Welcome to the NXT TakeOver: New York Preview. The card has 5 matches, including a 2 out of 3 falls for the vacant NXT World Title. I will have a liveblog starting at 6PM Eastern giving you my usual highlights, observations, commentary, and evena little bit of snark. For now, here is my preview, so let’s get right into it!
WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: War Raiders (Hanson & Rowe) defending against Ricochet & Aleister Black
This is one of the most intriguing matches, as Black and Ricochet have a match at WrestlMania as well (more on that in my WrestleMania 35 Preview) for the SmackDown Tag Championship this Sunday. From what I had read this is Black and Ricochet’s swan song in NXT. However, I do not think they will go down without a serious fight. After all, Black and Ricochet made it here by winning the Dusty Rhodes Memorial Tag Team Tournament. And what better way for Black, known as “The Dutch Striker”, to go out than to lay a hurting on the War Raiders with his quick strikes and also that devastating Black Mass spin kick. Also, this is the last time the NXT Universe will see Ricochet take to the skies and wipe everyone out.
PREDICTION: I expect this to be a hard hitting affair between four of the best that NXT has to offer. As much as I want to see Black and Ricochet walk into WrestleMania the NXT Tag Champs, I have a sinking feeling that The War Raiders will come out victorious.
NXT UK CHAMPIONSHIP: Pete Dunne defending against WALTER
I have to admit I had not seen much of NXT UK. However, from what I had seen in highlights it looks like Dunne has his work cut out for him. I am a Pete Dunne fan as I enjoy his digital manipulation and his brute force, whicfh is how and why he has held onto the NXT UK title for 684 days and counting. WALTER looks tough and intimidating, coming out at NXT UK TakeOver and saying he wants the title and will stop at nothing to take it. In a few clips I had seen, I do not think I had once seen Dunne intimidated or scared by WALTER, and that could play into Dunne’s favor.
PREDICTION:I look for this to be a brawler’s type battle, where both men will throw everything but the kitchen sink (and one of the two might even try throwing THAT in somehow!) at each other. In the end, I have a strong feeling that Pete Dunne will retain the title.
NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP: Velveteen Dream defends against Matt Riddle
This is a battle of two flamboyant and flashy superstars. Riddle has come off of two TakeOver wins against Kassius Ohno, with one of them being a quick 6 second match at NXT TakeOver: WarGames last November. While Dream cashed in his Worlds Collide guarantee of one title match and won the North Amerrican Title against Johnny Gargano. Both men like to play to the crowd, but at the same time know when to take things serious and settle in for a decent match.
PREDICTION: Velveteen Dream likes to take to the air when it comes to his Purle Rainmaker elbow to win. Heh also likes to use the Dream Valley Driver to pick up a win here and there as well. Riddle like to ground and pound with mat-based submissions, digging into his MMA background. This is going to be tough, but I see Velveteen Dream holsing on to the North American Championsip. HOWEVER, I hope this is just the first of several matches between the two in the months to come!
NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP: Shayna Baszler defends against Bianca Belair, Kairi Sane, and Io Shirai in a Fatal FourWay match
This is another match I am looking forward to in this card. Baszler has held the title since defeating Sane at WarGames in November in a best 2 out of 3 falls match, though she did have assistance from Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir. Belair came up short in an attempt to take the title at TakeOver: Phoenix in January, and Shirai has had her eye on the title for some time as well. The wildcard in this is the aforementioned running mates of Baszler. At the same, this could also be a time for the other three to shine while Baszler prepares to move on to the main roster in the next 2 – 4 months for what should be an inevitable Four Horsewomen of WWE v. Four Horsewomen of MMA match possibly at Survivor Series.
PREDICTION: As I said before, Shafir and Duke are the wildcard in this, as they have had Baszler’s back for the longest time. This might play into the hands of the challengers as two can take out Duke and Shafir while one focuses on Baszler. Yet at the same time it is for that reason that this will play into Baszler’s hands as Duke and Shafir can weaken the others up for Baszler to slap on the Kirifuda Clutch and retain. It is tough, butb I think that we will have a new champion, and it will be Io Shirai.
NXT CHAMPIONSHIP: Adam Cole v. Johnny Gargano in a best 2 out of 3 falls match for the vacant NXT Championship Title
(NOTE): This was supposed to be Tomasso Ciampa defending against Johnny Gargano, but Ciampa had to relinquish the title due to neck surgery. I do wish Ciampa well and hope he has a speedy recovery.)
This is the match I am looking forward to. Gargano has had many 5-star matches at TakeOver, to the point that he has the moniker of “Johnny TakeOver”. Cole is no slouch in his own manner, having been the inaugural North American Champion. As with the Fatal FourWay for the NXT Women’s Title, there is a wildcard in this, and they are named Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly, and Roderick Strong, otherwise known as the rest of Undisputed Era. Then too, we have seen Gargano handle himself under the most extreme of circumstances, and this will be no different.
PREDICTION: I expect this to be a high-flying and hard-hitting affair, with both competitors scoring many nearfalls to either try to score that all-important first fall or even the clinching second fall to be champion. Cole had been very vociferous in saying that all members of Undisputed Era will be dripping in gold this year, and we had seen a little of it prior to the War Raiders handing O’Reilly and Strong their rear ends at TakeOver: Phoenix. This is going to be tough, but I believe Johnny Gargano will come out victorious in the end.
EXTRA
MATCH I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST: I think the Gargano v. Cole match for the NXT Championshipis the one I am looking forward to the most, for the simple reason that Gargano always puts forth 5-star matches, and this one will be no different.
MATCH I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE LEAST:It is tough to decide which one I am least looking forward to, as every match will have me at the edge of my seat and keyboard. However, if I had to choose I would have to say Dream v. Riddle.
LONGEST MARCH:The NXT Championship match is 2 out of 3 falls, which means that it might be long. On the other hand, it could also be the shortest considering that the two combatants have quick moves to pick up the falls early. I would have to say either the NXT Championship match or the NXT Women’s Title Fatal FourWay match
SHORTEST MATCH: NXT Championship match for the reasons above or the NXT Tag Title match. after all, we have seen War Raiders take their opponents out in a hurry if they want to!
INTEREST LEVEL (1-10): I would have to say this is a solid 8 just based on the NXT Championship and NXT Women’s Championship matches.
I will be back at 6PM Eastern for my NXT TakeOver: New york LiveBlog, so hope you join me then.