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This Saturday, WWE will officially kick-off SummerSlam when they present NXT Takeover: Toronto from the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The 26th event in the Takeover chronology will feature the rubber match between Adam Cole and Johnny Gargano for the NXT Championship. Elsewhere on the card, we have Shayna Baszler defending the NXT Women's Championship against Mia Yim and Candice LeRae taking on his long-time friend-turned- rival, Io Shirai.
Velveteen Dream will be defending his NXT North American Championship against Pete Dunne and Roderick Strong in a Triple Threat Match. Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly will be looking to regain the NXT Tag Team Championships as they square off against current champions, The Street Profits. And lastly, we would also see the finals of the NXT BreakOut Tournament with Cameron Grimes (fka Trevor Lee) taking on Jordan Myles (fka ACH) with the winner getting a title match of his choosing.
NXT has always delivered when it comes to Takeovers. With every passing event, it seems like NXT couldn't possibly top the previous one and somehow they manage to put a show for the ages. This year alone, WWE's 'developmental' brand has had two shows of the year contenders in the form of Takeover: New York and Takeover: XXV, with both of the events receiving widespread critical acclaim. NXT Takeover: Toronto promises to be no different and with such a stacked card, it could well turn out to be the best show of 2019.
Here are three things that could happen at NXT Takeover: Toronto:
#3 Mia Yim wins the NXT Women's Championship
Shayna Baszler has had a stranglehold over the NXT Women's Championship for well over a year now. The former Mixed Martial artist has defeated the likes of Ember Moon, Nikki Cross, Kairi Sane, Bianca Belair, and Io Shirai on her way to becoming one of the most dominant champions in NXT history. Baszler also has backup in the form of her fellow Horsewomen, Marina Shafir, and Jessamyn Duke, who have come to her aid time and time again.
Mia Yim has been on a roll for the past few months. After two back-to-back victories over Bianca Belair on NXT TV, Yim set her sights on Baszler and NXT Women's Championship. Unlike her previous opponents, Yim has been the aggressor in this feud by taking out Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke and leveling the playing field in the process.
The Women's division on the main roster has been in tatters following WrestleMania. The departure of Ronda Rousey and Sasha Banks has led to a star deficit within the division. Names like Lacey Evans and Alexa Bliss have tried to step up to the plate but sadly their matches haven't on the same level as they were a year prior.
Shayna Baszler has done everything there is do in NXT. She is the only two-time NXT Women's Champion and has had a title reign that will be hard to replicate. Baszler is main-roster ready in our opinion and could bring that much-needed star power to the division on either RAW or SmackDown.
Mia Yim has been one of the consistent female performers on the NXT roster. She is hugely over with the crowd and is someone who can take over the reins of Women's division from Baszler.
#2 The Undisputed Era is draped in gold
Ever since their debut at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III in 2017, the Undisputed Era has been claiming that one day they would take over NXT. Adam Cole had proclaimed that The UE will be draped in gold sooner and later and that prophecy could very well come to fruition at NXT Takeover: Toronto. All four members of the Era would be competing at the event this Saturday.
Adam Cole is the heavy favourite heading into his NXT Championship defence against Johnny Gargano. This match, in all likelihood, is going to Gargano's swansong in NXT. The duo has put on two classic matches back to back and this one has the potential to one of the best matches in NXT history.
Roderick Strong pinned the NXT American Champion The Velveteen Dream in a three-man tag team match on NXT TV a few weeks ago. Strong has been consistently putting on great matches on NXT TV and Takeovers. Strong as the NXT North American Champion can help build the mid-card of the Black and Yellow brand. Besides, it's about time that The Dream moved on to the main-event scene and challenged for the NXT Championship.
The Street Profits won the NXT Tag Team Championship in a fatal four-way Ladder Match at Takeover: XXV. The duo of Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford have been called up to the main roster which would indicate that they would be dropping the titles to Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly at Takeover: Toronto.
With NXT potentially making a move to FS1 this fall, having the Era hold all the gold would be a huge plus as they move to Cable TV. The Undisputed Era is one of the most over acts in the company and the recent push that factions have been getting on WWE lately, The Era could the night with all the gold.
#1 The Blackheart Returns
Following a neck injury earlier this year, Tomasso Ciampa had to relinquish the NXT Championship due to a neck injury. His match against Johnny Gargano for the NXT Championship at NXT Takeover: New York was scrapped and for a while, it seemed like Ciampa might never be able to wrestle again. But, thankful that wasn't case and The Blackheart has made some huge strides in his way to recovering from the career-altering injury.
Ciampa appeared at the pre-show for NXT Takeover: XXV where he minced no words when he declared his intentions to reclaim Goldie once he fully recovers from his injury. There have been reports of Ciampa returning to the squared circle in mid-August, which is right when Takeover: Toronto is taking place.
Ciampa attacking either Gargano or Cole following the NXT Championship would be the perfect way to set up the title match for NXT Takeover: WarGames in November. It would be a travesty if Ciampa is called up to the main roster without even getting a chance to reclaim the gold. Ciampa's return is sure to generate the loudest reaction of the night.
