Why you should care about NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn

Since 2012, NXT has been serving as the Triple-A league for WWE, owned by the company and used to cultivate and hone wrestlers until they’re ready to move up to the main roster. The promotion has slowly but steadily grown a sizable cult following and on Saturday night, the day before WWE’s SummerSlam, NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn will thrill a sold-out crowd of 13,000 passionate fans at the Barclays Center.

It’s the largest show in NXT history and a true coming-out party for one of the most talented rosters of any promotion, anywhere in the world. It’s a huge night for everyone on the card and for Triple H, who has personally sculpted NXT into a promotion that is proving it can stand on its own just fine.

TakeOver airs live on the WWE Network beginning at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday night. Here’s the skinny on their biggest event ever.

NOTE: While all of the following matches have been made official for Saturday night’s event, they will likely not all be part of the live streaming WWE Network broadcast.

What am I looking at here? Apollo Crews was formerly known as Uhaa Nation, an exceptionally athletic big man who made a name for himself on the indies both domestically and in Japan. His long-awaited in-ring debut happens at TakeOver against Tye Dillinger, who thinks he’s a perfect 10.

Why you should care: If you’ve only ever watched WWE, you’ve probably never seen a wrestler like Crews. He’s named after Terry Crews because he shares the same sort of physique, but can also bust out standing shooting star presses. If you’ve watched Lucha Underground, he’s more in the vein of a wrestler like Brian Cage. He’s going to have a short, impressive debut. He’ll be a major player in NXT in short order and likely a big name in WWE in the next couple of years.

What am I looking at here? After letting his eating get out of control, the rotund Dempsey has dedicated himself to his new “Bull-Fit” fitness program. Elias Samson is Literally A Guy.

Why you should care: As far as words that rhyme with other words, “Bull-Fit” is right up there. This might be a good comedy match on an otherwise pretty serious card.

What am I looking at here? The Hype Bros consist of Zack Ryder, a Long Island native and Mojo Rawley, who is basically an anthropomorphic can of Monster Energy. Enzo Amore is a certified G and a bonafide stud. You can’t teach that. Colin Cassady, AKA Big Cass, is seven feet tall. And you can’t teach that.

On the other side of the ring ... after hunting high and low for a tag team partner, Jason Jordan finally found his man in Chad Gable, a legitimate Olympian who could become the next Kurt Angle-style wrecking machine. Dash and Dawson (formerly The Mechanics) are two rough-and-tumble guys who prefer punching people in the mouth to fancy flips.

Why you should care: There are probably no two more beloved men on the NXT roster than Enzo and Big Cass. Their entrance alone is going to tear the roof off the joint. Between Ryder, Enzo and Cass you have three local boys performing in Brooklyn. Oh yeah. It’s gonna be lit.

As far as the match itself, you’ve got a lot of energy and charisma going up against two mat technicians and a pair who fancy themselves brawlers. If this manages to click, it could be a compelling clash of styles. But it’s going to be electric nonetheless.

What am I looking at here? Total Divas star Eva Marie is “all red everything” and has recently dedicated herself to wrestling after admittedly only caring about becoming a star when she first got to the WWE. Carmella is a former beautician friend of Enzo and Big Cass. After they accidentally ruined a poodle, they helped her get a job as a wrestler. As you do.

Why you should care: Eva Marie is hated by wrestling fans because she got a path to stardom via a reality show and a pretty face (or so they think). Her mission to make NXT audiences respect her makes her a natural heel. The sold-out crowd’s reaction to her should be worth the price of admission alone.

What am I looking at here? Charlotte, Becky Lynch and Emma are three of the “Four Horsewomen” of NXT, the old guard that helped revolutionize women’s wrestling for a lot of North American fans. Charlotte and Becky are now part of the main WWE roster, so this is part of one last event in a reduced role for them. Dana Brooke is looking to become part of the new guard, but her raw in-ring abilities and one-of-a-kind mic work have made her the focus of some pretty harsh criticism from NXT audiences.

