Tonight is NXT Takeover XXV! Here is the Pulse Wrestling crew’s full preview with predictions.
NXT Championship
Johnny Gargano (c) vs. Adam Cole
JT: These two put on a fantastic match the last time they met, and there’s no reason to believe that they won’t repeat that performance here. While I still don’t really get what people see in Adam Cole, it’s clear he’s been working his ass of in NXT and is in line to win the title at some point in the future – which he should enjoy because there’s no chance in hell he’s ever going to make a significant impact on the main roster. F’n Vince, man…
Winner: Adam Cole
Widro – This should be an amazing in ring match. I think something will happen with the Undisputed Era to have Gargano retain, perhaps Roderick turning on Cole.
Winner: Gargano
PK – I think the story of the night will be out the Undisputed Era keeps losing, and this will culminate with some big blow off here, allowing Gargano to retain.
Winner: Gargano
S.Streeter: I don’t think Gargano’s had enough time with the belt yet, so I expect him to retain. But I do expect the match to be quite a good one.
Winner: Gargano
NXT Women’s Championship
Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Io Shirai
JT: This is one of those matches where suspension of disbelief is really important. In a real world fight, Shayna Baszler would rip Io’s arms off and beat her to death with them, but this is a WWE where Brock Lesnar can lose to Seth Rollins without getting in a single bit of offence, so who the hell knows. I find Io Shiraj endlessly charming, so I hope she picks up the win here, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they leave the title on Shayna while looking for the ideal time to bring her up to the main roster.
Winner: Io Shiraj
Widro – Baszler has been the champion forever, and while Kairi Sane was called up to the main roster, Io wasn’t, so I think she takes the title here.
Winner: Shirai
PK – This all depends on if they want to send Baszler to the main roster without Shafir & Duke, or keep her around her fellow Horsewomen to get them ready to all go up together. I think the domination of Baszler continues, and Io will not be the one to take her down.
Winner: Baszler
S.Streeter: I’m not sure where this is going, and because of that I see it as just a match.
Winner: Baszler
NXT North American Championship
Velveteen Dream (c) vs. Tyler Breeze
JT: Hey, look! Tyler Breeze is back to confront the guy who stole the gimmick that he stole from Rick Rude. Frankly, Breeze has been absolutely lost on the main roster because he’s not built like a tank and doesn’t have the x-factor of someone like Ricochet, so NXT is probably the best place for him. On the other hand, Velveteen Dream has been pretty much unstoppable recently, and considering the fact that he is the shiny new toy compared to Breeze’s worn down action figure, so this could be a figurative passing of the torch before Breeze explores his future endeavors…
Winner: Velveteen Dream
Widro – While I like Breeze, he is a jobber and it’s a shame he is taking a spot on the this card.
Winner: Dream
PK – Breeze is in a nice fill-in spot after Dijakovic’s injury, but that is all it is, just a fill-in, so Dream retains. Breeze has plenty to offer to the NXT crew, but I think his days on the main roster are past him.
Winner: Velveteen Dream
S.Streeter: My understanding is Dream is going to be called up to the main roster sooner rather than later, and so I would assume a title change here in order to allow that to go smoothly.
Winner: (new champ) Breeze
NXT Tag Team Championship Ladder Match
Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan vs. Street Profits vs. Undisputed ERA vs. Forgotten Sons
JT: Bizarrely enough, this is the match I’m most looking forward to, despite not particularly liking any of the teams involved. Breaking things down, Burch & Lorcan are just there to fill in the numbers, Forgotten Sons have the most appropriate name ever, and Street Profits are just the latest in the vaguely racist teams that have appeared in WWE, so it looks likely that Undisputed Era will rule the night as a precursor to their inevitable breakup.
Winner: Undisputed Era
Widro – This should be a spotfest and could be a sleeper for match of the night. Hard to pick a winner so I’ll just go with the Street Profits.
Winner: Street Profits
PK – My opinion is that it will be either the Profits or the Sons, and recent booking points to the Sons. There are plenty of solid workers in this match, so I would expect this to be a show stealer.
Winners: Forgotten Sons
S.Streeter: This is going to be a real pick ’em type match and I cannot for the life of me work out where they are going with this. I like that! That lack of certainty is excellent and awesome in the WWE nowadays. Whatever, I do fully expect this match to steal the show.
Winner: Undisputed ERA (just coz)
Matt Riddle vs. Roderick Strong
JT: Bro… How in hell has Matt Riddle not violated WWE’s wellness policy with the amount of weed he clearly smokes? Dripping with charisma, the crossover athlete has almost unlimited potential in WWE, as long as he can avoid the pitfalls that derailed RVD’s championship reign. Roddy Strong remains a solid wrestler almost completely lacking in charisma, so unless we see some Undisputed Era shenanigans, expect the king of the bros to go over… bro.
Winner: Matt Riddle
Widro – Riddle continues to move through the singles ranks. This is a good test for him to have a showcase match on NXT Takeover and Strong is a great worker in his own right.
Winner: Riddle
PK – Strong is going to get the best out of Riddle, and start the storyline of the UE losing all night long.
Winner: Riddle
S.Streeter: This also has night stealing potential. And, again, I;m not sure where they are going, so I am going to go with me heart on this one.
Winner: Strong
