WrestleMania: 8 things we learnt from the NXT TakeOver in Orlando

WRESTLEMANIA weekend has kicked off with NXT: TakeOver Orlando – the developmental brand’s showcase event.

Sun Sport was in attendance at the Amway Center for a yet another fantastic show. Here are eight things we learned from watching the event live.

The NXT fans are insane

The night started off with a lot of empty seats in the Amway Center. But it didn’t spoil the atmosphere for a second. The response to the opening mixed tag match – Sanity versus Tye Dillinger, Roderick Strong, Kassius Ohno and Ruby Riot – was electric.

The reaction for Kassius Ohno was particularly impressive, while Tye Dillinger remains one the most over performers on the NXT roster. Ruby Riot was also popular but still feels green – she fumbled a few spots. Dillinger was eventually pinned by  Sanity’s Killian Dain.

Aleister Black could be the new Undertaker

Aleister Black – the Dutch wrestler formerly known as Tommy End – performed a ‘Taker-like entrance, rising from a crypt while smoke bellowed around him.

It was an dominant debut from Black, who WWE clearly has pegged as a potential next big thing – though commiserations to opponent Andrade Almas, who’s become so hated by fans that he’s defeated by just about every up-and-comer now.

There are new championship belts

The rumours are true – the NXT belts have been replaced by shiny, redesigned ones. The crowd were excited for the big reveal of each title – and all competitors fought that much harder to win or retain them.

Finn Bálor still has his heart in NXT

Bálor came around to shake hands with audience members while showing his dad around the NXT show – which he clearly has a huge fondness for, even though he hasn’t wrested for the brand for over six months.

He continued to be coy about whether he’ll return at ‘Mania itself (we predict something demonic to tonight though).

The Revival + DIY = awesome teamwork

Building on the last few months of TakeOver events, DIY – Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa – and The Revival teamed up to take out the Authors of Pain in their triple threat match.

The crowd response inside the arena was dynamite – especially when Scott Dawson joined DIY to powerbomb one of AoP through a table.

AoP retained but both DIY and The Revival are destined for great things – not to mention another collision – somewhere down the road. The match was almost too good – the crowd never reached those levels of excitement again.

The crowd was split between Asuka and Ember Moon

Fans chanted for both female stars during their match. At one point, it seemed like Ember would actually defeat the ‘Empress of Tomorrow’, but she came back with hard strikes – and eventually won with a devastating kick to the head.

There was a general feeling in the arena that Ember will return for another shot. She could be the next woman to carry the NXT division.

Drew McIntyre is coming to NXT

The former Intercontinental Champion made an on-screen appearance to a huge pop. Clearly, Drew is heading back to WWE – following a great year that’s seen McIntyre wrestle (under real name Drew Galloway) for ICW and TNA.

Having been away from the company and reinvented himself, McIntyre could live up to the potential WWE squandered the first time around.

Shinsuke Nakamura is heading to the main roster

There’s little doubt where Nakamura goes from here. Bobby Roode may have beaten him decisively with a swinging neck breaker, but Nakamura is already up for his next challenge – the main roster.

He spent the post-match working the crowd and conducting them in a sing-along to his theme music – a fitting farewell that was accompanied by chants of “Thank you Shinsuke!”.

Roode’s win means that he’ll get his shot at the big time somewhere later down the road, but for now it looks like Nakamura is being called up.

Watch WrestleMania 33 on the WWE Network this Sunday 2 April