NXT TakeOver XXX Preview

Saturday will be the 30th NXT TakeOver in history!

A lot has changed since Adrian Neville and Tyson Kidd headlined the first TakeOver event, on May 29th 2014. 

The black and gold brand has gone from being WWE's 'developmental' territory to the company's third show and many fans consider it better than flagship programs - Raw and SmackDown. 

While NXT has been losing the 'Wednesday Night Wars' to All Elite Wrestling's Dynamite, 36 weeks out of 45, the build up to this historic show has been good. 

The feuds have been booked well and TakeOver's always bring out the best in the NXT roster. It has the potential to be a great night of action.

Five matches have been announced so far and the event will take place from Full Sail University, the action starts at midnight (British Summer Time), on the WWE Network.

Io Shirai (c) Vs Dakota Kai (NXT Woman's Championship). 

The issues between these women began when the challenger attacked the champion after she had successfully defended the NXT Women's Championship against Tegan Nox - on the July 15th episode of NXT.

A week after that ambush - Dakota Kai called out Io Shirai saying it felt good to "knock her off her pedestal" and that she was coming for her title. Kai had made her intentions very clear, the time for talking was over.

Shirai and Kai were set to face each other in a tag team match, on the July 29th episode of NXT. Shirai's tag team partner was Nox and Kai allay was Candice LeRae but Kai attacked Shirai during her entrance and later abandoned her partner. 

                          

Kai claimed she was "owed" a title shot but that's not how NXT General Manager, William Regal, runs things and the Leader of Team Kick had to earn her match against The Genius of the Sky by beating Rhea Ripley in a number one contenders match. Kai did win, after assistants from Mercedes Martinez, and the title match was set for TakeOver XXX.

On the last stop before Saturday's show - Kai cut a promo claiming she was "in the head" of Shirai and was going to be the next women's champion. Shirai interrupted and a brawl ensued. The champion was getting the better of her rival until Raquel Gonzalez appeared out of nowhere and helped her partner lay Shirai out.

Since turning heel last November, Kai's career has been on an upwards trajectory, she's no longer a vanilla face. She hasn't lost a one-on-one singles match since March and has been positioned as a credible threat to Shirai's title. 

On the other hand, Shirai has had a good run with the title so far and impresses every time she steps in a NXT ring. It took her two years to win the title and is only two months into her first reign as champion - I don't envision her losing the belt so soon. 

Winner: Io Shirai. 

Adam Cole Vs Pat McAfee.

The problems between Adam Cole and Pat McAfee go far back as March 2018 - when the latter cost the former a match against Aleister Black at a NXT live event.

Nothing much happened in between until July 2020 when McAfee invited Cole onto his podcast and continuously took shots at the leader of the Undisputed Era, calling him "small" and claiming his 403 day run as NXT Champion was due to Bobby Fish, Kyle O'Reilly and Roderick Strong. Cole unloaded several expletives on the former National Football League placekicker, pushed one of the show's producers and stormed off the set.

The segment has been viewed 1.1 million times, on YouTube, and the footage set social media a blaze with people questioning if it was a work or a shoot.

It became clear it was a story line when Triple H, NXT's Executive Producer, went onto McAfee's podcast and called the host a "professional button pusher" while claiming Cole was "overly-sensitive". The Game also invited the two time Pro Bowl winner to a future NXT show to sort out his issues with The Panama City Playboy, an invite he took up on the August 6th episode of NXT.  

On that show - McAfee was on commentary, while Cole was at ringside, during Fish and O'Reilly's NXT Tag Team Title Match against Imperium. McAfee, knowing Cole was in ear shot, sent jabs at him and Cole eventually confronted the podcaster. Words were exchanged and a host of NXT officials made their way to the ring to keep things calm however McAfee added fuel to the fire when he told Cole "nothing is ever going to change, for the rest of your life, you are going to be a tiny itty bitty b****". Clearly incensed by the disrespectful comments, Cole attempted to swing for his foe but missed and as he was laying across the announcers table - McAfee struck with a punt kick to the head. Cole was out cold.     

                            

The next day - Triple H, on the behalf of Adam Cole, challenged McAfee to a match at TakeOver XXX. McAfee accepted and said he was going to "beat Cole's a**" on the night.

A week after being punted in the skull - Cole told McAfee that he was in "way over his head" and that he was going to get his "a** whooped" at TakeOver XXX. He demanded McAfee meet him in the ring in seven days time.

