NXT TakeOver: New York - 5 Last minute predictions

NXT TakeOver: New York is just hours away from us and the excitement for the WrestleMania weekend is reaching its peak. It's time for the biggest wrestling heavy show of the season under the WWE banner.

The event this year has only 5 matches on the card and none of them are non-title rivalries. All the titles from the developmental brand are going to be defended on the show, with an extra addition of NXT UK Championship match added to the show.

The show features a fatal-four way match for the NXT Women's title among Shayna Bazler (C), Kairi Sane, Io Shirai, and Bianca Belair. It also features Adam Cole vs Johnny Gargano for the vacant NXT title, Pete Dunne vs Walter for the NXT UK title, War Raiders vs Ricochet & Aleister Black for the NXT Tag Team Championships, and Velveteen Dream vs Matt Riddle for NXT North American Championship.

Since there are only 5 matches on the card as compared to its main roster counterpart, each match is supposed to get ample time to showcase a classic. Here are some last minute predictions for all the matches featuring on the card.

#5 NXT Tag Team Championships

NXT Tag Team Champions War Raiders are going to defend their title against the team of two singles competitors, Ricochet and Aleister Black. However, their credibility as a tag team has skyrocketed after they won the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classics and earned their shot at the tag championships. Their stints on the main roster also helped them solidify themselves as a tag team.

Ricochet and Black had a shot at the RAW Tag Team Championships during the last RAW and have a shot at the SmackDown Tag Team Championships two days later at WrestleMania. That's why, with all the progress on the main roster, it is safe to say that they won't be winning the NXT Championships this Friday.

Prediction: War Raiders retain the NXT Tag Team Championships.

#4 NXT Women's Championship

NXT Women's Championship is going to be contested among four competitors in a fatal-four way match involving Shayna Baszler (C), Kairi Sane, Io Shirai, and Bianca Belair. Shayna Baszler is sure to be aided by her two MMA horsewomen Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir.

In spite of the help, Shayna Baszler is touted to lose the title and move to the main roster to fill the gap that would be left after Ronda Rousey leaves the company. Kairi Sane and Io Shirai are bound to be featured as the women's tag team from the NXT to take on the women's tag team champions in the future, which leaves the EST of NXT, Bianca Belair with the most chances of winning the title. Shayna Baszler has done it all in the developmental brand and is ready for a promotion to the main roster.

Prediction: Bianca Belair wins the NXT Women's Championship.

#3 NXT North American Championship

This is one of the most unpredictable matches over the entire WrestleMania weekend. On one side, there's Velveteen Dream, the champ with top-notch athleticism and a gimmick which makes you question why isn't he on the main roster already if he lives and performs his gimmick with such flawlessness.

On the other hand, there's the charismatic and flamboyant Matt Riddle who has taken the NXT universe by storm. It's still early days for Riddle to win any championship but the result of the match depends on whether or not Velveteen Dream is called up to the main roster or not after WrestleMania.

For the moment, there are way too many NXT call ups on the main roster so it's safe to say that no one is going to move up to the main roster in the near future.

Prediction: Velveteen Dream retains the NXT North American Championship.

#2 NXT UK Championship

The record for the longest ever title reign in the modern era belongs to Pete Dunne. He has been the NXT UK Champion for 684+ days and is now going to face his biggest hurdle till date (literally) in the form of Walter.

NXT TakeOver is the ideal platform for Dunne to drop the title and move to either NXT or the main roster permanently. Walter is a formidable athlete for his size, who is well capable of carrying the NXT UK brand on his shoulder.

Prediction: Walter wins the NXT UK Championship.

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#1 Vacant NXT Championship

It was supposed to be the culmination of WWE's longest storytelling in recent memory. From DIY tag team to bitter enemies, then again starting to tag together just to aggravate past animosity and rekindle their rivalry, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa were set to settle things once and for all. But an unfortunate injury to the champion Ciampa halted the plans.

Keeping it aside, Adam Cole won a fatal five-way match to earn a shot at the title and is set to face Johnny Gargano for the vacant NXT championship in a 2 out of 3 falls match. NXT TakeOver should be Gargano's moment of coronation so there are very fewer chances of last minute changes.

Prediction: Johnny Gargano wins the NXT Championship.