6 Ups & 1 Down From Last Night's WWE NXT (Aug 3)
5. Up - Message Sent
There's a lot of story behind the upcoming Asuka-Bayley match at TakeOver: Back to Brooklyn. Yes, Asuka won the NXT Women's Championship from Bayley at TakeOver: Dallas, but there's more to it than that. The loss ended Bayley's dream and sent her into a spiral of bad luck that included an injury. She had to fight her way back to health, then defeat Alexa Bliss and Nia Jax just to find her way to her contractually-ensured rematch.
Asuka knows Bayley is determined, but she also knows that she herself is a force with which to be reckoned. Bayley was ringside for the champ's match with Aliyah, and "The Empress of Tomorrow" sent a clear message. She overwhelmed the rookie as Bayley watched, quickly locking in the Asuka Lock for the submission, then holding it just a little longer. She broke the hold when Bayley rushed the ring.
This may very well be the most anticipated women's match in NXT since last year's Sasha Banks-Bayley feud, and odds are it'll deliver. It's one of the many bouts that will make this year's SummerSlam weekend truly memorable.