There is a lot of pressure on the men and women of NXT tonight. Since the NXT Takeover: R-Evolution live broadcast on the WWE Network, people have been praising the NXT product, with some even calling it the best event of 2014. How do you follow that?
The table has been set to do just that. NXT Takeover: Rival looks to be the kind of event that creates memories for not only those competing, but those watching. From personal rivalries to championship matches, every match on the card is meaningful with purpose. In the main event, they have a title match in which the championship may be secondary to the vengeance of a man destroyed both physically and mentally by the betrayal of his former best friend. On paper, it’s a completely stacked card.
It’s an event that has the professional wrestling world talking, including the staff here at Last Word On Sports. Adam Contant, Ricky Rana, Shawn Wilken and Philippa Hopwood got together to give their thoughts and predictions on what to expect from an event that already have high expectations.
Hideo Itami vs. Tyler Breeze
WINNER:
Adam: Tyler Breeze
Ricky, Shawn, and Phillipa: Hideo Itami
THOUGHTS by Adam Contant: A few weeks ago, Hideo Itami and Tyler Breeze battled in the first round of the NXT Championship #1 Contenders Tournament. Itami secured the victory and we thought that was the end of it. But after last week’s episode of NXT, wwe.com posted an exclusive video of “Prince Pretty” attacking the Japanese sensation backstage after his match with Finn Balor. Tyler ranted as he laid the boots to Itami screaming at him “You blew it! I could’ve beat Finn, and you RUINED it! You ruin everything!”
It’s possible that his words were simply the ramblings of a frustrated wrestler, who felt that he could’ve done a better job, or maybe there is some deeper resentment there that is left unsaid. Breeze hasn’t had a stellar couple of months. Ever since NXT Takeover: Fatal Four Way, he hasn’t done anything of much note, all the while watching Hideo Itami welcomed into the NXT family with adoration and given the spotlight that he obviously craves. It’s possible that Breeze has simply gotten tired of waiting his turn and wants to make an impact at a highly anticipated NXT event. A win over Itami would be a big win for him, and maybe put him back on the road to getting another chance to wrestle for the NXT Championship. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the target of his frustration had just wrestled an exhausting main event match and was ripe for an attack.
Hideo Itami is an interesting case study for NXT. He was the most hyped new acquisition in the show’s history, and his results have been mixed. His first few performances were against the Ascension where he served as a punching bag to Konnor and Viktor. It wasn’t until he brought it Finn Balor to help him that his fortunes seemed to turn around. His success with Balor as a team is undeniable, but his track record as a singles competitor remains spotty at best. If Balor wins the tournament tonight and Itami is going to prove himself as a singles competitor, it has to start tonight with Breeze.
Although for some this match has a clear cut winner, I am not so sure. A win here would be a nice way to get him back on track as a top acquisition and maybe even build towards another main event showdown with his former tag team partner. On the other hand, Breeze could really use this win after a rough few months, especially with Marcus Louis still lurking in the shadows plotting his revenge against Prince Pretty. Making your big return to beat a guy that hasn’t been on a hot streak recently doesn’t have much of an impact, even if fans get behind your quest for revenge. Plus, we also haven’t seen Hideo really struggle with defeat since he first appeared. It might make for a more interesting story to see Itami lose two big singles matches back to back and how that affects him mentally. With the attack last week after a brutal match giving him an out if he loses, I can’t help but side with Tyler Breeze in this contest.
NO DISQUALIFICATION MATCH
Baron Corbin vs. Bull Dempsey
WINNER:
Adam, Shawn and Phillipa: Bull Dempsey
Ricky: Baron Corbin
THOUGHTS by Adam Contant: When Bull Dempsey and Baron Corbin finally faced off at NXT: R-Evolution, I was left feeling underwhelmed at the result. The match was so quick and decisive that it felt like just another squash for Corbin. When they faced off again in the first round of the NXT Championship #1 Contender Tournament, it was much of the same. For Corbin, his first real test didn’t come until he fought Adrien Neville in the semi-finals of the tournament last week, and that’s when things got interesting again between Dempsey and Corbin.
Before the Neville/Corbin match, Dempsey sent out a tweet that read “I’d like to wish Baron Corbin the best of luck tonight in his match w/ Adrian Neville on #WWENXT on the @WWENetwork. @WWENXT #peaceoffering” Most fans who read that knew that something was about to go down. Moments later, Dempsey attacked Corbin, costing him the match against Neville. In a way, Bull lived up to his promise to hand Baron his first loss, then added insult to injury by posting on twitter “My bad, bro… #AllHailTheNYNightmare” Soon afterwards it was announced that fans would get Dempsey vs Corbin III at NXT Takeover: Rival, and there would be no disqualifications.
