By: Jim Kennedy
(Note: The following BTTR post is purely speculation on the upcoming NXT TakeOver: Houston WWE Network event. None of these matchups below have been confirmed.)
As is tradition in WWE, the developmental territory NXT hosts its NXT TakeOver events the night before a Big 4 pay-per-view. This time, we go to Houston ahead of WWE's Thanksgiving classic, Survivor Series. With this being the last NXT TakeOver of 2017, the superstars look to make their mark and go into the new year with momentum. As for what the five matches will be this time around, let's predict what'll go down.
1. NXT Championship: Drew McIntyre vs Adam Cole: After winning the NXT Championship from Bobby Roode and Brooklyn III, McIntyre was instantly attacked from Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, and Kyle O'Reilly. While Fish and O'Reilly have mostly focused on the tag team division, Cole has immediately set his sights on the NXT Championship. I feel that it's going to be Cole-McIntyre, even though Roderick Strong stepped up to accept the champ's challenge. I'm sure we'll see McIntyre-Strong happen on an episode of NXT, but at TakeOver, it'll be Cole-McIntyre for the title.
2. NXT Women's Championship Fatal 4 Way: Kairi Sane vs Ember Moon vs Liv Morgan vs Peyton Royce: Since Asuka was forced to relinquish the NXT Women's Championship after Brooklyn III, there's been some question as to who will compete for the title. After winning the Mae Young Classic, it was annouced that Kairi Sane would fight for the title in her first NXT match. A few episodes later, it was announced that it would be a Fatal-4-Way, so the Women's division is going all out to get a spot. I think you put Ember Moon in there to get a shot at the title; with Asuka gone, it's Moon's division to lose. Liv Morgan has also waited for her shot, and I think it's time to put her in the title picture. The fourth spot is a tricky spot, as there are many that can make an impact, but if I had to choose, it would be Peyton Royce. Between her and Billie Kay, Royce is the better wrestler. She's raw on the mic, but that can be developed as time goes on. So for the Fatal 4 Way, you got Sane, Moon, Morgan, and Royce for the right to be called the NXT Women's Championship.
3. NXT Tag Team Championship: SaNiTY vs Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly: What happened to McIntyre at Brooklyn III was the same scenario for Sanity, who won the tag titles after being the Authors of Pain. After their victory, Fish and O'Reilly entered the ring and attacked Sanity, superkicking Eric Young to send a message. Seeing that the majority of the tag team will be enthralled in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and that Fish and O'Reilly keep attacking Sanity backstage, it's only fitting that this tag team match will be announced as a title match.
4. Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals: Street Prophets vs Roderick Strong/Johnny Gargano: This has been an NXT tradition since the passing of WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes. The former NXT teacher touched the lives of everyone who went through the program, and as a result, the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic has become a staple for NXT and Survivor Series weekend. 16 of NXT's best tag teams will battle for the chance to not only lift the big trophy at TakeOver: Houston, but potentially receive a future NXT tag team title opportunity. The Street Prophets have been dominant since their NXT debuts, and have become fan favorites very quickly. Depending on their placement in the bracket, these guys could power their way to the Finals. As for their opponents, I can see Gargano teaming up with Strong following Strong's title match defeat against NXT Champion Drew McIntyre. Both Roderick Strong and Johnny Gargano have experience in the Classic, Gargano working with former DIY teammate Tommaso Ciampa, and Strong with former Cruiserweight Austin Aries. Both teams have the potential to make a great finals if they make it. Since the Authors of Pain have been MIA since losing their tag team title to Sanity, the division is more open than ever before, so there's no clear favorite to win the Classic. But I think these two teams, if they both compete, would make a great finals matchup.
5. Aleister Black vs The Velveteen Dream: Aleister Black spoke to the NXT Universe for the first time, but was interrupted by the Velveteen Dream. The two undefeated superstars stared one another down until Black kicked the mic out of Dream's hand, before sitting in his memorable meditative pose. The Velveteen Dream slid out of the ring staring Black down, which means that this budding rivalry is only beginning. You could argue that Andrade "Cien" Almas will be in the event, but NXT hasn't really done much with him since his TakeOver victory over Johnny Gargano. This storyline has the potential to develop into something for both superstars. Don't be surprised if this gets ugly en route to Houston.
