In recent years the NXT Takeover before Summerslam has created many memories. Some would argue that past Takeovers have outshone the Sunday show. The first time that NXT came to Brooklyn, Sasha Banks and Bayley delivered a Match of The Year contender. The two years after that saw a title change hands in the main event. Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Samoa Joe, and Drew McIntyre defeated Bobby Roode. One of the best parts at looking back at the older shows is to see where these wrestlers are now. Nakamura for example, main evented Takeover two years ago and is now fighting on the Summerslam card defending his US title. NXT is the future of the main roster. Let’s see what the roster has to showcase on Saturday.

The five fight card starts with a grudge match. The only grudge match on the card. EC3 faces The Velveteen Dream. It doesn’t seem like there is too much of a story behind this match, but the in-ring action should be entertaining. An angle was done on the final episode leading up to the PPV where they confronted each other in the ring. EC3 won the unscheduled beatdown.

After a grudge match the rest of the night has title implications. The tag team champions and members of The Undisputed Era Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong plan to “Shock The System” when UK duo Tyler Bate and Trent Seven A.K.A Mustache Mountain challenge for their belts. These two teams are very familiar with each other as they played hot potato with the belt in June. Mustache Mountain ended the 150+ day reign for The Undisputed Era, winning the belts back at NXT’s UK Championship show. The belts were won back only days after on NXT. Mustache Mountain have proven they can do it once, but now they have to do it again. Maybe it was a fluke that they won it once, or maybe they can find success once more.

NXT’s new North American Championship sees it’s first TakeOver appearance since it was won back at New Orleans in April. Adam Cole, who won the title via a ladder match sees himself facing Ricochet, another man who was vying for the belt that same night. Ricochet was the one who issued the challenge on NXT TV. Despite Cole not being too keen on the idea, the match was booked.

The final two matches of the show have lots of backstory to them. In the first one, Kairi Sane looks to become an NXT Women’s Champion when she faced Shayna Baszler. The two have met before, with Sane being victorious in that meeting. Sane defeated Baszler to become the winner of the Mae Young Classic last year. Since then Baszler became the NXT Women’s Champion, looking down on Sane and the rest of the roster. Sane fought her way to the rematch after winning a #1 contenders match on NXT TV. In the final week leading up to Takeover Sane tried to intimidate Baszler by beating Aliyah to a pulp. Sane hopes that history will repeat while Baszler hopes to end get the final laugh on their rivalry.

After betrayal in 2017, the long standing rivalry between Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano has another chapter installed into it on Saturday. Ciampa ditched the tag team called #DIY that he had with Gargano after a loss to The Authors of Pain back in 2017. Since then Ciampa battled back from injury, making his return at TakeOver in New Orleans, defeating Gargano in an “unsanctioned” bout. He beat him once again at NXT Chicago II. This match wasn’t originally scheduled to be just between these two, but became that way after Aleister Black suffered a groin injury. He was written off of NXT TV last week as footage showed that someone attacked Black on the campus of Full Sail University. After defeating Gargono two times in a row, this fight could be the last chance for “Johnny Wrestling” to prove himself.

NXT has an exciting lineup Saturday which has potential to put on many quality matches. Personally I am most excited about the tag bout and the women’s bout. The women’s one because I don’t know who will win, and the tag one because it looks like it will be an absolute barn-burner. NXT’s fourth time in Brooklyn has potential to be spectacular and if it holds that quality afterwords will be seen tomorrow.

With NXT Takeover only three days away, we have a final episode of NXT leading into the show. The show opens with a recap of NXT TV from last week, where the Triple Threat match for Takeover was announced. We also see that Aleister Black was assaulted outside the Full Sail venue. He was previously announced from the triple threat match, making it just Gargano and Ciampa.

The Street Profits vs. The Mighty

The first fight of the evening was The Street Profits against The Mighty (formerly known as TM61). Street Profits had the crowd completely behind them for this match. Montez Ford for The Street Profits got a hot tag, taking out both of The Mighty. He hit a Sunset Flip for a two count. When an attempted roll-up with tights pulled was tried on Ford he turned the tables to win the match. The Street Profits celebrated in the seats afterwards. I thought that this match was very entertaining. The Street Profits are pretty good wrestlers and their glowing personalities make up for whatever is missing in the ring.