On that show - McAfee and Cole came face to face. McAfee claimed he was on "another level as a human being" to Cole and he was going to punt kick him again this Saturday. Cole promised to make McAfee his "b****".

Cole has been the cornerstone of NXT, in the past year, and it would be disappointing if he loses to McAfee - a non wrestler on such a huge night. 

McAfee has wrestled before, against WarPig in 2009, and three years ago claimed it was his "dream" to become a professional wrestler. Footage has emerged of McAfee training for this match but he has no business being in the ring with a star like Cole.

Cole should win convincingly but in the back of my mind, I have a feeling the Undisputed Era could turn on him and cost him the match. I hope I'm wrong though.

Winner: Adam Cole.   

Johnny Gargano Vs. Damian Priest Vs. Bronson Reed Vs. Cameron Grimes Vs. The Velveteen Dream (North American Championship Ladder Match).

After Keith Lee relinquished the North American Championship, when he became a double champion on night two of NXT: The Great American Bash, NXT General Manager William Regal announced a series of triple threat matches - with the winners going onto TakeOver XXX to battle for the title in a 5-Way Ladder Match.

Bronson Reed was the first man to qualify for the match, he defeated Roderick Strong and Johnny Gargano on the July 14th episode of NXT.

Damian Priest was the next man to gain entry into the match, he beat Oney Lorcan and the debuting Ridge Holland on the July 29th episode of NXT.

Two weeks later - Cameron Grimes beat KUSHIDA and the returning Velveteen Dream to put his name in the hat for TakeOver XXX.

After Gargano complained about not being pinned in his triple threat match, Regal announced several "second chance" qualification matches would take place over few weeks and the winners would advance to TakeOver XXX. Gargano took out Holland to secure his spot, it will be his 18th TakeOver, a record for the event.

Dream won a overbooked match against Finn Bálor, on the go-home episode of NXT before TakeOver XXX, to secure the last spot in the Ladder Match.

EVERYBODY has their sights set on the NXT #NATitle!!

Will @FinnBalor or @DreamWWE punch their ticket to #NXTTakeOver: XXX???#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/4ivk4honTW

— WWE (@WWE) August 20, 2020

All of the wrestlers in this match have a chance of becoming the new North American Champion. 

Thicc Boi Reed has been on the hottest streak, he pinned Priest two weeks ago, in a singles match. It's unlikely he will win but they have done a good job of making him a credible threat.

Priest is a veteran - who is yet to win any gold during his two year stint in NXT. He's a dangerous competitor and will thrive in this environment, he could be a dark-horse for this match.

Gargano is the self-proclaimed "Mr. TakeOver", if he wins, he will become the first man to hold the North American Title twice. 

The master of the Cave In, like Reed, is a underdog going into this contest but Grimes could be involved in a big spot during the contest but will fall short.

Dream is one of the biggest stars in NXT and winning the North American Championship again - would be the perfect way for him to begin his heel run.

Winner: Damian Priest. 

Finn Bálor Vs. Timothy Thatcher.

This match was announced two days before TakeOver XXX, less than 24 hours after Timothy Thatcher cost Finn Bálor his match against The Velveteen Dream, a loss that meant The Prince would not be in the North American Championship Ladder Match at the event.

When Bálor returned to NXT, last October, he was propelled into a main event programs with Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole. So far this year - he has had underwhelming feuds with Damian Priest and Cameron Grimes. A man of  Bálor's stature should be in the main event of any show that he's on, not in a hastily arranged match on one of the biggest show's of the year.

Thatcher is a solid hand, his rivalry with Matt Riddle was brilliant, one of the best of 2020 to date. He doesn't have bad matches and his 'Thatch-as-Thatch-can' segments have been a highlight of NXT lately.

Both of these men hit hard, this should be a very physical encounter. Bálor is the favorite, Thatcher will put up a hell of a fight but it won't be enough to beat the man who has won more TakeOver matches than anyone else.

Winner: Finn Balor. 

Keith Lee (c) Vs. Karrion Kross (NXT Championship). 

When Keith Lee became the first man to hold the North American and NXT titles, simultaneously, on night two of NXT: The Great American Bash - all eyes were on him, including Karrion Kross. Kross watched Lee's moment of glory, from a sky box, and it was clear he wanted the first shot at his newly won title.