(Note: The following BTTR post is purely speculation on the upcoming NXT TakeOver: Houston WWE Network event. None of these matchups below have been confirmed.)
As is tradition in WWE, the developmental territory NXT hosts its NXT TakeOver events the night before a Big 4 pay-per-view. This time, we go to Houston ahead of WWE's Thanksgiving classic, Survivor Series. With this being the last NXT TakeOver of 2017, the superstars look to make their mark and go into the new year with momentum. As for what the five matches will be this time around, let's predict what'll go down.
1. NXT Championship: Drew McIntyre vs Adam Cole: After winning the NXT Championship from Bobby Roode and Brooklyn III, McIntyre was instantly attacked from Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, and Kyle O'Reilly. While Fish and O'Reilly have mostly focused on the tag team division, Cole has immediately set his sights on the NXT Championship. I feel that it's going to be Cole-McIntyre, even though Roderick Strong stepped up to accept the champ's challenge. I'm sure we'll see McIntyre-Strong happen on an episode of NXT, but at TakeOver, it'll be Cole-McIntyre for the title.
2. NXT Women's Championship Fatal 4 Way: Kairi Sane vs Ember Moon vs Liv Morgan vs Peyton Royce: Since Asuka was forced to relinquish the NXT Women's Championship after Brooklyn III, there's been some question as to who will compete for the title. After winning the Mae Young Classic, it was annouced that Kairi Sane would fight for the title in her first NXT match. A few episodes later, it was announced that it would be a Fatal-4-Way, so the Women's division is going all out to get a spot. I think you put Ember Moon in there to get a shot at the title; with Asuka gone, it's Moon's division to lose. Liv Morgan has also waited for her shot, and I think it's time to put her in the title picture. The fourth spot is a tricky spot, as there are many that can make an impact, but if I had to choose, it would be Peyton Royce. Between her and Billie Kay, Royce is the better wrestler. She's raw on the mic, but that can be developed as time goes on. So for the Fatal 4 Way, you got Sane, Moon, Morgan, and Royce for the right to be called the NXT Women's Championship.
3. NXT Tag Team Championship: SaNiTY vs Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly: What happened to McIntyre at Brooklyn III was the same scenario for Sanity, who won the tag titles after being the Authors of Pain. After their victory, Fish and O'Reilly entered the ring and attacked Sanity, superkicking Eric Young to send a message. Seeing that the majority of the tag team will be enthralled in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and that Fish and O'Reilly keep attacking Sanity backstage, it's only fitting that this tag team match will be announced as a title match.
4. Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals: Street Prophets vs Roderick Strong/Johnny Gargano: This has been an NXT tradition since the passing of WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes. The former NXT teacher touched the lives of everyone who went through the program, and as a result, the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic has become a staple for NXT and Survivor Series weekend. 16 of NXT's best tag teams will battle for the chance to not only lift the big trophy at TakeOver: Houston, but potentially receive a future NXT tag team title opportunity. The Street Prophets have been dominant since their NXT debuts, and have become fan favorites very quickly. Depending on their placement in the bracket, these guys could power their way to the Finals. As for their opponents, I can see Gargano teaming up with Strong following Strong's title match defeat against NXT Champion Drew McIntyre. Both Roderick Strong and Johnny Gargano have experience in the Classic, Gargano working with former DIY teammate Tommaso Ciampa, and Strong with former Cruiserweight Austin Aries. Both teams have the potential to make a great finals if they make it. Since the Authors of Pain have been MIA since losing their tag team title to Sanity, the division is more open than ever before, so there's no clear favorite to win the Classic. But I think these two teams, if they both compete, would make a great finals matchup.
5. Aleister Black vs The Velveteen Dream: Aleister Black spoke to the NXT Universe for the first time, but was interrupted by the Velveteen Dream. The two undefeated superstars stared one another down until Black kicked the mic out of Dream's hand, before sitting in his memorable meditative pose. The Velveteen Dream slid out of the ring staring Black down, which means that this budding rivalry is only beginning. You could argue that Andrade "Cien" Almas will be in the event, but NXT hasn't really done much with him since his TakeOver victory over Johnny Gargano. This storyline has the potential to develop into something for both superstars. Don't be surprised if this gets ugly en route to Houston.
Comments
Post a Comment