NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver Night Two Predictions
The Wrestlemania weekend TakeOver event is a two night affair for the first time ever. With Wrestlemania expanding to Saturday & Sunday, that leaves TakeOver: Stand & Deliver to be on Wednesday & Thursday night. It’s the biggest event for NXT this year, so Evan, Javier & Kaden are here to predict all the action for Night Two. Be sure to check out our other article for our predictions for Night One.
Johnny Gargano (c) vs Gauntlet Eliminator winner – NXT North American Championship
Evan: I am all in on Cameron Grimes as a champion. Gargano still has heat with one Dexter Lumis, so let’s book this over two nights: The Way and Gargano screw Lumis out of winning the gauntlet match. On Night Two, Lumis can return favor and cost Gargano the title against Grimes. Then we get lots of hilarious work by our new millionaire North American Champion
Pick – Cameron Grimes
Javier: I spoiled this with my earlier prediction and I apologize, but it needed to be done. Gargano has been fine as champion, but I feel like there needs to just be a jolt, or a Tsunami, to the division. Getting Gargano out now is the right move.
Pick – Bronson Reed
Kaden: Of course this might not be Dexter Lumis, but I predicted him to win the gauntlet so it’s only fair that I make my judgement on the match with him as Johnny’s opponent. Lumis will win this match and it’ll be a glorified squash.
Pick – Dexter Lumis
Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart (c) vs Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell – NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships
Evan: It is still strange to me that WWE added a second set of Women’s Tag Titles when they can’t book the originals correctly. The Way (LeRae & Hartwell) will eventually be tag champs, but not on this night. Moon & Blackheart are an entertaining team who bring a big feel to the new titles. The two can keep them for one TakeOver longer.
Pick – Moon & Blackheart
Javier: Just because Johnny loses his title, doesn’t mean Candice can’t win one for herself. My guess is that the heels win, inspiring Gargano and Austin Theory to go after the men’s tag team championships somewhere down the line.
Pick – LeRae & Hartwell
Kaden: I couldn’t care less about this match. I don’t care about the NXT women’s tag division whatsoever. But, I do love me some Candice LaRae, so I’ll take the Way in this one.
Pick – LeRae & Hartwell
Jordan Devlin (c) vs Santos Escobar (c) – NXT Undisputed Cruiserweight Championship Ladder Match
Evan: If I had gone with Legado del Fantasma, then my logical next step would be for Escobar to win and for the stable to be dripping with gold. However, I went with another team and I think Escobar falls to Devlin here. The big bobblehead from across the pond is going to stake his claim as the real cruiserweight champ.
Pick – Jordan Devlin
Javier: I don’t like to reward scumbags, but Devlin is just the logical choice. Santos Escobar has outgrown the division and should move on to bigger and better things. Devlin, as wrong as it may be, becomes the de facto champion in this case. Hopefully he drops it quickly.
Pick – Jordan Devlin
Kaden: This could end up being the match of the night, but only if Triple H makes the right booking decision and Santos Escobar wins. I’m not a fan of Jordan Devlin whatsoever and I think it would be terrible booking if he won.
Pick – Santos Escobar
Finn Balor (c) vs Karrion Kross – NXT Championship
Evan: Kross was going to be the next big guy in NXT before his injury. I don’t think that plan has really changed. He’s still got a great presentation alongside Scarlett, and can be the focal point of the NXT brand. Balor was only supposed to be in NXT for a short term stint, so let’s get him back up on Raw or SmackDown after Wrestlemania in his new prince persona.
Pick – Karrion Kross
Javier: He’s back for the title that he never lost. The build to this match has left a lot to be desired, but I’m interested in the match. Balor has been on one in the ring since going back to NXT and Kross still needs to prove he can have a stellar match. I think they tear the house down, but Kross walks out victorious in the end.
Pick – Karrion Kross
Kaden: This is the match that I have no clue what will happen. Kross could win back the title he never lost and look like a monster, allowing Balor to return to the main roster. Or, Balor continues his dominant reign as NXT champion and Kross himself debuts on the main roster in a similar fashion as Keith Lee. I’m leaning the former in this scenario as I believe the Prince’s time in NXT has come to an end, but I’m not saying that with full certainty.
Pick – Karrion Kross
Adam Cole vs Kyle O’Reilly – Unsanctioned Match
Evan: Adam Cole is a bastard. This match is going to close the show, and NXT should give us a feel good moment to end the two night affair. O’Reilly should get one over Cole, even though we know their issues aren’t over.
Pick – Kyle O’Reilly
Javier: O’Reilly desperately needs this win if he wants to keep his main event momentum going after losing twice to Finn Balor. Future Shock explodes for the 80th time and well, these two don’t know how to have a bad match against each other. Like Moxley and Rollins or Owens and Zayn, they are just meant to do this for the rest of their careers. They’re wrestling soulmates. That said, I think this is the first of many matches together so Cole wins this bout.
Pick – Adam Cole
Kaden: This unsanctioned match is going to be awesome, and I genuinely am fine with either man winning. However, this is a predictions article so I have to choose, so I’m going with Adam Cole. I love Kyle and want him to be a top guy, but I think Cole needs to be given the rub a bit more.
Pick – Adam Cole
That’s who we have walking away victorious on Night Two. Agree? Disagree? Let us know on Twitter at @FPC_Wrestling.
