Main Event For 8/22 WWE NXT Takeover

Courtesy of WWE.com:
NXT Champion Finn Bálor vs. Kevin Owens
A huge main event has been confirmed for NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, as newly crowned NXT Champion Finn Bálor will defend his title against former champion Kevin Owens at the Barclays Center on Saturday, Aug. 22 as part of a special that will be broadcast live on the award-winning WWE Network.
The rematch was announced by NXT General Manager William Regal at San Diego Comic-Con International, where both Bálor and Owens took part in a packed panel presented by Mattel, featuring the unveiling of both Superstars' first WWE action figures.
The announcement comes hot on the heels of Bálor's stunning championship victory in Tokyo. Just days after becoming the first competitor to pin Owens inside an NXT ring, Bálor returned to Japan, the country where he first made a name for himself as a competitor, donning his demonic war paint as he charged into battle against the brutish Owens. While Owens sought to slow down his otherworldly opposition, Bálor withstood Owens' onslaught and crushed him with the Coup de Grace to become the NXT Champion.
Since the Tokyo throwdown, Owens has turned his attention to capturing John Cena's United States Championship, but don't think for a moment that the bruiser won't relish the opportunity to reclaim the title that propelled him to Superstardom and embarrass Bálor in the process.
Will Finn Bálor prove that his victory in Tokyo wasn't a fluke, or will Owens send The Demon back to the netherworlds and reassert his dominance over NXT? Find out at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn on Saturday, Aug. 22! Tickets will be available for this monumental event starting Saturday, July 18 at 12 p.m. ET. If you can't make it to Brooklyn, don't worry, as the event will be broadcast live on the award-winning WWE Network!

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Kevin Owens Comments on the Death of Dusty Rhodes

NXT Champion Kevin Owens posted the following on Twitter, commenting on the passing of WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes today:

"Dusty...

These past few weeks, I kept telling myself that I had to find time to stop by the Performance Center and talk to Dusty. I wanted to thank him for all of his help in the last year and make sure he knew how grateful I was for the chance I got to work with him. But I've been very busy and just couldn't find the time.

Well, today, I learned that Dusty Rhodes has passed away.

There are no words to express the sadness I feel, not only because I won't get to see him or talk to him or laugh with him again, but because I didn't get to tell him how special he was to me.

So today, I invite you all to make time to tell the people in your lives how much they mean to you...You never know what tomorrow will bring.

I can only hope that even though I didn't get to tell him directly, Dusty knew how much I appreciated and valued his help, wisdom, support and friendship. He was unlike anybody I've ever met in this industry and to say that I will always remember him and be thankful for the honor of having known him is an understatement.

In the meantime, the entire NXT crew is on its way to Pittsburgh where we will do what we do best. And you can bet every single second of tonight and every other NXT show this week are dedicated to the memory of the legendary, one-and-only Dusty Rhodes.

My thoughts are with his family and friends at this time...especially his children. Your father was an incredible coach and an even better man. He will be greatly missed.

Dusty used to call us "his NXT kids"... Well, I think I speak for all of us at when I say that tonight and every other night from here on out, we will give it our all for you, Dusty.

We'll make you proud, Dream.

Thank you for the memories...thank you for everything.

Much love,

Kevin"

 

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WWE Unhappy With ROH Selling Kevin Steen Action Figure

WWE is reportedly unhappy with Ring of Honor and Figure Toy Company’s recent Kevin Steen action figure release. With Owens’ being WWE’s biggest new star, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that the company isn’t pleased that a non-WWE company was the first to release an action figure since Owens hit the main roster, especially considering that the Steen and Owens characters look essentially the same.
WWE officials are now trying to prevent this from happening in the future and are considering how to get guys with big potential into NXT and thus signed to merchandising deals before they go to ROH or TNA, companies with merchandising deals. Complicating that is the fact that a lot of indie talent, including several who have tried out for WWE in the past few weeks, have signed five year deals with Figure Toy Company.
This also means that the plan is not to sign talent from ROH or TNA for the main roster and to spread the word that young talent with WWE aspirations should not sign with either company. One person said that this came about because of both the Figure Toy Company deal and the ROH/Destination America deal, both of which came about at the same time and WWE had no advance knowledge of. The plan may not apply to talent signed and kept in NXT, as there is some interest in some of the TNA guys whose contracts are expiring to work in the developmental brand and it isn’t the same as the main roster.
Opinionated View- Typical small minded bullshit from the WWE.

