411’s NXT Takeover: New Orleans Preview

~THE STAFF~
* 411 reviewer, Mr. Kevin Pantoja.
* 411 contributor, Mr. Rob Stewart.
* 411 columnist, Mr. Justin Watry.
* 411 contributor, Mr. Jake Chambers.
* 411 contributor, Mr. Ken Hill.
* 411 contributor, Mr. Mitch Nickelson.

---

NXT North American Title Ladder Match: EC3 vs. Adam Cole vs. Velveteen Dream vs. Lars Sullivan vs. Killian Dane vs. Ricochet

Mitch Nickelson : In the big video package hyping this match on this past week’s episode, EC3 got to pose on top of a fancy rizty estate with a flashy swimming pool. That’s a brag that doesn’t necessarily translate to in-ring acumen, but it was way too cool of a visual to not put him at the top of the pack. Since this is a new belt, I would say that the first champ needs to be somebody that can bring prestige and importance to the start of this fresh lineage, and Mr. Carter is the best man to do just that. Adam Cole and Ricochet are on my radar, but it’s EC3 that more than anybody else can be the franchise of that division for many months to come.

WINNER: EC3

Ken Hill:

A six-way ladder war to crown a new champ,
with debuts, freaks, and a dream rising to the brim.
I prefer to buck the odds and go with the one percent,
because he’s EC3 and NXT needs him.

Count me among those excited to see the arrival of both EC3 and Ricochet to NXT. Ricochet’s high-adrenaline offense and Carter’s cocky, snotty heel stylings will make great additions and I could even see the two of them squaring off with each other to kick off their respective runs in NXT, which is why I’m going with EC3. What better way to give a debuting championship a rub than have it be won by a man who feels tailor-made for it?

WINNER: EC3

JUSTIN WATRY: I am in a bind here. Do I go with who I want to win or who I think will win? It is tough. There are a lot of good competitors here, which is why it is wise to add a mid-card title to NXT. It is long overdue at this point. No longer is the brand just a development. It is much more than that and with a stacked roster, you need another belt to feud over. Makes a lot of sense. Just by pure process of elimination, I am NOT picking Lars Sullivan, Killian Dain (that is how you spell it), or Ricochet. All interesting choices but not who I am pictures with the championship after Saturday night. Adam Cole is another interesting selection because of his heel stable, The Undisputed Era. Three dudes wearing gold around their waists taking over the show is always a fun gimmick. With the group facing an uncertain future now though, who knows? That leaves Velveteen Dream and EC3. Ugh. Can I just flip a coin? Okay, going with EC3…

WINNER: EC3

Kevin Pantoja: Talk about a tough match to call. I could literally see almost anyone here walk out as champion. EC3 would be a great fit as he just SCREAMS champion to me. Velveteen Dream is incredible and deserves everything. The WWE seems to love Killian Dain, while Lars Sullivan is a beast. Adam Cole is treated like a star, while Ricochet is already kind of a big deal. I see Dain and Lars canceling each other out, while Ricochet isn’t the kind of guy who needs a title right now. That leaves it to Dream, Cole, and EC3. Of those three, I say Cole wins. I feel like they’ve wanted him as champion for a while, but the NXT Title picture is crowded, so this is perfect.

WINNER: Adam Cole

Robert Stewart: I am a fan of everyone in this match except Lars Sullivan. Not sure why, but I just don’t feel him yet. He’s too generic for me at this point, but I haven’t seen tons of him. NXT’s roster is absolutely at the point where a secondary title is appreciated, but I’m not sure it’s the best idea. Past NXT Takeovers have done such a brilliant job building a card on two-to-three title matches plus two-to-three storyline-driven angles. I worry that having another strap is going to create more “they’re fighting just because one of them wants the other’s title” matches like main roster live specials are so overburdened with. I have always been a fan of the way NXT builds tension and rivalries without belts needing to be in play. That said, there’s little chance this match isn’t damn good; just look at those names. I’m excited for the prospect of Ricohet barreling through Killian Dane from great heights or Velveteen Dream trying to steal the spotlight or Adam Cole doing everything in his power to win smart and avoid taking big shots. I’m amped for this!

WINNER: My heart says Killian Dane, but… it won’t happen. EC3 seems too obvious. I think Dream or Ricochet takes it and EC3 guns for him in the aftermath. If pressed… I think Dream wins.

