The milestone twenty-fifth event under the NXT TakeOver chronology takes place this Saturday, as WWE presents NXT TakeOver: XXV from the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
The show will air live on the WWE Network featuring a five-match card, with four world championships up for grabs.
Topping the card will be two world championship matches. The NXT Championship will be on the line when Johnny Gargano defends against Adam Cole in a rematch. In the co-main event, Shayna Baszler defends the NXT Women’s Championship against Io Shirai.
Saturday’s show also features a four-team ladder match for the vacant NXT Tag-Team Championships. The match includes Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish of The Undisputed ERA vs. The Forgotten Sons (Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler) vs. The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) vs. Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch.
Also on the card is Matt Riddle vs. Roderick Strong, as well as a NXT North American Championship battle with current title-holder Velveteen Dream defending against Tyler Breeze.
NXT TakeOver: XXV kicks off live on the WWE Network on Saturday evening at 7 ET / 4 PT. There will be a 30-minute pre-show featuring a panel of Charly Caruso, Sam Roberts and Pat McAfee that will stream live from 6:30 ET / 3:30 PT on the WWE Network, as well as WWE.com, the WWE App, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
SEScoops.com writers Ian Carey, Andrew Ravens and Jeff Moss have prepared their predictions for each of the matches scheduled for Saturday night’s big event. Without further adieu, here are the SEScoops.com staff predictions for NXT TakeOver: XXV.
Matt Riddle vs. Roderick Strong
Ian Carey: Riddle is coming off a loss to Velveteen Dream last Takeover, it feels as though he could use a win here as a result. He seems like someone they want to build towards the NXT title. I’m expecting Riddle to win here and move closer to the title while Roderick Strong loses, somehow blames his Undisputed Era teammates, and moves closer to a babyface turn and rivalry with Adam Cole.
(Prediction: Matt Riddle)
Andrew Ravens: An easy pick here as Riddle has been protected well in NXT and it’s only a matter of time that he becomes NXT Champion. There’s no reason for him to lose this contest and Strong can put on an excellent performance that doesn’t have him lose any steam. (Prediction: Matt Riddle)
Jeff Moss: This should be a fun match for a laundry list of reasons. First because it’s Matt Riddle. Even his 10 second squash matches have been super fun, and he’s taken the “Whats with all the hostility?” RVD stoner-bro character and made it even better and more relevant for 2019. Second, if the Undisputed Era has the night I hope they do, Strong being the only one in the group to lose would further fuel the budding animosity between him and the rest of his stablemates. Third: Pink flip flops. (Prediction: Matt Riddle)
CONSENSUS: 3-0, Matt Riddle
Velveteen Dream (C) vs. Tyler Breeze (NXT North American Title)
Ian: As fantastic as it is to see Tyler Breeze back on a show where he can make an impact, he’s not walking away from Takeover with the North American title. Dream didn’t beat Matt Riddle last Takeover just to lose to Tyler Breeze on this show. Expect Breeze to put on a great match, get cheered, but then ultimately lose to the Dream.
(Prediction: Velveteen Dream)
Andrew: The most predictable match on the card as there is no way that Breeze wins the title here nor should he. Dream has been protected well in NXT and it’s only a matter of time that he becomes NXT Champion. Breeze has been a comedy figure on the main roster and hasn’t been back in NXT for long. (Prediction: Velveteen Dream)
Jeff: This is actually a tough one. It is so nice to see Tyler Breeze doing, well, anything again, that I almost want him to win that North American Title. It’d be a great chapter in his story to come back to NXT and finally grab some of the championship gold that eluded him when he was with the yellow brand. However, Velveteen Dream is precious, precious cargo. Even when he’s not firing on all cylinders he’s head and shoulders above most, and as they love to point out, he’s just getting his career started. If Breeze is sticking around for a while, it would be super fun to see them battle over the North American belt for a few months, which makes me think Dream retains here and perhaps sets up future bouts between the two gorgeous, gorgeous men. (Prediction: Velveteen Dream)
CONSENSUS: 3-0, Velveteen Dream
The Undisputed ERA vs. The Forgotten Sons vs. The Street Profits vs. Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch (NXT Tag Title Ladder Match)
Ian: Kyle O’Reilly should be playing guitar on an NXT tag title belt again following this match. This seems like a match the Undisputed Era will win via the numbers advantage but it could go several ways. At some point, I think the Street Profits are going to be put in a program against the tag champs and probably win the titles but I don’t think they are winning them here.
