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This Sunday's NXT TakeOver event sees a classic concept get the modern-day treatment. NXT TakeOver: In Your House features six matches, three of which are for NXT championships.
The most anticipated non-title bout on the show, though, takes place between former NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa and Karrion Kross. The battle will signify Kross' first major match since signing with WWE. He has squashed a few wrestlers in order to build his mystique. NXT TakeOver: In Your House, however, will mark the first moment where we will get a true sense of just how big of a star Kross might be in NXT.
Ciampa has a plethora of memorable performances at TakeOvers under his belt. The question is will this continue against Kross or will the big newcomer stake his claim as one of the most dangerous men in all of WWE? No matter how you slice it, both men need wins - but Kross possibly needs one just that little bit more in order to propel him forward as a serious player. Here are five possible finishes for the match between Tommaso Ciampa and Karrion Kross at NXT TakeOver: In Your House.
#5 Kross wins after interference from Scarlett
I don't think Karrion Kross needs the assistance, but Scarlett is a big part of his overall presentation. She's also acted on his behalf previously, when she watched Ciampa's match on NXT with Leon Ruff. Scarlett seemed as if she was simply scouting Ciampa. However, there was also a big element of her playing mind games with "The Blackheart". She even held open the ropes for the former NXT Champion to confront Kross in the ring recently.
Any time a performer has a manager, partner, or valet, the likelihood of outside interference always has to be considered. We haven't yet seen how Kross and Scarlett operate in a high-profile match though.
We could see Scarlett interject herself into the match in some fashion, which could well lead to Kross picking up his biggest win to date in NXT. The exact way she would get involved is up for debate, but how many big matches has someone like Zelina Vega, for example, interfered in on behalf of her clients? Scarlett will likely do the same at some point and it could start Sunday against Ciampa.
#4 Someone is disqualified
The first proper appearance we saw from Karrion Kross and Scarlett in NXT involved a blindside attack on Ciampa. Ciampa was cutting a promo in an undisclosed location, during which Kross attacked him. After the Ciampa was thrown to the floor, we saw the newcomer Kross lean over his body, with Scarlett's boot in the camera shot.
This sort of angle is usually reserved for a heated rivalry. In this case it was mainly done to introduce the dangerous Kross to NXT. Ciampa has never been a man to take things lightly, though, and has shown in the past that he will go to great lengths to get revenge.
Karrion Kross has also shown that he'll do anything to get someone's attention and get his message across. Depending on the plan for each man following the event, one man could easily get disqualified. If Scarlett interferes and is caught, it could be Kross suffering a disqualification loss. However, if Ciampa decides to go outside of the rules to gain retribution, then he could lose the match via the same method.
It may seem like a cheap finish on the surface, but if WWE wants to extend this feud as seems likely, then a disqualification could decide the outcome of this first battle between Ciampa and Kross.
#3 Kross wins a competitive match
This is probably the outcome most fans are expecting because Kross really shouldn't lose in his first major NXT match. By having the men go back and forth, it protects some of Ciampa's aura since he is one of the biggest stars in NXT. He's a former NXT Champion and has been a part of some of the best storylines in brand history.
"The Blackheart" also represents a huge step up in competition for Karrion Kross and will obviously put up more of a fight than any of his previous NXT opponents. A 10-minute match where Ciampa gets offense in and even controls the action for a spell is the best way to ensure that both men have a chance to shine. Ciampa doesn't get squashed, but Kross gets a much-needed win.
For those familiar with Kross' work in other promotions, you know that he is more than capable of working a longer match - and is not reliant on quick squash matches as the only source of his dominance. There are six matches at this Sunday's TakeOver, so this may be one of the shorter matches. Ciampa could put up a fight - but go down in a blaze of glory in the end.
#2 Ciampa escapes with a win
Both men have a chance of taking the victory at TakeOver. However, the only way I can see Tommaso Ciampa winning that would make sense would be him catching Karrion Kross out of the blue. Something like a roll up would likely be the way to go if WWE chooses to give Ciampa the win.
It happened between Charlotte Flair and Bayley a few weeks ago on SmackDown. It proves that although one Superstar won the match, they did not do it definitively. It protects the person who is pinned while also allowing the victor to prosper.
As mentioned on previous slides, Ciampa is still one of the top stars in NXT. He's coming off of a loss to longtime rival Johnny Gargano and arguably needs a big win to regain a some momentum. However, since Ciampa is effectively already an NXT legend, he doesn't need this win as much as Kross does.
If these two are to continue their feud following TakeOver, then a shock Ciampa victory would provide a reason for it to keep going. Karrion Kross would no doubt be out for revenge as heels often are when they lose to a bitter rival. Ciampa would get back into the win column and possibly a step closer to another shot at his former championship.
#1 Kross wins in dominant fashion
This one would probably be unpopular with a lot of Ciampa fans but I think it is the route that needs to be taken by WWE at TakeOver. Ciampa is essentially a made man in NXT and has been one of the top performers throughout his run. He's held the NXT Tag Team titles and we've seen him rule over the black and gold brand as its champion.
In order to make the biggest splash possible and help introduce a huge new threat to the brand, Kross should essentially squash Ciampa. It could be in under three or four minutes, but Ciampa should get in little offense and be destroyed by the a vicious Kross.
By essentially squashing "The Blackheart", who is a good 50 pounds and five inches shorter than Kross, it gives NXT one of its first real monster heels in a long time. The last such monster heels I can remember were Lars Sullivan and the Authors Of Pain. Unlike these others, however, Kross can cut great promos and is flanked by someone who is just as dangerous as he is.
With a quick and decisive win over Ciampa, or a match similar to when Brock Lesnar smashed Ricochet at Super Showdown earlier this year, it establishes that Kross is the real deal and someone that the rest of the performers need to take notice of. The same was supposed to be happening with Lance Archer and Wardlow in AEW but they both lost to Cody. Those losses took some of the luster off of the monsters.
A great aura can quickly be lost - and that cannot and should not happen with Karrion Kross. A quick win is the way to go in my opinion.
