Even WWE NXT fans would admit the recent product has fewer highly anticipated matches than it did in its initial run. This Tuesday night, though, NXT gets a true clash of the eras because Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker is a dream match live on NXT television. What’s more, it is a dream match that the brand desperately needs.
A dream match can undoubtedly mean different things to different people, but this fits the bill no matter how you slice it. Two top stars throughout the promotions history, former and current world champions, unique styles, and limited exposure all help to make this bout feel important. With the new WWE World Heavyweight Championship on the line, the NXT main event has all the tools to be a stand-out moment for the brand’s unique identity and make both stars look incredible when the match is done.
Collision of Eras
It’s already been discussed at length, but Bron Breakker was the absolute star who built NXT 2.0 from the ground up. Furthermore, he features quite a bit in the show’s current era. Rollins, though, was the inaugural NXT champion. He, in essence, created the developmental brand and set the tone for what the show would eventually become. It’s not often that the performer who built your promotion can still perform with its most relevant star in years, but that’s precisely the situation NXT finds itself in.
A dream match usually needs a hook beyond just the in-ring performance. That can look like two wrestlers who never get the chance to perform together due to working in different companies, or it can look like current talent standing across the ring from a performer who was part of the promotions past. In this case, NXT has both.
They never get to compete because NXT is treated as a separate promotion in a way that WWE SmackDown isn’t, and they never crossed paths on NXT television because of the age difference. Mix in their collective star power with the NXT fan base, and on paper, it’s got everything a dream match could ask for.
Two Franchise Performers
It is easy to forget, but both Rollins and Breakker greatly impacted the NXT promotion as active competitors. Breakker’s presence is still evident, and he is making headlines on Tuesday and today. Rollins, on the other hand, predates the premier era of NXT. Being its inaugural champion is nothing to scoff at. Even if the show had some kinks to work out at the time, he helped launch a wrestling movement that changed the industry.
Rollins is the quintessential NXT success story. Breakker, to his credit, has been considered the next breakout call-up for a while. They mirror each other in so many ways that a matchup feels like watching two immovable objects slam into one another. Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker is a dream match because, beyond anything else, both men were “the guy” in NXT.
Each was tasked with leading the promotion during moments of great turmoil, bringing the brand to new heights. Without Seth and Bron, NXT wouldn’t be what it is today, so seeing two of the “franchise players” face-off is a fantastic opportunity for long-time and recent fans alike.
An Interesting Story
Usually, the best angles in wrestling need more than a couple of weeks’ worth of build. Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker is a dream match because it doesn’t need any more than a backstage promo. Seth and Bron’s back a forth to set up the match elicited an instant reaction. While WWE may give Bron an appearance on WWE Monday Night Raw to increase the build, that’s hardly necessary.
Breakker spent over a year learning “how to be a champion,” and Seth is being pushed as the people’s champion on Monday nights. When two certified winners face off, it’s always fun to watch.
Even though Bron Breakker no longer holds the NXT title, his time with that title makes him feel like Rollins does for his brand. Breakker has the aura of an instant threat to take the top prize back. With a world title on the line and it being showcased on NXT, his chances are as high as they could possibly be. This makes a fun exhibition match between a young challenger and veteran champion something far more intriguing.
An Unclear Outcome
Seth Rollins isn’t going to lose the Heavyweight Title on Tuesday. WWE has spent too much time building him and his new title to end it now on NXT television. However, even though we can reasonably assume Seth retains, the match’s outcome is still a mystery. Perhaps Bron gets disqualified, or another NXT breakout performer gets involved to cost Breakker the match.
The result may not be in doubt, but the ending most certainly is. How this main event unfolds will set the tone for a world title match and possibly its next challenger’s rise throughout the summer.
Ending a dream match with a DQ is not usually a selling point, but fans not knowing how this will end or how long this feud could end up going adds intrigue. If done correctly, knowing who is going over doesn’t preclude a match from greatness. It’s why fans still care to see Roman Reigns versus The Rock, or Chris Jericho, and just about anyone else in wrestling. The outcome can be totally ignored if the match and hype deliver equally, and they stick the landing.
Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker is a Dream Match that NXT Needs
How NXT’s biggest main event in years ultimately ends will be a cause for conversation regardless of how good the match is and how memorable the ending ends up being. Both workers are talented, well-known, and are putting in some of the best work of their careers right now. This makes Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker a dream match rather than just an interesting angle for a couple of television episodes.
With the ratings war still in effect and several changes on the business side of wrestling, NXT needs to capture some of its old magic. Nick Khan has previously hinted that these appearances will become more frequent. Throwing main roster talent on Tuesdays will only do a little for their cause, though. Instead, this match works because of the implications of a clash between two of the promotion’s standard-bearers.
Likewise, Triple H wants the spiritual successor to his pride and joy to rebuild the lineage it lost. There have been a few missteps with the WWE World Heavyweight Title so far. However, Rollins is working with some top talent to fix those issues. Giving fans this banger of a match between Bron Breakker and Seth Rollins accomplishes that. Meeting both goals provides an excellent reason to tune in to WWE NXT on June 20th.
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