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Summerslam weekend is approaching and there are some juicy matches set to take place. In this list, we will take a look at our favourite yellow brand first and analyse their possible bookings. Needless to say, this is shaping up to be yet another stellar TakeOver.
Even with a very unfortunate withdrawal from the main event, this is guaranteed to be a barn-burner. So without any further delay, here's how things might go down at NXT: Takeover, Brooklyn.
#5 Velveteen Dream vs. EC3
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Two of the most eccentric talents in NXT are going head-to-head for the first time. While EC3 isn't quite the athlete like Ricochet or Aleister Black, he's definitely good in the ring and has a great understanding of his character. If anything, I think this could be as good a match-up for The Dream as it gets, both in the physical sense and in the game of minds, as Woken Matthew would put it.
Much like every match he's in, The Dream will try to get in EC3's head with his antics. However, The Third Version of Carter will try to do the same, and the result will be a very entertaining character match with some quality wrestling sprinkled in. Once again, The Dream will be involved in a match of the night candidate, but unlike the last couple of outings, I think things are going to go his way. I'm calling it now, EC3 is going to bask in the experience to end this match.
WINNER: Velveteen Dream
#4 The Undisputed Era vs. Moustache Mountain
To be honest, watching Moustache Mountain win the NXT Tag Team Titles was a wicked surprise.
I actually managed to avoid WWE's spoilers for the UK Tournament. It was indeed surprising to see Trent & Tyler got the three count. They didn't hold on to it long, of course, but the fact that they won was a very memorable moment. And who could deny the image of all three members of British Strong Style with gold draped over their shoulders?
Now we've got a third of a trilogy coming at Takeover, and it's going to be some quality wrestling. Stiff shoot kicks, masterful chain wrestling, a giant swing here and there from Tyler Bate and a cornucopia of backbreakers from the Messiah himself.
Ultimately, I will have to go with the Undisputed Era on this one, mainly because Moustache Mountain are soon to be a staple of NXT UK's tag division. That, and when War Raiders get their shot at the straps, they will need some heels to gobble up.
WINNERS: The Undisputed Era
#3 Adam Cole vs. Ricochet
A couple of years ago, this would have been a quality main event at a PWG show. Fast forward and we'll be witnessing Adam Cole (Bay Bay!) and Ricochet tear the house down this Saturday. Word is that Ricochet has been dealing with an injury after missing a dive at a live show, which explains why he hasn't been all that active on NXT television. Hopefully, he'll be fresh as a daisy come the weekend because I have very high hopes for this match.
Despite sharing a surname of my least favourite person on Raw, Adam Cole has been an absolute joy in his time in NXT. He's put on some very solid matches and I'm looking forward to seeing him retain his title, but Ricochet isn't going down without a fight. The One and Only is coming to Brooklyn to bring the pain, but I don't see Adam dropping his title quite yet. This match will end the same way most matches of his end: his opponent staring up at the lights, with Adam Cole standing over him, belt around his waist and fingers in the air.
WINNER: Adam Cole
#2 Shayna Baszler vs. Kairi Sane
Now, this might sound controversial to some of you: I'm not really a fan of Kairi Sane. Don't get me wrong, she's perfectly fine as a performer. It's just her kayfabe character. The whole 'Pirate Princess' is not really that appealing.
However, I do think she's going to have a good match against Shayna Baszler. Their match at the MYC Finals last year was pretty good, and I'm expecting this match to be better than that one. The end result, I think, will be the opposite of that match.
Shayna Baszler has shown much growth as a performer and I can definitely stomach her pinning someone who has been considering one of the best female wrestlers in the world. Kairi Sane will have her chance as Women's Champion, but I don't think it'll be this weekend.
WINNER: Shayna Baszler
#1 Tommaso Ciampa vs. Johnny Gargano
I, much like all of you, was very disappointed when I read that Aleister Black had suffered a groin injury and was going to be scrapped from the main event. Adding a new wrinkle into the Gargano/Ciampa story would have been a welcomed and exciting change, and the thought of a Black/Ciampa/Gargano match got me very excited. Unfortunately, that was not to be. What we are getting instead, however, is going to be extremely interesting.
This match is now one on one and will be Last Man Standing, meaning we're going to be getting some more violence and destruction similar to what we had at Takeover: Chicago. The violence should definitely be taken up a notch, though I dunno how much worse it can get than a DDT on the wooden planks that make up the ring.
A part of me thinks that Aleister is going to get involved in Johnny's match and cost him the title, just like how Johnny cost Aleister his title in the first place. Then we can possibly get a match with Aleister and Johnny at the next Takeover while Ciampa defends it against someone else. Either way, though, Ciampa is definitely retaining. He's a white hot heel and he needs to have a long and bountiful reign. It's what he deserves... even if he is the Devil.
WINNER: Tommaso Ciampa
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