8 Ups And 4 Downs From NXT TakeOver: Orlando

1. Tag Title Gripe

As you’ll see later, the NXT Tag Team Championship triple threat match will get high praise. But one aspect deserves criticism.

The Authors of Pain.

Yes, the champs themselves are a negative. As good as the title match was, that was more a testament to the other four wrestlers, DIY and the Revival. They are so good in the ring that they brought AOP up to their level, carrying them and their power game through the bout. When the Authors pinned both teams and held onto their tag titles, you could hear the crowd deflate.

And this wasn’t a “boo, they’re the bad guys” kind of frustration. It was a “aw crap, these guys leave with the titles?” feeling. When paired up with DIY or the Revival (or even in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic against TM-61), the Authors look OK, but that’s more due to their killed opponents.

The real test of whether this gripe holds will come when they have a lengthier bout against a less skilled team. But it doesn’t feel like they’re ready to carry the tag team division.