NXT Takeover Portland Picks
Who reigns supreme when the black and gold standard rolls into the Pacific Northwest?
Lots of great feedback on my “What Match Should Main Event WrestleMania 36” article, both on here and at eWrestlingNews. (You saw it first!)
If you believe the rumors (don’t), it’s going to be Drew McIntyre challenging Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship. I am honestly okay with that, as it can launch Drew into the stratosphere he needs to be in. Please continue to read, react, interact, and share—that’s what makes this world go ‘round!
Now then, let’s talk about my absolute wrestling product, WWE NXT!
Here is the first thing that comes to mind with WWE NXT Takeover: Portland: “Man… what a card!”
Seriously, this card is stacked, and could be one of the best Takeover events on paper ever. That’s a strong statement, I know. Here is your look at the card, and my picks!
NXT Championship: Adam Cole (c) vs. Tommaso Ciampa
Two of the very best in the entire world (including the greatest wrestler walking God’s green earth, BAY BAY!) will battle it out for one of the true symbols of in-ring excellence, the NXT Championship.
The story here is, of course, Ciampa’s chase to regain “Goldie,” which he never really lost. Ciampa had to vacate the NXT Championship last spring, leading to a trilogy of contests between Johnny Gargano (who won the championship over WrestleMania 35 weekend) and the aforementioned G.O.A.T in Adam Cole (the current champion, and forever holder of my heart for reals).
This is going to be an absolute classic, and should close the show. You’re getting amazing in-ring action, and the bell-to-bell storytelling is going to be off the charts. I think Cole escapes as champion, setting things up for Ciampa to finally bring Goldie back to Daddy over WrestleMania weekend in Tampa.
Prediction: Adam Cole, BAY BAY
NXT Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Bianca Belair
How much fun is this going to be? Rhea Ripley is the most exciting women’s champion in the entire company (world, maybe?), and Bianca Belair is easily the most improved wrestler over the past 12 months. Her run in the Royal Rumble half makes me hope they find a way to go with Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 35.
This feels like a forgone conclusion to me, but that doesn’t take away the fact that this will probably be the best Bianca Belair match to date, and maybe even the best Rhea Ripley match to date. Sit back and enjoy these future legends, folks.
Prediction: Rhea Ripley
NXT Tag Team Championship: The Undisputed Era’s Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly (c) vs. The Broserweights of Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne
It’s amazing how quickly a tag team division can go south, leaving us with a makeshift team to challenge at Takeover: Portland. Thankfully this iteration of The Makeshift Express features two amazing talents in Matt Riddle and Pete Dunne, two guys who can deliver in almost any setting. Combine that with The Undisputed Era, and you have a recipe for greatness, a likely instant classic.
What happens here is really dictated by what’s next for The Undisputed Era. Roddy Strong lost the North American and has shifted his focus to Velveteen Dream, and both Adam Cole and Fish/O’Reilly have run through pretty much everyone. We’re either headed towards a break-up/shake-up, or a babyface turn for the group. I have a feeling it’s the latter.
So I am going way outside the lines with this one: Pete Dunne turns on Matt Riddle, and in turn brings British Strong Style to the United States as a heel stable.
Winners: The Undisputed Era
NXT North American Championship: Keith Lee (c) vs. Dominik Dijakovic
If there was ever a star tailor made to open this show, it’s Keith Lee. The man is the personification of “over,” and the crowd will be going nuts for him. As for this match? I mean how can it NOT deliver? All these guys have EVER done is deliver! It’s far too soon for Keith Lee to lose the North American here, and we’re also in a spot where a drawn out feud between these two men wouldn’t work. So what do we do?
You debut Kevin Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux, that’s what!
I don’t see NXT waiting long at all to debut this pairing, and I think it’s too obvious not to put them together. Kevin will be way over from the jump, and Scarlett can be the heat magnet he needs to work as a heel. Keith Lee vs. Kevin Kross at Takeover: Tampa Bay will be the match you never knew you wanted to see, and you will love it.
Prediction: Keith Lee, with a Kevin Kross post-match attack
Finn Balor vs. Johnny Gargano
Bro, the hits just keep on comin’, don’t they! Here we have another instant classic, that will outshine Balor vs. Matt Riddle that came before it. Johnny Gargano is basically incapable of having a bad match, and Finn Balor is FINN FREAKING BALOR. Unlike Keith Lee vs. Kevin Kross referenced above, this is the match you’ve known you want to see, and now you get to see it.
The answer to “what the hell do you do here” is really predicated on what happens next for both guys. And I think that, for these two, the road to Tampa Bay ends with… Finn Balor vs. Johnny Gargano.
I think this feud ends with The Demon, but since Finn is the heel, the Demon comes out because Johnny demands it. Johnny Wrestling picks up the big win, and Finn wants to avenge that loss. Johnny only does it to face the Demon, who vanquishes this feud on the night before the grandest stage in the business.
Prediction: Johnny Wrestling
Street Fight: Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai
This is a major opportunity for both women, and I can’t wait to see them deliver on this stage. It’s no secret that I love me some Tegan Nox, but the sky is really the limit for both of them.
Believe it or not, this is the match I most look forward to. It’s not because I think it will be the best, but it’s the one where both performers have the most to prove. Both also have the ability to prove it, and I believe they are going to go all out and provide us with some quality entertainment. I also think this isn’t the blowoff for the program, so I am picking the heel to win.
Prediction: Tegan Nox
What now?
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