(Prediction: The Undisputed ERA)
Andrew: It will be interesting to see which team comes out on top with the gold as any of these teams could serve as the champions. I think WWE goes in the safe direction by having O’Reilly and Fish win the titles because they’ve already proven themselves as champions. This could turn out to be the best match on the card due to the high spots these teams will do. (Prediction: The Undisputed ERA)
Jeff: While part of me wishes that this could just be a straight up match between Street Profits and Undisputed Era, I can also see this one being a standout banger of the night. There’s no reason for all of these teams not to give it 110% and get to that “Wrestlemania TLC Match” level where all hell breaks loose. I’ve never seen Lorcan and Burch (who really need a team name) in a ladder match, so I’m excited to see what they can pull off here. The logical part of my brain wants Undisputed Era to take the titles to cement the group as the top of the top in NXT, but my heart wants the Street Profits to get those straps. Much like the New Day, those guys were sitting in the back seat and handed a gimmick that could have been just awful, but they’ve made it super fun and had some great matches along the way (which I never thought I’d say about a team with Angelo Dawkins). All that said, they could be just as great feuding with the Undisputed Era as they would be as champions. Also, the Forgotten Sons will be in this match. (Prediction: The Undisputed ERA)
CONSENSUS: 3-0, The Undisputed ERA
Shayna Baszler (C) vs. Io Shiria (NXT Women’s Title)
Ian: Baszler has already dropped and regained the title once in her last reign, so I imagine if she loses it again, it means a main roster debut isn’t far off. I think ultimately, Baszler isn’t leaving NXT until at least after SummerSlam and NXT Toronto. I’m expecting her to pick up the win, albeit in possible controversial fashion, over Shirai. Expect Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir to play a big role in this match with Candice LeRae providing back up for Shirai.
(Prediction: Shayna Baszler)
Andrew: It seems like fans continue to enjoy what Baszler is doing on television but also waiting for the moment for her to drop the title and be called up to the main roster. Typically, WWE will call up stars after Mania and SummerSlam so I don’t see a reason for her to drop the title to Io, who has a ton of potential. (Prediction: Shayna Baszler)
Jeff: With Ronda Rousey out making babies, or farming, or whatever it is she does in her spare time, we can put aside the Horsewomen V Horsewomen stuff for a while and let Shayna Baszler continue helping to develop her pals and dominate the NXT Women’s Division. Shirai will give her a good match, one that’s different from the bouts Baszler had with Kairi Sane, and is a great opponent while some of the newer women in NXT are built up. Baszler continues as champion here, perhaps with some new challengers making themselves known. (Prediction: Shayna Baszler)
CONSENSUS: 3-0, Shayna Baszler
Johnny Gargano (C) vs. Adam Cole (NXT World Title)
Ian: I think Cole walks away from Takeover the new NXT champion. With Gargano the thrill was in the chase, not the title reign. Gargano is not the guy Triple H wants the title on heading into NXT Toronto, so he’s either taking the belt off of him here or at an upcoming set of TV tapings. Either way, Gargano is down to his last few weeks with the title.
(Prediction: Adam Cole)
Andrew: Just like their first match, this should be one of the best matches on this stacked card. I’m interested in the fact that they ran this same match back with no gimmicks as it appears to be the blow-off contest. While I do think Gargano should and will retain the title here, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him lose as he is the underdog character. (Prediction: Johnny Gargano)
Jeff: When a large Tomasso Ciampa-shaped hole appeared in my life, I never thought that it could be filled. I’ve always loved Johnny Gargano/Wrestling/Takeover/LeRae, but the fire in the feud between he and Ciampa is practically unmatched in today’s pro wrestling world. With all that said, I couldn’t be happier with what Adam Cole has brought to the table. He’s spent the last year making himself and Undisputed Era the best heel and group in WWE today, bar none. Based on their previous barn-burner of a match, I think a longterm program between Cole and Gargano has got nothing but dollar signs on it, and for it to work best, Cole should take the title here, clean. Really put Cole on the same level as all the top players and lets spend the summer with Gargano chasing him to get that title back. Johnny’s at his best when he’s working towards something and Cole can give him the rivalry he needs. (Prediction: Adam Cole)
CONSENSUS: 2-1, Adam Cole
What do the experts think is going to happen on Saturday? Check out the NXT TakeOver: XXV betting odds. What do you think of the above NXT TakeOver: XXV predictions? Let us know by sounding off in the Comments section below. Make sure to join us here on Saturday for NXT TakeOver: XXV results coverage.