Kairi Sane vs. Aliyah

After a short break we saw a backstage conversation between the Undisputed Era. They cut a decent promo. The next match is Kairi Sane facing Aliyah. Sane has a match at NXT Takeover, facing Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women’s Championship. Just as the bell was about to ring, Baszler came out to watch the match. Sane seemed visibly disturbed by this. Baszler was on commentary for this match. Sane hit three elbow drops, but did not let Aliyah lose as she wants to send a message to Baszler. Aliyah eventually tapped out via submission. I’m very excited to see how this match turns out on Saturday. Baszler was a little rough on commentary, seeming to have a little trouble with the improv that it throws at you. That’s okay though, improving on that is what NXT is for.

EC3 Confronts The Velveteen Dream

The Velveteen Dream comes out to talk to the crowd. He was discussing his opponent on Saturday, EC3. As he was talking, EC3 himself came out. Velveteen Dream attacked EC3 after quite the discussion. EC3 fought back and won the fight. Didn’t seem like a very babyface thing to do, to just attack someone like that.

We now see a full analysis of the attack on Aleister Black attack, trying to find out who did it. This was a very funny segment, showing lots of wrestlers just hanging around the incident. They did not find a definitive answer to who attacked Aleister.

Tyler Bate w/ Trent Seven vs. Roderick Strong w/ Kyle O’Reilly

After another break it is announced that Pete Dunne with defend his United Kingdom Championship against Zack Gibson next week on NXT. The main event for this episode of NXT is Tyler Bate versus Roderick Strong. The match plays as a preview to the tag match between these guys and the other half of their teams. Early in the match Kyle O’Reilly was involved, playing as a distraction, letting Strong get back in control of the match. Tyler Bate did that move where it looks like he’s diving out of the ring but he’s just bouncing off of the ropes. That move messes with your brain. He followed it up with a clothesline then did an actual dive. He hit a Tyler Driver to win the match. The babyfaces are on top heading into the big show. This was a great preview for the match on Saturday. The competition between these two teams should be really something to watch.

On Monday night, RAW delivered a lackluster show that had its moments. The biggest moment of all was Dean Ambrose’s long awaited return. On this week’s Smackdown, people possibly look for a better go-home, leaving a good impression heading into Summerslam. Let’s look at how the show kicked off.

Smackdown started off with Charlotte, Becky Lynch and Carmella having a “face-to-face-to-face” before their triple threat match on Sunday. Carmella says she is not happy that she is forced to do this segment, but since she is the champ “life is good, baby.” After trash talk between the three, which was lead by Carmella, Paige came out to the ramp. She sets up a tag match including Charlotte and Becky, as Carmella joins the commentary team. This wasn’t a good nor bad segment, but it did show how well Carmella is at cutting promos.

Charlotte & Becky Lynch vs. Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville

The first match of the evening is Charlotte and Becky versus Mandy and Sonya. After a few minutes of messing around Becky Lynch won the match for her team via the Disarmer. This match was consumed by commercials but didn’t have anything that interesting in it anyways.

The program airs a video of The Miz and Maryse announcing that their show “Miz and Mrs” has been renewed for season 2.

The Triple Threat (locals) vs. The Bludgeon Brothers

Up next we get a three-on-two handicap match, with the Smackdown Tag Team Champions facing locals who are called “The Triple Threat.” It feels so odd, or even lazy that this is how The Bludgeon Brothers are being booked on the final show before Summerslam. A squash match? Seriously? It feels like these guys have been doing squash matches for a whole year now. The match never got started since, I don’t know. But they murdered these guys. This felt cheap.

Sanity vs. New Day

In what is quite the matchup for a go-home show, Sanity faced New Day in a 6-man match. When I saw that this match was happening, almost did not believe it. I was pretty excited to see it. It was Kofi Kingston’s birthday. Because of this he got a birthday chant from the crowd. After Kofi hit Trouble In Paradise, he was thrown over the ropes. He went to the top rope right after and did a dive onto two Sanity members outside the ring. Big E impressively lifted up Killian Dain to do the Up Up Down Down, with the help of Xavier Woods. This match was tons of fun. I don’t know how I feel about Sanity losing clean though.

