10 Pleasant Surprises For Wrestling Fans In 2017
3. TakeOver: Brooklyn 3
More a reflection on how the NXT supercards continued to shine despite the weekly show's gradual decline, NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 3 looked on paper likely to fall some way short of the sky-high standards set by the first and second editions of the show.
Perhaps in response to yet more claims that the card lacked a certain oomph though, the roster upped their games to such a degree that the show ended up as one of the very best this year.
Drew McIntyre's NXT Championship victory over Bobby Roode was an understated but pleasing encounter, but by then the show had long been stolen by future titleholder Andrade "Cien" Almas as well as the two gladiators battling it out for arguably the brand's most prestigious title.
Almas despatched Johnny Gargano as the former #DIY member remained in pained stasis over the vicious beating he took from shelved former friend Tommaso Ciampa at May's TakeOver: Chicago. Winning thanks to a distraction from Zelina Vega, Almas was finally on his way. Nobody could have predicted how high he'd fly.
Asuka knew to expect Ember Moon's aerial assaults though. She'd dodged the devastating 'Eclipse' corkscrew Stunner at TakeOver: Orlando via uncharacteristic underhandedness, but had the resolve to kick out of it in their dramatic summer sequel. It was just another day for 'The Empress Of Tomorrow', but Moon again grew more in defeat than she would have in hollow victory. A flawless performance from both, the match carefully positioned her as the bearer of the illustrious title upon the champion's pending ascension to the main roster.