Welcome one and all to my preview and predictions blog for next weeks "NXT Takeover" event that takes place in Orlando. Next weekend is of course "Wrestlemania" weekend which is something I've personally been looking forward to for a little while as the build up to Mania has been pretty great this year. I'd like to think that the card for "Takeover" hasn't been finalised yet as big names such as the returning Kassius Ohno, Peyton Royce, Billie Kay, any of the UK competitors all still missing from the final card. I will be updating this blog post after Thursdays "NXT" show to reflect any changes to the card. As always please let me know your thoughts or opinions on anything I've said by leaving a comment or by following me on social media:
1. Andrade "Cien" Almas Vs. Aleister Black
I feel a little bad for "Andrade". He has been on a little bit of a roll lately, moving up from his glorified jobber to new stars spot that he usurped from Tye Dillinger. I was impressed with "Cien" when I saw him on the "NXT Live" tour in Belfast last year. I do feel he is still struggling a little, his character reminds me of a lesser Alberto Del Rio; which is kind of rubbish when you think about it. Despite some great showings, including his recent match with Oney Lorcan, "Cien" is being thrown to the wolves once again. Aleister Black, formerly known as Tommy End, is someone I'm really excited about. I have only watched a handful of his matches from his indie days but, if his recent match with Neville on the "WWE UK Championship Tournament" is anything to go by, Aleister is going to hammer his way through "Cien" in no time at all. Black is a force to be reckoned with; he is going to be in the main event in no time at all. This match should be a fast paced affair, with lots of heavy hitting and high spots. I expect Black to come out on top, perhaps setting up a feud for two future main eventers.
2. Sanity Vs. Roderick Strong, Tye Dillinger, No Way Jose and Ruby Riot:
This match was just announced on Thursdays episode of "NXT". I really don't know why it took so long to be announced. This is a great show piece for a group of competitors that are just a little bit away from their respective championship pictures. Sanity have been very middle of the road since their debut in the "Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic" they've been attacking the same group of people for a number of months, whilst that's fine it's not really the position they should be in. Any combination of the male members of this team could be more than a credible challenger to the "Authors Of Pain". The real unknown factor of this match is Ruby Riot. I don't know a lot about her. I'm aware she has done some good things on the indie circuit and I really look forward to seeing her and Nikki Cross face off. I think this may be the final team we see Tye Dillinger in NXT as his call up to the main roster is more than warranted. I would love to see Roderick Strong maybe move into an "NXT" championship position in the future as I feel he has been under utilised since his debut. I expect this to be one of the matches of the card, hopefully putting a final exclamation point into this feud. I think Sanity might come out on top and if they do I think they may become a much more present force in "NXT".
3. NXT Tag Team Championship Triple Threat Elimination: Authors Of Pain (C) Vs. D.I.Y Vs. The Revival
This match has had a great deal of build up. Some, including myself, would argue that the "NXT" tag team division has actually been a lot better than either of the main roster tag divisions. I'm still on the fence about "Authors Of Pain". Even with the help of mouth piece, Paul Ellering, I'm still bored with their one dimensional big men trampling over opponents on a week to week basis.Both "D.I.Y" and "The Revival" have been fantastic over the past year or so and have been the back bone of the NXT tag team division. I have a sneeking suspicion that "The Revival" and maybe even "D.I.Y" may find their way to the main roster on the "RAW" and "Smackdown Live" after "Wrestlemania". I really hope not but, both teams are more than deserving of the push. The only problem that this may cause is that the tag division would be a bit short of main eventers but, teams like "Heavy Machinery", "Sanity" or the returning "TM-61" could get the push that they deserve. Expect this match to be high drama and fast paced, perhaps seeing the seemingly unbeatable team of "Authors Of Pain" showing a little weakness. I fully expect "AOP" to come out on top and to take the tag division into a new era.
4. NXT Womens Championship: Asuka (C) Vs. Ember Moon
Asuka has been on a fantastic roll with almost a year as champion under her belt. Whilst the womens division went through a little bit of a struggle when the "Four Horsewomen" went to the main roster and superstardom, Asuka along with Peyton Royce, Billie Kay and Liv Morgan have done a stellar job trying to ressurect the ailing division. The one stand out amongst all of them was Ember Moon. Moon in a lot of ways reminds me a lot of Asuka; both have hard hitting, physical styles and don't really have to have a lot of mic time in order to prove a point. The build up to this has been fantastic. Both Moon and Asuka have been made to look truely dominating over the competition setting up a contest between the undeafeated champion and the one person that has looked the most likely to beat her and lead the women into the next era of NXT. I'm a little on the fence with this one. I think it's more than likely that Asukas time in NXT might be coming to an end but, I would like to see her stick around a little longer. Ember Moon has been phenomenal over the past few months, really proving that she deserves to be in the main event. I expect this to be one of, if not, the matches of the year with a lot of high drama. I think if Asuka was to lose to anyone it would be Ember and what a place for the new face of NXT to really cement her place as one of the best.
5. NXT Championship: Bobby Roode (C) Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
NXT has been incredible viewing with the "Takeover" specials getting better and better at each event. Last years main event in Dallas was Finn Balor Vs. Samoa Joe but, if any match could top that Roode Vs. Nakamura would be more than capable. This match has been built incredibly well; even with the injury of Nakamura restricting his in ring time. My one concern in all of this is that NXT rush the indie stars into the main event. Owens, Joe, Nakamura and now Roode were barely in the door when they became champion and then barely defended the title until the next big indie star came in. Whilst this has been a great approach that has more than worked I can't help but feel bad for guys like Tye Dillinger or even Tyler Breeze who are more than deserving to be in the main event or even be the NXT champion, only to be over looked for the newest indie veteran that WWE have snapped up. With all that being said this match promises to maybe overshadow a lot of the "Wrestlemania" card. Their first match ended with Roode coming out on top and Nakamura not entering a NXT ring again for two months. Before the match even begins expect flamboyant entrances for both which should be interesting. This match will be a marathon of a match; expect a lot of extremely near falls and some under handed tactics as well as some brilliant high spots. After WWE announcing Nakamura for the "NXT Live" tour this summer I don't know who will come out on top. I could see Roode cheating to win, setting up a third and final match or perhaps we could see Nakamura come out on top as the first 3 time NXT champion. I would prefer the latter but, at the end of the day all of this depends on if either man will be heading up to the main roster come Monday.
Thanks for reading and enjoy "NXT Takeover: Orlando". As always leave comments below and follow me on social media by clicking the links on the homepage.
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