WWE Royal Rumble Weekend: NXT and the Main Roster Put On Great Events
As the clock clicked past 11 on Sunday, this was the first weekend in a long time where NXT did not outshine the main WWE brands.
Whether it was New Japan Pro Wrestling, NXT Takeover or the Royal Rumble, there was a lot to be excited about this weekend. After Saturday there was an idea that the WWE would let everyone down with a lackluster pay per view after yet another edition of NXT Takeover. But at the end of the weekend, this is one instance in which fans should feel satisfied with the outings that both events put forth for fans around the world.
The complaints and comparisons in the booking between Takeover and the main WWE brands are understandable. The “developmental” territory puts on some of the most compelling matches we’ve seen from the WWE as a whole. If one was to rank the best matches seen in the WWE since NXT was created in 2012 many of those would be from the competitors in the black and yellow brand. Whether it is the story telling, understandable booking, or more diverse matches, the content produced on Takeover continues to excel while there’s frequent complaints in the same areas when talking about WWE PPVs.
The feeling was different heading into this Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s Takeover featured a list of matches that many expected to be special. Whether it was Adam Cole against Aleister Black or Andrade Almas versus Johnny Gargano or even Ember Moon versus Shayna Baszler – these matches featured a story and intrigue that had fans eating up nearly every move that occurred in the ring. That’s the anticipation that has been lacking across many recent WWE PPVs.
This weekend was entirely different. Whether it was the allure of the historical women’s rumble or the swirling rumors surrounding the men’s rumble; there was a feeling that something special was going to happen come Sunday. Instead of a moment in which another one of the “made men” in WWE were put over; it was clear that this edition of the Royal Rumble was not to be missed.
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Even without Ronda Rousey’s appearance after Asuka’s victory; there were so many instances of importance that made Sunday’s show feel special; a feeling that was missing from so many shows in the past. The special moments left the fans cheering, even if it was due to the nostalgia acts encompassed within both Rumbles.
It will be interesting to see how the organization capitalizes off of what many will see as a successful weekend. It’s clear that there’s a stark difference in the writing and booking between NXT, Smackdown and Raw. But after so many examples in which the storyline heading into Monday was how NXT outshined the main product, it’s a refreshing change to hear a different narrative of enjoyment from both products.
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The next NXT Takeover is scheduled for April 7, the night before WrestleMania 34. With so many rising competitors in the likes of The Undisputed Era, Velveteen Dream, Aleister Black, Almas, Gargano, the newly signed EC3, Ricochet and War Machine – there’s a wealth of talent the brand can and will leverage. Hopefully, fans will leave New Orleans and turn off their television on Sunday equally excited about the other brands.