NXT TakeOver: Chicago Announced for WWE Backlash 2017 Weekend

NXT TakeOver: Chicago will be WWE NXT’s next live special.

On Monday afternoon, Triple H, fresh off inadvertently putting Stephanie McMahon through a table at WrestleMania 33, announced the next WWE NXT live special. We will see NXT TakeOver: Chicago take place on Saturday, May 20 in Chicago, IL. This is the day before SmackDown’s Backlash pay-per-view, which will emanate from the Allstate Arena in the same city. It didn’t get confirmed if TakeOver will also be from there, but given the recent history of these shows, count on that happening.

This show will actually be a culmination of the tour WWE NXT will be on, as Triple H made two more live events official. Thursday, May 18 will be in Cincinnati, OH and Friday, May 19 will be in Evansville, IN.

This announcement comes on the heels of NXT TakeOver: Orlando, which wrapped up on Saturday night. It ushered in a new era of NXT, potentially sending out Shinsuke Nakamura and bringing in Aleister Black. A wild Elimination match for the NXT Tag Team Championship took place, as well.

Like Cageside Seats noted, this may be a way of allowing potentially-called up NXT stars to work both shows that weekend. Some of the brand’s top talents are rumored for being moved to the main roster, maybe as soon as Monday or Tuesday night. So, whoever this may be can give one last showing for developmental, which was undergoing a transition before WrestleMania 33 weekend.

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NXT has six weeks to build up TakeOver: Chicago, which should be the latest fun event they put on. It could mean we get matches made soon, maybe at Wednesday night’s taping at Full Sail. What could main event? How about the undercard matches?