NXT Takeover: Phoenix Predictions
NXT Takeover: Phoenix is tonight and it’s a stacked card! There’s plenty of matches which will more than surely be up to standards. Ben Hercik will defend his predictions title tomorrow night against Josh, Jack & David. But before Ben does that, Josh is testing out his predictions skills against the champ so let’s see how the skills go.
Matt Riddle Vs. Kassius Ohno
This is the easiest match to pick. Ohno has had a story recently, but it's not much to be fair. His whole purpose in NXT is to get the younger or new signee over with the crowd, much like it was for Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas before his run with the championship. I think Riddle is great, and this is the starting point of his quest for the NXT Championship.
Prediction: Matt Riddle
Josh: This should be a fantastic match and I hope this kicks off the card. I think Riddle will win this and thus could be a good 15 minute match. I hope Ohno looks strong in this match and hopefully he’ll get called up as he’s clearly not getting anywhere in NXT.
Prediction: Matt Riddle
Prediction: Matt Riddle
Josh: This should be a fantastic match and I hope this kicks off the card. I think Riddle will win this and thus could be a good 15 minute match. I hope Ohno looks strong in this match and hopefully he’ll get called up as he’s clearly not getting anywhere in NXT.
Prediction: Matt Riddle
The Undisputed Era (C) Vs. War Raiders (NXT Tag Team Championships)
Josh: I love War Raiders, I’ve been a fan of them since their War Machine days in Ring Of Honor and always thought they were such a dynamic duo and was one of a few “big man” teams I actually enjoyed. However, I don’t see the Undisputed Era dropping the belts on this Takeover but possibly next Takeover.
Prediction: The Undisputed Era
Ben: This on the other hand it the toughest one to pick. I don't want Undisputed Era to go to the main roster yet, which could happen if they lose here. I think they need one more year in NXT at least so Adam Cole chan reach his goal of being NXT Champion. But if the War Raiders don’t win, where do they go? Your other 2 big tag teams in NXT, Street Profits and Forgotten Sons, are feuding with each other so there is no real challengers right now. But what happens to O’Reilly and Strong if they win? Who could possibly stop them then? With all that being said, I am taking War Raiders. They are the hotter team right now, and I feel like if they were to lose in a title match right here, it would be the wrong call.
Prediction: War Raiders
Prediction: The Undisputed Era
Ben: This on the other hand it the toughest one to pick. I don't want Undisputed Era to go to the main roster yet, which could happen if they lose here. I think they need one more year in NXT at least so Adam Cole chan reach his goal of being NXT Champion. But if the War Raiders don’t win, where do they go? Your other 2 big tag teams in NXT, Street Profits and Forgotten Sons, are feuding with each other so there is no real challengers right now. But what happens to O’Reilly and Strong if they win? Who could possibly stop them then? With all that being said, I am taking War Raiders. They are the hotter team right now, and I feel like if they were to lose in a title match right here, it would be the wrong call.
Prediction: War Raiders
Ricochet (C) Vs. Johnny Gargano (NXT North American Championship)
Ben: We may see the match of the weekend that isn’t named the Royal Rumble right here. We all know that the Rumbles are going to be great, but this match may be outstanding. On one hand you have Johnny Gargano, maybe the best technical wrestler in WWE today and the struggle to judge good from evil in his character. Then there is Ricochet, one of the best high flyers in the business today. He has been putting on show stealing matches since his debut on the NXT roster. Whether it's against Adam Cole, Velveteen Dream, or doing Double Moonsaults off the top of the WarGames structure, there is nothing that this man can’t do. For that reason, I am taking Ricochet, but it is a pick I make with little confidence. I am curious after the match, if Johnny does lose, what is his direction then? Do we get the match many have speculated that we are going to see at Takeover Brooklyn 5? We’ll just have to wait and see.
Prediction: Ricochet
Josh: This should be a fantastic match between these two, a real clash of styles if you will! Ricochet hasn’t really had a proper run with the strap so that leads me to believe that he will retain here but I see this easily being match of the night.
Prediction: Ricochet
Prediction: Ricochet
Josh: This should be a fantastic match between these two, a real clash of styles if you will! Ricochet hasn’t really had a proper run with the strap so that leads me to believe that he will retain here but I see this easily being match of the night.
Prediction: Ricochet
Shayna Baszler (C) Vs. Bianca Belair (NXT Women’s Championship)
Josh: Its the lady with the hair fighting.... the other lady with the hair. Belair is undefeated so at least something is on the line alongside the strap. I personally think Baszler will retain here.
Prediction: Shayna Baszler
Ben: This one is very interesting. I think that all of us expect Shayna to get the call up on the Raw or Smackdown after Wrestlemania. So she has to drop the title soon and Bianca would be an interesting change of pace from the dominant champion that the NXT Women’s division is used to seeing with Asuka, Ember Moon, and Shayna Baszler. But I don’t think the time is right for Bianca just yet. She is good, but just needs a little bit more fine tuning to be at the championship level. Also, if the plan for Shayna’s match at Takeover Brooklyn 5 is what I expect to happen, then I think someone else makes more sense to take the title from her.
Prediction: Shayna Baszler
Prediction: Shayna Baszler
Ben: This one is very interesting. I think that all of us expect Shayna to get the call up on the Raw or Smackdown after Wrestlemania. So she has to drop the title soon and Bianca would be an interesting change of pace from the dominant champion that the NXT Women’s division is used to seeing with Asuka, Ember Moon, and Shayna Baszler. But I don’t think the time is right for Bianca just yet. She is good, but just needs a little bit more fine tuning to be at the championship level. Also, if the plan for Shayna’s match at Takeover Brooklyn 5 is what I expect to happen, then I think someone else makes more sense to take the title from her.
Prediction: Shayna Baszler
Tomasso Ciampa (C) Vs. Aleister Black (NXT Championship)
Ben: Now the match with the most intrigue. The build for this has been rather interesting, with both superstars having little to no physical interaction with each other. I think that the reign of Ciampa has been great, but where else could he go with the championship? And continuing the trend of me wondering where a wrestler is going next, where does Aleister go from here? I fully expect him to be one of the post Wrestlemania call ups, but does he not wrestle on the Brooklyn 5 card? No matter what happens at this Takeover, I expect that we will all watch and be happy with what is to come next. I think Ciampa retains, but by the skin of his teeth.
Prediction: Tommaso Ciampa
Josh: I see this being an entertaining bout but I really hope something happens after this match because I don’t want Takeover to end with Ciampa retaining and that’s that, I want something at the end like Gargano coming out and him and Ciampa deliver the meeting in the middle to Black or Carlito returns or something big happens - I’m hoping but I think Ciampa retains here.
Prediction: Tomasso Ciampa
Prediction: Tommaso Ciampa
Josh: I see this being an entertaining bout but I really hope something happens after this match because I don’t want Takeover to end with Ciampa retaining and that’s that, I want something at the end like Gargano coming out and him and Ciampa deliver the meeting in the middle to Black or Carlito returns or something big happens - I’m hoping but I think Ciampa retains here.
Prediction: Tomasso Ciampa
