It is a curiosity of modern day WWE that NXT has much less time to work with in terms of weekly shows than RAW and Smackdown, and yet the builds to TakeOver events are often more engaging. The build to TakeOver New Orleans has been no different – I guess it is a classic case of doing more with less. Limited interactions mean anticipation for the moment when the participants finally get their hands on each other in the ring reach fever pitch. Here is a look at the TakeOver card, a recap of the build, thoughts on what should happen, and predictions of what will happen (not necessarily the same thing!)
Unsanctioned Match: Tommaso Ciampa v. Johnny Gargano
The Build: Let’s kick off the preview with the only match that does not have a title on the line. However, it has stakes just as high as anything else on the card. Johnny Gargano has already been forced to leave NXT after Ciampa cost him his ‘win or walk’ match with Andrade Almas, and he will be reinstated to NXT if he wins here.
That only tells the most recent part of the story, however. This whole rivalry began with Ciampa turning on his partner after they lost to AoP in a ladder match at TakeOver Chicago in May 2017. He was then off TV for several months recovering from a knee injury as Gargano tried to pick up the pieces and reinvent himself as a singles competitor. After a series of losses, Johnny Wrestling found his form and has featured in some of the best NXT matches of the last few months, including an early match of the year candidate with Almas at TakeOver Philadelphia.
After that match, Ciampa would make his return, laying out Gargano with his crutch. After costing his former partner his NXT career, Ciampa has become one of the biggest heels in the entire WWE drawing nuclear levels of heat from the crowds. A series of attacks from Gargano has brought us here to this unsanctioned, anything goes match.
What should happen: This has the potential to be match of the night (however, the same can easily be said for the rest of the card!) The ‘unsanctioned’ aspect will add an air of danger and unpredictability, but ultimately Gargano should prevail against the odds and win his job back after a series of high profile losses. I would neither expect nor want this feud to end here though.
Prediction: Gargano has to win this one, right? It would seem strange for him to lose his job on NXT and get called up to the main roster shortly afterwards, so I don’t see any other outcome.
NXT Tag Team Title Match/Dusty Rhodes Classic Final: Undisputed Era (c) v. Authors of Pain v. Roderick Strong & Pete Dunne
The Build: Undisputed Era have been clashing with AoP and Roderick Strong in some form or other for months with Akam, Rezar, and Strong even teaming up at War Games. Pete Dunne is a more recent target of Adam Cole’s boys and the mutual respect he and Strong earned for each other after their recent UK Championship match led to them forming a team for the Dusty Rhodes Classic. They were on their way to a classic match with the Authors of Pain in the finals when Cole and O’Reilly hit the ring to cause a double DQ.
An extra wrinkle was added to proceedings, however, as William Regal ordered Undisputed Era to defend their titles against both teams. With Bobby Fish injured, Cole has been offered the choice to fight either in this match, the ladder match (see below) or both.
What should happen: Authors of Pain have had their time as the dominant team in NXT and it is past due for them to get a call up to the main roster and refresh the stagnant tag division on RAW, much as the Bludgeon Brothers have on Smackdown. A lot depends here on what happens with Undisputed Era. Does Cole pull double duty? Or does he spurn O’Reilly in pursuit of individual glory? Or does he announce a surprise new member of Undisputed Era to take his place? Their reign as tag champs still hasn’t gone anywhere and Strong/Dunne seem like little more than a temporary pairing to me, so I think that Era should retain.
Prediction: Undisputed Era win by hook or by crook. It would fit their conniving heel persona so well to win the Dusty Rhodes Classic despite not even being in the tournament in the first place, especially if they then go on to brag about it every week.
NXT Women’s Title Match: Ember Moon (c) v. Shayna Baszler
The Build: A strong story of a challenger willing to do whatever it takes and a determined champion has been told over the last few months with these two. Moon was able to outsmart Baszler at the last TakeOver but took a lot of damage in the process. She was saved by Kairi Sane in the TV rematch as Baszler viciously went after her injured arm, and both champion and challenger have been at each other’s throats since.
What should happen: A tough one to call. Much like Undisputed Era in the tag division, it feels like Moon has not really got going in her reign as champ yet after her long and storied rivalry with Asuka. At the same time, Baszler has done a great job as establishing herself as a dangerous heel, but risks losing credibility of she fails to capture the title at the third attempt.
Prediction: Baszler to win. She has to show the world that she has learned from her defeat in Philadelphia, before embarking on a run as a dominant champ. Ember Moon is a prime candidate for a main roster call up after Mania.
North American Championship Ladder Match: EC3 v. Velveteen Dream v. Adam Cole v. Lars Sullivan v. Killian Dain v. Ricochet
The Build: If we ignore the early announcement on WWE.com, this has only had two weeks of build on NXT programming. William Regal announced the creation of the championship and the participants in the match 2 weeks ago and last week the show ended with all six guys staring each other down in the ring.
However, this is a match for which no major build was needed. The opportunity to be the see the first ever North American champion crowned and having four of the hottest rising stars on the brand with the two biggest new signings in the match is more than enough to capture our interest.
What should happen: With the way the match and participants were revealed, this seems like a title made for one of the new guys to win. In fact, EC3 said as much in his promo with William Regal two weeks ago! Ricochet’s positioning as the last man to be added to the match and the last competitor to hit the ring in the recent stare down suggests it could be him as well. Sullivan and Dain have a high-profile rivalry waiting to happen and assuming Cole is involved in the tag title picture, he does not need this title right now.
Prediction: I haven’t singled out Velveteen Dream yet, so I will make a case for him as my prediction. As an arrogant but charismatic heel, he would be the perfect guy to fulfil role that Miz has occupied so well over the last couple of years as Intercontinental Champion. His character will ensure that the new belt gets the attention it deserves, especially if he is defending against Ricochet, EC3, or both.
NXT Championship Match: Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas v. Aleister Black
The Build: This has been the perfect example of what I mentioned in the intro – an efficient use of TV time to hype a match without over-exposing the interactions between either competitor. As Almas finally saw off the challenge of Gargano, Black battled past Dain to become number one contender.
We then witnessed an interesting role reversal of sorts. We are used to seeing the dark, brooding but dangerous Aleister Black and the cocky heel Almas on our screens. In the build to this one, we have seen the Dutch Destroyer embrace his comedic side as he cut Zelina Vega down to size while Almas reacted with a much more intense and aggressive version of his character than we have seen to date. That manifested itself in the brutal beating he handed out to Black all over Full Sail Arena a couple of weeks ago. If we get the fired-up version of both guys on Saturday, we should have one hell of a match.
What should happen: Again, a tough one to call as there is a strong case for both guys to win. Almas has held the belt for a few months but hasn’t had the chance to do much with it beyond the rivalry with Gargano (and that was more about his opponent’s story than his). For Black though, everything has been building to this point. He has beaten all comers and steadily worked his way to this match and this moment. On the balance of it all, I feel that Black should win and take the next step in his character’s evolution.
Prediction: Almas to retain. With two new champions (according to my predictions) to be crowned elsewhere on the card, a little continuity would not go amiss here. Besides, I would love to see a Drew McIntyre comeback complete with a chance to reclaim the title from the man who took it off him.
