It is technically the third NXT Takeover of the year. However, it is the first one of a brand new era, the first one since Wrestlemania weekend. NXT, as a brand, shook off the cobwebs that had begun to cover it from the top of the card to the middle and lower rungs, last year, and has emerged with renewed vigour.
With fresh faces (and some familiar ones), a new attitude and several new matchups, this should be an exciting affair. While at first glance, NXT Takeover: Chicago is not the strongest card that NXT has stitched together, NXT has a track record of spinning gold from hay.
That being said, let’s analyse the card at Chicago, and make our predictions for the matches at hand.
#5 Hideo Itami’s big make-or-break moment
In the NXT media call before this event, Triple H made no bones about this match being Hideo Itami’s big opportunity to prove himself and about how, if this match did not go according to plan, Hunter had no idea about Hideo Itami’s future. A man plagued by injuries, Itami has not had the best time in the United States.
He has been awarded a chance to shine ahead of a lot of pretty amazing contenders for Bobby Roode’s crown, such as Drew McIntyre, Aleister Black, and even Kassius Ohno. We don’t see Roode dropping the title so soon, because of the same reason.
At the same time, Hideo Itami must give Roode the match of his career, because while the latter is a good worker, his matches haven't really been in the same league as some of the former NXT title matches. In any case, Itami needs a good match more than Roode does.
Oh, did we mention that this match is in CM Punk’s hometown of Chicago and that Itami ends his matches with a ‘GTS’?
Prediction: Bobby Roode wins
#4 New champion without Asuka being pinned?
This match is a lot more difficult to predict than the previous one was. Asuka has been a dominant champion, not losing a match since her NXT debut! Her record even puts Goldberg’s classic streak to shame.
NXT has done a great job by portraying her as someone who has grown complacent over time, and this match may be a way to get the title off her without making her look weak in the process. We predict that Nikki Cross will pin Ruby Riot and become the new NXT Women’s Champion.
Asuka eliminated both these women, and Ember Moon too, who is unfortunately not a part of this match because of a legitimate injury. Will Asuka’s overconfidence be her undoing, in this big match?
Prediction: Nikki Cross wins
#3 Roderick Strong finally finds himself
Roderick Strong is undoubtedly one of the best wrestlers in the world. However, his run in NXT has been far from awesome, with almost no character development or opportunities for fans to get behind the man.
With the kind of push that he's been getting of late (with video vignettes), we predict that he will plow through the leader of SAnitY and finally have the spotlight on him once again. An alternative scenario is a disqualification, with the members of SAnitY dismantling Roderick Strong.
Will this finally push him over the edge, and go heel?
Prediction: Roderick Strong wins (either clean or via DQ)
#2 One big return, one massive title switch?
Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne main-evented the UK Championship tournament, where the young upstart Tyler Bate beat the wily veteran in an explosive contest. This time the two men collide again and the action will be called by the greatest play-by-play announcer in history – Jim Ross.
This one is tough to predict, but we say after Bate’s lengthy run with the title, Dunne needs to pick up a win, to have a ready storyline heading into the upcoming weekly television show on the WWE Network.
We’ll predict Pete Dunne picks up the victory, but won't be surprised if Bate does either. In either case, this will be a great match. Maybe the best one of the entire NXT special.
Prediction: Pete Dunne wins
Honorable mention: Adam Cole debut baybay!
We can only speculate. However, Adam Cole has finished all his indie commitments, and this seems like the next logical step. Imagine how explosive the reaction will be if Adam Cole were to finally arrive at NXT in front of a packed house!
The reaction would be deafening, baybay.
#1 Will #DIY be able to make it to Chicago?
The only reason we didn’t mention this ladder match as a show-stealer is because we are uncertain what Tommaso Ciampa’s condition is, at this moment. After suffering a legitimate injury, we are worried that he won’t make it to the match.
Who will replace #DIY if that happens? Heavy Machinery? Whoever it is, we predict that the Authors of Pain will pick up a victory.
Prediction: Authors of Pain win
That concludes our preview. See you in a few hours, for our ‘Best and Worst' analysis.
