Here Comes the Pain: NXT Takeover 25: Predictions

Courtesy: WWE

On the heels of AEW Double or Nothing, the WWE has yet to make an effort to prove why they are and have been the elite wrestling company for the past few decades. After an abysmal episode of Raw and a lackluster Smackdown Live, an NXT Takeover event is exactly what us wrestling fans need to quench our thirst for another good wrestling event. We’re guaranteed to have that event with Takeover 25 given that Vince McMahon doesn’t watch nor care about NXT. With that, on to the predictions:

Fatal 4-way-Ladder match; NXT Tag Team Titles: Undisputed Era vs Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch vs Forgotten Sons vs Street Profits

Only team in this match that has nothing to prove is Undisputed Era, who already had two tag title reigns in NXT. The Brit-Am Brawlers, as dubbed by Mauro Ranallo, give off a vibe as a team that would take the fall in a fatal 4-way match even though the belts are suspended above the ring for this match up. Although the team if Lorcan & Burch are a dark horse in the match, it is no doubt that they’ll be the stars and put on the best show out of these four teams. Over the past weeks in NXT we’ve seen some sort of a push for the Forgotten Sons as they’ve went from obscurity to being in a title match. It’s obvious WWE has big plans for them in the future, but their reign won’t start on Saturday. The Street Profits have been in two tag title matches over the past few weeks and its obvious to me that they will be leaving with the NXT tag team titles. The combination of power and speed that Dawkins and Ford bring will be serve them well on Saturday night.

Prediction: Street Profits

NXT Women’s Title Match: Shayna Baszler [c] vs Io Shirai

Io Shirai has proved to be a tough challenge for Baszler, giving Shayna a run for her money over the past weeks on NXT TV. There’s no doubt to why Shirai is the genius of the sky as the best chance for her to win is to stick to her ariel assault as Shayna has yet to have a challenger with such a different style of wrestling. However, no task has proven to be to tough for Shayna as she only went without the title for two and a half months over the past year. Her mma background and catch wrestling style has proven to be too much for her challengers and will be too much for Shirai on Saturday.

Prediction: Shayna Baszler

Singles Match: Roderick Strong vs Matt Riddle:

Bro, what can I say? Unfortunately for Roderick Strong, he’s seen as that guy in NXT that’s a great wrestler but is there to put other guys over. Matt Riddle is also the hottest commodity in all of professional wrestling and he can’t be stopped. The Undisputed Era’s quest for all the gold will be at a stalemate as taking a loss won’t get Roddy near the North American Championship anytime soon. This match will be a candidate for match of the night as both guys are always good to put on a show.

Prediction: Matt Riddle

North American Championship Match: Velveteen Dream [c] vs Tyler Breeze

This is probably the hardest match to predict but will be the most fun to watch. With both superstars being egotistical, hard hitting, pretty boys, there’s a high chance that this match will keep fans glued to their seats and TVs from the entrances till the title is raised. This match is hard to pick because Dream has been a great champion and could do exceptional things with a long reign. However, bringing back an NXT legend like Tyler Breeze to have a title match at a Takeover is a recipe to catch the W. With factors like these playing in, picking the winner is as good as flipping the coin but I think the welcome back for Breeze won’t be as friendly as fans hope.

Prediction: Velveteen Dream

NXT Title Match: Johnny Gargano [c] vs Adam Cole

I’m a firm believer that Johnny Gargano is due for a call up sometime soon and where he’ll win a title and eventually feud with Tommaso Ciampa for that belt, defending it at Wrestlemania if Ciampa is healthy by then. In contrast, Gargano has at least 3 additional Takeovers to defend the NXT title before he’d have to drop it and move up. With all that being said, cases can be made for Gargano to retain or lose the title on Saturday. For Adam Cole Bay Bay, there’s nothing to lose as he lost his previous NXT title match and has already held the North American Title. With a lose it can be assumed that the whole Undisputed Era will be called up to the main roster where Vince will change their name to Adam Cole and The Bay Bay’s or the Boom Squad and have all their respective names changed. It’s no doubt that the UE’s call up is long overdue, but Adam Cole’s NXT title is as well. We can assume that the UE will interfere in this match, but Gargano is no stranger to adversity as he has won many times against all sorts of odds. However, with the help of the rest of the disgruntled UE, they’ll help Cole do what they couldn’t earlier in the night and win a match.

Prediction: Adam Cole (shenanigans)

-        Sterling Jeffries