It’s Money in the Bank weekend and that means only one thing – a super-hot NXT TakeOver show is on the way. In recent times, TakeOver events have made a habit of outshining the main roster Sunday PPVs as this weekend looks set to be no different. Sure, MITB has two contract ladder matches, AJ Styles, Nakamura, and Seth Rollins, but outside of those stars, would you rather watch Ciampa v. Gargano or Reigns v. Mahal? Ricochet v. Velveteen Dream or Bobby Lashley v. Sami Zayn? Undisputed Era v. Lorcan & Burch or the Bludgeon Brothers v. Anderson & Gallows on a pre-show? Baszler v. Cross or Jax v. Rousey? Black v. Sullivan or a no show from Brock?
Whether it’s the shorter run time, fewer matches, or just overall better storytelling, NXT TakeOver often sets a bar (not that Bar) that the main roster struggles to reach, even if the build for every match has not been red hot. Let’s take a last look at the build, the hype level and predictions for each bout.
NXT Championship Match: Aleister Black (c) v. Lars Sullivan
Hype Heat: Lukewarm
Something about this rivalry just hasn’t quite clicked for me over the last few weeks. After the intense battles for the belt between Andrade Cien Almas and Johnny Gargano/Aleister Black, and in comparison to the build for the other matches on this card, we haven’t actually seen much of these two. Sullivan spent most of the last few weeks establishing himself as number one contender while Black played a background role in the feud between Ciampa and Gargano.
Sullivan has been made to look strong, blocking the Black Mass kick and standing tall on the go home episode but even that was strangely handled as Sullivan obliterated Black, carried him to the announce table and just left him there.
What should happen: It is too soon for Black to give up the belt and too soon for Sullivan, compelling a heel as he is, to be elevated to the level of champion. There are so many dream matches for Black to have – Gargano, Ciampa, Ricochet, Adam Cole, Pete Dunne, and a Velveteen Dream rematch – that he needs a longer run as champ.
Prediction: Black retains the title. The underdog story has been put in place and I expect Black to put in a gutsy comeback performance with him finally landing Black Mass as an exclamation point.
NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Undisputed Era (c) v. Orney Lorcan & Danny Burch
Hype Heat: Simmering at boiling point
This is a match that does not necessarily need a huge build given the talent of the guys involved. All four of these guys (as well as Cole and Dunne, who will most likely factor into the finish somehow) have proven time and time again in singles and tag action that they can go.
Nevertheless, there has been confrontation aplenty on NXT TV with the challengers victorious in a six-man tag and Strong pinning Lorcan a couple of weeks ago. A brawl last week had the challengers stand tall, and this could well be one of the most exciting matches of the weekend. The only disappointment is that Cole and Dunne are not officially on the card, especially as Cole holds the brand new North American title and Dunne is now one year removed from his instant classic with Tyler Bate.
What should happen: Undisputed Era should retain. Lorcan and Burch have proven themselves to be worthy challengers, but they have come out of nowhere, pretty much leapfrogging the entire tag division to get into the title picture. And I want to see Undisputed Era get their comeuppance against a monster team like War Raiders in the future.
Prediction: Lorcan and Burch to win. What? This is WWE and there is always a different between what should happen and what does happen! Lorcan and Burch are the typical team to be transitional champs, likely to drop the titles shortly after winning them, maybe even right back to Strong and O’Reilly.
NXT Women’s Championship Match: Shayna Baszler (c) v. Nikki Cross
Hype Heat: A crazy hot blast
This has been a strange build in that Nikki Cross has only recently been positioned as the challenger, Baszler having been involved in a bullying storyline with Dakota Kai since becoming champion. However, the crazy Scot has done a lot in a short time and is genuinely the only member of the current roster who could leave the Queen of Spades reeling. Cross has had the better of their encounters on TV and the fans are clearly glad to see her in this position.
What should happen: There are strong cases for both women to go over (as well as strong cases for both of them to be on the main roster) but I think Shayna should retain. She hasn’t been the champion that long and the way her character has been developed so far, she should have a long dominant reign until finally being unseated by a gutsy babyface.
Prediction: Shayna Baszler to win. As I said, it seems to early to take the title off her and not quite the right time to bring her to the main roster. I have a sneaky suspicion Dakota Kai may get involved in the finish with a possible heel turn in the works (but then again she has a match booked with Bianca Belair for next week’s regular episode so that may be unlikely).
Street Fight: Tommaso Ciampa v. Johnny Gargano
Hype Heat: Thermometer shattering
It is now one year since Ciampa turned on his partner and became one of the most hated heels in WWE for years. Of course, his injury has ironically given this feud legs to run so long but every encounter these two have had has been successful in adding fuel to the fire. We have seen Gargano kicked out of NXT only to earn his contract back then take a vicious beating. It has become even more personal with the involvement of Candice La Rae and the tension between her and hubby Johnny. These two have already given us one classic match and it is easy to expect one more.
What should happen: Very tough to call. Both guys have got seemingly the entire WWE universe invested in this feud and the fact that their match overshadows all the title matches on the card for the second TakeOver in a row speaks volumes. Gargano deserves the win more to close the feud and move back into the title picture, but there is a compelling case for this whole story to continue as well.
Prediction: Ciampa wins. For all his heelish antics, Ciampa has only beaten Kassius Ohno on TV of late, and everybody does that. He needs this win more and is probably prepared to go further to get it.
Ricochet v. Velveteen Dream
Hype Heat: Star creating
These two have been involved in a fantastic build. Dream in particular has been killing it and he has shown that his feud with Aleister Black last year was no one-off. The interactions between these two, both verbal and physical have been superb. They had half a match on TV until Lars Sullivan interrupted and that alone was enough to make most fans wet themselves with excitement.
Both have different strengths – Dream is a master of the mic, and Ricochet one of the flashiest high-flyers around. Ricochet has really upped his own game on the mic in response to Dream. If the Velveteen one can up his in-ring performance as well (he does have a tendency to get sloppy at times), we have the makings of match of the night and one, if not two, huge stars are likely to come out of it.
What should happen: Again, tough to call. Ricochet needs that first big win, but Velveteen Dream is in danger of becoming that heel who is able to talk the talk but not walk the walk (also one who has beaten Kassius Ohno and hardly anyone else of note beyond Tyler Bate). I would go with a Dream victory here. He needs that big match and big scalp to kickstart his career and I would love to see him positioned for a rematch with Black, this time for the title.
Prediction: Ricochet to win. Dream may need it more, but all signs point towards WWE/NXT going with a push for the new(er) guy, which makes sense. I am expecting a match of the year candidate whatever the result and I hope they can deliver.
