10 Best NXT TakeOver Matches Of 2017
5. Bobby Roode Vs Shinsuke Nakamura (Orlando)
Shinsuke Nakamura and Bobby Roode told a sensational story in a rematch that would prove to be the former's NXT farewell match and unpick any unfair criticism of their choice San Antonio clash two months earlier. Selling the knee injury sustained that night, 'The King Of Strong Style' had to rely on wits as well as kicks, and expressed his refined game plan by going hold-for-hold with 'The Glorious One'.
Assembling a technical masterpiece with one of the best to inhibit the style, Shinsuke tried his best against Roode before again succumbing to the NXT Champion's laser-focussed technical prowess.
After launching Roode across the ring with his arsenal of suplexes and throws, Nakamura rapidly re-built himself as a threat, but his plan fell apart when Roode took out his knee during a failed Kinshasa attempt. Relentless in his assault on the challenger's injured limb, Bobby was sly and nefarious but nonetheless efficient. It also allowed Nakamura to exhibit his underrated flair for desperation, adding a new string to his bow as a sympathetic babyface.
Selling the impact of his own kicks but with little energy left to do much else, Shinsuke suffered yet another brace of Glorious DDTs in defeat. Yet to come close to similar glory in WWE up to this point, the match remains a peak of his North American career.