1)Ember Moon vs. Billie Kay
What's interesting about this matchup is that it holds a similar spot to the match in this spot last year....Jushin Liger vs. Tyler Breeze. You have a beautiful NxT mainstay in Billie Kay, whom as of late has been on a bit of a win streak and has even gotten a match on Smackdown vs former NxT mainstay Dana Brooke. Then you have a newcomer to NxT in the form of Ember Moon. I'm not sure if these two had ever met in either Shimmer or Shine, but both have a good amount of indy experience (especially Ember Moon's former self, Athena). I highly doubt that Moon will lose her debut, so look more how the match itself works rather than the result here.
Prediction:
Moon via some sort of crazy cutter.
Match 2: "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived"Austin Aries vs. No Way Jose
This will be No Way Jose's big debut on a NxT event stage (not live event but televised special) and there is no one better to face off against than Aries. Aries in the storyline has been the big buzzkill to No Way Jose's somewhat never-ending Fiesta with the NxT Fans....and Corey Graves lol. Attacking Jose after Jose had a match, it changed the Dominican party dude from a comedy character to a man pissed off for just trying to spread some joy. Since, No Way has called out, attacked, and berated Aries both physically and mentally to prove he is more than just a one-dimensional hispanic Adam Rose knock off. Normally, Aries would be the the one cheered due to the independent background, but Aries and Jose have done a fantastic job of keeping the correct Face/Heel Dynamic for the match. Personally I'm hoping my prediction for this match is wrong and that Austin Aries wins the match on the big show, for Jose to either continue the fight for the next few months OR even for him to win the rematch the next time they face off, because this feud could really be great for Jose.
Prediction: No Way Jose wins in a fluke sort of way that puts egg on Aries theoretically.
Match 3:Andrade Cien Almas vs. Bobby Roode (GLORIOUS)
Unlike Match Number 2, this match has a different fan dynamic. Andrade Cien Almas was previewed as this great Luchador with a tremendous pedigree, and came out as a chippendales dressed dude who does have cool moves.....but doesn't connect with the crowd yet. Bobby Roode comes out as a Triple H style heel and knocks the fat fans....but is cheered beyond belief because A)He immediately connected with the fans through his theme (GLORIOUS) and B) of his pedigree in TNA (see what I did there?). Roode will be cheered with every villainous action he does because he is GLORIOUS...and Almas will be undeservedly booed. I want Roode to win, but not without a fantastic performance from Almas. Almas deserves to be cheered (or at least turned so the heel heat is proper) and Bobby Roode will be....GLORIOUS!
Prediction: Bobby Roode with a GLORIOUS finish....even if it's just a rollup. Because GLORIOUS.
4)NxT Tag Team Championship Match
The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder) (c) vs. Johnny Gargano and Tomasso Ciampa
The Revival were able to defeat American Alpha to regain the NxT Tag Team Championships at The End and since then, various new challengers have popped up in TM-61, The Authors of Pain, and their opponents Saturday nights. Gargano and Ciampa for those who do not know are/were two of the best independent wrestlers on the American Scene today. Both men plied their craft in indy meccas like Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Evolve, and Dragon Gate USA, along with Revolution Pro in England, and Dragon Gate in Japan. While the two were recently made as a tag team last year at the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, both men are highly skilled and highly decorated. The two teams would be considerably equal if it weren't for two major factors. 1) The Revival have worked into the best and most sound tag team in the company today and 2)Gargano and Ciampa, at (all) heart, are not only singles wrestlers....but also recently damaged from their fantastic clash in the first round of the WWE Cruiserweight Classic. Needless to say, the Revival is fresh, and Ciampa isn't. Garage is especially in a tough situation because not only did he have a rough match against Ciampa, but he has an upcoming (yes it was taped but not aired yet so shut up) match against fellow indy standout TJ Perkins. Not to mention....there could be some bad blood due to Johnny Wrestling's win over the Psycho Killer.
There are many factors and endless amounts of intrigue into this match. Yes, Gargano and Ciampa have won a match against the Revival but I believe there are just too many factors going against them. I would LOVE for Gargano and Ciampa to get the 2nd upset, but it's too early in this title hunt and there is just too much for both of them to overcome. But believe me, I'll be rooting for them like I'm rooting for Aries.
Prediction: The Revival via The Shatter Machine on Ciampa.