Jake Chambers: I’m just gonna go ahead and be excited for this. Fuck it, why not? Prince Puma is one of the great wrestling characters of all time, and I’m going to cling to the idea that Ricochet can bring some of that magic with him to NXT. Although, I did get burned when I took the same positive outlook after Austin Aries showed up, so there’s that. And, well, haven’t we reached peak multi-man ladder match in life… wait, hold on. “I know, you’re right, I’m sorry.” That’s what I just said to my wife. She’s been lecturing me on trying to be more positive. She said that if I’m going to watch all this wrestling then it makes no sense to constantly hate everything. I know, I know, comments sections like to bring that up to any writer who says anything remotely negative, but, you know, those people don’t let me have sex with them, so it’s much easier to ignore. Find something to like then; alright. Ricochet, I like him.

WINNER: Ricochet

NXT Women’s Title Match: Champion Ember Moon vs. Shayna Baszler

Mitch Nickelson: I’m still surprised that Shayna Baszler didn’t win the title back at NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia. Surely she’s not going to lose this time as well. Ember Moon can take the L here, then maybe get the big main roster call up right after Mania. That’s assuming that Shayna doesn’t legit break an arm with that rad elbow stomp spot that she does. Kairi Sane then can move into the title picture to challenge her big rival until she gets her title run starting this summer.

WINNER: Shayna Baszler

Ken Hill:

Moon’s yet to Eclipse the division,
since her rise 5 months ago.
Shayna’s looking to snuff out Ember,
and to the main roster the loser may go.

To put it bluntly, Ember’s felt like an afterthought to me since her title victory in November. That’s not to say she herself hasn’t been impressive, both with the matches she’s put in against Asuka and Shayna and her undeniable tact for showing true emotion and grit during her matches, but winning the title only after Asuka relinquished it and subsequently moved up to the main roster feels more like a token victory for Ember and less like an accomplishment we can really get behind. Shayna, meanwhile, has not only shown she can undermine Ember on both a physical and emotional front, but has also avenged her loss at the Mae Young Classic to Kairi Sane in recent weeks, so she seems primed to take the reigns from Ember here.

While there are no official indicators as to either women making a move up to the main roster, the trend of occasional surprise debuts following Takeover events on Big 4 PPV weekends makes me think the loser here might be Red or Blue Brand bound.

WINNER: Shayna Baszler

JUSTIN WATRY: Shayna Baszler lost in the Mae Young Classic finals. Clean. Then she lost in her bid to win the NXT Championship back in January. Clean. All the while, she is built up as the most feared and dominant woman in NXT. It is strange and quite puzzling. Is it all leading to a WrestleMania weekend moment? Or is another loss on the horizon? Also, where does Ronda Rousey fit into all of this? Before the Rumble, she was not a part of the roster…yet. Now she is. Does WWE want to connect them or keep them separate until down the road? One is heel, one is face. One is NXT, one is WWE. I think everything will be kept apart, even if I am predicting both to be victorious. Ember Moon may be the next woman to slowly transition to Raw or Smackown LIVE in the coming months…without her title. Then again, Shayna can’t seem to win the big one. We’ll see Saturday night, but another high profile loss for her would be very puzzling.

WINNER: Shayna Baszler

Kevin Pantoja: They have to pull the trigger on Shayna Baszler, right? You can’t have her be this kind of beast character, only to keep losing. I get that she’s interested in hurting people, not always winning, but then why even go after the title? I get the sense that Shayna wins it here and eventually drops it to Kairi Sane.

WINNER: Shayna Baszler

Robert Stewart: Their last Takeover match was a lot better than I expected it to be, even with a meandering start. The story of that match was terrific, and it was exactly how you should book Baszler to be a hated but borderline-unstoppable heel. With all my heart, I bit on the ending and thought Baszler had it in the bag before Moon fluked it out; the last few minutes were the pinnacle of drama. I expect this encounter will be more 50/50, with Moon being a bit more prepared for Baszler’s tenacious attack. I actually think Moon might be on the offensive most of the match, both out of veteran cunning and pure desperation. That said, the story will be that Baszler has learned from their last contest, too, and she’ll get the better of the champion this time.