The mind games, from Kross and Lady Scarlett, began the following week. After Lee defeated his good friend Dominik Dijakovic, Lady Scarlett made her way down to the ring - with remnants of the hour-glass Lee smashed a few weeks earlier. A smiling Scarlett poured the contents of the bag onto the mat and made her way back up the ramp. Her message was obvious, Lee's title reign was on borrowed time, tick tock. Later that night, Dijakovic and Kross had a brawl backstage - that ended when the latter slammed the former on the concrete floor. 

The two met on the next show and Kross destroyed Dijakovic so badly that Lee made his way to ringside to help his friend. After Kross put Dijakovic out of his misery - Lee went to check on his fallen comrade and shared an intense stare down with the man desperate for a title shot.    

                      

 

A week later - The Limitless One said Kross had his attention. Lee said Kross had did "extra bull****" to get his title shot and that he was calling him out for a fight. Cameron Grimes interrupted and was disposed of in shot order by the NXT Champion. After getting rid of Grimes - Kross appeared on the big screen and questioned why Lee didn't help Dijakovic last week. Kross told Lee that he could do things the "easy way", by giving him a title shot, or the "hard way" - an option the champion doesn't want to explore.  Lee responded by telling Kross to pick the time and place so that he could "whoop that a**".

On the August 12th edition of NXT - Lee said be "begged" William Regal for a match with Kross, at TakeOver XXX, and both of their names were on the contract, only Kross' name was missing. Scarlett collected the contract from Lee, and Kross signed it. Before returning the paperwork to the Texan - Scarlett kissed the clipboard and when Lee opened it, to confirm it had been signed, a fireball exploded in his face. Lee rived around in pain and was taken to a local medical facility, as Scarlett and Kross admired their handwork. 

This feud is only six weeks old but it has been tremendous. Lee is usually a gentle giant but Kross has awoken the beast inside him. Kross is undefeated since joining NXT, in April, and has been booked perfectly so far - it's been a while since WWE made a wrestler look this legit from the off. Lee has only been NXT Champion for a month but I can't see his run going any further than Saturday. This match will be excellent, I'm intrigued to see how it plays out, it will be brutal. I'm picking Kross to will win a back and forth contest - doomsday has arrived in NXT.

Winner: Karrion Kross

NXT Takeover: In Your House Preview.

This Sunday, NXT will 'Takeover' your house when they present the 28th In Your House event in World Wrestling Entertainment history and the first under that banner in 21 years. The event marks the 25th anniversary of the first ever In Your House pay-per-view.

Despite losing the Wednesday Night Wars, on a frequent basis, NXT has been very good lately and the matches on this card have been built well - this, like the majority of the Takeover's, will be a great show.

With the exception of Adam Cole defending his NXT Championship against Velveteen Dream, that match will be cinematic and was recorded last week, the other five matches will be broadcast live from Full Sail University in Orlando Florida. 

Sunday will be the first TakeOver event to be held at Full Sail since The End in 2016.

This will be the first live WWE Network event since the company introduced Performance Center trainees in the audience, playing the role as members of the WWE Universe, so that should add to the atmosphere on the night. 

The pre-show starts at 23:30, British Summer Time, 7 pm Eastern and 4 pm Pacific.

Finn Bàlor Vs. Damian Priest. 

On the April 22nd episode of NXT, Finn Bàlor was set to face The Velveteen Dream in the main event, but was attacked backstage by a mystery assailant before the match could take place.

As Bàlor was engaged in a feud with Imperium, all fingers pointed to them being the culprits of the ambush, and when he returned to television - the former NXT Champion said it was straight out of the wrestling playbook to "attack the guy and get the push" but in this instant, the perpetrator wouldn't be "pushed", they would be "squashed".

During a match with Cameron Grimes, Bàlor was hit from behind by Damian Priest and as a result lost that contest. In the aftermath, Priest hit Bàlor with a Reckoning, on a steel chair, then placed the weapon on Bàlor's neck and said "if I want my name to live forever, why not take on a Prince. The only thing I didn't know is that I would enjoy it so much, just like I enjoyed it three weeks ago". It was Priest all along.

A week after beating Bàlor down, Priest claimed he was going to "turn the name of Finn Bàlor to ash" and the reason he putting a hurting on him was because he wants his name to "live forever".

Bàlor responded by stating he was going to "bury" Priest at TakeOver and Priest "has been treading water for the last year" while he is "20 years towards eternity" and refuses be The Archer of Infamy's "lifeline".

