WWE
Injured NXT Superstar, Aleister Black, Written out of TakeOver: Brooklyn 4
It has been reported by several news sites that former NXT Champion Aleister Black would not be able to compete at TakeOver: Brooklyn 4 due to a groin injury. The question was how would NXT play this off? Would they simply announce the injured NXT superstar could not compete? Would he lose a match to another Superstar that would take his place? As a matter of fact, NXT played it off in a rather creative way.
Back Stage Assault
NXT General Manager William Regal was notified by a crew member that Aleister Black had been attacked in the parking lot. Regal eventually arrived at the scene, finding the former champion unconscious. Regal would later announce that, due to the attack, Aleister Black would not be competing at TakeOver: Brooklyn 4.
The Usual Suspects
As Regal hurried to check on the former champion, several notable Superstars could be seen fleeing the scene. EC3, Ricochet, The Undisputed Era, Johnny Gargano, and the NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa were seen hurriedly leaving the scene shortly after attack. Others include: Lars Sullivan, The Velveteen Dream, Heavy Machinery, The Forgotten Sons, and Kona Reeves.
Whodunnit?
The most obvious Superstar that would want to take out his competition would be NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa. Ciampa was set to defend his NXT Championship in a Triple Threat Match against Aleister Black and Johnny Gargano. Perhaps Ciampa took out Black because he saw him as a threat to his title and decided to remove him from the match altogether.
Maybe Johnny Gargano did it as revenge for getting attacked by Black’s signature spinning kick, “Black Mass.” If Black was removed from the match, then Gargano would get his long time, bitter rival one on one. Gargano has shown a more aggressive personality in recent weeks, so maybe he has finally snapped.
The Fallout
Since the match at TakeOver: Brooklyn 4 could no longer be a contest between Black, Gargano, and Ciampa, many speculated we would see part three of the Ciampa/Gargano feud. RingSideNews reported that recently signed NXT Superstar, Matt Riddle, could make his debut at TakeOver and possibly be added to the title match. But it was later confirmed by William Regal, via WWE’s YouTube channel, that the NXT Championship match would be Gargano vs. Ciampa in a Last Man Standing match.
What this Means for Aleister Black
As of now, Aleister Black is expected to miss TakeOver: Brooklyn 4 while recovering from groin surgery. Typically it takes three weeks for a procedure like this to heal. Because of this, Black will miss TakeOver and several NXT tapings in the coming weeks. Fans have hoped this means Black will make the jump to the main roster after his recovery, but only time will tell for the injured NXT Superstar.
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