NXT TakeOver XXV predictions

Here are my perdictions for the first NXT stand alone TakeOver ppv.

1. Matt Riddle vs. Roderick Strong

As such, and with NXT choosing not to put Riddle over Velveteen Dream for the North American title at the last TakeOver, that tells me he is headed for the main event spot at TakeOver: Toronto on SummerSlam weekend. Riddle was big time when he joined NXT, and he's clearly ready for that type of booking with tons of fan support and an incredible ability both in the ring and on the microphone. This match could steal the show and has legitimate five-star potential.  
Pick: Matt Riddle wins

2. Tag Team Championship -- Street Profits vs. Undisputed Era vs. Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch vs. Forgotten Sons (Ladder Match)

There's a difference when making picks between what I would do and what I think NXT is going to do. I would book the Street Profits to win considering how over they are with fans and the fact that they would be great characters with the titles, but NXT has historically shied away from giving the straps to "fun" tag teams. That means that either Undisputed Era or the Forgotten Sons will take the match, and I've gone back and forth with both. NXT continues to push the Sons hard despite the fact that they are not generally well liked (and not because they are heels). Unless UE is headed to the main roster, they would by far be the best team to take the titles. Ultimately, I think UE follows through on their promise of being draped in gold by the end of the night.  
Pick: Undisputed Era wins the titles

3. North American Championship -- Velveteen Dream (c) vs. Tyler Breeze

Dream has been tremendous with the title, and his arrow continues to point up with a seemingly endless ceiling. While it is great that Breeze is back in NXT for good, there's no reason for Dream to drop the strap unless he is getting a main event push or call up, and I don't think either is happening at this juncture. You don't put Dream over Riddle to them have him lose to Breeze with a shortened build due to prior plans (Donovan Dijakovic) going the wayside due to injury. But I'm certainly excited to see this bout either way.  
Pick: Velveteen Dream retains the title 

4. Women's Championship -- Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Io Shirai

Hailed as the best women's wrestler in the world when she was hired, Shirai has been handled beautifully during her rise even with the Mae Young Classic loss to Toni Storm. Her NXT journey should culminate on Saturday night with her first women's championship victory as she'll continue her incredible success while avenging her best friend and ex-champion Kairi Sane for the way Baszler treated her on the way out. Now, what this means for the two-time champion Baszler going forward ... well, that could end up being one of the more interesting questions coming out of this TakeOver event.  
Pick: Io Shirai wins the title  

5. NXT Championship -- Johnny Gargano (c) vs. Adam Cole II

It was necessary for Gargano to win the title at TakeOver: New York as it was part of the payoff of his long-term feud with Ciampa; unfortunately, Ciampa suffered an unfortunate and untimely injury, but that did not make Gargano being booked to emerge victorious any less important. The moment was incredible, the nearly two-month ride since has been great as well. But anyone who watched that match live knows Cole was just as over as Gargano -- if not more so -- and there's really not much further for NXT to go with Gargano as champion considering the entire storyline was about the journey and mountaintop moment that he finally achieved after years on the brand. This rematch of the best match in NXT history has its own opportunity to steal the show, but it will have a tough time living up to that first one. In the end, Undisputed Era promised that it would be draped in gold by the end of TakeOver, and the best booking for NXT right now is to have it hold the two major men's titles with some faces coming from under. Hell, I would probably have Strong take the North American strap off Dream in Toronto if I had the book.  
Pick: Adam Cole (bay bay) wins the title



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