Why you should care: This is going to be AWESOME. This should be a showcase of what women’s wrestling is currently all about (and capable of) in both NXT and WWE. Although this was a last-minute addition to the card, it could well steal the show. Well, maybe. If only there wasn’t another women’s match later in the night ...

What am I looking at here? Samoa Joe is finally in the WWE after running roughshod over the entire world and TNA for the past decade. This is his biggest challenge to date in NXT, going up against Baron Corbin, a seemingly unstoppable bruiser who crushes people of no note in short order and thinks very highly of himself.

Why you should care: Baron Corbin hasn’t had a truly great match yet, which makes him a bit of an oddity in NXT. Joe should be able to give him a terrific match and allow both men to look great. This could well be the catalyst that allows both men to reach the next stage in their NXT stories, since they’ve both been stuck in their respective opening chapters for some time now.

What am I looking at here? Jushin “Thunder” Liger is a legitimate wrestling legend. He has been wrestling all over the world as Liger since 1990 and has held championships in almost every promotion. As part of WCW’s cruiserweight division in the 90s, he helped revolutionize and popularize high-flying in the United States. He’s making his WWE debut here, taking on male model Tyler Breeze, the unsung MVP of NXT who demanded top-level competition at TakeOver.

Why you should care: All the stuff I said above about Liger. Him making his WWE debut is a huge deal. Breeze being selected as his opponent is a big deal for Breeze as well. Good things for Tyler Breeze are good things for everybody.

What am I looking at here? Blake and Murphy are two thoroughly competent and largely indistinguishable pro wrestlers. They’re the NXT tag team champs and I have no idea what their finishing move or moves are. They got great when they added Alexa Bliss as their manager and became a group of entitled dubstep jerks called BAMF (the Blake Alexis and Murphy Faction). The Vaudevillains are a tag team consisting of an olde-timey strongman and an opera singer. Yes, they have handlebar mustaches.

Why you should care: The Vaudevillains have been robbed of a shot at the gold before by Alexa and they’ve vowed that they’ll find a way to neutralize her. This could mean that they’ve found a similarly olde-timey lady to join them, but it also means there’s a legitimate chance that this match ends with someone tied to a railroad track.

What am I looking at here? Sasha Banks is the Boss. The current women’s champion and possibly the best women’s wrestler in the world. Bayley is a big wrestling fan. Seriously, that’s her character. She loves wrestling SO MUCH and loves wrestlers. She’s excited to be living out her dream and gives out Bayley hugs. Her finishing move is a hug suplex. She’s won over the hearts of every NXT fan and she’s about to have the biggest match of her life in front of 13,000 Bayley fans who want to give HER a hug.

Why you should care: This is the longest story currently running in NXT. Bayley’s road to glory runs through TakeOver. She started her career being tolerated, then treated as a joke by her peers. She finally rose to the top of the women’s ranks only to fall just short of winning the championship again and again. Now she knows it’s her last chance and she’s determined to prove EVERYBODY wrong. She defeated Charlotte and Becky Lynch, her two biggest stumbling blocks in the past, to get here. Now she has to beat the best women’s wrestler with the help of her friends. There will be crying regardless of the result.

It’s going to be incredible. Don’t be surprised if this winds up as the main event.

What am I looking at here? The current NXT champ, Finn Bálor, is an athletic Irishman who sometimes channels the help of a demon to aid him in winning matches. Kevin Owens is a fat violent asshole and former champion. He lost the title to Bálor in Japan last month and is trying to use the brutality of a ladder match to regain his belt.

Why you should care: Owens is awesome in ladder matches. It’s almost become his thing. Bálor is awesome, period. They’re fighting for the top title in the promotion, in NXT’s biggest event ever. They’re going to tear the house down.

If you like wrestling, you’re in for an unforgettable night. Just watch TakeOver, already.