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Kevin Owens to be top WWE Heel?

Kevin Owens will still work NXT tapings and big NXT shows for a short while but is going to primarily be on TV and will be one of the top heels, second only to Seth Rollins.
As previously reported, Owens is working with Cena for the next several months at house shows and of course he is facing Cena in a rematch at Money in the Bank.

Opinionated View- If this is true I'd be thrilled. I just hope WWE doesn't go "Well we put Owens over once now we can job him out the rest of the feud."

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NXT Title To Be Defened on Smackdown

– Kevin Owens announced on Raw that he’s holding an NXT Championship Open Challenge on Smackdown this week. This of course will a mockery of John Cena’s US Championship Open Challenge.
The show tapes tomorrow in Houston and airs Thursday on SyFy.

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Kevin Owens Wasn’t WWE’s First Choice For Main Roster Call-Up?

Kevin Owens may not have been WWE’s first choice to be the next call-up from NXT. WWE originally planned on bringing Sami Zayn up after his NXT Takeover match with Owens, but Zayn suffered an injury and plans changed.
Owens signed a new main roster contract and will work all RAW shows in the future. He will also keep working in NXT until he loses the NXT title and moves to the main roster full time.
Meanwhile, WWE also has “big plans” for Finn Balor on the main roster whenever they decide to call him up.

Opinionated View- It seemed like they had plans for Zayn based on how much they gave him in that match with Cena. But I will give the WWE credit they picked a good plan B in Owens. Hopefually when Zayn is backed he get called up and a good push as well. And hopefully Balor gets a good push as well.

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Kevin Owens Signs New WWE Contract

Kevin Owens has signed a main roster contract with the WWE. He has also been informed that he will be making the transition from the NXT brand to the main roster quickly. He is booked for all Raws going forward and will be scheduled for the main roster house shows soon. The plan is for him to remain an NXT character for the next couple of months since he is the champion so that they can book a smooth exit for the character.

Opinionated View- I would hope WWE would re-sign this guy since it could be argued he's now the most over guy in the whole company. Now just do the right thing WWE put him over Cena.

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NXT Stars Backstage at Smackdown

Kevin Owens and Charlotte are backstage at the WWE Smackdown taping today. Both NXT talents were at the Raw taping as well, with Owens of course appearing on screen last night to further his feud with John Cena leading into Elimination Chamber this weekend.

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Who is Backstage at Raw?

- Charlotte and Kevin Owens are backstage at Raw. Charlotte worked main roster live events over the weekend, and could work a dark match tonight. Owens is likely there to continue the build to his match with John Cena at Sunday’s Elimination Chamber PPV.

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How Long Will Kevin Owens Be Out of Action

As previously reported, NXT Champion Kevin Owens had a partial meniscectomy to repair a knee injury. Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio noted that Owens will be out for 4-6 weeks. That means he’ll likely miss the NXT event during Wrestlemania 31 weekend.

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Kevin Owens Undergoes Knee Surgery

Source: WWE
WWE has announced that NXT Champion Kevin Owens underwent a partial meniscectomy for a knee injury late last week. He commented:
"I'm not the kind of person that lets things like this get in my way. I'm already walking around without crutches and doing physical therapy at the WWE Performance Center."
"Now that I'm at the level I am now, and with as much at stake as there is, I don't think it's going to slow me down. I'm on the way back."
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Reported Incident With Triple H, Bill DeMott, and Kevin Owens

Now that former NXT head coach Bill DeMott has left WWE, some stories are starting to come out about him. One has to do with the NXT Takeover: R Evolution event that took place back in December. DeMott was the agent for Kevin Owens' debut against CJ Parker.

The match we saw was the one that the three worked out. Between not liking Owens, the big guy, doing a flip dive and not wanting so many moves in the opening match, DeMott did not like the match.

Owens reportedly complained to Triple H about the match and Triple H just said to let Owens do what he wants. This led to a lot of jealousy due to Triple H's talents that he's trying to build NXT around being able to do what they want while everyone else is micro-managed and told not to wrestle the indie style matches that get over.

