WWE NXT: TakeOver: Phoenix Predictions

#1 Tommaso Ciampa vs Aleister Black - NXT Championship

Ciampa and Black are no strangers to each other

The battle of the beards main events NXT TakeOver: Phoenix and is an enticing headliner.

Aleister Black is hot right now, following his return from injury and his involvement in the whodunit storyline which saw Johnny Gargano revealed as his mystery attacker.

Black dispatched Gargano at TakeOver: WarGames and now has the opportunity to reclaim the title he lost last summer vs the man who defeated him for the belt in Tommaso Ciampa.

This is a difficult one to call as both men are incredible performers and could quite easily be transitioned to the main roster immediately. Ironically, the loser of this bout, therefore, could be the man who WWE ultimately have grander plans for in 2019.

But will that be, Ciampa or Black?

Black's someone who it is easier to envisage on WWE main roster television with his tortured character and elaborate entrance; he would be a perfect opponent for The Undertaker.

However, it does not feel as if his journey in NXT is finished yet which is in contrast with Ciampa, who feels as if he has done it all at Full Sail. Black will regain the belt here and likely hold on to it until at least the summer.

Ciampa could well find his way to Raw or Smackdown in the very near future.

Prediction: Aleister Black