This rivalry has been well executed from the beginning and these two will have a great match together. The lack of physical interaction, they haven't had contact since May 13th, has built suspense to the showdown and both men are brilliant inside the squared circle. The Prince has only lost two matches since returning to the black and gold brand, while Priest needs a win after losing his last high profile match to Keith Lee. Before this feud began, Bàlor had his eyes on the NXT Championship and a win here will put him back in contention for the title.

Prediction: Finn Bàlor.

Keith Lee (c) Vs. Johnny Gargano (NXT North American Championship).

The issues between Keith Lee and Johnny Gargano began when the latter called the NXT North American Champion the latest "flavor of the month" and claimed he was "nothing", during a 'Dinner with The Garganos' segment on May 13th. Gargano's wife, Candice LeRae, also called out Mia Yim for being "undeserving" of stepping in the ring with NXT Women's Champion Charlotte Flair and accused Yim of "pandering" to the NXT Universe.

A week later, after Mia Yim defeated Santana Garrett, the Garganos made their way to the ring and while Johnny distracted Yim - Candice LeRae attacked her from behind until Lee made the save. Later that night, The Limitless one said he had a problem with the "new Gargano way" and challenged him to a match at TakeOver: In Your House.

This rivalry took a hilarious turn when Lee and Yim staged their own 'Dinner with The Garganos' and the former used lines like "my name is Johnny Gargano, I have something in common with my action figures as we are the same size" to mock his adversary. Towards the end of the segment, Lee got serious and told Gargano that his attempts to harm Yim had "consequences".

On the go-home show to this pay-per-view, LeRae (with Gargano in her corner) and Yim (with Lee accompanying her to ring side), were set to settle their issues but the match ended in a double count out.

A brawl broke out after the match, that included Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzàlez, Tegan Nox and Shotzi Blackheart. In an attempt to regain some order, NXT General Manager William Regal, made a mixed tag team match with Gargano and Lee joining up with their respective partners. The Garganos picked up the win, after LeRae pinned Yim, but not before Mr All Heart, No Soul stuck the North American Champion in the eye with his car key.

Lee has had a long run with the North American title, he's held it since January, but with Garnano's only turning heel a few months ago - he needs a win to solidly him as one of the top villains in NXT. The eye injury, Lee sustained on the latest edition of NXT, could play a part in the finish to the match - Gargano will exploit that area and become the first man to win the North American title twice.

Winner: Johnny Gargano. 

Shotzi Blackheart, Mia Yim & Tegan Nox Vs. Raquel Gonzàlez, Candice LeRae & Dakota Kai.

These six women have had plenty off issues with each other this year and way before that in the case of Tegan Nox and Dakota Kai.

It was at NXT TakeOver: WarGames last November when Kai shocked the world by turning on Nox and the two have been trading wins ever since. Kai has used Raquel Gonzàlez to try and finally get rid of Nox but the Welsh native hasn't forgiven Kai for betraying her and their issues are far from over. Nox has found an ally in Shotzi Blackheart and those two have gone after Kai and Gonzàlez at every opportunity.

Mia Yim and Candice LeRae have found themselves in the middle of their partners feud, covered in the article above, and whatever the result here - they will have a one-on-one match in the near future to find out who the better woman is.

Both teams need a win here as none of the six women have any real momentum at the moment, due to 50/50 booking. LaRae pinned Yim on the this weeks episode of NXT, I can see the latter getting her win back this Sunday.

Winners: Mia Yim, Teagan Nox & Shotzi Blackheart.

Tommaso Ciampa Vs. Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett. 

When it comes to making a statement on your first appearance on NXT, attacking one of the cornerstones of the black and gold brand is the right way to do it. That's exactly what Karrion Kross did on April 15th when he assaulted Tommaso Ciampa backstage.

In the weeks after taking Ciampa out, Kross warned that "doomsday" was coming to NXT and that Ciampa was his first "victim". In the following weeks, Kross kept his word - hammering opponent after opponent in short order.

After a month away, Ciampa returned to NXT to confront Kross and told him NXT was "his home" and that he wasn't going to allow Kross to make a name for himself at his expense. He called Kross a "special talent" and made the challenge for NXT TakeOver: In Your House.

After Ciampa defeated Leon Ruff, on May 27th, Kross appeared on the TitanTron and said their match would be "special" and that he was going to make the former NXT Champion "feel something he has never felt before in his life".

The war of words continued this week when Ciampa stated that some wrestlers are "special" and then there is Tommaso Ciampa and this would be his thirteenth TakeOver and was unsure if Kross could handle the "pressure" of the bright lights being on him at the event.

