5 Predictions For NXT TakeOver: New Orleans

Bobby Fish has not been medically cleared to compete at NXT TakeOver: Orleans. Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly tried to weasel their way out of defending the titles on Saturday night by interfering in the finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament. Cole and O’Reilly attacked Dunne, Strong and The Authors of Pain and the match ended in a double disqualification. NXT GM William Regal came down to the entrance ramp and announced that Undisputed Era will now defend their titles against both teams in a Triple Threat match.

The Authors of Pain have been ready to join the main roster for some time now. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them show up on SmackDown or RAW during WWE’s Superstar Shake-Up following WrestleMania 34. Pete Dunne and Roderick Strong are a new team that have been impressive so far. Dunne is currently the United Kingdom Champion and I don’t see him staying in a team with Roderick Strong much longer. It just makes sense for Undisputed Era to retain and for them to enter a new feud after NXT TakeOver: New Orleans.

Ember Moon successfully defended the NXT Women’s Championship against Shayna Baszler at NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia on January 27th. Baszler controlled the majority of the match and focused her attack on Moon’s injured left arm. Moon was able to counter an Arm Bar with a roll-up to escape with the victory.

Baszler was granted her rematch on the February 14th episode of NXT. Shayna picked up the win via DQ after Kairi Sane interfered. Shayna had Moon in an Arm Bar in the metal barricade outside the ring and wouldn’t let go. Sane had seen enough and came down for the save.

Shayna Baszler is ready for the belt and I also think Ember Moon is ready to join the main roster. Their first NXT TakeOver match was very entertaining and I’m expecting an even better match between these two Superstars on Saturday night.

On the March 28th episode of NXT, GM William Regal announced the North American Championship. EC3 made his debut during the same segment and just assumed that Regal was gifting him the title. Regal stated that everything is earned in NXT and gave EC3 an opportunity to earn the title at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans. Cole, Dain, Sullivan, Dream and Ricochet were also added to the Ladder match throughout the night.

A case could be made for any of these 6 Superstars to become the first NXT North American Champion. It would be a hell of start in NXT for either EC3 or Ricochet to win the titles. Undisputed Era would become even more powerful if Adam Cole was able to walk out of New Orleans with the belt. Both Dain and Sullivan have been impressive in NXT and absolutely deserve to have the gold around their waist. However, I think Velveteen Dream would make the most interesting champion right now. His character is incredibly unique and he has become very popular amongst NXT fans. Velveteen Dream is already full of himself, I’d love to see how he acts after he becomes NXT North American Champion.

Tommaso Ciampa betrayed Johnny Gargano following DIY’s loss last May at NXT TakeOver: Chicago. Ciampa then missed a substantial amount of time and Gargano became a star as a singes competitor. Gargano put on an absolute classic with Andrade “Cien” Almas at NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia. Gargano came up just short and lost his opportunity at the NXT Championship.

After the match, Gargano was comforted by his wife, Candice LaRae on the entrance ramp. The crowd cheered him on as Gargano was clearly heartbroken after the defeat. Ciampa returned and struck Gargano in the back with his crutch. Ciampa would then cost Gargano his spot on the NXT roster and his title rematch on the February 21st episode of NXT.

No referee…
The re-emergence of @ProjectCiampa…

Luck is NOT in @JohnnyGargano's corner tonight. #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/a8uW5HZnBS

— WWE (@WWE) February 22, 2018

Ciampa has spent the past few weeks on NXT coming down to the ring and getting frustrated that the crowd was booing him. Gargano blended in with the crowd and attacked Ciampa on the March 21st episode of NXT. Ciampa would then confront NXT GM William Regal about the situation. Regal stated that Ciampa will face Gargano at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans in an Unsanctioned match. If Tommaso wins, Johnny Gargano is gone from NXT for good.

I’m expecting this match to be full of emotion and ultimately turn into a war between Ciampa and Gargano. This in an Unsanctioned match, so absolutely anything goes. I want to see tables, chairs, kendo sticks and whatever else these two can grab from under the ring. It should be an incredibly fun match to watch. Ciampa is already hated by NXT fans for what he has done to Gargano. If he ends Gargano’s NXT career, he would instantly become the biggest heel on the show.

Andrade “Cien” Almas will defend the NXT Championship against Aleister Black this Saturday night at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans.  Zelina Vega signed the contract to make the match official on the March 14th episode of NXT. Almas didn’t show up and Black took at is an opportunity to poke fun at him. Almas then attacked Aleister Black in the parking lot on the March 28th episode of NXT.

I have very high expectations for this match. Aleister Black is an absolute rock star in NXT and Almas has raised his game to a whole new level. Zelina Vega has been the perfect manager for Almas and she will most likely attack Aleister Black during this match. I just think it is Aleister Black’s time to become NXT Champion right now. Almas has had a great run with the title since taking it from Drew McIntyre last year at NXT WarGames.

The outcome of this match really doesn’t matter to me. Almas could retain due to outside interference and I’d be fine with it. I cannot envision a scenario where Aleister Black isn’t the NXT Champion in the near future if he loses on Saturday night. The real prediction for this match is that it is going to be absolutely amazing. Every match on the  card for NXT TakeOver: New Orleans has the potential to be special.