Takeover:Orlando Reax

Read on for my thoughts on last night's NXT special.

-- Pre-show:
- SAnitY attack:
Those animals in SAnitY getting an unfair advantage! Unfortunate to see Jose won't be in action tonight. I think he'll be someone who can do alright for himself on the main roster before too much longer.

I'm very curious to see who the new partner will be. Kassius?

- Billie/Peyton:
These two are pretty fun. I hope they fit into things well going forward.

-- Takeover: Orlando:
- HHH promo:
HHH is one of the main roster's top heels going into Mania, but we're supposed to cheer him here? He does great work as the advocate for NXT, but it works against his Mania match.

- New partner reveal:
Yeah, SAnitY might should have taken their chances with Jose. I was hoping for something between Kassius and Samson on this show; we'll see if that happens.

- SAnitY vs. Dillinger/Strong/Riot/Ohno:
This should absolutely start off as a big fight after what SAnitY did to Jose. I hope there are no flips.

Nikki is something else.

This pretty fun so far.

I like the teamwork from the heels.

Wow. Didn't really expect Roderick to be able to take out all of SAnitY like that.

More fun work from the heels getting their shots in.

Tye's got some food fire.

Not crazy about Tye doing aerial moves in what's supposed to be a fight.

OH MY GOD that's one way to counter a dive.

This is pretty crazy. I like it.

No one can get the pin because everyone else keeps getting involved. I like how it's that much of a fight.

Hahaha Nikki and Ruby are having quite the night.

That was good! Will we see Dillinger on the main roster soon?

- Edge & Beth in the crowd:
I like when they have important people watching the show to put it over.

- Black vs. Almas:
Cien will seriously need all those mind games to beat this guy.

WOW. Impressive Lionsault spot.

Cien's a talented dude.

Black's getting a little flippy for me.

Nice showing by Almas so far. I'm impressed.

That was a pretty insane Pele.

Black's definitely got some impressive moves.

Not bad at all! Black's got potential, and Cien showed even more of what he's capable of.

- Authors vs. Revival vs. #DIY:
-- Fall One:
Oh yeah, this is starting off well.

#DIY and Revival always work together well.

Oh man, both teams have their hands full with Akam and Rezar.

I love the story involving the smaller, flashy team and the mastadons.

HAHAHAHAHAH pure heel move by The Revival.

Genius to try to eliminate the Authors underhandedly.

Turnabout from #DIY is fair play.

#DIY make one heck of a flashy team. They'll be fine on the man roster at some point.

OH MY GOD. Human ping pong from the Authors to #DIY. That was brutal.

Akam and Rezar are simple but effective. I'm glad they don't do cartwheels and Bronco busters. Sheesh.

Ciampa's pretty strong hmself.

Really good spot putting Rezar through a table. I'm loving the psychology here. Each team is clearly distinctive. It's not just a bunch of people doing cool moves.

This is really wild. I'm liking it a LOT.

LOVING the double submission spot. They know they've got their work cut out for them in beating the Authors.

The Authors' power is just unreal.

GENIUS working together for the signature finishes. This is a thing of beauty.

BAH GAWD what a superplex!!

That was one hell of a first fall.

-- Fall Two:
I'm really liking the Revival's ingenuity here.

HOLY SHIT these two monsters are unbelievable. I really hope we end up seeing them face reDRagon. That could be quite the match.

This is fun. Dawson and Wilder are good strategists.

God that was wild. Loved it.

- Asuka vs. Ember:
I'm liking the feeling out process. Both competitors are game.

Asuka's really good, but Ember's a believable threat to her.

Asuka's going to be able to deliver on the main roster if they don't try to make her too much of a "superstar" and have her cut promos with Stephanie.

Asuka's a force of destruction.

Ember's not backing down!

Those kicks are something else.

Ember's going all out. Hell, they both are.

I'm really enjoying the work here, especially the Asuka Lock sequence.

Ember's not going down without a fight.

JESUS what a superkick with Asuka in the ropes. That was brutal.

I'm glad we're seeing Ember let loose. She's been in the background a bit.

Nice work by both of them.

Fine ending to set up Round 2. I wish it had gone a little longer, though, because it was really great.

- Drew in the crowd:
Oh, that's going to get people talking! I hope he's in for a career revival after his great work in Impact.

- Roode vs. Nakamura:
Roode is game to work with Shinsuke.

Good work early.

Nakamura's out to get back the title.

I'm liking Roode's strategy here.

Shinsuke's kicks are always impressive.

Shinsuke's game. Bobby's got a long title defense ahead of him.

Man, Roode's got his work cut out for him beating Shinsuke.

Really good Figure Four spot.

I'm liking the submissions here.

Shinsuke's got a lot of tools in his arsenal.

MAN, Roode had to earn his way out of all that.

Bobby's going to be sore from all those kicks!!

Enjoyable work here.

That would have been a good ending with the Glorious DDT, but I'm all for more!

Man, that ring bell spot almost backfired big on the champ.

One hell of a match! Shinsuke's giving Roode everything he has, and Bobby's not done just yet!

I really liked that ending. No shame in that loss for Nakamura.

More wrestling coming up.