5 Takeaways from NXT Takeover: Toronto

Takeaway 1: The Street Profits are too hot to touch

It’s been pretty clear to everyone that has been following NXT that the street profits are great. Takeover: Toronto only served to prove that point. Angelo and Montez retained their titles Saturday night in Toronto despite the fact that they have appeared in several promos on RAW in the past several weeks. It makes you wonder if Triple H thinks they may be too good to let go just yet. If I was the third member of the Street Profits, I would be asking some questions.

Takeaway 2: Candice LeRae should be the number 1 contender for the women’s title

She’s got the moves. She’s got the look. When it comes to talent and character, no one in the NXT Women’s division can hold a candle to Candice LeRae. It’s time for Triple H to you-know-what or get off the pot. If she isn’t given a serious push he needs to release her so she can light it up with the likes of New Japan, ROH or AEW.

Takeaway 3: The Dream is not over yet

When the dream appeared on Tough Enough in 2015 he was eliminated because he seemed to display an unusually large ego. WWE clearly saw potential there, though and signed him to a developmental deal that saw the dream on NXT the following February. The Dream has clearly developed his talent both inside and outside the ring and shows great ring awareness and has really flexed his ability to develop his character into a real crowd pleaser. For me, The Dream retaining the NA Championship made the most sense of every result.

Takeaway 4: Baszler/Yim was a match made in Hell

It’s getting painfully hard to avoid comparing Shayna Baszler to Brock Lesner: Both have the MMA background; both have held the highest championship in the land for their respective divisions (for too long) and both are notoriously stiff in the ring, both can’t seem to get the right kind of heat. This match was the weakest of the night. It seemed uninspired and dispassionate. Both characters fall flat when matched with each other. There seemed to be no contrast. Weak characters make for bad storytelling. One silver lining: Baszler is showing improvement in her ability to work a match. That stuff with her right arm was the most believable stuff from her I have seen in a long time.

Takeaway 5: “Thank You, Johnny”

If you missed some or all of last night’s Main Event between Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole, do yourself a favor and watch it. The events in the ring told a great story between two of the largest fish in NXT pond. What was reported after was even more surprising: The crowd began chanting “Thank You, Johnny” and William Regal came out to personally thank him and give him a hug. The rumors are now flying that he is leaving NXT to get called up to the “big show”. Let’s hope if that is true that he gets some good sunlight. They don’t call him “Johnny Wrestling” for nothing, you know.