NXT Takeover: San Antonio Review - 6 Big Talking Points
On Remember The Rumble weekend, forget NXT at your peril.
In his media call ahead of NXT TakeOver: San Antonio, on January 26, Triple H promoted his beloved yellow brand with roughly the same enthusiasm as that time he crammed WWE's best developmental prospects, the Spirit Squad, into a box and sent them literally packing back to Ohio Valley Wrestling.
The contents of the box were uninsured. "They're not worth a cr*p!" Triple H said, as the careers of four men were irrevocably damaged in transit.
“I’m not happy with where it is right now by far," Triple H addressed. "I want it to be much better than it is, but it’s a rebuilding process. All these things going on, they all make changes in the ecosystem. Where everything lands at the end of the day is a moving target.”
To be fair to the man, he at least had his finger on the pulse. Tonight's San Antonio iteration was the least anticipated of all the TakeOver events. A dearth of star power, post-brand split, has weakened the NXT roster to an extent not seen since Jinder Mahal made it to the final of the inaugural NXT Title tournament. It's also fair to state that promotion for the event has been overshadowed by the Royal Rumble. Sunday's pay-per-view is the most enticing WWE has promoted in years.
This is the correct way 'round. NXT, by definition, is not meant to be better, or even as good, as its main roster bigger brother. But, after an unexpectedly great night, John Cena et al. have their work cut out for them...