It won't be an easy task to match the intensity level of the epic Shinsuke Nakamura/Samoa Joe rivalry, but one thing's for sure: Nakamura's next feud will be glorious.
A new No. 1 contender to challenge for the NXT Championship was determined on Wednesday by way of a fatal four-way featuring "Perfect 10" Tye Dillinger, Andrade "Cien" Almas, Roderick Strong and Bobby Roode. All four superstars were victorious in singles matches last week to qualify for this contest.
The pay-per-view quality match did not disappoint. It was hard hitting and featured some fantastic sequences. Almas and Strong looked particularly ... strong early on. But they were the first two eliminated from the fatal four-way match, thus setting up a rematch from the NXT TakeOver: Toronto show between Tye Dillinger and Bobby Roode.
The battle between two of the brand's top stars again created high drama and excellence in the ring, but not surprisingly, Roode was standing victorious over his opponent and has earned his place in the main event in San Antonio.
Electing to put Bobby Roode in the No. 1 contender spot for the NXT Championship was far and away the right call. Next to Nakamura, Roode has become the eminent force in NXT.
Speaking of repeats from NXT TakeOver: Toronto, The Revival is still due a rematch against NXT Tag Team Champions DIY -- Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa. That highly anticipated match between two teams with incredible chemistry is expected soon and will determine who will walk into NXT TakeOver: San Antonio with the straps. Whoever wins, their opponents will come in the form of 330-pound Rezar and near 300-pounder Akam, the Authors of Pain, who delivered a serious message this week.
The two behemoths decidedly powered through John Ortagun and Anthony Bowens -- and that may be an understatement. The beating was so severe that the referee called for the bell, claiming Ortagun and Bowens could not continue. The Authors of Pain look stronger than ever as they continue to climb the NXT tag team ladder.
Somewhat hidden under all of these interesting championship feuds is the progression of both Billie Kay and Peyton Royce. Over the past few weeks, they've chosen to single out Daria Berenato as a way to elevate themselves, and they continued that trend on Wednesday as Kay picked up a quick pinfall victory, with Royce getting the assist through outside interference.
Hits & Misses
• Reminiscent of Summer Rae and Sasha Banks, better known as the BFFs -- Beautiful Fierce Females -- from a few years ago in NXT, the duo of Peyton Royce and Billie Kay are starting to make waves. Granted, the waves are small at the moment, but they've become regulars on NXT TV, and their snobby, overconfident gimmick is catchy.
• Why is Asuka being used so sparingly on NXT TV? Her recent presence has only been felt in the form of a couple brief backstage staredowns with Nikki Cross, as well as a Billie Kay and Peyton Royce promo directed at her this week. While the NXT Championship and NXT Tag Team Championship programs have begun development, the NXT Women's Championship is lacking legitimate direction. If Asuka's encounters with Cross are hints at a feud for NXT TakeOver: San Antonio, great. If Billie Kay or Peyton Royce are up next, that's fine. Having said that, I had hoped we'd be nearing a potentially electric clash between Asuka/Ember Moon at this point. Regardless, we'll need to get some clarity in the coming weeks.
• Remember the last truly dominant tag team in NXT? You might not because they've become irrelevant on the main roster, but the booking of the Authors of Pain is comparable to The Ascension when they were tearing through NXT in 2013-14. Here's to hoping Rezar and Akam don't follow that same path. That would be inexcusable. They're simply too talented. The commanding force that they'll likely turn into is what The Ascension should've been.
• I missed SAnitY this week. I know that it's tough to fit all of NXT's moving parts in its one-hour weekly time allotment, but the group is my favorite act right now. I'm dying to see where their relationship with Damo goes.
• Finally, Bobby Roode has the best entrance in the WWE. I don't think I'll ever get tired of it.