This is a massive weekend of wrestling this week and one of the top events taking place is NXT Takeover XXX, the 30th Takeover event in NXT history, with the card complete and set it should be a great night of action. Yesterday marked the go home edition of NXT with NXT Takeover set for Saturday 22nd August, as we look into each individual match to provide our preview and predictions. In total there are 5 matches set to take place.
Kickoff Show
No.1 Tag Team Championship Contenders Match
Legarde Del Fantasma Vs Danny Burch and Oney Lorcen Vs Breezango
So a triple threat tag team match to decide the no. 1 contenders for the Tag Team Championship will kick off the nights proceedings on the Kick Off Show. Breezango have been a thorn in the side of Legarde Del Fantasma, since helping Drake Maverick and Isaiah Scott out during their feud with the head of Legarde Del Fantasma, Santos Escobar. It is not likely to be current cruiserweight champion Santos Escobar in this match, so it will most likely be his two cohorts, Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza, who will be looking for a measure of revenge agianst Breezango, whilst securing the No.1 contenders spot. Danny Burch and Oney Lorcen are the third wheel in this match but then again Burch and Lorcen don’t need many reasons to get themselves in to a fight and becoming No. 1 contenders for the tag team title would just be icing on the cake.
Prediction: Danny Burch and Oney Lorcen to pick up the win.
I feel that the Breezango and Legarde Del Fantasma will continue their feud and likely cost them the match, with Burch and Lorcen being the more likely to face the members of Imperium.
Main Show
Match 1
NXT North American Title 5 man Ladder Match
Bronson Reed Vs Punishment Martinez Vs Johnny Gargano Vs Velveteen Dream Vs Cameron Grimes
This will be car crash wrestling at its finest, I’m sure the action will be non-stop, with plenty of spots that would have the crowd screaming ‘holy ****’ and ‘This is awesome’, only there’s not going to be crowd, so what’s the point of this match. I know there will be the usual NXT trainees behind the plexi glass and I am sure they will pump in some pre-recorded chants to try and create some atmosphere. To be entered in this match each competitor had to qualify via a set of triple threat matches, first to qualify was Bronson Reed followed by Punishment Martinez and then Dexter Lumis and Cameron Grimes. Lumis was injured during his match causing him to pull out of the tournament and as such William Regal picked the competitors who were not submitted in previous matches, placing them in single matches for another chance leading to Velveteen Dream and Johnny Gargano picking up the wins in their respective matches.
Prediction: Punishment Martinez to win.
I think Martinez has the easier feud to set up if he comes out on top, reigniting his unfinished rivalry with Cameron Grimes. If Keith Lee comes out on top of tonight's main event I feel the most obvious rivalry to follow would be Johnny Gargano, so I feel they’ll want to keep him free, the same goes with Bronson Reed who would be an ideal first opponent if Karrion Kross were to be successful in taking the title from Lee. Velveteen Dream would be a controversial decision, given the current accusations and back stage heat on him, so it is likely in their best interest to keep the title off of him at the moment.
Womens Championship Match
Io Shari Vs Dakota Kai
I think this is the match I most looking forward to on this card, both of these women are capable of having incredible matches, I expect this to be fast paced, hard hitting and hard kicking. Io has shown that she was the right choice to carry the NXT women’s championship, which the is the golden chalice of NXT delivering classic matches and only crowning the very best of women on the rosta and Io has held the title with distinction. Dakota Kai inserted herself in to the Championship picture following a devastating attack on Shirai as she celebrated a hard fought victory over Tegan Nox.
Prediction Io Shiari
I feel it is still not Dakota’s time just yet it, may never be during her NXT run, she will go on to win championships with WWE just maybe not the NXT title. I see Io having an historic title reign of her own, in a build to once again facing Rhea Ripley, who I think will be the one to dethrone Io Shiari.
Grudge Match
Pat McAfee Vs Adam Cole
I really hate celebrity matches, at least Pat McAfee is an athlete and has had some basic in ring training after purchasing his own ring and training in his backyard and he did pay Rip Rogers to come out and coach him. Adam Cole is an amazing competitor and could have good match with just about anyone, so if anyone can get a some what decent match out of back yard trained ex American football kicker, its him. I just don’t really get this match either, Adam Cole has just come off a legendary run with the NXT World Championship, he is also one of the most established heels for a while and now suddenly he’s turned babyface, well that’s what it is coming across as, with McAfee delivering a complete heel promo, making fun of the size of Adam Cole, I just don’t get it.
Prediction: I don’t know and I don’t care
I honestly do not know who is going to win this one, WWE have had a track record of using novelty stars and putting them over their own main roster talent. Maybe there is some story to tell in Adam Cole loosing this match and going on some redemption arc. So I guess McAfee will pick up the win but I really don’t care.
Main Event
NXT World Heavyweight Championship Match
Keith Lee Vs Karrion Kross
Now this is match that will surely be great, I cannot see how it wouldn’t be. There has been an incredible tension growing between the two big men, that has built up intrigue and anticipation despite the two competitors having no previous physical interactions, so far it’s all been mind games and suspense and that is going to pay off big time. Karrion Kross and his wife/valet Scarlet Bordeuax have played their roles so well from the very beginning even before Keith Lee defeated Adam Cole for the championship, this has been building since the hour glass. The use of smoke and mirrors, the way Kross defeated Kieth Lee’s frenemy Dominik Dijakovic, to the most recent use of a fireball during a contract signing. They’ve made Keith Lee angry and he has shown more emotion in the last few weeks, than he ever has done since joining NXT.
Prediction: Keith Lee
Unless there are plans to move Keith Lee to the supposed main roster of either RAW or Smackdown it would make no sense to remove the title from him given how recently he won the title, NXT is not known for short title reigns. Kross is still relatively new to the company despite being a tenured veteran of the independent scene and I don’t think it’s his time just yet. He could possibly move into the North American title scene following a loss here but he could also be due for quick call up to the main roster given his experience and look.
Final Thoughts
I think the Kick off show is quite telling in regards to the current state of the NXT tag division, as in there really isn’t one! A distinct lack of Tag matches on the main card highlights this as well. At this current time they are really suffering from the lack of the great talent provided to them in the UK, with likes of the Grizzled Young Veterans and Moustache Mountain to bolster their ranks who due to current health crisis are unavailable. Leaving Imperium and the Undisputed Era as the only two really established teams, with Burch and Lorcen, Breezango and Legarde Del Fantasma seen as lower card teams. The Ladder match I am sure will be exciting but with out a true live crowd for the participants to feed off of, the match will seem some what lack lustre although I am sure WWE will play some phony crowd noise. I really would have love to seen a true 16 man tournament for the vacant title but I am a mark for tournament wrestling, you could have easily done a semi final and final match on this card over one multi-man ladder match. Then there is the shipped in celebrity match of McAfee and Cole and I just couldn’t care, McAfee is a glorified wrestling fan, yes he is an athlete but he is not a wrestler and an actual wrestler should be in his spot. Of course there is the two world championship matches with the Women’s and Men’s championship titles on the line which should be incredible. In the women's match you have two of the very best female wrestlers who will have an incredible match as will the men. These two matches alone are reason enough to watch.
Excitement Level: High
Expectancy Level:Medium
It will be very interesting to see the viewing figures for this event as it will be going head to head with an AEW Dynamite show that had to be moved from it’s usual spot on a Wednesday on TNT due to a Basket Ball match and it just so happens they moved it to this Saturday.
Andrew More
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