WWE NXT will be putting on their latest live special tomorrow (Sat., Aug. 10, 2019). For the second time, they’ll be coming our way from Toronto. Last time they were in Canada’s biggest city was in 2016, the night before Survivor Series. This time it’s for a SummerSlam eve show from Scotiabank Arena.
The card set to come our way tomorrow at 7PM Eastern, exclusively on WWE Network, looks to be the usual high quality we’ve come to expect from the black-and-gold. It will feature five matches, with four titles will be on the line.
If you're new or someone who only checks out NXT for the live specials, we've got a full preview of the matches coming up for you between now and belltime. Right now, we've assembled a motley crew of Cagesiders who watch & love NXT to give us their thoughts & predictions on each.
Let's get to it.
WWE NXT TakeOver: XXV PREDICTIONS
Johnny Gargano (c) vs. Adam Cole for the NXT title
Sean Rueter: Is there any way to make this match not be a 60 minute, Triple H/Shawn Michaels’ produced “epic”? Cause as much as I love both performers, they (and the brand) have gone to the well at least once too often with those. As long as this is gonna serve up three stages of hell? There’s only one choice, BAY BAY! Pick: Adam Cole
Kyle Decker: I’m going with a theme that’s going to inform 3 out of 5 of my picks. I’m going with the theme that Undisputed ERA wins all the titles. If they’re going to run that story, and they absolutely should, tonight is the night to do it. But even if I weren’t saying that, I’d pick Cole. I don’t see any point in putting the belt back on Gargano. Cole as the d-bag heel the roster is chasing is a much better prospect. Pick: Adam Cole
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: I don’t even know. It used to be that NXT never retreaded old territory. Nothing wrong with either approach as such, but it has me curious and makes picking harder than it feels like it should be. That being said... Pick: Adam Cole
Stella Cheeks (of the always awesome NYD podcast, and Cageside social media maven): I do not care about this match at all. It’s how I feel about Pixar movies. Do I know ostensibly that it will be good? Yes. Am I mad that they are going to try and make me feel “epic” feelings without doing the real work to earn such a response? Also, yes. Personally, I’m ready to watch Johnny Gargano flounder on the main roster. Pick: Adam Cole
Henry T. Casey: Welp, Decker and I agree on this. It’s time for the Era to get all the gold, and probably show it off on FOX this fall. More importantly, it’s time to make our favorite Baybay, Adam Cole, the big bad top heel of NXT that the promotion has needed in Ciampa’s absence. Pick: Adam Cole
Mia Yim vs. Shayna Baszler (c) for the NXT Women’s title
Sean Rueter: The Queen of Spades will rule NXT’s Women’s division forever. And even if she’s not, I’m not feeling Mia Yim’s push, so I hope she’s not the one to end after more interesting choices haven’t gotten that rub. Pick: Shayna Baszler
Kyle Decker: I know Shayna has been champion or in the championship picture for awhile (years?) now and people are tiring of her. But with all that time, may as well make the final defeat count. And I don’t think Mia is the person to do that. This feud has maxed out at “alright” and after all this time, a champion shouldn’t be dethroned in an alright angle by a challenger who really hasn’t stuck out during her time in NXT. Pick: Shayna Baszler
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: I want Shayna to retain because I love the Queen of Spades and I’d be happy for her to reign just about forever, but I’m thinking that because it’s a change that folks aren’t feeling super hot about, that’s exactly why we’re getting it. Pick: Mia Yim
Stella Cheeks: Mia Yim is great. I’ve loved her for years, but unfortunately she seems like a last min scramble pick because they just had no idea what to do with Shayna since Io & Candice are feuding. Shayna is a long reigning champ with a hell of a win record. At this point, the person who takes the belt is going to be someone they think is a star. Mia isn’t there yet. Pick: Shayna Baszler
Henry T. Casey: I want Mia Yim to win, mostly because I’ve been a fan for a while and I’m also fond of Keith Lee, who’s quite fond of her. That being said, this storyline hasn’t clicked for me and I doubt it has for those backstage at Full Sail. If Shayna’s to be vanquished, it shouldn’t be by someone who’s also a baddie but by a true underdog. So, I’m gonna go back to googling “Dakota Kai return schedule” Pick: Shayna Baszler
Street Profits vs. Undisputed ERA for the NXT Tag Team championship
Sean Rueter: They’ve already got a plum spot on Raw, but they’ll get more ring time if they stay here, too. Not sure I’m convinced they will drape the ERA in gold, either. It’s Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish’s turn to get passive aggressively disrespected by the Panama City Playboy. Pick: Street Profits