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WWE Bringing NXT Stars Up After WrestleMania 31?

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter notes that the idea behind NXT has changed a lot lately as Triple H loves all the praise he gets for NXT on social media. WWE originally was looking to train new talents from the bottom to the main roster but it appears they are recruiting top talents for the NXT brand itself. The idea is to replace some of the top indie stars who can already work good matches with more indie stars.

Regarding call-ups, there's no word on NXT Champion Kevin Owens or Sami Zayn getting brought to the main roster but there has been a lot of talk about NXT Women's Champion Sasha Banks, Adrian Neville and possibly Charlotte getting called up. With how WWE likes to introduce new talents after WrestleMania, it's possible we see new main roster talents in April.

Opinionated View- Well there is always the post mania call up. The problem is once they go to the main roster they wind up being booked the main roster creative team. Hell look at the Ascension great tag team. Having good matches in NXT. On the main roster they are getting jobbed out by the freaking Prime Time Players. Zayn, Owen, and Nevillie are great but I can't see WWE giving them the time or chances they get in NXT. The Divas division is good in NXT but on the main roster I could see her getting jobbed out to The Bellas or Alica Fox because they got to promote Total Divas.

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Kevin Owen’s Next NXT Title Defense Announced

- It was announced on this week’s NXT that Finn Balor’s title shot at Kevin Owen will be on the March 25th episode. Balor earned the title shot by winning the Number One Contender Tournament the culminated at NXT Takeover: Rival.

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WWE Very Happy With Kevin Owens

WWE officials are reportedly very happy with Kevin Owens. The feeling is that he has been able to bring his diehard fans with him from the indies, which is something a lot of transitioning stars are unable to do. Also, his “KO” shirt has been selling very well since his debut at NXT Takeover: R Evolution.

Opinionated View- Cross your fingers and hope it lasts. Kevin is down is NXT where its safe. He's not under the same eyes he would be on the main roster. But hey look at Daniel Bryan most over guy in the WWE and well look at the last two Royal Rumbles. Dean Ambrose is pretty over and I can't recall the last big match he's won.


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News and Notes From WWE NXT Takeover: R Evolution

The following are some news and notes coming out of last night's NXT Takeover: R Evolution live special on the WWE Network according to a report by Mike Johnson:\

* Backstage morale was said to be "through the roof."

* Kevin Owens suffered a broken nose from a palm strike by CJ Parker during their match on the live special.

* Parker suffered a deep gash on his hand as well from the palm strike to Owens.

* Finn Balor's Carnage-themed face & body paint will be a permanent look of his going forward.

* New shirts have been released for Finn Balor and Kevin Owens, as well as replica title belts of the NXT Title, NXT Women's Title and NXT Tag Team Titles over at

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Kevin Steen's NXT Debut Annouced

During today's 11/20 WWE NXT on the WWE Network, a vignette was shown for the impending debut of the former Kevin Steen, now known as Kevin Owens. The end of the vignette showed the date 12-11-14, which is the date of the next NXT live special on the WWE Network, entitled "NXT Takeover: Our Evolution." So that would appear to be when Steen will debut on NXT TV.

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Update on Kevin Owens’ Upcoming NXT Debut

 The Wrestling Observer reports that WWE NXT is gearing up for the upcoming debut of Kevin Owens, aka Kevin Steen. Vignettes have reportedly already been taped for his upcoming NXT debut.

According to the report, Steen “worked out in front of HHH individually.” His debut is expected to happen at the upcoming NXT Takeover special on December 11 or the next set of TV tapings for NXT the following night on December 12.

Opinionated View- Debut Steen Debut…. Sorry got that wrong Debut Owens Debut

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WWE Preparing For Kevin Steen's NXT Debut

WWE has begun filming promos & vignettes for the impending debut of Kevin Steen onto the NXT TV show according to a report by Mike Johnson. Steen will be going under the name "Kevin Owens" on NXT TV as WWE applied for that as a trademark last week. It is said that Steen will debut on either the next NXT live special on the WWE Network on December 11 or the TV Tapings the following day on December 12, which will both be held at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida. 

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