Originally published on ProWrestlingSheet.

Sam Roberts made one thing clear during the NXT TakeOver Phoenix pre-show panel ... he doesn't believe Bianca Belair deserved to be on the show. 

The conversation occurred as Sam was discussing the NXT Women's Championship match with Charly Caruso and Pat McAfee.

"It's not TakeOver worthy," said Roberts. "Bianca Belair, she's a good athlete ... but, like ... look at the list of women's champions. You've got Shayna Baszler, you have Charlotte, you have Sasha Banks, you have Asuka, you've got Kairi Sane! This is a list of the elite women in wrestling. And Bianca Belair is nowhere close to that list."

Sam additionally says Bianca vs. Shayna would be good on NXT TV, but not TakeOver. 

The moment was likely scripted in some way ahead of time, but it definitely caught many viewers off guard as Roberts usually plays it straight during the pre-shows. 

Watch his comments in full below.