Sunday will feature three big championship matches for the NXT brand. Thus far, six matches are set for the card. As always, these are just our predictions with no insider knowledge. Let’s get started with the first match:
Backlot Brawl for the NXT Championship: Adam Cole (c) vs. Velveteen Dream
This is actually a tough choice. On one hand, there’s not much else Cole can do in the main event unless the company decides to turn him face, and there’s been no hint of a babyface run anytime soon. The possibility of Cole and Roderick Strong feuding is still there, though I believe that Cole would end up dropping the title first before moving onto feuding against his fellow Undisputed Era member.
Cole can always feud with Keith Lee or a newly turned Finn Balor for the top belt, with the former having the strongest chance at beating the 30-year-old for the championship by fall. Velveteen Dream still doesn’t feel ready for the top title just yet. The 24-year-old has been around long enough to be in the main event spot; however, his feud with Adam Cole just hasn’t captured the spark he had with Aleister Black or even Ricochet. Couple that with the recent allegations and the company may be hesitant to have him be the face of the black and gold brand right now.
However, I do feel that Karrion Kross is on the fast track to the main event scene and I can see the newest NXT member winning the belt at the next TakeOver event. Heel Adam Cole vs. Heel Karrion Kross doesn’t make sense, especially since the NXT Champion is essentially a chickenshit type of heel. Having a competive match with Cole can actually damage Kross' character a bit, whereas a complete squash win over the NXT Champion will make him come across as a sympathetic figure akin to the Brock Lesnar/ John Cena match at Summerslam 2014. Thus, the man that will walk out of In Your House as the NXT Champion will be…
Winner: Velveteen Dream wins the NXT Championship
NXT North American Championship: Keith Lee (c) vs. Johnny Gargano
Lee has been champion since last December, thus he’s also in the position where he doesn’t have much else to do in the NXT North American title scene. The 35-year-old can always feud with Timothy Thatcher, or if the company isn’t ready to thrust Kross into the main event scene then a match-up between the two brutes is possible for the next TakeOver event; however, I do get the feeling that Lee’s title reign is about to end.
While Gargano is a former NXT North American Champion, the newly heel NXT star didn’t get a chance to do much in his last title reign. I personally believe that it’s important to put over the new character, though I don’t particularly know where Gargano goes following his match-up against Lee.
The North American champ does have several options, but no one particularly stands out for Gargano. There’s the possibility to feud with Finn Balor again, and Dexter Lumis could be an interesting choice, but Gargano has mostly fought every babyface on the current roster. Still, I don’t believe Lee will be champion when September arrives; however, Timothy Thatcher is the man I feel will take the title off of him. So…
Winner: Keith Lee retains the NXT North American Championship
Triple Threat match for the NXT Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Io Shirai
Ripley vs. Flair II is the match-up I have penciled in for the next TakeOver, though the second-generation star has yet to beat Shirai in a singles encounter. Even with that fact, Shirai will take the pin, with creative possibly booking Ripley on the cusp of regaining the belt, only for Flair to come in last minute and steal the pin. Hopefully, the finish is more creative than that, but it does keep the wheels spinning for another singles match between the WrestleMania 36 competitors.
Winner: Charlotte Flair retains the NXT Women's Championship
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Karrion Kross
Ciampa beating Kross would instantly ruin all of the newcomer’s heat, so it doesn’t make sense for the former NXT Champion to win here. I think the only question about this match is whether Kross will destroy Ciampa in a squash like fashion, or if this will be a back-and-forth contest.
If this is a glorified squash, then expect Kross to be the next challenger for the NXT title. Either way, Kross will win this match clean. There’s always the possibility of this match ending in a DQ or count-out to extend the feud a bit longer; however, Kross needs to make a strong statement and a dominant win over the former NXT Champion is the way to go here.
Winner: Karrion Kross
Finn Balor vs. Damian Priest.
I can still see WALTER vs. Finn Balor for the NXT UK Championship penciled in for the next TakeOver pay-per-view, should the reigning champion be allowed to travel overseas by that time. While Priest’s credibility will be boosted instantly with a win over the former NXT Champion, I suspect that Balor is a higher priority right now. This match will be about putting over Priest as a future main event star, but at the end of the day, Balor will win this one-and-done match.
Winner: Finn Balor
Tegan Nox, Shotzi Blackheart, and Mia Yim vs. Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai, and Raquel Gonzalez.
I feel the Nox and Kai rivalry will finally reach its climax with the 25-year-old getting the pin on Kai here. I wouldn’t be surprised if Nox moved onto LeRae as a secondary feud, or if Blackheart goes solo with Kai, but the end result screams babyface win in my book.
Winner: Tegan Nox, Shotzi Blackheart, and Mia Yim
That’s it! Thanks for reading and feel free to put your predictions in the comment section.