6 Ups And 5 Downs From NXT TakeOver: Chicago

5. Building Around Bobby

Bobby Roode
WWE.com

When he was signed to NXT, it was generally accepted that Bobby Roode was coming to NXT to boost the developmental brand, not to train to join the main roster. Roode was to serve as an established veteran presence to help strengthen NXT. And he’s done just that, now four months into his title reign.

Saturday night, Roode vanquished a member of NXT’s previous “generation,” Hideo Itami, continuing a title reign that could become, well, glorious. Roode carries himself like a star, from his entrance and ring attire to his clothing and promos. He certainly has enough of an aura around him, and his smug attitude makes him the perfect heel champion that everyone wants to see beaten.

If Roode truly is going to call this his NXT and his Glorious Era, then maybe he could use some running buddies to take over the tag team division. But for now, he’s perfectly fine as champ.

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Contributor
Contributor

Scott is a former journalist and longtime wrestling fan who was smart enough to abandon WCW during the Monday Night Wars the same time as the Radicalz. He fondly remembers watching WrestleMania III, IV, V and VI and Saturday Night's Main Event, came back to wrestling during the Attitude Era, and has been a consumer of sports entertainment since then. He's written for WhatCulture for more than a decade, establishing the Ups and Downs articles for WWE Raw and WWE PPVs/PLEs and composing pieces on a variety of topics.