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Preview: NXT – NXT Takeover Toronto 2 (8/10/19)

NXT Takeover Toronto

Almost always the highlight of SummerSlam weekend is the NXT Takeover special. This year NXT Takeover Toronto gets the honor of hosting this spectacular card.

The line-up is highlighted by the well-crafted storytelling that has built NXT into what it is today. Join me as we take a look at this spectacular card!

Io Shirai vs Candice LeRae

NXT Takeover Toronto
Photo: NXT

Ah, friends turned bitter rivals a tale as old as time(or at least however long ago it was that Chet Barkley stole my oreos…yes I’m still mad) The latest chapter of this story takes place as Candice LeRae takes on “The Genius of the Sky” Io Shirai. This comes off the heels of Shirai’s pursuit of the NXT Women’s Championship, and coming up short-handed caused the Japanese sensation to snap taking out her frustrations on LeRae.

Each superstar’s motivation is clear…Shirai wants to prove she doesn’t need friends, as she has stated for weeks. Candice’s motivation is simple payback! She did get a measure of revenge attacking Shirai during her match with Kacy Catanzaro. This match was made official by William Regal on the 7/31/19 episode of NXT.

This could be a dark horse for match of the night. While Shirai has been a constant/consistent performer for Takeover shows, this will be Candice LeRae’s first Takeover match since her debut with NXT. While this match seems to be set up to establish Shirai as a heel, it may serve as LeRae’s launchpad into title contention.

NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP – The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) (C) vs The Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish)

Photo: NXT

The main thing keeping interest in this match, will Adam Cole’s prophecy of The Undisputed Era holding all the gold come true? If it weren’t for that, and the Street Profits looming call up, I would say the champions would most definitely retain.

You could go farther and say that Cole’s prediction is the entire reason behind this match-up, this writer would completely agree with you. Whether The Street Profits retain and continue to establish themselves as worthy champions, or The Undisputed Era regains the titles and further cement the group’s dominance over the yellow and black brand, it will be a fun match.

NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP – Velveteen Dream (C) vs Roderick Strong vs Pete Dunne

NXT Takeover
Photo: NXT

Personally is the match I am most excited for as literally all three men have a great chance at walking out with the gold. Roderick Strong’s campaign began when he scored a pinfall over the reigning champion, Dream, in a six man tag team match. He was the clear cut contender to face and dethrone the champion, but that was before Pete Dunne entered the picture.

While admittedly Dunne has the lowest chance of the three of walking out with the gold, but it would be so satisfying. After all Strong did betray Dunne the night he joined The Undisputed Era, it would be the sweetest revenge to be the reason for him to potentially be the catalyst for Strong’s exit.

That past animosity is also why I give Velveteen Dream a great chance at walking out with his title still sat around his waist. The psychiatry of the in-ring action is a very strong point of Dream, and he’s certainly smart enough to capitalize on an act of over-aggression by either man.

NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP – Shayna Baszler (C) vs Mia Yim

Photo: NXT

While not one of the most talked-about matches on this card, this has subtly done a great job of building up the challenger. While yes there’s not a lot of heat between Shayna Baszler and Mia Yim, Yim is more than a credible threat to the belt at this point.

Not only has Yim taken out Baszler’s biggest x-factors (Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir), but she is the only other person to hold two wins over top contender Bianca Belair. All that being said, I see Shayna walking out with the belt. It just feels like it would be disappointing to see a dominant reign end in a match that doesn’t have the buzz it should.

NXT CHAMPIONSHIP (TWO OUT OF THREE FALLS MATCH) – Adam Cole (C) vs Johnny Gargano

NXT Takeover Toronto
Photo: NXT

It ends how it began (sort of), as Adam Cole and Johnny Gargano face off in their third straight Takeover main event. While just the classic matches these two have managed to have in their two previous encounters would be more than enough reason to be excited about this match, this rivalry has taken a personal turn.

As part of his Bay Bay Championship Celebration Tour, Adam Cole decided to stop in Gargano’s hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. While there the champ spent his time harassing Gargano’s friends and family calling them losers just like Johnny. Gargano assaulted his rival beating him from pillar to post.

All signs point to Adam Cole retaining the title and possibly feuding with a returning Tommaso Ciampa. Gargano has been in NXT for a while and has done well, but maybe it’s time he gets his shot on the main roster.

So ends this week’s NXT recap stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.  And make sure to watch NXT Takeover Toronto and NXT every week on the WWE Network

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