Predictions for NXT TakeOver: In Your House

#6 Tommaso Ciampa vs Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett Bordeaux

Tommaso Ciampa vs Karrion Kross

In what should be the main-event at NXT TakeOver: In Your House (yes, over the NXT Championship match), Tommaso Ciampa faces Karrion Kross in a match that is as intriguing as it is unpredictable and wild. Karrion Kross debuted less than a month ago and spent his time squashing no names en route to his debut TakeOver match. His entrance and mannerisms just scream "main-event level", and really that's what he should be, a "killer" of a wrestler (no pun intended) that intimidates the NXT roster.

Now here is the catch, this is his first "proper" match and it is against Tommaso Ciampa, who himself comes on the back of losing to Johnny Gargano and seem like he is fading in stature in the NXT pecking order. Having him lose here should at least serve a big purpose, which clearly needs to be pushing Kross like a mega-star. For that to happen, Karrion Kross should have the upper hand, but not by making Ciampa look unnecessarily like an underdog.

The structure and booking for this match can be as easy as ever, simply give Ciampa an early lead, but without having Kross sell too much, then just as simple turn the tables and have Kross completely brutalize Ciampa on the way to a (clean) victory. The key here is a "clean" victory, as there is no need for Scarlett to be involved more than she should do as a valet.

Obviously, it's going to be a miscalculation if Kross loses here simply because Ciampa lost to Gargano before. This is his debut TakeOver match, and he needs to look as strong as WWE can make him look going forward because they need fresh talent. As for Ciampa, a loss would not be the end of the world as he can lay off for a while (and that's safer in these times) and return better and fresher for pastures new on NXT or elsewhere.

Prediction: Karrion Kross to win