Richard Holmes@Full Sail University, Orlando, Florida
Rushonrock’s favourite brand of wrestling celebrates TakeOver number 30 tonight. In a weekend full of wrestling, NXT could serve up a one of the best events in their history. Andy Spoors gives us the lowdown on what to expect on a historical night…
Twenty nine events and 102 Superstars. Nineteen venues in 10 states, visiting three countries. It has been 2,227 days since NXT burst on to the event scene as the first ever TakeOver took place. Surely few could have expected the level of not just success, but consistent high quality, that the event series has delivered.
Superstars have been created and moved to pastures new. Their weekly show doubled in run time and moved to an external network. More recently, there’s been a weekly head to head with rival company AEW. They are just some of the challenges the fledgling brand has had to compete with.
The impact of NXT on not just WWE, but the wrestling landscape as a whole, can’t be understated. As head honcho Triple H would no doubt be all too happy to remind people, history is all well and good, but it is the future NXT deals in.
So where will Takeover XXX feature on the all-time list when all is said and done?
Very few Superstars in NXT history have been introduced with such a strong push than Karrion Kross. Atmospheric entrances, foreboding promos before debuting and a path of destruction that would make an Indominus Rex blush in Jurassic World. Karrion Kross, accompanied by his valet Scarlett, offer the biggest threat to Keith Lee’s short reign. Two of Wrestling Royalty’s team are even willing to predict a new NXT Champion will be crowned by the end of the night.
Few people can claim to have had a great year so far in 2020. Keith Lee is, however, one of them. A strong showing in the Royal Rumble before lockdown came crashing down, combined with becoming the first person to hold both the NXT Championship and North American Champion at the same time prove how highly thought of the Limitless one is.
No matter the result, this will be like watching two rhinos going head to head. It’s not going to be pretty and even the victor will be feeling like a loser the next morning.
One of the stranger matches to appear on any TakeOver is the appearance of the brand’s longest reigning Champion against an ex-NFL punter. Celebrity or sports personalities do occasionally appear in WWE with mixed popularity, but few have had quite as much involvement in wrestling as Pat McAfee.
Previously plying his trade with the Indianapolis Colts, McAfee has been a regular guest on NXT pre-show panels and talks about the business on his popular podcast show. But talking a good game and lacing up your boots to step inside a wrestling ring against arguably one of the best, are two completely different things. After running down Adam Cole for years, this bizarre feud will come to an end for McAfee inside a ring. Rarely will these matches play out in a straight ‘rasslin match, so expect some high-jinx to come in to play.
The spots for the North American Championship ladder match have been filled over the last weeks. A mix of up and coming as well as experienced Superstars, make this a prime candidate to steal the show. From the incredibly annoying Cameron Grimes to Mr. Takeover himself, Johnny Gargano, a huge blend of styles will clash in the most exciting kind of stipulation.
The burgeoning Women’s division is represented by the intriguing showdown between champion Io Shirai and number one contender Dakota Kai. The former’s win at In Your House was met with fanfare from the WWE Universe and Superstars alike, but the character work Kai has put in means she deserves her shot.
It has been a long time coming for the pint-sized Kiwi, but since turning heel at last year’s War Games event, Kai has upped her game and could no longer be ignored. It would be a fantastic story to see the New Zealand native holding the Women’s Championship above her head and the ace in the hole could come in the shape of her associate Raquel Gonzalez. Shirai will need eyes in the back of her head to keep hold of the gold.
A last-minute addition of Finn Bálor vs Timothy Thatcher rounds off the card with one for the purists, as well as an opportunity for the former to extend his impressive win loss ratio at TakeOver events.
Full Match Card and predictions from the Rushonrock wrestling team:
NXT Champion Keith Lee vs. Karrion Kross with Scarlett
Reese: Karrion Kross
John: Karrion Kross
Andy: Keith Lee
Adam Cole vs. Pat McAfee
Reese: Adam Cole
John: Adam Cole
Andy: Adam Cole
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai vs. Dakota Kai
Reese: Io Shirai
John: Io Shirai
Andy: Io Shirai
NXT North American Championship Ladder Match
Reese: Johnny Gargano
John: Damien Priest
Andy: Damien Priest
Finn Bálor vs. Timothy Thatcher
Reese: Finn Bálor
John: Timothy Thatcher
Andy: Finn Bálor
Breezango vs. Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan vs. Legado del Fantasma – NXT Tag Team Championship No. 1 Contender’s Match (Pre-Show)
Reese: Breezango
John: Breezango
Andy: Legado del Fantasma
Photo credit: WWE (all images).