NXT wrestler to compete in Andre the Giant Battle Royal

Taken from WWE.com

An NXT tournament will be held this Thursday at WrestleMania Axxess, with the winner earning the right to compete in the second annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal days later at WrestleMania.

Tournament participants will include former NXT Champion Adrian Neville, Finn Bálor, Tyler Breeze and Hideo Itami, WWE.com has confirmed. WrestleMania Axxess, which is the year’s biggest gathering of WWE fans, takes place at the San Jose Convention Center Thursday, March 26, through Sunday, March 29.

Neville's probably the favourite for this. There's nowhere left for him to go in NXT, and this should make for a smooth transition to the main roster.

Read that they're planning to bring Neville up wearing a mask because they're not keen on his ears

Because WM seems to be all about entrances they should let Balor win and have him #1. He can also help Sheamus get the win in some celtic alliance move.

I'd rather they saved that for when it meant something. Neville would be the best pick

Me too. But if NXT is to become a touring promotion it needs to get its stars over to a wider audience and this would give Balor some recognition.

Neville would be the obvious choice, and could easily lead to a feud with someone as a way onto the main roster.

However, I think it'll be Balor - unless he wins the NXT title next week. Its a chance to showcase NXT so you want the best of the best there, but not the Champion.

Yeah Adrian Neville seems the most likely, he has had his run in NXT, this is a good opportunity for him to make an impact, wouldn't expect him to win, think Sheamus is nailed on to win it but would put Neville a close second.

If I was in charge I would have whoever they plan to feud with Kevin Owens going forward be the person to be in the battle royal, then have Owens come out and decimate them. This would give them a chance to make whoever they want to challenge for the NXT title look good by getting into the match, it'd then make Owens look like a beast, it'd also persuade people to watch NXT to see where that goes.

Owens could also be interesting as a winner. Then have him lose to Sheamus then attack him from behind. Could have Sheamus feud with Owens on NXT and have them show clips of what is happening in their feud as an update on Raw. Draws an audience, puts Owens over

Hasn't Owens just had knee surgery?

Yeah, probably not gonna happen, especially with a top rope tumble, but I just love him and see him as pretty much the reason to watch NXT

Wouldnt have been my first choice. Although since the battle royal has been bumped to the pre-show I dont think it matters anymore.

He is a really good wrestler and I think has improved a good deal in the recent NXT tapings.

But, he'd have not been my first (or even 2nd or 3rd choice) for a Battle Royal. But as Samo says, if its on the pre-show, who cares.

The cynic in me would think they chose Itami to try and get some more ppv buys/network subscribers in Japan

I'm going to keep using spoilers here, though I don't think its much of a spoiler

Answer to Mat:

Yeah I suppose so but Itami is one of their own as such, where as Balor was hugely over but obviously isn't Japanese. I'm not hugely clued up on Japanese wrestling and how popular WWE/Mania is over there, but having one of their own stars on there would only help buy-rates I guess. Who'd have been the last Japanese wrestler to compete at Mania?

My other thought was it was just to keep him sweet. Him, Owens and Balor came in at around the same time and obviously the latter two have ascended through NXT a bit quicker than Itami(to be expected considering his English isn't great).

Oh yes, I think you are spot on in your reasoning.  It just feels odd that IMO WWE are going for the person that a fan base may relate to more easily because of their look, than their profile.  Maybe I'm questioning this too much, but don't forget Vince seems to think that Japan and China are interchangeable

I don't know the details of the developmental contracts, but I have heard that Balor wasn't on one.  That he was on a full contract.  That makes some sense given his age and I think the risk of him coming to WWE.  Obviously he has an upside of making a 7 figure sum if he climbs the card, sells merchandise, etc.  But I'd have imagined he was on a very comfortable 6 figure sum, the schedule was lower, his position was safe, etc.  

Kenta is also 34.  As I understand it, NOAH is in not such great shape so maybe the risk was lower for him.  You are definitely right that the language barrier has held back a lot of Japanese wrestlers.  I think also the style.  He made huge progress at the last NXT PPV IMO.  It is said that HHH had a word with him before that, and he's been much more "himself" I think since.  If / when he goes up I think he could have some really awesome bouts with the other former ROH guys like Rollins, DB and Cesaro.  It will be really, really interesting to see what happens when he does the GTS.

Owens. Well he's just taken to NXT like a duck to water, hasn't he?

It's now on the pre show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For those that want to watch it

Hideo Itami vs Finn Balor - WM Axxess - Probably gets removed soon knowing WWE so watch ASAP :

That's the one Fernando. I mean its a 2* go through the motions match, isn't it. Spots are hit, work rate is nice. But its just a means to an end. I'm hoping both were told to try to stay injury-free for a good reason.

Considering everyone was expecting it to be Neville or hoping for it to be Balor, what's the general feeling about Itami going through?

Jammy31 knowing WWE's booking, he'll either be squashed and be first out OR win it and be squashed by Ryback the next night on Raw

Itami pops the asian market huge and is a great choice.

I think he SHOULD be one of the final four and get a good showing to put the spotlight on NXT.

I think he WILL get put out about halfway through to little or no fanfare and the only way you'll notice is Cole saying "There goes Itami from NXT who won a tournament on axxess to get in this match".

Like I said before the Battle Royal isnt on the main card so they probably wont bother pushing him or getting the spotlight on NXT. Another chance wasted.

They had an NXT event last night, Around 4,500 people showed up & Itami was finally allowed to hit the GTS

If I was WWE Id let him use it all the time and big up how he hits it so perfectly every time unlike previous users...

Would be a good spot for tomorrow though

When WWE have used NXT talent in the Rumble like Rusev and Bo Dallas, they've put in decent showing and guessing Kenta will do also.

Maybe it is just the IWC but I've seen so much more excitement and talk about a house show booking for a NXT person to be one man in a pre-show Rumble, than I think I've seen posts about all the main events in WM put together.