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Before the main roster Superstars of RAW and SmackDown Live take the stage in Scotiabank Arena, NXT TakeOver: Toronto offers us some very intriguing match-ups.
Although Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole have battled for what seems like most of 2019, it has one thing going for it unlike battles between Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins - variety of match types.
They have faced off in a one-on-one match as well as a previous two-out-of-three Falls match.
The match in Toronto is once again with the same stipulation, but each fall has a different match type as picked by the competitors. If it goes to a third fall, NXT GM William Regal will make the decision which match type the final fall will be.
Since they've taken each other to the limit many times before, you can most certainly expect Regal's stipulation to come into play. And if that wasn't enough for the Undisputed Era, its other three members are also vying for gold on the card.
With the Street Profits having already made appearances on RAW, is this their swansong? Can Velveteen Dream stave off the oncoming onslaughts from both Roderick Strong and Pete Dunne?
And if that wasn't enough, the card also features two women's matches. Io Shirai has turned to the dark side and has an angry Candice LeRae waiting for her.
Also set to go down is Shayna Baszler's defense against Mia Yim. Here are predictions for what should certainly be a night full of great action.
#5 Io Shirai vs. Candice LeRae
Sometimes a heel turn is the best thing for certain Superstars. While she was still among the best women's grapplers in the world, Io Shirai took her losses to Baszler very hard.
She took them so hard that she turned on her friend, LeRae, who was just trying to help her out when the numbers game gave Baszler an unfair advantage.
Shirai claimed she didn't need anyone, including friends. It has made her more dangerous and unpredictable, and quite frankly, even more exciting. LeRae is the prototypical face who always tries to do the right thing but sometimes has to play her opponent's game.
This time, I don't think it will matter how LeRae approaches Shirai in this match. While it's good to see the women get two matches instead of their usual one match per TakeOver, this is Shirai's match to lose.
Prediction: Io Shirai beats LeRae and might challenge another particular face with her ruthless new nature.
#4 NXT Women's Championship Match - Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Mia Yim
Baszler has held the NXT Women's Championship for what seems like the better part of two years. While Kairi Sane did have a run mixed in between, the women of NXT have had to go through Baszler if they've wanted to reach the pinnacle of the NXT mountain.
I thought that Shirai was being primed as the one to take the title off of Baszler, but they had other plans for her.
Due to the vignettes and video packages surrounding Yim's life and upbringing, it appears that she is now the one with the best chance.
The Queen of Spades has done all she could do in NXT. Yim is someone who the audience is behind and this might be the night that someone pulls an ace on Baszler.
If Yim isn't the one to take the title from Baszler, then I don't know who is. Plus it also opens up several newer matchups going forward if Yim is the face Champ.
Prediction: Mia Yim ends Baszler's reign of terror and becomes the new Champion.
#3 NXT North American Championship - Velveteen Dream (c) vs. Pete Dunne vs. Roderick Strong
This could easily be the best match of the weekend. While all members of the Undisputed Era have proven to be fantastic in their matches on both TV and at TakeOvers, the importance is immediately increased when someone like Pete Dunne is added to the match.
Initially, Dream was going to have to try and avenge his previous loss to Roderick Strong, but before the match could be made official, Dunne returned to Full Sail University to stake a claim towards another title.
Velveteen Dream has a history of performing spectacularly only to come up short in matches. The NXT North American Championship has changed hands three times this year, so his reign might be on borrowed time.
The outcome of this match comes down to two things. The first is how long Dunne is going to stick around. If he's just around for a month or so, he isn't winning. If he's around for the rest of the year, then he has a great shot at winning.
But I keep going back to Adam Cole's promise that everyone in his group would be holding gold in 2019. The year's half over and this might be the best time for Strong to win the title and prove Cole right.
Prediction: Roderick Strong picks up his first singles title in NXT.
#2 NXT Tag Team Titles Match - The Street Profits (c) vs. The Undisputed Era (Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly)
Things have seem off whenever the members of The Undisputed Era haven't held the Tag Team titles in NXT.
The Viking Raiders had a short reign and were immediately called up to RAW. The Street Profits finally won the titles at the last TakeOver event but were then also called up to RAW as the current NXT Champions.
One thing that has been certain regarding any match for the titles is that it will be amazing. Going back to the matches with the Authors of Pain, DIY, Mustache Mountain and the Fatal Four-way over WrestleMania weekend, the tag team title matches in NXT always deliver.
With the future of the Street Profits already determined after appearing on RAW, this one seems like the biggest slam dunk on the card.
Title chases are better when faces are chasing the heels, so I think the Undisputed Era wins the gold and holds it for the rest of 2019 until team emerges to challenge them.
Prediction: Fish and O'Reilly get the belts and O'Reilly can play air guitar with a prop again.
#1 Two-out-of-Three Falls Match for NXT Championship - Adam Cole (c) vs. Johnny Gargano
Normally, if you told me that we'd be essentially getting the same match with the same two competitors from a prior PPV, I'd roll my eyes. But when you told me that those two men are Cole and Gargano, I'm immediately interested.
While constant rematches can get stale and boring, like Seth Rollins' bouts with Baron Corbin and any bout with Brock Lesnar, these two Superstars are among the best in the world. They care about their craft and always deliver whether or not they are holding titles.
Not only is this another three-fall bout between the two foes but it also has a stipulation attached to each bout. One fall will be a straight up wrestling match while another is a street fight as picked by Gargano.
The wildcard in this match could be the stipulation that Regal picks for the almost guaranteed third fall. With no disqualifications a part of many stips, it will obviously favor Cole and The Undisputed Era.
Although Gargano and Cole will deliver another barnburner, I think this is the night where the Panama City Playboy and The Undisputed Era make good on their claim to all be holding gold this year.
There are only a few more TakeOvers left in 2019, so it needs to happen sooner so that he doesn't look foolish for making such a bold claim.
Prediction: Cole gets help from his UE buddies and wins after he and Gargano deliver another amazing display of pro wrestling.
