NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver Night One Predictions
This week is the biggest event in NXT’s history: a two-night TakeOver event to rival Wrestlemania in terms of build and size. Every NXT Championship is up for grabs, including an NXT UK Championship as well. With two nights of action, we’ve got lots of matches to predict. Evan, Javier & Kaden are going to give their predictions for both nights of TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. Here are the predictions for Night One, and be sure to check out our other article for predictions for Night Two.
Leon Ruff vs Isaiah “Swerve” Scott vs Bronson Reed vs Cameron Grimes vs Dexter Lumis vs LA Knight – Six-man Gauntlet Eliminator match; Winner receives an NXT North American Championship shot on Night Two.
Evan: So many options for this match, with every guy being a possible winner. I’m going to go with the gimmick I’m enjoying the most right now. Big Money Grimes is the Million Bitcoin Man we didn’t know we needed. Let him get the shine during this weekend.
Pick – Cameron Grimes
Javier: SWERVE! (No pun intended) I understand that Dexter Lumis is the logical opponent here, but hear me out. I think Reed has been getting pushed like crazy lately for a reason. My prediction is he wins this match, goes and takes the title off of Gargano, and then quickly drops it to LA Knight, continuing that feud a little further. Lumis will probably win, but I like adding spice.
Pick – Bronson Reed
Kaden: C’mon, they’ve been building to Johnny vs Lumis for months now. No chance they don’t have that match on night 2.
Pick – Dexter Lumis
WALTER (c) vs Tommaso Ciampa – NXT UK Championship
Evan: Ciampa isn’t from the UK… I know that doesn’t mean anything since WALTER isn’t either, but I can’t get over how weird it would be to have Ciampa hold the belt. It would be weird, right?
Pick – WALTER
Javier: WALTER has been champion for over two years now and I really don’t see his reign ending anytime soon. Ciampa will give him a run for his money, but in the end I believe that former Ringkampf member Timothy Thatcher shows his allegiance to his old pals and turns on Ciampa, costing him the match and in the process, joining Imperium.
Pick – WALTER
Kaden: While I’m super excited for this brutal match, there’s no doubt that Walter continues his 2+ year reign as NXT UK Champion.
Pick – WALTER
MSK vs Grizzled Young Veterans vs Legado Del Fantasma – NXT Tag Team Championships
Evan: How do you make a team the hottest team in wrestling? You catapult them to the very top. Put the rockets on the backs of the former Rascalz and let them get a lengthy run with the tag titles. Let’s make tag wrestling a focal point for NXT going forward, shall we?
Pick – MSK
Javier: I want this to happen for no reason more than I really want to see them face MSK again. I believe a heel team is winning this match, so why not give it to the team that has finished second in the past two Dusty Classics?
Pick – Grizzled Young Veterans
Kaden: I believe that MSK was supposed to take the belts off Burch and Lorcan before Burch’s injury, which is why I have them winning the belts here. I don’t know where the tag division goes from here, but I hope they can bring it back to the glory days when NXT had a good tag division.
Pick – MSK
Io Shirai (c) vs Raquel Gonzalez – NXT Women’s Championship
Evan: Shirai has beaten almost everyone that NXT has to offer. That means it is time for some turnover. Gonzalez has looked amazing recently, and the main event of Night One could be her crowning moment. Plus I for one would look forward to the inevitable breakup of Gonzalez & Dakota Kai, leading to a big money feud for NXT.
Pick – Raquel Gonzalez
Javier: It’s just time. Io Shirai has had a great title reign, but what comes next should she win? Gonzalez has been booked so dominant lately and with her already having a pinfall victory over the champion from War Games, I think it only makes sense she comes out victorious.
Pick – Raquel Gonzalez
Kaden: This is the time to take the belt off Io. She’s had a fantastic run as the NXT women’s champ but I feel like it’ll feel fresh to have a heel for a bit as champ again. Also, Raquel is amazing and shouldn’t lose.
Pick – Raquel Gonzalez
That’s who we have walking away victorious on Night One. Agree? Disagree? Let us know on Twitter at @FPC_Wrestling.