WINNER: Shayna Baszler

Jake Chambers: I’m typing this on my phone while eating dinner. I’m telling you this because I was just saying to my wife that this meal we’re having really reminds me of the upcoming Moon/Baszler re-match. What we’re having is Tang-su-yuk and Jja-jang-myeon, which to those not familiar with Korean-style Chinese food is sweet & sour pork with black bean sauce noodles. Ember Moon is really like the pork dish, full of chewy substance but also with a little pang of sweetness that makes her such a solid foundation for an entire division. Baszler, on the other hand, is like eating these damn noodles. The whole bowl is a sticky mess that you can’t eat conventionally using chopsticks without looking like a sloppy, slurping lunatic, but the taste is so delicious it’s worth the unorthodox struggle to get it in your belly. This is why I like Baszler, she’s not your typical plate of food, so to speak, and she does just the right amount of cool stuff to make her worth the effort. These two things are so opposite on paper, but work together so well they’ve become a staple of the cuisine. So I think I’m gonna enjoy this match, but when it’s all over the stain of that noodle sauce is what’s gonna be all over my smiling face.

WINNER: Shayna Baszler

Dusty Tag Classic Final For NXT Tag Team Titles: The Undisputed Era’s Adam Cole & Kyle O’Reilly vs. The Authors of Pain vs. Pete Dunne and Roderick Strong

Mitch Nickelson: There’s no shortage of talent for this three-way tag team match. I couldn’t imagine that the Authors of Pain wouldn’t get main roster called up in the very near future, so I don’t foresee back-to-back Dusty Tag Classic wins for them. I wouldn’t be against seeing Undisputed Era earning another reign with the straps, but my money is on the more makeshift duo. Pete Dunne & Roderick strong should win in New Orleans and follow the same formula as the first winners of the Dusty Tag Classic, Samoa Joe & Finn Balor. This will ultimately lead to their splitting up and engaging in a singles feud, which is fine by me.

WINNER: Pete Dunne & Roderick Strong

Ken Hill:

Spoiler alert, bay bay!
Adam and Kyle ruin the final.
Now two teams sit on their plate,
but to say they lose, you’d be in denial.

While it surprises me that they would have Cole play double duty tonight (unless he has a reduced role and less bumps to take in the ladder match), with AOP due any day for a main roster call-up and “Strongly Dunne” one miscommunication away from a Bitter End, this one’s not too hard to call.

WINNER: The Undisputed Era

JUSTIN WATRY: This is where Adam Cole will get his moment to shine. The Authors of Pain are surely heading up to the main roster soon. Heck, they should have been a while ago. Guess you have to wait for post-WM though. That worked wonders for The Revival and Big Cass/Enzo. Barring that excuse, there is not much of a chance for Pete Dunne and Roderick Strong here. Feels like a nice pat on the back getting them on the card and having them get thrown around. Take the pin fall loss and feud over the UK Championship. The Undisputed Era win, and maybe we get some kind of tease from Sanity post-match. Lots of moving parts when you consider call ups and post Mania fun.

WINNER: The Undisputed Era

Kevin Pantoja: It’s weird to think that Adam Cole is supposed to pull this kind of double duty. That would make one think that the titles were changing hands here, but I don’t think so. Pete Dunne and Roderick Strong aren’t a true team, so I don’t think they get the titles. Meanwhile, it’s way past the time for the Authors of Pain to get called up. Undisputed win so all three of them can have gold.

WINNER: Undisputed Era

Robert Stewart: I don’t know why, but this is the match I’m the least geared up for, and when I look at the men involved, there’s virtually no reason for that. I just think the prospect of Cole pulling double duty is dubious, especially when one of those contests is a ladder match for a title. It makes me think something is going to happen here; some kind of swerve. I actually anticipate this match being one that wows me while it’s going on… I just can’t find the energy for it. Then again, look at the rest of this card. Can you blame me? Having a hard time choosing winners here, too. The Authors of Pain aren’t going to take it because they’ve worn this crown before. Strong and Dunne could use the build, but they just feel so hodge-podge. Cole and O’Reilly aren’t really a team; they’re just a fill-in due to injury. Where’s my three-sided coin?

WINNER: Probably Cole and O’Reilly

Jake Chambers: I love a good latte. It’s a toss up though; sometimes you order it and the barista will burn the milk so the foam is just a bunch of sad little bubbles on top of water too hot to drink. But other times you’ll get that smooth, creamy cloud resting on top of a lukewarm milky delight. It’s not all that different from orchestrating all the right factors to make a multi-man tag team match, like this one, hum and deliver. While Adam Cole seems like the type who always burns that milk, the other five guys are exceptionally capable of making a match that doesn’t spill all over the ladder match or fill you up on personal intensity before the big singles matches. Some delicate chemistry will be needed, but I’m looking forward to trying their latte. As for winners? To stick with the analogy, I’ve gotta go with the two guys who look most like baristas at a good hipster coffee shop.