Aiden English vs. Andrade Almas w/ Zelina Vega

Tonight, Aiden English says he fights for Rusev. He faces Almas. Almas made light word of English, winning the match in under a minute. After the match both Vega and Almas cut a promo on Rusev and Lana. They then come out to the stage and say that they will win on Rusev Day.

Throughout the night there was a series of clips showing the kayfabe history between Daniel Bryan and The Miz. These were very well put together. While they probably weren’t pleasing for the live crowd, I thought this was a nice bowtie on the build up to this rivalry.

Shelton Benjamin vs. Jeff Hardy

This weekend at Summerslam Jeff Hardy aims to retake his United State Championship from Shinsuke Nakamura. As a big of a warmup, he faces Shelton Benjamin. The match started during the commercial break, with Shelton ahead when we came back. To Benjamin’s detriment, Hardy won the match. Almost right after the bell rang, Nakamura came out, charging at a tired Jeff Hardy. Hardy got distracted by Shelton Benjamin, letting Nakamura strike. Hardy reversed a Kinshasa into a Twist Of Fate and a Swanton Bomb. Jeff Hardy got the last laugh heading into Sunday. We see Orton creeping in the curtains watching the segment.

AJ Styles Ending Segment

To end off Smackdown Live, AJ Styles comes to talk to the crowd. He talks about his opponent this Sunday, Samoa Joe. Joe reads a letter that was sent to him from someone in AJ’s family. It talks about how he doesn’t take care of his family because the title is all he cares about. This seems to upset AJ. If we’re being honest, why would you want to cheer for someone like AJ if that was actually someone in his family? This segment made the babyface look like a heel. This ends Smackdown Live for this week.

With Summerslam only 6 days away, Monday Night RAW and Tuesday’s Smackdown Live are the final two shows to get fans ready for the “hottest show of the summer”. Whether this show will actually have any effect on Sunday’s show will be seen as we go through the show. Let’s see the Monday Night RAW from this week.

This week’s episode of Monday Night RAW started with a welcome from Michael Cole to Greensboro, North Carolina. Ronda Rousey’s music hits and she walks out to the ring. Michael Cole welcomes Renee Young, who is making her commentary debut for RAW. Rousey addresses that Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart passed away today. She talks about how important fathers are to everyone. She tells Natalya to stay strong. A “Nattie” chant breaks out. She then ties what she is saying into how she will beat Alexa Bliss on Sunday. She then brings out Ember Moon, who is facing Bliss next.

Ember Moon vs. Alexa Bliss

Alexa Bliss makes her entrance accompanied by Alicia Fox. Bliss has a microphone, saying that Ronda is a spoiled, overrated rookie. Bliss said that she spoke to Constable Corbin, has because of that been granted security. Four security members walk onstage. Ronda took down all security guards and Alicia Fox. Back from the break, the previously mentioned match actually begins. Ember Moon was closing in on a victory hitting an Eclipse, and going for a pin. The pin was broken up by Alicia Fox, ending the match via DQ. It seems so odd that they are making Ember Moon look like shes better than Alexa Bliss. To me, this did not make sense. But implications aside, the match was pretty entertaining.

Baron Corbin vs. Tyler Breeze

Backstage we see Baron Corbin arguing with Kurt Angle. Apparently Corbin booked a match without getting anyone’s approval. Corbin chose Tyler Breeze as his opponent. Michael Cole tells the broadcast that Corbin has also arranged a match for Finn Balor later on tonight. Something that looks very uncomfortable is the fact that Corbin is fighting in his formal attire that he usually wears. Corbin hit a Deep 6 to get the victory. Corbin brings out Balor’s opponent for tonight. His opponents are Jinder Mahal and Kevin Owens. This is seriously all so boring. Nothing interesting is going on here, except a script that was made to burn through the show as much as possible. Just after Balor made his entrance, Kurt Angle came out and added to the match, making it a tag match. Balor’s partner was Braun Stroman. Since when did Kurt like Stroman so much? Anyways…

