WWE NXT TakeOver XXX: 5 Potential Finishes for Adam Cole vs. Pat McAfee

Who would have thought a former NFL punter would be in a big NXT TakeOver match?

It was pretty shocking when the NXT brand decided to begin a worked shoot on the Pat McAfee radio show. When Adam Cole yelled, cussed and stormed off the McAfee set, it certainly got some attention outside the normal pro wrestling circles. But the fact that it was NXT, the true "wrestling" brand of the WWE, would resort to a celebrity match was still shocking.

Pat McAfee has surprisingly taken the heel role in this feud. He has been cocky and obnoxious throughout the lead up to NXT TakeOver: XXX. He has used strong promos and an actual punt to build himself up as a legit threat to Adam Cole. Both men deserve credit for taking such a unique spin on this very unconventional feud.

So what can happen on Saturday? These are two men who have worked hard to build up this match through promos and brawls. Who would have expected the Undisputed Era become faces in 2020? How can a match with a first-time wrestler truly be successful on such a big stage? As we look forward to one of the main events of NXT TakeOver XXX, here are the top five potential finishes for Adam Cole versus Pat McAfee:

#5 Pat McAfee wins clean at NXT TakeOver

He can't beat Adam Cole fairly right?

We might as well start with the least likely of possible options for McAfee and Cole's TakeOver matchup.

The expectations for this match are pretty low. Pat McAfee is a former NFL punter but he is not a trained wrestler. He shouldn’t be able to defeat Adam Cole, the longest-reigning NXT Champion in history. However, it is pretty common for outside celebrities to be made to look good on WWE pay-per-views.

If Pat McAfee picked up a shocking victory at NXT TakeOver: XXX with a roll-up or a well-timed punt, then that could get some mainstream attention. If also could open up all sorts of storyline opportunities for Adam Cole. How would he react to losing to a first-time wrestler? The possibilities are interesting, to say the least.

#4 Adam Cole wins clean at NXT TakeOver

Adam Cole is ready to end Pat McAfee's wrestling career on Saturday night.

Adam Cole is one of the best wrestlers in the world today. His three TakeOver matches against Johnny Gargano are all-time classics in WWE history. Adam Cole even had a 400-day reign as NXT Championship before he lost it to Keith Lee at Great American Bash. He could and should beat a first-time wrestler clean in the ring on Saturday night at NXT TakeOver XXX.

This outcome doesn’t mean the match can’t be entertaining. Adam Cole could certainly take his opponent too lightly and have some close calls during the match. Pat McAfee, who is clearly acting the heel in this feud, could find some ways to cheat. But Adam Cole overcoming a cocky outsider seems to make the most sense for a finish.

It brings attention to the product but it doesn’t then come at the expense of one of the biggest stars on the NXT brand. Why would a talk show host damage the future of the company in that way? It seems Adam Cole needs the big win at NXT TakeOver: XXX as he moves into a babyface role in the company.

#3 No Contest at NXT TakeOver

A chaotic ending seems very likely on Saturday night.

If there is one thing that can be said about this feud, it is the very explosive and chaotic nature of it so far. It really started with Adam Cole screaming and walking out on Pat McAfee on his own sports radio show. It has continued with some truly out-of-control brawls on the NXT’s weekly show. It would certainly then make some sense for their match at NXT TakeOver: XXX to be quite a chaotic brawl as well.

The no-contest finish could easily happen on Saturday night. Both competitors have certainly not being following the rules recently on any NXT programming. With the Undisputed Era and Pat McAfee have providing some outside help for both men in recent weeks, it would seem likely they will interfere on Saturday night as well. This would allow prevent both competitors from having to take the actual pin fall finish at NXT TakeOver.

It might anger some NXT fans but if the storyline has been so good recently, why not just continue it going forward? The next TakeOver might only be a few months away anyway. We can keep this hot feud going for some time.

#2 Undisputed Era helps Adam Cole win at NXT TakeOver

The newest good guys of NXT are the Undisputed Era?

It has been strange to see the Undisputed Era playing the good guys in this feud. With Pat McAfee insulting the height of Adam Cole and also Cole’s way of winning matches, it has quickly turned him and his Undisputed Era into good guys for the first time in NXT. After years of the Undisputed Era as the cool heels controlling everything on NXT programming, it has been a refreshing change of pace. That is why it makes sense for them to be involved in the finish at NXT TakeOver: XXX.

Pat McAfee will certainly stop at nothing to beat Adam Cole. The other Undisputed Era members would have a lot of face to lose if their fearless leader lost. It would certainly make sense for them to help Adam Cole yet again. Would this turn the group back into heels yet again? That seems doubtful since Pat McAfee certainly seems to have it coming. And cheating wouldn't necessarily mean Undisputed Era would again turn heel.

Undisputed Era helping Cole out at NXT TakeOver: XX would be a great end to this feud and would help set up the Undisputed Era as a babyface group for the very first time going forward.

#1 Pat McAfee cheats to win at NXT TakeOver

They were such good friends once.

If Pat McAfee, the ex-NFL punter, is going to beat one of the best wrestlers in the world, he surely has to cheat a lot, right? He hasn’t been above giving out cheap shots or a verbal insult hurled at Adam Cole’s direction in recent weeks. Why would Pat not simply go for a cheap low blow one more time to claim a dirty victory at NXT TakeOver?

The cheap victory by Pat McAfee would provide a lot of interesting storylines to follow up with after the match on Saturday night. Pat McAfee could simply leave and brag about his victory for weeks to come. Adam Cole could become a bigger, more sympathetic babyface and seek revenge in the months to come. Cole could even begin to doubt himself and that could lead to some interesting moments on Wednesday nights as well.

In the end, what is the goal of a celebrity match at a pro wrestling show? It would seem to be to bring attention to your product. A Pat McAfee victory at NXT TakeOver: XXX that is shown on mainstream media would certainly be the way to do it. But he never said it had to be a fair fight to get that result.