We’re now just hours away from the official kick-off of the Royal Rumble weekend with NXT TakeOver: San Antonio as the men and women of NXT look to take San Antonio by storm.
As usual, NXT TakeOver has a smaller but packed card that caps off at just 5 matches with Shinuske Nakamura and Bobby Roode headlining the show in what has been termed as the “biggest money match in NXT history”. The NXT Women’s Championship is also on the line as Asuka defends her title against Nikki Cross, Peyton Royce and Billie Kay.
On the undercard, #DIY defend their NXT Tag-Team Championship against the Authors of Pain. #DIY saw off The Revival recently but the Authors of Pain are literally their biggest challenge yet.
Rounding off the card are Tye Dillinger vs Eric Young and Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas vs Roderick Strong. Both matches are hard to predict as of now but this looks like one stellar card, even though its compact.
Tye Dillinger vs Eric Young
Fan favourite, Tye Dillinger, has slowly climbed up the ranks of NXT from the position of glorified jobber which he occupied over the last couple of years. That can be attributed to the hard work Dillinger put in over recent months and the surge in fan support behind the Full Sail favourite.
Dillinger faces the leader of SANITY, Eric Young, tonight as he looks to end his streak of losing in big matches. Dillinger and SANITY’s story actually started before TakeOver: Toronto when Dillinger’s tag-team partner Bobby Roode left him to the mercy of SANITY during the first round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag-Team Classic.
Young came out last week to offer Tye Dillinger, who was addressing the NXT fans about his recent shortcomings. Young offered Dillinger a spot in SANITY which Dillinger refused. It led to Dillinger taking out both Young and SANITY member Alexander Wolfe before Damo came from behind and attacked him.
Going into TakeOver, this is one of the hardest matches to predict. A huge factor in this match could be Wolfe and Damo who will most certainly be at ringside. One thing is for sure, if Dillinger loses, the chances of him appearing in the Royal Rumble increase somewhat.
Prediction: Eric Young def. Tye Dillinger
Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas vs Roderick Strong
This match probably has the shortest build to any of the matches that are on the TakeOver card. Almas and Strong’ rivalry only started during the Fatal-4-Way elimination match to decide the number one contender, which was eventually won by Bobby Roode.
This match is my pick to be match of the night. Almas and Strong are both phenomenal pro wrestlers and they, especially Strong who will make his TakeOver debut, will look to impress.
Strong’s hard-hitting style and Almas’ lucha inspired styles should mesh well together in a match that has no clear favourite. It could go either way. If I had to pick one winner, however, I’m going with Almas.
Prediction: Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas def. Roderick Strong
#DIY (C) vs The Authors of Pain (for the NXT Tag-Team Championships)
#DIY won the NXT Tag-Team Championships at the last TakeOver in Toronto when the beat The Revival to capture the gold. Since then they have beaten The Revival again and move on to face the Authors of Pain in San Antonio.
Gargano and Ciampa have a tough task ahead of them. The Authors are literally the biggest opponents that they have faced in NXT till date and their work will be cut out for them to retain their titles, especially when you consider that Paul Ellering will be at ringside.
Can Ciampa and Gargano retain? Probably not because I don’t see the Authors of Pain taking a loss as of yet.
Prediction: Authors of Pain def. #DIY
Asuka (C) vs Nikki Cross vs Billie Kay vs Peyton Royce (for the NXT Women’s Championship)
Asuka decided to take on Cross, Kay and Royce at the same time at TakeOver: San Antonio after having a night to forget last week on NXT where she was beaten up first by Royce and Kay, and then by Nikki Cross who had seemingly come out to save her.
Asuka is yet to be beaten in the WWE and will look to continue her dominant run as NXT Champion well into 2017. This will be the first time Cross, Kay and Royce will challenging for a title in the WWE.
The question going into this match is how will Billie Kay and Peyton Royce work together. Will we see them implode and go at each other in their quest to become NXT Women’s Champion or will they stick together till the bitter end?
As far as Nikki Cross goes, her introduction in NXT has been spot on as a part of SANITY but this will be her first high-profile match in the WWE and she will be looking to deliver.
Going into this match, I’m going with a victory for the ‘Empress of Tomorrow’ even though the odds seem stacked against her.
Prediction: Asuka def. Nikki Cross, Billie Kay and Peyton Royce
Shinsuke Nakamura (C) vs Bobby Roode (for the NXT Championship)
This match has been hyped as the “biggest money match in NXT history”. Just by pure stats, you could say that the tagline may have a point.
Apart from being a 2-time NXT Champion, Shinsuke Nakamura is a former 3-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion and a 5-time IWGP Intercontinental Champion. Nakamura is also a former winner of the G1 Climax Tournament (2011), New Japan Cup (2014) and the Wrestling Observer Wrestler of the year for 2014. In 2015, he was entered into the Wrestling Observer Hall Of Fame for his achievements in the industry.
In the other corner is a man of equal pedigree – the ‘Glorious’ Bobby Roode. Roode is one of greatest wrestlers in the history of TNA with 2 TNA World Championships to his name along with 6 TNA Tag-Title. He is also a former TNA King of the Mountains champion.
Roode and Nakamura have been kept away from any physicality in recent weeks and this old school booking technique should work wonders ahead of their match at TakeOver.
Nakamura and Roode will be sure to tear the house down in San Antonio but the looming question is – who will leave with the NXT title? I’m predicting that Nakamura retains. I just don’t think it’s Bobby Roode’s time yet.
Prediction: Nakamura def. Bobby Roode