5 and Semi-Main Event)NxT Women's Championship
Asuka (c) vs. Bayley
This is a rematch from NxT Takeover Dallas. Back in April, Asuka was able to defeat Bayley when the Huggable one passed out from the Crossface Chickenwing aptly named, the Asuka Lock. Since then, Asuka def. Nia Jax at Takeover: The End. Bayley was injured at the hands of Jax when Takeover: The End happened, but got her revenge once she returned from injury. After the draft kept both women on the roster, Bayley made a one night only debut teaming with frienemy Sasha Banks to defeat Charlotte and Dana Brooke at WWE Battleground.
Since then, Asuka has become more aggressive and arrogant in her matches, not letting go of the Asuka Lock in a match against Aliyah with Bayley watching ringside. Both sides have brought an edge not yet seen from each other similar to the edge that came from Samoa Joe and Finn Balor at the last two Takeovers. It has become a highly personal affair with the label of Top Female in NxT on the line as well as the NxT Women's Championship.
This will be one of the most difficult ones to predict. I believe Asuka will retain the title... (but it's mostly due to the main event.
Main Event) NxT Championship
Samoa Joe (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
This has been a dream match for years upon years. Nakamura and Joe go all the way back to the early 2000s. Samoa Joe was a California based wrestler who had been privileged to train at the famed Inoki Dojo in California, along with a few other potential prospects like Bryan Danielson (Daniel Bryan)and the aformentioned Nakamura. Afterwards, Joe would go on to become a huge sensation in both Ring of Honor (as the longest reigning ROH World Champion) and TNA (former TNA World Heavyweight and X-Division Champion), fighting the likes of Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, and Kurt Angle before joining NxT last year in the Spring. Nakamura would dabble in Mixed Martial Arts before joining/rejoining the Inoki Dojo's parent company, New Japan Pro Wrestling. Nakamura would be 1/3rd of the 2nd Generation of the Three Musketeers (with Katsuyori Shibata and Hiroshi Tanahashi) and later on part of the Big Four of New Japan's renaissance of the 2010s (Nakamura, Tanahashi, Kazuchika Okada, and AJ Styles), before joining NxT back in April. Since then, Joe has had fantastic matches against Finn Balor, Baron Corbin, and Sami Zayn. Nakamura has had a great match against Austin Aries and two Match of the Year candidates against Balor and Zayn.
The buildup has been mostly Joe calling out General Manager William Regal on booking Nakamura without his consent, and then Nakamura trolling Joe left and right.
Normally I would say that Joe wins...but they've built Nakamura so much that having Joe knock him down would actually be pretty insulting. So...
NAKAMURA WINS! (I hope!)
WHEN IN DOUBT....listen to my predictions because I'm right even when they book it wrong.
The Summerslam Preview AND SUPER J CUP results will be up tomorrow morning!
This has been a dream match for years upon years. Nakamura and Joe go all the way back to the early 2000s. Samoa Joe was a California based wrestler who had been privileged to train at the famed Inoki Dojo in California, along with a few other potential prospects like Bryan Danielson (Daniel Bryan)and the aformentioned Nakamura. Afterwards, Joe would go on to become a huge sensation in both Ring of Honor (as the longest reigning ROH World Champion) and TNA (former TNA World Heavyweight and X-Division Champion), fighting the likes of Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, and Kurt Angle before joining NxT last year in the Spring. Nakamura would dabble in Mixed Martial Arts before joining/rejoining the Inoki Dojo's parent company, New Japan Pro Wrestling. Nakamura would be 1/3rd of the 2nd Generation of the Three Musketeers (with Katsuyori Shibata and Hiroshi Tanahashi) and later on part of the Big Four of New Japan's renaissance of the 2010s (Nakamura, Tanahashi, Kazuchika Okada, and AJ Styles), before joining NxT back in April. Since then, Joe has had fantastic matches against Finn Balor, Baron Corbin, and Sami Zayn. Nakamura has had a great match against Austin Aries and two Match of the Year candidates against Balor and Zayn.
The buildup has been mostly Joe calling out General Manager William Regal on booking Nakamura without his consent, and then Nakamura trolling Joe left and right.
Normally I would say that Joe wins...but they've built Nakamura so much that having Joe knock him down would actually be pretty insulting. So...
NAKAMURA WINS! (I hope!)
WHEN IN DOUBT....listen to my predictions because I'm right even when they book it wrong.
The Summerslam Preview AND SUPER J CUP results will be up tomorrow morning!
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