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It's that time of year again.
Football fans have the world cup, the MLB has the World Series, and wrestling fans have Wrestlemania. While not the first wrestling PPV, WWE's annual show has become the standard by which all others are judged in terms of fanfare, pomp, and significance. What happens at Wrestlemania can literally change the business for better or worse.
But what about the OTHER show the first weekend of April? NXT Takeover has demonstrated a tendency to outshine the WWE's 'main' brand pay per views, and by all indications NXT Takeover: New Orleans is going to be the biggest Takeover event yet.
Here are predictions and analysis of what could be NXT's biggest show ever.
Tommaso Ciampa vs Johnny Gargano
When DIY first formed, it was clear to longtime fans of Ciampa and Gargano that the team would only be temporary.
Both men were known primarily as singles competitors before joining NXT, and the fact is Ciampa has spent most of his career as a heel, while Johnny Gargano couldn't get the fans to boo him if he sprayed the crowd with sewage.
Their split up and subsequent feud had to be put on hiatus while Ciampa recovered from an injury, but ever since the Sicilian Psychopath's return, their confrontations have been red hot.
With the two scheduled to face each other in a no-holds-barred Unsanctioned match at Takeover, the fever pitch for this match has reached an all-time high. Those familiar with both men's prior careers known they can get hardcore when necessary.
Prediction: Gargano will likely defeat his former ally, but there's always a chance Ciampa will pull the upset win.
Analysis: No matter the victor, this will probably be the best match of the night. Two of the best technicians the sport has ever known will face off with all moves and weapons illegal. This match will definitely increase the stock of both men and should be the final match of their feud because there's really no way to ramp up their rivalry from here.
EC3 vs Lars Sullivan vs. Killian Dain vs Velveteen Dream vs Adam Cole vs Ricochet -- Ladder match for the new North American Title
With six of NXT's best and brightest competing in one ring, you already have the ingredients for a good time. Adding in a ladder just means the action will be that much more brutal and exciting.
Prediction: With so many top-tier competitors, it's hard to say who will walk out with the title. Ladder matches tend to favour smaller men, so Lars Sullivan and Killian Dain may not be the favourites. Adam Cole is pulling double duty at Takeover, and Ricochet and EC3 only recently joined the brand. This means Velveteen Dream is the likely winner, but it's tough to call.
Analysis: Ladder matches can be career-shortening experiences, and with Wrestlemania 34 just around the corner these athletes will likely push themselves to the absolute limit. High flying Ricochet will probably put on the best performance, but don't count out veteran wrestlers EC3 and Killian Dain. Adam Cole has a lot of experience in ladder matches, and will also put on a great show. No matter who wins, the match should increase the stock of all six men with the NXT audience and wrestling fans in general.
Authors of Pain vs Undisputed Era vs Roderick Strong and Pete Dunne--NXT Tag Team Championships
With the finals of the Dusty tag team classic tournament being disrupted by the Undisputed Era, this match has changed into a triple threat affair.
Prediction: The Undisputed Era are the new NXT 'bad guy gang' and are likely to retain their titles, even with Bobby Fish out of action and Cole replacing him. The WWE seems unsure of what to do with Dunne and Strong, moving them between 205 live and NXT, so they are unlikely to win the titles. And finally, the Authors of Pain have been rumoured for months to show up on the main roster, so giving them the titles makes little sense.
Analysis: Despite the talent involved in this match, it feels like it was thrown together at the last moment. While the AOP and the UE have had their clashes in the past, two heel teams don't make much drama. Then you factor in heel Dunne and face Strong, and you have a kind of tangled booking that confuses fans. Most likely, this will be the least impressive match of the night.
Ember Moon vs Shayna Baszler--NXT Women's championship.
It's the classic matchup of speed vs power in the match for the NXT Women's Championship.
Prediction: As impressive as Ember Moon has been as NXT Champion, the time seems right for a sea change. Baszler made it all the way to the finals of the Mae Young Classic and recently evened up the score with Kairi Sane by defeating her in the ring. It's about fifty-fifty and could go either way, but our money is on Baszler beginning a dominant run with the title.
Analysis: Both women are top-tier athletes, and their differing styles present a nice contrast with many other women's matches. This contest will likely be one of the most exciting matches not just of NXT, but the whole weekend. Expect the loser of the match to be called up to the main roster after Wrestlemania, based on previous Takeover events.
Andrade "Cien" Almas vs Aleister Black--NXT Championship
An intriguing contest featuring brutal striking vs. technical skill and precision high flying, this match is indeed worthy of being the main event of Takeover.
Prediction: Black has seemed unstoppable, overcoming bigger names like Adam Cole and flashier personas like Velveteen Dream, and he's already beaten Almas once before. However, Almas makes for a compelling heel champion, and WWE is very high on him and Zelina Vega. Likely, Almas will win via some sort of cheat/distraction by Vega, and their feud will continue.
Analysis: Two of the most exciting wrestlers in the world will face off for NXT's grandest prize. Since they will have to compete against a no-DQ match AND a ladder match, expect both men to bring an absolutely stellar performance to bear in order to stand head and shoulders above the rest of the roster. If Black wins, Almas will likely be called up to the main roster. On the other hand, if Almas retains, expect both men to remain on the NXT brand to continue their feud.
There you have it: NXT Takeover New Orleans prediction and Analysis. See you in the Big Easy!
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