NXT TakeOver: Portland is just a few hours away on the WWE Network and we’ve got your previews and predictions for all of the matches tonight. The wait is almost over and the card is absolutely loaded.
NXT Championship- Adam Cole(c) vs Tommaso Ciampa
The Blackheart returned to in-ring action much earlier than expected and proved that he hadn’t skipped a beat. Tommaso Ciampa is one win away from completing the greatest comeback in NXT history, but there’s only one last obstacle to overcome, defeating Adam Cole for the NXT Championship. Cole has had arguably the greatest run as NXT Champion. He’s not ready to relinquish his role as the face of NXT to anyone. Will Cole shatter Ciampa’s quest to recapture “goldie” or will The Blackheart reclaim his spot as the top entertainer in NXT?
Prediction- Tommaso Ciampa
NXT Women’s Championship- Rhea Ripley(c) vs Bianca Belair
The Women’s Division in NXT is on fire and two of the top stars will take center stage tonight in Portland. Rhea Ripley has shown that when the lights turn bright she steps her game and the same can be said for her opponent, Bianca Belair. After defeating Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women’s Championship Ripley hasn’t looked back and with a possible match with Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania, could she be looking past her opponent tonight? Belair is on a major roll after stepping up her game at NXT War Games and Survivor Series, not to mention her very impressive performance in the Women’s Royal Rumble match. Note to Sam Roberts, Belair deserves to be in a high profile match of this caliber this time and if Rhea Rhipley underestimates Bianca tonight we’re going to see a new NXT Women’s Champion.
Prediction- Rhea Rhipley
Johnny Gargano vs Finn Balor
The anticipation for this match has been months in the making and were finally going to get to see it tonight. This is a fantasy match up times ten, with both men having lots to prove. Finn Balor returned to NXT to find the identity he had lost on RAW and SmackDown. Balor had to turn to the past to find his future and standing right in front of him was Johnny Gargano. Balor had been an enigma since returning to NXT, not knowing what side he truly stood on until he attacked Gargano and put him out of commission for an extended period of time. “The Prince” was finally back but now awaits the challenge from an oncoming Johnny Wrestling at NXT TakeOver. Since returning from injury Gargano has called out Balor and pressed every button to make this match even more personal. Who will walk away victorious tonight? It’s a battle between NXT’s past versus NXT’s present.
Prediction- Finn Balor
NXT Tag Team Championship- Undisputed ERA(c) vs The Broserweights
The winners of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Matt Riddle and Pete Dunne get their opportunity to take more gold away from the Undisputed ERA. It has not been a great start to the year for Kyle O’Reilly Bobby Fish and company but they’ve managed to hold on to their Tag Team Titles but it might be just a matter of if not when the right team will come along and take gold away. Enter the Broserweights, the number one contenders, who come into to tonight as the biggest threat to O’Reilly and Fish because of their similar technical and submission styles. Riddle and Dunne have quickly become fan favorites and we definitely know what side the NXT Universe will be rooting for in this one.
Prediction- Pete Dunne And Matt Riddle
NXT North American Championship- Keith Lee(c) vs Dominik Dijakovic
Whenever these two titans step into the ring against one another it truly is a classic case of the “irresistible force” meeting the “immovable object. Keith Lee has been NXT’s Breakout Superstar and he looks to bring that tidal wave of momentum against Dominic Dijakovic, who is the Number One Contender for the North American Title. Both men head into TakeOver with victories over one another, as well as a pair of draws. Who’s the better big man? Dijakovic has promised to walk away with the North American Title but that is easier said than done. Who will win the rubber match and walk away Portland as North American Champion?
Prediction– Keith Lee
Street Fight- Tegan Nox vs Dakota Kai
Bad blood, former best friends, and revenge make a great formula for a good ole fashioned street fight. Tegan Knox has battled from double knee injuries to return to in-ring action only to be betrayed her very best friend. Dakota Kai inexplicably attacked Tegan at NXT War Games, leaving her injured and unable to compete in the match. Dakota has made Nox’s life a living hell and tonight she seeks vindication, but there’s no telling what Dakota Kai has up her sleeve or what mental state she’s in knowing that there are no rules in this match. We wouldn’t count Tegan out of it because there’s no better motivating factor than revenge. Is Nox willing to go to the dark side? Tegan’s going to have to go there if she wants to win this match.
Prediction– Dakota Kai
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