NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day - last-minute predictions

NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day is just around the corner. At the upcoming pay-per-view, three titles are on the line - the NXT Championship, the NXT Women's Championship, and the North American Championship.

As well as this, the finals of the men's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament will be taking place, with MSK going head-to-head against last year's runners-up Grizzled Young Veterans. The final of the first-ever Women's Dusty Classic will also be going down at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day, as Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart take on Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez.

The pay-per-view will be airing tonight on the WWE Network, live from the Capitol Wrestling Center. Here are the last-minute predictions for NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day.

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#5 Vengeance Day prediction: A new NXT North American Champion?

The first-ever three-time NXT North American Champion, Johnny Gargano will be defending his title against Kushida tonight at the pay-per-view event. Over the past few weeks, Gargano has been coming up with excuses to avoid his match against Kushida. Most recently, the multiple-time champion feigned a broken arm before NXT General Manager William Regal debunked his lie.

On the go-home show of NXT before Vengeance Day, Johnny Gargano's ally Austin Theory took on Kushida in his place, which ended in a disqualification after Gargano interfered. After the match, however, Kushida stood tall with the NXT North American Championship, and Dexter Lumis even became involved in the chaos.

Kushida has been getting the better of Johnny Gargano over the past few weeks on NXT. It does feel like it's time for Kushida to win a championship on the Black and Gold Brand, and give Gargano his comeuppance. Kushida seems to be the star with the most to lose going into the event - Johnny Gargano has held multiple titles in NXT, whereas Kushida hasn't managed to win any on the Black and Gold Brand so far.

#4 Vengeance Day prediction: NXT newbies MSK win the men's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic

NXT fans have been hooked on this year's Dusty Classic. This year's tournament has been double the size of last year's, with 16 teams competing, compared to 2020's eight.

Over the past few weeks on both NXT and 205 Live, fans have seen huge wins and shocking alliances form during the popular tournament. In the semi-finals on the go-home episode of NXT, newcomers MSK defeated former NXT Tag Team Champions Legado del Fantasma to progress to this weekend's final against Grizzled Young Veterans, who beat Tomasso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher to earn their spot.

As the final approaches at Vengeance Day, the most likely winners seem to be MSK. Despite being new to NXT, the pair have put on a stellar performance in the tournament, and have shot straight up to the top of the card on the show. Another factor pointing to a tournament win for the popular duo is the announcement that the winners will earn a shot at the NXT Tag Team Championships. With the current champions being the heel team of Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch, a babyface win at Vengeance Day seems more likely.

#3 Vengeance Day prediction: Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart will win the first-ever Women's Dusty Classic

2021 marked the year that the women of NXT finally got to compete in a Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic of their very own. Eight teams competed in this year's tournament, with three new NXT Superstars making their debut.

After Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart defeated The Way on the go-home episode of NXT, the duo punched their tickets to the finals to face Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez, who beat Kayden Carter and Kacy Catanzaro the week before.

The final at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day will be a classic babyface vs heel face-off for the cup. As the winners will go on to take a shot at the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships, a babyface win at Vengeance Day seems like the clearest result, as the current title holders are Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler.

As well as this, Raquel Gonzlez appears to be set for push in NXT sooner rather than later, following her pin of Io Shirai at NXT TakeOver: WarGames, and her recent huge defeat of Rhea Ripley. The loss for Raquel Gonzlez and Dakota Kai may well be the end of the partnership between the two, as they go on to singles competition.

#2 Vengeance Day prediction: Io Shirai will remain the NXT Women's Champion

Like a handful of other women in NXT, Io Shirai has been enjoying quite a lengthy reign with the NXT Women's Championship. Shirai defeated Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley at NXT TakeOver: In Your House, back in May 2020.

Over the past few weeks on NXT, Io Shirai has been fending off both Mercedes Martinez and Toni Storm, who both want the Women's Championship for themselves. The rivalry between Io Shirai and Toni Storm has been a focal point throughout this feud, and Toni Storm beating Shirai in the Mae Young Classic has been alluded to multiple times in promo packages leading up to the match at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day.

It feels as though Io Shirai's time as NXT Women's Champion isn't quite ready to end, but Toni Storm is lined up to be potentially the next woman to hold the title. The match between the three women seems to be leading to an intense one-on-one rivalry between two stars from the match - most likely to be the winner and the star who doesn't get pinned at Vengeance Day.

#1 Vengeance Day prediction: Finn Balor will remain the NXT Champion

The rivalry between Finn Balor and Pete Dunne has been one of the biggest on NXT in recent weeks, heading into their Vengeance Day clash. The tension between the pair rose when Balor unexpectedly aligned with the Undisputed Era, as the group feuded with the Kings of NXT.

Pete Dunne is possibly one of the biggest talents that NXT has to offer on their roster right now, but it feels as though Finn Balor's reign with the championship isn't quite over yet. Although their rivalry has been a great one to watch so far, the signs point to Finn Balor carrying the NXT Championship right through to WrestleMania, where it has been reported that the Black and Gold Brand will have involvement.

Former NXT Tag Team Champion Pete Dunne would be a great successor to Finn Balor a little further down the line, but not at Vengeance Day. Currently, former NXT Champion Karrion Kross seems like he could be the next contender as he was forced to relinquish the title due to injury. There could even be a three-way rivalry between Finn Balor, Pete Dunne and Karrion Kross come WrestleMania season.