A year on from the historic TakeOver at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the men and women of NXT are back with NXT TakeOver: Back 2 Brooklyn. Going into Saturday’s event, the big question is whether it will live up to its predecessor and to NXT TakeOver: Dallas on WrestleMania 32 weekend.
On the face of it, Back 2 Brooklyn will definitely give the aforementioned two TakeOver’s a run for their money. The card is stacked. Some rivalries have just begun, and some are nearing their end. Things are heating up with less than a week to go to the summer’s biggest NXT event so let’s jump into the predictions.
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Debut of Ember Moon
Ember Moon is the wrestler formerly known as Athena. She was an independent wrestling standout, working with promotions such as Shimmer before signing with WWE in September, 2015. At this point, we know that Ember Moon is a great wrestler but from the vignettes, we aren’t really sure if her gimmick will work. It seems a little too early 90’s WCW. Let’s see if she can pull it off.
Since this is her showcase debut, Ember Moon should win this one easily. Her opponent hasn’t been announced as of yet though. I can see Ember Moon going straight to the top of the NXT Women’s Division after Brooklyn and there’s also a small chance that she’ll face Asuka next.
Winer: Ember Moon
Austin Aries vs No Way Jose
This feud began out of nothing when Austin Aries attacked No Way Jose on the announcers table while they were dancing together. Aries attacked this man mid-dance, let’s let that sink in for a moment.
Since then, then two men have done well to get the feud over and No Way Jose has shown us a different side of him from the usual jolly dancer stereotype. Jose has some real fire for revenge and this feud could really help him get to the next level regardless of who goes over.
As good as a babyface as Austin Aries is, he has shown us that the real money for him is as a heel. Aries was just born to play the bad guy and gives of a genuine vibe of cockiness and arrogance. He’s just brilliant at what he does. Aries really needs a win here and I’m backing him to pull off the big win when it matters.
Winner: Austin Aries
Bobby Roode vs. Andrade "Cien" Almas
Bobby Roode is indeed GLORIOUS. He’ll finally make his much awaited NXT debut at Back 2 Brooklyn against Andrade “Cien” Almas, the Mexican sensation. Almas, the luchador formerly known as La Sombra, was a huge star back in his native Mexico and will be looking to emulate that success in WWE. He made his NXT debut at The End earlier this year and has impressed since.
There hasn’t been that much of a build up with this one. Roode just came out after Almas’ match on last week’s episode of NXT to announced the match and talk down at his future opponent. This match is my vote for the sleeper match of the night. It’s going to be amazing albeit glorious.
Winner: Bobby Roode
NXT Tag Team Championships: The Revival (c) vs. Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano
We were all a little surprised when The Revival won their titles back so quickly from American Alpha at NXT TakeOver: The End. However, it isn’t surprising that Johnny Gargano and Tomasso Ciampa are the next challengers for the Tag-Team Championships, especially if you’ve seen their match against each other in the Cruiserweight Classic. Gargano and Ciampa have quietly been moving up the ranks in the tag-team division since their NXT debut in the Dusty Rhodes Memorial Tag-Team Classic in 2015.
Things have really picked with these two teams recently and this feud is hot right now. Expect more fireworks on NXT’s go-home show this Wednesday. Of all the matches on this card, I’d say this match is the trickiest to predict. I could easily see this going either way. However, I’ll stick my neck out and go with Gargano and Ciampa on this one. These two are ready two get elevated to the next level and a NXT Tag-Team Championship run is a good place to begin.
Winners: Tomasso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano
NXT Women's Championship: Asuka (c) vs. Bayley II
If Joe vs Nakamura wasn’t on this card, this match could have easily been the main event. Asuka vs Bayley II is a match we’ve all been waiting for since their first match at Dallas where Asuka won the NXT Women’s Championship. This feud is one of the best things on NXT television right now, and only got more interesting last week at the contract signing between these two women. Bayley looks more determined than ever to win her title back and she finally, in her own words, looks like she’s gotten over Asuka’s aura of invincibility.
This match should be a classic, with so many little facets added to it like Bayley returning to the building where she won the NXT Women’s Championship a year ago and Asuka still being undefeated in NXT since her debut. However, with Bayley almost definitely debuting on the main roster soon, I see Asuka retaining her Championship here in what could be the match of the night.
Winner: Asuka
NXT Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Samoa Joe vs Shinsuke Nakamura is by no uncertain terms a dream match. Samoa Joe has looked like an untamable monster since he defeated Finn Balor for the NXT Championship at a NXT Live Event in Lowell, Massachusetts. He tamed The Demon at the Steel Cage match at NXT TakeOver: The End, and has since obliterated anyone that’s stepped in his path. That is, until Shinsuke Nakamura showed up.
Nakamura defeated Finn Balor to become the #1 contender for Joe’s title, a decision that Joe was vocally unhappy about. He took out his frustration on fellow NXT Superstars like Mojo Rawley. In recent week, Nakamura has just goaded Joe repeatedly to the point where a bunch of security guards had to hold Joe back from Nakamura on last week’s episode of NXT while Nakamura taunted him.
Even though Joe looks unstoppable right now, I’m going for Nakamura to continue his unbeaten run to become the new NXT Champion. However, I see this feud continuing for a while, and it’s going to be amazing.
This match will be a hard-hitting classic, and along with Asuka vs Bayley, could contend for the match of the weekend.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
Ex WWE writer blasts Liv Morgan HERE
