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We are merely a few hours away from the 30th edition of NXT's highly successful PPV series, NXT TakeOver: XXX. The show will take place on August 22, 2020, from the home base of the Black and Gold brand of WWE, Full Sail University in Florida.
As of the writing of this article, a total of six matches are set to take place at NXT TakeOver: XXX, including matches for the NXT and NXT Women's Championship. The vacant North American Championship will be up for grabs in a ladder match, in what could very well be the match of the night.
With the show taking place a night before WWE SummerSlam, NXT would want to deliver big, as they always do. And to achieve the same, Triple H might have a few tricks and twists up his sleeves to heighten the drama at the PPV.
Let's take a look at five possible surprises that could happen at NXT TakeOver: XXX. Be sure to comment down and let me know your predictions for the show.
#5 Dominik Dijakovic costs Keith Lee the NXT Championship
The NXT Champion Keith Lee will be defending his title at TakeOver this weekend against Karrion Kross, a man who has been wreaking havoc on the NXT roster ever since his arrival. Now, as excited as fans are to witness the clash between Keith Lee and Karrion Kross, there has been a sense of confusion as to who would come out on top.
Keith Lee has just recently won the NXT title and fans would want to see him have a long run with it. Karrion Kross, on the other hand, has huge momentum behind him which might get halted if he loses to the Limitless One. They both can't afford to lose the match clean and a "no contest" finish might not be a good way to end a TakeOver.
But what if Dominik Dijakovic returns and costs Keith Lee the match and the title, be it willingly or by mistake. Dominik has been absent from NXT TV for a few weeks after being destroyed in a match by Kross. While there has been massive speculation about him being in the new anonymous faction of WWE, RETRIBUTION, he might just surprise everyone by appearing at TakeOver this weekend. Speaking of RETRIBUTION...
#4 RETRIBUTION invades NXT TakeOver: XXX
In the last few weeks, a new anonymous faction has emerged and has taken over the main roster of WWE by storm. The masked men and women have invaded and interfered in the proceedings of Monday Night RAW and Friday Night SmackDown. So what stops them from doing the same to NXT?
The general consensus is that RETRIBUTION would consist of NXT talents or the recently released Superstars or a mixture of the two sets. So far, we have only seen RETRIBUTION take over (no pun intended) RAW and SmackDown, but what if they end up invading NXT TakeOver: XXX? NXT has been established as a proper third brand of WWE, and such storylines could help the brand get more limelight.
The storyline with RETRIBUTION has the potential to cross-over all three brands of WWE. Fans are speculating what could RETRIBUTION do at WWE SummerSlam this Sunday, but the group can take everyone by surprise by appearing at TakeOver: XXX and attacking the NXT roster. There are so many possibilities that could unfold with this attack.
#3 Scarlett attacks Io Shirai after her match at NXT TakeOver: XXX
While we earlier spoke about Karrion Kross, who will be challenging for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver: XXX, how can one forget his beautiful real-life partner and on-screen valet, Scarlett? NXT has only used her as an on-screen personality but fans who have followed her career know that she is a wrestler. NXT would surely have plans to add her to their women's division.
The NXT Women's Championship will be on the line at TakeOver: XXX as Io Shirai will defend her title against Dakota Kai. In all likeliness, the Joshi Judas will retain her title. So, who does she feud against next? Scarlett could be the one and the build could start with her attacking or even confronting Io Shirai after her title defense at TakeOver.
With Karrion Kross as the NXT Champion and Scarlett as the NXT Women's Champion, the couple could dominate the Black and Gold brand of WWE, leading to some interesting rivalries.
#2 The Undisputed Era teases breaking-up at NXT TakeOver: XXX
The Undisputed Era has been at the top of NXT's roster for the last couple of years, or even more. The faction has dominated and won every possible title on NXT. The leader of the Undisputed Era, Adam Cole (Bay Bay) will be competing against NFL star Pat McAfee at NXT TakeOver: XXX.
To no surprise, Adam Cole is the favorite to walk out as the winner. But what could be surprising is what happens after his match at TakeOver. Cole and the Undisputed Era have been in NXT for a long time and there have been several speculations of them finally moving to either RAW or SmackDown.
But there have been reports that indicate that not all members of the faction want to leave NXT. So, could Undisputed Era explode or tease a break-up at NXT TakeOver: XXX? This could lead to Adam Cole joining the main roster as a singles Superstar, while the others can stay on NXT.
#1 NXT's Rhea Ripley and Shotzi Blackheart lay down a challenge to the WWE Women Tag Team Champions
While everyone is excited for NXT TakeOver: XXX and SummerSlam this weekend, WWE has yet another PPV lined-up for next week, WWE Payback. It has also been announced that the WWE Women Tag Team Champions, Sasha Banks and Bayley will defend their titles at Payback against an undisclosed team.
Now, WWE can go ahead and give someone like The IIconics another title shot, but they have a great opportunity to introduce a fresh team to the mix. Recently on NXT, Shotzi Blackheart and former NXT Women's Champion Rhea Ripley have formed an alliance and fans are loving their team. With them already defeating the Robert Stone Brand last week, what could be next for them?
A great surprise would be if Ripley and Shotzi end up challenging the Golden Role Models for their titles, leading to a match between them at WWE Payback. The women's division of NXT is considered to be the best in all of pro-wrestling and WWE should make use of it to the fullest.