Jinder Mahal & Kevin Owens vs. Finn Balor & Braun Stroman

When Stroman eventually got a hot tag the crowd cheered. There was a good double team spot later on where Stroman slammed Balor onto Mahal. He was not expecting this slam to happen. Finn did a dive to outside the ring onto both Owens and Mahal as we went to commercials. After the break Stroman was on fire. He used Sunil Singh as a weapon when taking Owens down. He hit a Powerslam to end the match. This match had a mind numbingly boring buildup, but at the end of the day it’s always fun to watch Stroman fight. The match was fun but maybe went on a little too long. But really, everything does on an episode like this. After the match Corbin beat up Balor after Stroman chased Owens away from the scene.

Ricky Roberts is announced in the ring. It’s some guy whos dressed as a country singer, who claims that he is a big fan of Elias. Elias comes out and says something, I don’t know. I forgot it basically right after he said it. Bobby Lashley comes out and beats up Ricky Roberts after Ricky smashes a guitar on his back. Alright, I guess. Man, this was bad. Like, what purpose did this have? If any?

Bray Wyatt & Matt Hardy vs. The Revival vs. The B-Team (WWE RAW Tag Team Championship Match)

The undefeated B-Team faced their biggest challenge this week when it came to defending their undefeated streak, and their tag titles. The odds are against them, facing not one but two teams. Mid-way through the match there was a deadly spot, with Dash Wilder and Matt Hardy doing a Suplex off the top rope to the outside onto everyone else. The Revival hit Wyatt with a Shatter Machine, but Curtis Axel capitalized off of it by throwing everyone out of the ring and pinning Wyatt. This was a predictable way to book the match, but still good. B-Team are an entertaining gimmick, for now at least.

Roman Reigns In The Ring

Roman Reigns cuts a promo on Brock Lesnar. He says he will send Brock back to the UFC, name dropping Dana White. Paul Heyman comes out to confront Roman. Heyman tries to offer his business to Roman, doing a whole pitch. Out of nowhere he starts to mace Roman Reigns. After Roman was recovering from this attack, Brock Lesnar came down for an attack of his own. This was a well played out segment, if it was maybe 10 minutes shorter. I did not expect Brock to attack at the end.

Bobby Roode, Apollo Crews & Titus O’Neil vs. Mojo Rawley & The Authors Of Pain

Okay so this match did not even get entrances, but I guess it’s happening. No real reason for any of these guys to be fighting, but whatever. Bobby Roode got the win for his team with a Glorious DDT. That’s the segment? Seriously? That was the definition of pointless.

After the commercial break a very nice tribute to Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart was played. He passed away the morning of the show.

Sasha Banks w/ Bayley vs. Ruby Riott w/ Sarah Logan & Liv Morgan

Sasha Banks fought Ruby Riott with their respective supporters at ringside. A lot of this match was during commercials, but one spot that caught my eye was Sasha doing a Suicide Dive  to Sarah Logan to the outside, absolutely crashing and burning. Riott did a roll-up for the win, which made the match a little lame. Crowd is dead silent at this point.

Intercontinental Championship Match Contract Signing

Kurt Angle is in the ring for a contract signing. Angle first addresses the attack on Roman Reigns earlier. He says he isn’t going to suspend Brock because he wants Roman to beat him up (sounds like a horrible GM to me). Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre’s music cut him off. Seth Rollins, who wasn’t present at the show so far in the night due to travel issues, showed up unexpectedly for this segment. Seth says that his travel issues weren’t his. He brings out Dean Ambrose, who will be in his corner for his fight at Summerslam. A brawl breaks out, with Dean hitting Dirty Deeds on to McIntyre. RAW comes to a conclusion as Seth is signing his contract.

This episode, despite having a fun ending to it, was overall a bad viewing. Too much filler, and segments that dragged for way too long. If I was a viewer who was on the fence for watching Summerslam, this would take all interest away for me.