Shinsuke Nakamura, TakeOver and Latest WWE NXT Developmental News

Shinsuke Nakamura is headed home this summer—and so is the next WWE NXT TakeOver live special.

The King of Strong Style will be working alongside the main roster when WWE heads to Japan in July. He'll likely also be a featured part of the next TakeOver event, the first one that Full Sail University will host since TakeOver: Respect.

In other news from the developmental brand, four qualifying matches for the Global Cruiserweight Series are on tap, a tag team is working a new gimmick and Carmella explained why she didn't join Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady on the main roster.

Global Cruiserweight Series Qualifying Matches Announced

Even before the Global Cruiserweight Series begins, fans will get to see high-flying action from some of the independent circuit's hottest names.

WWE announced PROGRESS will play home to two qualifying matches on April 24 and EVOLVE will host two bouts on May 7 in Queens, New York.

The PROGRESS qualifiers include Jack Gallagher vs. Pete Dunne and Zack Sabre Jr. against Flash Morgan Webster. At the EVOLVE event, Drew Gulak and Tracy Williams will collide, while TJ Perkins takes on Fred Yehi.

Gulak and Williams are normally partners and are currently EVOLVE's tag team champs. That match will be a treat for fans of the promotion. It will also be a good way to introduce both men to a bigger audience.

Sabre is the most well-known wrestler of this group. It's all but guaranteed that he moves on. Getting to see him compete before the tournament begins in earnest should be fun regardless. 

New Gimmick for NXT Tag Team

As seen in reports from Wrestling Inc. and Wrestle Zone, a pair of masked bruisers are calling themselves The Authors of Pain. The two big men are Gzim Selmani and Sunny Dhinsa, who have teamed together for the last few months.

At first glance, the gimmick looks intriguing. It instantly adds a fearsome aura to the duo.

This could be marketable, too, if WWE starts selling Authors of Pain masks.

This is something to keep an eye on, but keep in mind that gimmicks don't always last in the transition from live events to NXT TV. The Shoot Nation concept, for example, never made the air. 

Event Dates Announced, Including Upcoming TakeOver Special

Asuka defending the NXT women's title, Finn Balor trying to continue his record-long reign and American Alpha fending off whoever steps up to the No. 1 contender's spot all promise to be featured bouts at the next TakeOver event. Fans won't have to wait too long for that to arrive.

On NXT's official Twitter account, WWE announced that the next NXT live special will air on June 8. In addition, Full Sail University will be hosting TV tapings on both May 19 and June 9.

After traveling to London and Dallas for the last two events, this will be the first TakeOver at NXT's home base since last October. Expect an extra hungry and vocal crowd as a result. 

Shinsuke Nakamura, Asuka to Wrestle WWE Live Events in Japan

The last time WWE went to Japan, it made sure to bring along the NXT champion, Finn Balor, who first made his name in that country. This year, WWE has both Shinsuke Nakamura and Asuka on its roster, and the company is having them compete at two main roster house shows.

WWE's Japanese website (h/t PWTorch) announced that Asuka and Nakamura will headline the upcoming tour of Japan along with AJ Styles. Tokyo's Ryogoku Sumo Hall will host two WWE live events on July 1 and 2.

This influx of NXT talent will give these events added buzz. It may also inspire the company to make one of them a WWE Network exclusive—similar to Beast in the East in 2015.

No word on who Nakamura, Styles and Asuka are facing.

Other News, Notes

Carmella commented on why she didn't join Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady when they moved up to the main roster, but it sounds like a kayfabe answer rather than an authentic one.

In a WWE.com interview with Bobby Melok, Carmella said, "I'm here to compete at a higher level. I want to be NXT Women's Champion. Unfortunately, I can't do everything. I can't be with them and take over the NXT Women's division at the same time." She talked about wanting to prove herself as more than just the hype girl for her two partners.

In this context, though, she wouldn't have admitted to officials telling her she needed more seasoning.

And it looks like you can count out Austin Aries as an entrant in the Global Cruiserweight Series.

Aries talked with Steve Muehlhausen of Chicagoland Sports Radio and said, "As far as I know, I will not be a part of that. I think that they're using this tournament as an opportunity to kind of introduce maybe some more unknown talents to fans."

While Aries isn't unknown at this point, it would have been tremendous to see him mix it up with the likes of Zack Sabre Jr. and Kota Ibushi.