NXT TakeOver: New York predictions

In a week from today, the black and yellow brand will hold its latest TakeOver special, and it might just be the biggest and best one yet. Triple H wants it to be seen that way, at least. It's got the card to live up to the hype, promising thrilling action and many potentially historic moments.

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Either way, the event is certainly going to be better than WrestleMania 35 next Sunday, but then again, that's always a given. TakeOver has exceeded the bloated WrestleMania card every year since the two events have been held on the same weekend.

It's a stacked card, but who is going to walk out of the Barclays Center with gold on their shoulders next Friday night?

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#1 NXT Tag Team Championship: War Raiders (c) vs. Aleister Black and Ricochet

We haven't seen much of the War Raiders since they won their tag team titles at TakeOver: Phoenix, but that's partially due to the annual Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic which has taken place over the last month. The new tag team of Aleister Black and Ricochet won the tournament and punched their tickets to TakeOver: New York for a title shot.

Despite its being essentially an alliance of singles stars, Black and Ricochet have gelled surprisingly quickly as a tag team, and we can expect an explosive match to open the show next Friday night.

The War Raiders, however, were never likely to lose their titles this early. What makes their victory certain is that Black and Ricochet have both made their main roster debuts, appearing there since February. This is almost certainly going to be their last act in NXT. That's going to make this match more exciting, but also more predictable.

Winners: And still NXT Tag Team Champions, the War Raiders.

#2 WWE United Kingdom Championship: Pete Dunne (c) vs. WALTER

What a treat this card is going to get! WALTER debuted in NXT UK in January and has been promoted as a menace ever since. It was only a matter of time before he got his title shot against Pete Dunne and in a surprise, it's going to happen in New York.

This match is going to be significant for so many reasons. It probably has the best chance of being the match of the night. We all know what Pete Dunne can do in a singles match at a TakeOver. We all know how physical and brutal WALTER is.

But what really makes this a draw is that it's the first time since the UK tournament last June that Pete Dunne has a real chance of losing the title he's now had over his shoulder for nearly two years.

The prospect of such a historic title change will keep everyone on the edge of their seats. WALTER is the right man at the right time. If anyone is going to take the title from Dunne, it will be WALTER on WrestleMania weekend.

The UK brand could certainly make use of such a seismic change to add some hype to its shows.

Winner: And new WWE United Kingdom Champion, WALTER.

#3 NXT North American Championship: Velveteen Dream (c) vs. Matt Riddle

This match might not have the same hype that the others do, but NXT has done a good job in the past few weeks of building it up. Dream makes everything he's a part of feel important and his glory-hogging personality clashes well with Riddle's mellow "bro" persona.

It may be a difficult one to predict, but I don't see Dream losing his title so quickly after he won it. NXT spent a good portion of February building Dream up, first by having him win the Worlds Collide tournament, then by having him get the win for his team in the Halftime Heat match, and then by having him beat Johnny Gargano for the title in a thriller.

Furthermore, Matt Riddle is undefeated, and I think NXT will want to hit the brakes a little so his streak doesn't turn into an albatross.

Other titles are likelier to change hands on the show, so for those reasons also, I think this one is staying put.

Winner: And still NXT North American Champion, Velveteen Dream.

#4 NXT Women's Championship: Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Io Shirai vs. Kairi Sane vs. Bianca Belair

Shayna Baszler's fall is imminent. She was likely to depart to the main roster regardless, but her rampant attacks on everyone else in the division beg for comeuppance. The real question to ask in this match is: "who will succeed her?"

Bianca Belair appears as the least likely option. Her match in Phoenix revealed her limitations and it's clear she still has a ways to go before she's in position to lead a division. She also doesn't have much momentum now and sounds increasingly deluded about her "undefeated is a mindset" mantra.

She's also scheduled to appear in Triple H's latest Worlds Collide special, taking on Nikki Cross and Toni Storm in a triple threat match. With Toni Storm already being a champion, I don't think that match needs more gold. A champion vs. champion clash would get much more promotion.

Io Shirai is the one with all the momentum at the moment, having pinned Shayna Baszler and flattening her most of the other times they've met. However, there's the argument to make that Io is being booked too strong.

While that didn't hurt Asuka or Shayna in their quests for gold, the fatal four-way scenario is a unique situation, and there's arguably a better story to be told if Io falls short. Besides, Io is also scheduled for the Worlds Collide special, taking on Sonya Deville.

While that should be a good match, I don't think NXT would book their women's champion for it. It just doesn't seem big enough.

That leaves us with Kairi Sane. She has a more personal history with the champion than anyone in the match, stretching all the way back to the Mae Young Classic in September 2017. She has since been screwed out of her title by Shayna's friends twice and there's a real desire to see her get her final revenge.

Tellingly, Kairi isn't scheduled for the Worlds Collide special. Furthermore, we've already gotten hints about a coming rivalry with Bianca Belair, and NXT has explicitly asked how this match would affect her friendship with Io Shirai. Kairi winning the title suddenly, just as Io was on the verge of victory, could start tensions between them.

We know the two will collide at a TakeOver at some point this year. NXT would be mad not to do such a match with their rivalry in Stardom being so acclaimed. The rivalry works better if Kairi wins the title first and unexpectedly. With two feuds already being lined up for her, I think this is the likeliest outcome.

Winner: And new NXT Women's Champion, Kairi Sane.

NXT Championship: Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole

Ciampa's injury was a true tragedy, robbing the NXT faithful of the climax of a two-year story. Nevertheless, the show goes on. Adam Cole was likely to be Johnny Gargano's next big rival anyway.

April 5th, 2019 was always going to be Johnny Gargano's greatest night. I don't think his sudden change of opponent is going to change that outcome. Furthermore, the coming rivalry with Cole, which I don't expect to end in New York, works better if Johnny Gargano wins the title.

With this being the supposed biggest TakeOver ever, I think Triple H is going to want it to fade to black with what's sure to be one of the most iconic moments in NXT history, one which would be right up there with Sami Zayn and Bayley's title wins. This is Johnny Wrestling's match to lose.

Winner: And new NXT Champion, Johnny Gargano.