so having a big pre-show bout could give props to all the lads and ladies that have contributed to building this incredible brand.

Perhaps an added stipulation of the victor receiving a future NXT Championship shot could help keep first-time viewers invested in the product, and keep them coming back to the USA Network for more NXT goodness.

I’d throw the likes of Matt Riddle, Keith Lee and Kassius Ohno into this big pre-show battle royal to compete with yesteryear’s headliners: Andrade, Robert Roode and Drew McIntyre, plus the rest of the former NXT stars that have found themselves scrambling for TV time in recent memory.

This could be a really fun start to the show, giving everyone a chance to shine as part of this inevitable hot mess.

 

1. Ricochet vs Sami Zayn

Ricochet

Arguably two of the most popular NXT superstars of all time, Ricochet and the former NXT Champion Sami Zayn won over the NXT Universe with their spectacular show-stealers and unlimited charisma. Having not yet had the chance to work together on the main roster, what better opportunity for these two talented individuals to step in the ring and make some magic.

I’m sure the thought of seeing Ricochet and Zayn go all-out in a technical, high-flying spot fest is getting you intrigued in what this reunion event could have to offer. These two especially could re-invigorate their careers with this single match and perhaps see their newfound appreciation effect their standings on the main roster.

I’d love to see what these two could put together when given the time and environment to do what they do best. NXT is really the only place they’d get to do this.

 

2. Kevin Owens vs Samoa Joe

A match that unfortunately didn’t get the box-office treatment it deserved, the long-anticipated hoss-off between Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe was met with crickets when they took to the ring in the final match of a TV taping back in 2015. Joe made an impressive debut at the previous TakeOver, where he made his intentions very clear, those being that he was next in line for a shot at KO’s NXT title.

The match itself ended up being a non-title fight, so it begs the question, what could have been if these two were given the spotlight on a TakeOver event? Perhaps Joe and Owens could settle the score as part of this comeback event.

I personally what expectations these guys could defy when given the time to perform at their best. Getting to see these two in a brutal slugfest would be a real treat, while also seeing some unexpected, insane high-flying spots to boot.

 

3. SAnitY vs The Undisputed Era

One of the most under-appreciated feuds in NXT was the faction war between SAnitY and The Undisputed Era. A battle that crescendo’d inside of the legendary WarGames match, these two teams put on some incredible matches and impressed the NXT universe.

SAnitY have been disbanded for the best part of a year now, with each member going their separate ways to find success in other avenues. Surely the NXT Universe would love to see the maniacal troupe come back together for one last clash with NXT’s leading act.

With Cole, Strong, Fish and O’Reilly all wrestling at their peaks right now, it’d be great to see them go all out with the greatest NXT rivals one last time. Besides, it would probably end up being Eric Young’s last big in-ring performance, which he definitely deserves.

 

4. Pete Dunne vs Tyler Bate

If the UK Championship match from TakeOver: Chicago isn’t in your top 10 matches of all time, then there’s something wrong in your life. The two British Strong Style pals put on an absolute barn-burner in 2017, putting what was to become the pinnacle of NXT UK on the map. Pete Dunne has made an unofficial return to US NXT, leaving behind some mighty big shoes to fill on NXT UK. With ‘The Brusierweight’ now mixing it up with the likes of Roderick Strong, Velveteen Dream and Matt Riddle, it’s high time we have a call-back to what made Dunne famous.

Tyler Bate recently put on a star-making performance against WALTER in Cardiff, seeing the battle-hardened ‘Big Strong Boi’ now face Dunne in his new prime would make for another sure-fire MOTY candidate. There’s no need for a UK Championship to be hanging in the balance, just good old fashioned exhibition wrestling.

NXT UK was made in Chicago, time to see the rematch.

 

5. The Viking Experience vs The Authors Of Pain vs The Ascension vs Street Profits

War Raiders

NXT’s Tag Team division has been on-fire from the get go, some of the brand’s best matches have come from the likes of American Alpha, DIY and of course the four teams that I’d put against one another in a huge four-way tag match. All former NXT Tag champs, all very big dudes that would put together a very physical contest.

The majority of the NXT tag teams haven’t met much success on the main roster, with most fizzling out after only a few months of being on either Raw or SmackDown Live. Bringing them all back for a huge showcase match on the NXT reunion show would make for a really fun bit of nostalgia.

