Roderick Strong battles Drew McIntyre for the opportunity to face Bobby Roode, regardless if he is still NXT Champion, after TakeOver: Brooklyn III. Video courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.

Seventy-two hours before challenging NXT Champion Bobby Roode at TakeOver: Brooklyn III, Drew McIntyre entered the ring for battle against Roderick Strong. Neither Superstar displayed any personal animosity toward each other — rather, both men have their sights set on The Glorious One, albeit for distinct reasons. McIntyre is hungry for the NXT Title and to return the yellow-and-black brand back to the people, whereas Strong is more than fed up with the crude remarks that Roode has made about his family.

Strong’s vendetta against Roode even factored into this match, as per a pre-match stipulation, a victory against McIntyre would have ensured Strong a future bout with Roode, post-TakeOver.

With that backdrop, McIntyre and Strong roared into action. McIntyre launched Roddy with an overhead throw and a vicious lariat, and Strong lit up the Scot’s chest with chops and booted him in the mush. Late in the match, McIntyre approached for his Claymore kick, but Strong beat him to the punch, hitting a leaping knee and then capturing his larger opponent in vertebrae-smashing backbreaker. Somehow, the undefeated McIntyre persevered.

Both Superstars eventually fought their way onto the top turnbuckle, and while they were tangled in the corner, Roode pounced on the opportunity to send a message to his two chief rivals. The Glorious One jumped onto the apron and shoved Strong off the top and to the floor, causing The Messiah of the Backbreaker to take a brutal tumble. Inside the ring, he stomped McIntyre and planted him with the Glorious DDT.

Keeping a tight grasp on the NXT Title, Roode admired his handiwork, blew a kiss to the fallen Strong and then stood over his challenger at TakeOver, McIntyre, and yelled, "This is my NXT!"