WINNER: Pete Dunne and Roderick Strong

Unsanctioned Match: Tommaso Ciampa vs. Johnny Gargano

Mitch Nickelson: I love Johnny Gargano, I really do. He’s got that magnetic aura that you can’t help but root for, similar to Daniel Bryan or NXT/pre-heel turn Sammy Zayn. He could be the babyface of babyfaces, but I’d rather see him lose and move on. I want him to be somewhere where he’s more of an equal with his peers, not the perpetual underdog. I think the current 205 Live is perfect for him with all of the top-notch in-ring stuff going on, even though that wish might be blasphemy for some. A loss here would give closure to the DIY split story, even though he’d ultimately not defeat his bitter foe. As for Ciampa, he needs to be vying for the NXT Championship. He’d be perfect for positioning against Andrade Almas to turn him into more as a fan favorite, or even, just imagine a feud between him and Aleister Black. I think I desperately need a Ciampa/Black series of matches. This will be a great match, possibly a match of the year contender considering all of the emotion put into this one, even if I’m rooting for a heartbreak for Johnny Wrestling.

WINNER: Tommaso Ciampa

Ken Hill:

Johnny Wrestling’s chompin’ for Ciampa,
tells us not to expect a five-star fight,
but we all know this will steal Mania weekend,
a no-doubter for Match of the Night.

This is one you could really go either way on. On the one hand, to see Gargano finally overcome everything Ciampa has put him through and come roaring back into NXT on a road to redemption and the NXT Championship would be a storybook ending. On the flip side, Ciampa would undoubtedly establish himself as a top-shelf heel in NXT by denying his former best friend reentry into NXT and perhaps put himself in line for a future title shot (where Gargano could most likely interject himself as karma for Ciampa’s actions and reignite their rivalry).

Either way, the history, emotion and amazing talent of these two men will no doubt steal the show in New Orleans, and maybe even the entire weekend for that matter.

WINNER: Tommaso Ciampa

JUSTIN WATRY: If Johnny Gargano wins, he is back in NXT. If he loses, he is gone…again. I don’t know; those seem like rules and stipulations to me. Nothing really UNSANCTIONED about it really. Small nitpick aside, I am glad we are getting this bout. You can’t get screwed over and turned on by your best friend and not get a fight at some point. So much left to do with this story line it almost makes me wonder if this is the next Sami Zayn/Kevin Owens in that they will continue to be connected at the hip. Whether it is RAW, SD Live or NXT – they are destined to do this forever. The story says Gargano wins and gets his revenge against the hated foe. However, I don’t really want him back in NXT. Do YOU? Not really. Move him to the main roster. Heck, put him on 205 Live and tear it up with Ciampa each week. I will go with the predictable ‘face celebrates his return’ outcome but deep down will be cheering for the heel…yay me?

WINNER: Johnny Gargano

Kevin Pantoja: Forget your Omega vs. Rhodes. Forget the totally stacked WrestleMania card. This should be your match of the weekend. Nobody is talking about it, but Johnny Gargano has quietly been in the conversation for best wrestler in the world for a long time. From his consistent classics with #DIY to great singles matches with guys like Kassius Ohno, to the incredible series with Andrade Almas, Johnny Wrestling is amazing. Tommaso Ciampa has been such a good heel and their storyline is about a year in the making. This match should hit on every note and I’m so ready for it. I pick Johnny to win to get his job back and because the good guy has to win at some point. Right?

WINNER: Johnny Gargano

Robert Stewart: How long has this match been in the making? Almost two years at this point? The Cruiserweight Classic was July 2016, and that was where the very first seed was planted that would eventually blossom into this match. There’s been an immense level of anticipation, the two men have built up a terrific animosity, and Gargano is coming off of the last Takeover where he put on a Match of the Year candidate… is there a chance this contest falls short of the hype? Is it possible that there is just too much pressure for these men to put on the bout we are all expecting? Boy, I guess there’s ALWAYS a chance, but I hate to even consider the thought. The build to this has been powerful, and both guys are loaded up with intensity. Obviously the talent level is there in spades for both, and their NXT resumes speak for themselves. I’d say there is a substantially better chance we are talking about this as a Match of the Year than as a “What could have been…” flop. Ciampa has to take the W here. Gargano is on his way to greener (or at least bigger) pastures, and Ciampa needs the forward momentum in NXT much more.