Kyle Decker: In match #2 of the Undisputed ERA wins all, this is the second most likely to happen. There’s certainly reason to keep the popular Street Profits as champs, but it won’t shake anything up too much to go with a change. ERA are great in the tag division. And the Profits are hanging out on Monday night all the time as is. Pick: Undisputed ERA
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Are the Street Profits gonna carry their role as hype men on Monday Night Raw into an actual wrestling career or...? Because that’s the real question here. Anyway my dudes had a good solid run as Evolve Tag Team Champions, I believe in them. Pick: Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford)
Stella Cheeks: Montez Ford is a star and Dawkins has been showing that he is not the dead-weight that I thought he was, but considering a) they have been regulars as Monday Night Raw’s Greek Chorus and b) the appeal of Undisputed Era all in gold is, well, undisputed I think Street Profits are going to lose this title defense. Pick: Undisputed Era
Henry T. Casey: With Dawkins improving by the day, especially in that instant-classic promo backstage about RVD, the Profits are beyond ready for the main roster. Pick: Kool Kyle and Daddy Fish, The Undisputed Era
Pete Dunne vs. Velveteen Dream (c) vs. Roderick Strong for the North American championship
Sean Rueter: Gonna keep predicting Dream entering the main title picture until it happens. The longest reigning champ in the history of Triple H’s territories feels like too big a deal for the mid-card belt. A backbreaker shall lead them. Pick: Roderick Strong
Kyle Decker: If Undisputed falters anywhere, it’s here. Roderick Strong is against some studs here. It’s a triple threat. And if they aren’t going with the story that Undisputed wins everything, Roddy is the man who doesn’t get it done. He was the guy who almost got kicked out months back and it was odd how they just quickly reversed that angle. I still think he wins here. The triple threat format can protect Dream a bit more in a loss. Pick: Roderick Strong
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: This feels like it should be the Dream’s graduation match for sure. So, Peter or Roddy? Roderick or Pete? I’m going with Dunne because his shoot name is cooler, sue me. Pick: Pete Dunne
Stella Cheeks: Pete & Dream get into a sexy staring contest and Roddy breaks both their backs. Undisputed walks out dripping in gold. Pick: Roddy Strong
Henry T. Casey: Dunne’s got something to prove now that he’s moved over from NXT UK to regular NXT, so he’s not a bad pick. Dream’s just undeniable, so I don’t want to ever bet against Velveteen. But as I said I think TakeOver Toronto 2019 is all about being Undisputed, and Roddy needs to be solidified as a singles heel. Pick: Roderick Strong
Candice LeRae vs. Io Shirai
Sean Rueter: Candice has paid her dues. Io is just learning the ways of NXT’s booking of the women’s division. Plus, the evil genius can get her heat back in an instant with some kendo stick attacks. Pick: Candice LeRae
Kyle Decker: This here is probably the toughest to pick. Candice really needs a marquee win in NXT. And if Shayna does retain her title, a win here could put Candice in position to try to take it at the fall TakeOver. But do they really have Io Shirai lose her first real match as a heel? Both need to win but both can’t. They’ll probably go the route where Shirai officially wins, but it’s in a way that attempts not to weaken Candice too much, even though it probably will. Pick: Io Shirai
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Since I have the babyface winning the title match, go with the heel winning the match that has title scene implications. Easy peasy. Pick: Io Shirai
Stella Cheeks: Io Shirai walked into WWE with a buzz around her name and then proceeded to be completely underwhelming. Sure, she has a killer moonsault, but this match is a make it or break it for her. If she beats Candice then she can return her focus, as a badass heel, back on Shayna and finally dethrone The Queen of Spades. Sorry, Candice, but once again it’s not your moment. Pick: Io Shirai
Henry T. Casey: If you’re gonna have Io Shirai lose every time she’s a face, you’d have to give her a win after the heel turn, right? Anything else makes her look ... unlikely. But, I kinda doubt NXT would give 5 straight decisions to heels, as it would start to make the night feel too predictable. Pick: Candice wins by DQ, when Io gets too frustrated with LeRae kicking out of everything, and just whales on her with some plunder.
That's who we've got. Who are you taking, Cagesiders?