This has potential to be match of the year as both styles suit each other, it will be a very physical encounter. Kross is making his TakeOver debut and needs to continue his unblemished run in NXT - while another loss for The Blackheart won't hurt him as he is already solidified himself as one of the greatest wrestlers in NXT history.

Winner: Karrion Kross.

Rhea Ripley Vs. Charlotte Flair (c) Vs. Io Shiari (NXT Women's Championship).

After Charlotte Flair defeated Rhea Ripley, on Day 2 of WrestleMania 36, she declared herself the "greatest women's champion in NXT history" and vowed to take the black and gold brand to "another level" as the leader of the woman's division.

Io Shiari won a number one contenders Ladder Match, on April 7th, to earn at title shot and her match with Flair ended with a disqualification after The Queen grew frustrated at her inability to put the Evil Genius of the Sky away and hit her with a kendo stick. The attack continued, post match, until Ripley made her first appearance since WrestleMania and went after Flair - who ran away from The Nightmare. As Ripley was being interviewed backstage, Shiari approached her and a fight broke out between the two - they were eventually separated by officials.

Two weeks later, Ripley and Shiari went one-on-one but Flair interrupted and beat-down both of her rivals thus leading to this Triple Threat Match.

Seven days later - Flair, using the ropes for leverage, pinned Shiari in a tag team match that included Chelsea Green and Ripley.

The great thing about this match is all thing women have a chance of winning, making the contest unpredictable and exciting.

Shiari has had a number of brilliant matches in the past year, her match with Candice LeRae at TakeOver: Toronto, was one of the best matches of 2019 and she deserves to finally get her hands on the title that has alluded her she since made her NXT debut in 2018.

Ripley had a great 2019 - winning at WarGames, Survivor Series and pinning Flair on Smackdown. She represented NXT well and has looked strong since she returned to television two months ago.

Flair has brought prestige and star power to NXT and won't drop the title this soon. As a Raw superstar, the red brand's current champion is already engaged in a feud, so Flair would have very little room to maneuver on Monday night's. Whoever isn't involved in the fall, should be Flair's next contender for the title.

Winner: Charlotte Flair.

Adam Cole (c) Vs. The Velveteen Dream (Backlot Brawl for The NXT Championship).

After chasing Adam Cole and the NXT Championship for months, The Velveteen Dream will get his
last shot at the leader of The Undisputed ERA this Sunday. In a summit with NXT General Manager William Regal, Cole only agreed to this match on the condition of Dream not receiving another title opportunity while he is the champion.

Cole's issues with Dream can be traced back to last October when him and the rest of The Undisputed Era threw The Dream off a truck, in the parking lot, and took him out of action for several months.

Upon his return from injury, 16 weeks later, Dream immediately targeted the his foes - mainly Roderick Strong and the psychological warfare begun, with Dream wearing ring attire with the faces of Strong's wife and child on them. Strong and Dream faced off in a Steel Cage Match, in which the latter lost on purpose but locked himself in side the structure with Cole and put a beating on The Panama City Playboy. 

Dream revealed that his plan all along was to get his hands on Cole and more importantly - the NXT Title and was only using Strong as a "pawn". Dream got his wish on the May 6th edition of NXT but lost due to distractions from the other member of the Undisputed ERA.

The two have had plenty of verbal back and forth, with Cole saying Velveteen's dream of winning the title will "be over" at TakeOver and Dream does not "deserve" this final chance at the title.

The Dream reminded Cole that he has beaten him in the past, a tag match on April 22nd, and he will be "the greatest NXT Champion of them all" when he beats Cole.

This will be the first Backlot Brawl in NXT history and with the match having no disqualification the rest of the Undisputed ERA can interfere. Dream has found an unlikely allay in Dexter Lumis but how much can he truly trust him?

This match is intriguing as Dream won't be able to challenge Cole again and Cole has beaten most of the roster during his historic 369 day run as NXT Champion.

A story broke this week that Cole's contract is up in two months and he may be looking to join his girlfriend, Dr. Britt Baker, in All Elite Wrestling. If this report is true - the WWE are unlikely to want a key member of their roster, who has not committed his long term future to them, to be in possession of an important title.

It's not quite now or never for The Velveteen Dream but he has lost high profile matches in the past and another defeat may damage him in the eyes of the WWE Universe. All good things come to an end, Cole's run with the NXT Title is the latest thing to fall into the category. 

Winner: The Velveteen Dream.