The NXT TakeOver card is filled with amazing matches. As always credit to Triple H for making this brand what it is today. We will see a new era be born on Friday as every title is on the line. So what are my final predictions for this loaded card. Let’s analyze:
Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole – NXT Championship – 2 out of 3 Falls. Winner- Adam Cole. We as NXT fans were robbed of what could have been a great match between Ciampa and Gargano. It is really unfortunate Ciampa’s injury however, for Adam Cole, this opened up the door for him and his Undisputed Era to get the only gold they have seized in NXT. I feel with Gargano having to look over his shoulder for the Undisputed Era trying to interfere in this match, Adam Cole will seize the opportunity to win and become new champion.
Pete Dunne vs. Walter – NXT UK Championship. Winner- Walter. Pete Dunne captured the U.K. Championship back in May 2016 and has become the longest-reigning champion in WWE by a large margin. He’s become the foundation for the new NXT U.K. brand by defeating all opponents who dared to challenge him. However, Dunne is ready to come up against Walter, a towering Austrian who is undefeated since appearing in NXT U.K. at Takeover: Blackpool. Dunne had an amazing run, but it’s time for NXT U.K. to feature some new blood and Walter is a perfect fit for the show’s top title. This would also free up Dunne to reappear on NXT or move up to the main WWE roster.
Matt Riddle vs. Velveteen Dream – NXT North American Championship – Winner – Dream Retains. This could be possibly the hardest match to predict for the night as I expect there will be a large amount of title changes, but I feel the safest bet is to have Dream retain the title in his first ever title defense. Riddle’s style of wrestling might not be an ideal matchup for Dream. Velveteen has shown that he can adapt to the fighting style of his opponents so for this reason I feel he will retain the title.
Aleister Black/Ricochet vs. War Raiders – NXT Tag Team Championship – Winner – War Raiders. Aleister Black and Ricochet won the Dusty Tag Team Classic tournament to earn the right to take on the NXT Tag Team Champions, the War Raiders. War Raiders have been dominant since arriving in NXT, and I don’t see that changing on Friday. Black and Ricochet will give War Raiders everything they have, but with both men heavily involved in RAW and SmackDown this could be the last time we see them in NXT.
Kairi Sane vs. IO Shirai vs. Bianca Belair vs. Shayna Baszler – NXT Women’s Championship. Winner- Bianca Belair. You can make the argument that Shayna Baszler is the best NXT Women’s Champion ever and she looks to cement her second reign when she takes on Io Shirai, Bianca Belair, and Kairi Sane in a Fatal Fourway. All three challengers each have reason to win the title: Bianca took Shayna to the limit, while Io was the last to pin the champion. Kairi Sane and Shayna have had incredible matches and she’s a former champion. This is a hard one to predict as well but I feel Shayna is on her way to the main roster and putting it on Bianca will be the right thing to do. I think Bianca deserves it.
I am excited to watch NXT TakeOver New York. I am looking forward to analyzing the matches next week as a discussion.
Until then guys, Farewell.
