NXT Takeover: Phoenix Predictions
This weekend the first NXT Takeover of the year will take place when the stars of the current roster look to make an impact in Phoenix. The card for the night consists of the undefeated Bianca Belair taking on the champ Shayna Baszler, a huge tag team contest suggesting change, a must-see wrestling contest between two of the best of the best and a main event no hardcore NXT fan will want to miss out on but what exactly can we expect from this weekends Takeover event? Let’s take a look…
The Undisputed Era vs War Machine (Tag Team Championships)
We may have seen these two teams clash several times before but I believe this weekend we will see the best tag team bout between the Undisputed Era and War Machine to date as Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong look to keep the NXT Tag Team titles firmly around their waists this coming Saturday. There is no denying the fact this is an important weekend for War Machine. The duo has had some impressive and dominant performances since joining the NXT roster but this weekend it is vital they walk out as tag team champions. Yes, the change in title holders will diminish some of the momentum the Undisputed era have and take away a great deal of their dominance, however, there is no denying they will bounce back easily while War Machine could suffer massively this weekend with a loss behind them! We haven’t seen a fraction of what these two can do and it's so important that in order for the pair to have a strong NXT career they walk away with gold this weekend. Also, expect this to be one heck of an action-packed match up.
Matt Riddle vs Kassius Ohno
The one match I’m not too excited for is the singles bout between Matt Riddle and Kassius Ohno. What this match does do is show just how star-studded and stacked the current roster is and I have no doubts these two hugely talented superstars can deliver an excellent wrestling match this weekend, however, personally, I have struggled to find interest in the storyline and the chemistry between the pair. This is sure to be a hard-hitting match and I’m hoping it goes on far longer than their previous encounters. Ohno is massively in need of a win and huge momentum but I’m predicting Riddle for the win here simply because I can’t see the WWE giving him a loss this weekend to Ohno on a huge stage.
Ricochet vs Johnny Gargano (North American Championship)
As far as the match of the night goes my early prediction has to go to Gargano vs Ricochet. This will be the first time the two have come face to face for NXT Takeover and with the North American Championship on the line, this is most certainly one no one will want to miss out on. Throughout their careers, both prior and during their NXT arrival has proven these are two stars of the future and two of the best of the best in the present day. Their collision this weekend is hugely anticipated and there is no doubt in my mind they will blow everyone’s mind away and set the bar for the entire weekend but could this be another five star/match of the year performance from Gargano? One year on from his epic collision with Andrade Cien Almas can he repeat history and set the wrestling world a light? And who will walk out as champion? This does feel like the one bout that could go either way and is one of the most unpredictable of the whole weekend. Gargano is in need of something and something big and the North American Championship is exactly that and so a part of me will most certainly be rooting for him not to mention Ricochet would be fine without the title and can move onto setting his sights on the NXT Championship but is there more to come from his current reign?
Bianca Belair vs Shayna Baszler (NXT Women’s Championship)
This weekend will see the clash of two of the most dominant female competitors in NXT today and two standout stars of the future, the champ, Shayna Baszler and the Undefeated EST, Bianca Belair. With the two set collide for the first time in championship competition this is an exciting and slightly unpredictable bout many cannot wait! This is the opportunity Belair has been deserving of for at least a solid year now and with the NXT universe desperate to see change and the EST rise to the top this is a bout I’m very much looking forward to!
I’m predicting this to be one of the toughest if not the toughest and strongest in-ring performance/match from Baszler with Belair sure to push the champ to her limits matching the speed, strength and agility of Shayna. I’m hoping the two are given a solid amount of time this weekend (at least 15 minutes) simply because I do feel as though this is an important night for both women and given enough time, they could so easily deliver one heck of an intense and brutal contest. In terms of the result, this time around I just must back Belair. Throughout the last twelve months, she really has built her character, following, momentum and been a part of so many great matches proving she is more than championship worthy. Baszler should be edging closer to a main roster call up and a possible appearance at the Royal Rumble while Belair needs this win with the division sure to benefit from the change in champ.
Tommaso Ciampa vs Aleister Black (NXT Championship)
And finally, the night's main event, Tommaso Ciampa vs Aleister Black for the NXT Championship; again, this is a match I’m really excited for and one of the most anticipated in my eyes of the entire weekend. These two superstars have been telling such an awesome story throughout the months and this is the final chapter of their rivalry making this yet another big must-see of the night. Both men are massively intense both in character and in-ring ability and with both being so popular amongst the NXT universe and the pair equally ready for something bigger its safe to assume anything could happen in this match. I’m expecting this to go down as one of the best bouts of not only the night but of the weekend and in terms of the end result, I will assume the title will remain around the waist of Ciampa. While Black made for a great champ and I do believe he can bring more to the table as champ again, Ciampa is doing such great things with the title and I believe there is more to come from his reign while Black but begin to edge closer to a main roster arrival.
And those are my prediction for the up and coming NXT Takeover event. I will, of course, be live tweeting throughout Saturdays show so make sure you’re following me over at @TezangiVictoria and you can let me know what your predictions are by leaving a comment below.
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