Adding the Street Profits to this mega-tag match would only add experience to the upcoming duo’s resume, giving them a chance to win over the last few fans that aren’t already behind them and matching up with a team that isn’t The Undisputed Era.

 

6. Aleister Black vs Shinsuke Nakamura

Aleister Black
Source: TeamRock

An easy addition to this card would be a bout between two of the best strikers in WWE today – Aleister Black and Shinsuke Nakamura. I’m surprised that the current Intercontinental Champion hasn’t already been matched up against Black, who has yet to find himself in a meaningful feud on the main roster.

Nakamura’s star has certainly dimmed since failing to capture the WWE title from AJ Styles in 2018, so a match where he could return to his ‘King of Strong Style’ roots would only go to rejuvenate his favour with the WWE Universe.

There’s not a single match on this card that I wouldn’t consider a show-stealer, but this one especially has my eye for being the match of the night. Black and Nakamura could easily find themselves on a WrestleMania card one day, but maybe we could see it take place even sooner in front of an NXT audience.

 

7. ‘The Fiend’ vs ‘The Demon’

Two of WWE’s most supernatural entities, The Fiend and The Demon are currently on a collision course after Balor’s convincing defeat at SummerSlam. Both Wyatt and Balor cut their teeth in Full Sail, which is exactly where ‘The Demon’ first made his presence felt as part of a tag match against The Ascension. Perhaps Finn could don the face paint once more to challenge Wyatt’s newest incarnation at NXT’s big reunion.

Obviously Wyatt’s Fiend persona never made it to NXT during his tenure, but seeing Bray’s most successful version of his character be celebrated back in the hallowed halls of developmental would be a treat for the NXT universe. Not only that, but this match could possibly be the strangest wrestling match of all time, getting to see that take place on NXT ground would be historic for the brand.

 

8. Asuka vs Shayna Baszler

asuka
Source: WWE

I’m sure a lot of you would expect to see the inevitable Four Horsewomen fatal-4-way match on this card, but I personally think that a hard-hitting affair between former NXT Women’s Champ Asuka and current title holder Shayna Baszler would make for a much more interesting contest.

Asuka made history as part of NXT and should definitely be considered one of the greatest female performers to ever appear on the brand. Having to vacate the title due to being unstoppable is an amazing feat to her name, one that unfortunately seems to have been lost during her time on the main roster.

Seeing her go one-on-one with the former MMA standout would be an insanely fun match, one that I’d pay a lot of money to see. Also the fatal-4-way can be saved for WrestleMania, they deserve nothing less.

 

9. Seth Rollins vs Velveteen Dream

Seth Rollins

The inaugural NXT Champion Seth Rollins helped establish the brand as being the place for fans of independent wrestling. The first class of NXT set the tone for the very successful future, a future that the likes of the Velveteen Dream are relishing in. Getting to see one of the headlining acts of NXT today go one-on-one with a veteran like Rollins would be a win-win for both parties. Dream could add one more huge name to his resume, while Rollins could relive the days where he’d be putting together matches like no other.

There’s plenty of dream matches for Rollins to still have with past and present stars of NXT, but considering the star power of Velveteen Dream in modern NXT, it’d be a huge testament to his future if he were to be the guy who would force the Universal Champion to say his name.

 

10. DIY vs The Revival

DIY WWE
Source: WWE

There have been plenty of incredible matches in NXT, but none stand out to be more than the amazing series of matches had between DIY and The Revival. Johnny Gargano has rightfully earned the title of ‘Johnny TakeOver’, after putting on some of the most memorable NXT matches of all time against the likes of Adam Cole, Ricochet and of course his DIY partner, Tommaso Ciampa.

Ciampa’s injury hiatus seems to be coming to an end, having left NXT on the bittersweet note of seeing him and Gargano embrace after his emotional championship win, a DIY reunion would be an apt way of bringing ‘Blackheart’ back to NXT TV.

Who else better than The Revival to be the guys that were there to meet them in the ring? The two teams met briefly on the main roster earlier on this year, but quite frankly, nobody cared. Having them put that horrible experience behind them and overwrite it with yet another instant classic would be the perfect end to a stacked evening of wrestling.

Some of the coverage you find on Cultured Vultures contains affiliate links, which provide us with small commissions based on purchases made from visiting our site. We cover gaming news, movie reviews, wrestling and much more.