This written before the final NXT prior to the event as I will be on holiday. However I can't see much changing to the card, except potentially a stipulation being added to the title match after both Nakamura and Joe's disrespectful behavior towards security and William Regal last night.
This is the fourth NXT Takeover of the year. Unlike the Raw/Smackdown PPVs which only have a number of weeks to develop the storylines, NXT has three months to develop rivalries and build excitement. This gives them a bit more freedom, and makes the resulting event seem a lot more natural and perhaps less forced than other WWE events.
Bobby Roode v Tye Dillinger
Both of these guys are good performers and good draws. Hopefully this should be a great match. Roode has got the history outside the WWE which should make him the favourite here. I love his theme music. Every time I hear it, it stays in my head for the best part of the day. However, I think Dillinger will get the pinfall here. It will give Roode a chance to get distraught at being beaten by someone who he openly derided even when trying to recruit him as his tag team partner, and for these guys to have a few matches over the coming months.
Prediction: Dillinger
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Final:
The Authors of Pain v TM-61
I was not expecting these guys to be in the final. I definitely thought that the Revival would make it but the kayfabe injury has meant that they can fail to win the tournament without having to take a loss, which means they can drop the belts with just one loss. While the Authors of Pain are bad asses, TM-61 have had a much longer wrestling history and are the more exciting prospect, and I can see them picking up the victory here.
Prediction: TM-61
NXT Women's Championship:
Asuka (c) v Mickie James
Asuka has been dominant in the women's division, with no one seeming to be even in the same league as her. In bringing in a 5 times WWE Women's Champion and 1 time Divas champion as her opponent, NXT have definitely upped the ante. Mickie might be the one to hold the title once Asuka gets the call up but I don't think she'll be moving on just yet. I think Asuka retains here to continue to build her reputation.
Prediction: Asuka
2 out of 3 falls:
NXT Tag Team Championship:
The Revival (c) v DIY
The Revival are the only team with two reigns with the belts and have held them in total for the best part of the year. It's probably time to look at a new champion to spice things up a bit. Raw could also do with another good heel tag team to spice things up so I can see the Revival getting called up there shortly. They refused to fight DIY in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and that suggests they are afraid of them and probably for a good reason. I can see the belts changing here. A 2 out of 3 falls match is nice as it gives both teams a chance to pick up a fall and look strong. Everyone comes out of it with a better reputation.
Prediction: DIY
NXT Championship:
Shinsuke Nakamura (c) v Samoa Joe
The build up for this has been going on for quite some time and has just led to increased anticipation for this rematch. Samoa Joe was literally smashing his way through the roster to get to Nakamura. When Shinsuke returned a few weeks ago with neck brace on, the resulting brawl almost couldn't be contained.
I'm not sure why but Shinsuke just seems amazingly cool. Just looking at him gets me excited about what he's going to do in the ring. Joe is a proven quality, and so hopefully this match should live up to the hype that has been building around it.
No-one has yet been a 2-time NXT champion, and 7 of the 9 NXT champions are currently on the main roster. The eighth and ninths are in this match up. The likelihood is that at least one of them will be moving up shortly. I would assume whoever is likely to go up first will lose this match. My money would be on Joe as he has been in NXT for longer and whilst Nakamura is completely over with the crowd, they probably want to develop him a bit more before he moves up.
This is the only way that I can separate these guys. I can see this being an incredible match.
Prediction: Nakamura
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