Corbin is now looking for revenge, and he has his chance to not only beat Dempsey for a third decisive time, but to hurt him in ways he has yet to display. This should be an easy win for Corbin, but I don’t see things going that way.
In the weeks since losing to Baron Corbin, Bull Dempsey has proven himself to be both resilient and cunning. When he lost, Dempsey didn’t get mad, he got even, and he did so by outsmarting Corbin. Now, after two losses, it’s Dempsey who is seen as being ahead in this feud because despite two losses, he still walked away with the biggest victory yet. He ended Baron Corbin’s winning streak, and he didn’t even need to wrestle him to do it.
Baron Corbin is coming into this match angry, and that will be his downfall. Corbin is not only heading into an environment he is unfamiliar with, but his first loss must be affecting him mentally, a fact that Bull Dempsey will be sure to exploit. Dempsey has proven that he can outfox Corbin, and often in No DQ matches, it isn’t always the toughest man that wins, but the smartest.
NXT CHAMPIONSHIP #1 CONTENDERS FINALS
Finn Balor vs. Adrian Neville
WINNER:
Adam and Ricky: Adrian Neville
Phillipa and Shawn: Finn Balor
THOUGHTS by Phillipa Hopwood: Probably the most anticipated match up on the card, with Adrian’s high flying antics set to be on top form and Balor after having a great start to his career in NXT, he wont want Neville to get in the way of his road to the NXT title. Adrian Neville was NXT Champion for most of 2014, and it looked like he would be called up to the main roster after this, he still hasn’t and I think it’s time for a new rivalry over the title, so I think Balor will take this.
NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
The Lucha Dragons (Sin Cara & Kalisto) vs. #BaM (Buddy Murphy & Wesley Blake) (c)
Winners:
Adam, Ricky, Shawn and Phillipa: #BaM (Buddy Murphy & Wesley Blake)
THOUGHTS by Phillipa Hopwood: With Sin Cara looking like he’s set to feature more on the main roster and Kalisto’s rumoured Gimmick change, you have to think the holders will retain here. Blake and Murphy have had a good run as Champions and I can’t see that coming to an end here.
FATAL FOUR WAY MATCH
NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch vs. Bayley vs. Charlotte (c)
WINNER:
Adam, Shawn and Phillipa: Sasha Banks
Ricky: Becky Lynch
WHO GETS PINNED:
Adam: Becky Lynch
Ricky: Bayley
THOUGHTS by Ricky Rana: With four great NXT divas, this match should be a great entertainer. However, with rumours suggesting the time is now for Charlotte to be called on to the main roster, this could be the match we see her finally lose the NXT divas championship, but the question is to whom?
Bailey has shown an aggressive side as of late and her change of gimmick may be a way for people to take her more seriously and what better way to do this than to become the new NXT Divas champion?
Sasha is no doubt a great performer in the ring and has provided excellent bouts with Charlotte in the past, her promos are on top form and the ‘rightful successor to the throne’ appears to be Sasha Banks? But, I feel the show stealer and the winner of the match will be Becki Lynch which would lead to an interesting feud with Sasha Banks.
MAIN EVENT
NXT CHAMPIONSHIP
Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn (c)
WINNER:
Adam, and Phillipa: Sami Zayn
Shawn: No Contest
Ricky: Sami Zayn by DQ or No Contest
THOUGHTS by Ricky Rana: Boy am I excited for this one!
Sami Zayn participated in easily one of (probably thee) best match of 2014 at NXT’s last ppv against Adrian Neville. The ending of this match with Owens turning on Zayn set up their epic showdown leading up to this match.
Calling this match is very difficult because both stars are excellent performers and hard to predict which way creative will go, Zayn a short title run by way of a victory for Owens or a clean defeat by Zayn rendering Owens heel turn and build up to their match… slightly pointless?
As disappointing as it may seem, I feel this match will either go to no contest (a double count out or the match to be called no contest by the ref) OR a victory for Zayn by Owens being disqualified, whereby Zayn keeps the title and Owens gets the’ victory’ (as in one over Zayn) setting up another match for the title some point down the line.
NXT TAKEOVER: RIVAL
There is no doubt that tonight’s NXT event has a lot of lofty expectations to live up to. Of course, that’s nothing new for the men and women at Full Sail University and the WWE Performance Center. They did it last year with ArRival, and they did it in December with R-Evolution. Can they continue their trend of exceeding expectations? The only way to find out is to watch the WWE Network tonight at 8:00 pm EST. You can bet the LWOS Pro Wrestling Department will be.
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