WINNER: Tommaso Ciampa

Jake Chambers: My wife kisses me goodnight, then turns over and goes to sleep; my laptop still open as I contemplate this NXT show. Is that the glow off the screen or the green aura of love coming from my heart? Just can’t take my mind off the concept of love right now, like the love of two best friends. Did we see that with Gargano and Ciampa during their DIY tenure? While familiar with both pre-NXT I don’t remember them being close in those days. So this isn’t exactly a Steen/Generico situation; however, their time together in NXT has clearly communicated a strong, loving friendship. I wasn’t convinced of the reasons for the break-up last year, but NXT has also made this feud appropriately intense over the past few months. And I’ll admit, I’m loving it. The stars are aligning for this Takeover event to be something special and this match in particular being a dramatic, emotional piece of violent art. The art of love.

WINNER: Johnny Gargano

NXT Title Match: Champion Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Aleister Black

Mitch Nickelson I usually base my predictions for big matches like these off of who I think is most ready to jump up to the main roster. The problem here is that both of these acts are stellar. They’re each just a couple of half steps from the top of Raw or SmackDown. Aleister has a next level presence while Almas and Zelina Vega are a gold tandem. Personally, I’d like to see Andrade carve out a way lengthier the reign with the NXT Championship. Let this be his brand for the rest of 2018. He always has amazing matches and it feels like we’re just beginning to establish that he belongs in his top spot. In fact, he shouldn’t drop the title until the TakeOver that happens before next year’s WrestleMania. That type of mainstay would be great for both him as well as this Wednesday show.

WINNER: Andrade Almas

Ken Hill:

The former La Sombra has reigned well,
to which Zelina Vega has been a godsend.
His strikes are brutal and lightning quick,
but Black Mass will bring the thundering end.

WWE’s been very high on the duo of Almas and Vega, particularly following Andrade’s back-to-back phenomenal performances with Gargano, as well as his surprise debut at the 2018 Royal Rumble. Aleister has slowly but surely been on the rise to the top of the NXT roster since his arrival a year ago, ironically beating Almas in his NXT debut. It would be quite apropos to see Black cap off his first year in NXT the same way he started it, and as soon as the smoke has cleared between the two, I would not be surprised to see Almas make his full-on main roster debut the night after WM 34.

WINNER: Aleister Black

JUSTIN WATRY: Just pull the trigger NXT. The brand is usually spot on when it comes to doing the right thing at the right time. Not a whole heck of swerving or screwing with fans in NXT. That is why I love the product so much. It follows the KISS Method and delivers inside the squared circle. Yeah, you can predictable call a lot of the results in NXT, but the in-ring actions backs it up, as does the logical story telling. Aleister Black is the rising star and popular. Almas has the heel champion persona down and has Zelina Vega by his side to enhance the act. It is perfect. Being WrestleMania weekend and due for a big moment, this is the time for a new era at the top of the card. My only hangup is Drew McIntyre is surely ready to return soon and should want some kind of payback against Almas over the title loss. I’d probably just move Drew up to the main roster and forget about the NXT Championship, but that is just me. Without that little distraction, I’d give it a 100% chance Black wins. Right now, it sits at 99%. Still the same prediction…AND NEW!!!!!!!!!!

WINNER: Aleister Black

Kevin Pantoja: If it wasn’t for Johnny/Tommaso, and the IC Title match at Mania, this would be my most anticipated match of the weekend. Andrade Almas is, along with Gargano, my favorite guy in NXT. Aleister Black has been tremendous lately. It all comes full circle, as it was Almas who lost to Black last Mania weekend when Black debuted. Though Almas’ reign hasn’t been that long, it’s easily been the best NXT Title reign since Finn Balor. However, it comes to an end at the hands of Black. I’d be happy either way, though.

WINNER: Aleister Black

Robert Stewart: It wasn’t that long ago that I didn’t really love either of these guys. They were both NXT talents I found serviceable, but under whelming. My, how a few great angles and matches can change things. Now, on a show loaded with shining stars, these two are rightly fighting for the top prize. I keep wanting to point to one of them–either of them–and say “This one in particular…”, but they both are bonkers great. I can’t imagine undercutting either one. Damn, look at this card! This is such a great show. I won’t get to watch Takeover live because I will be out Saturday night, but you can bet I’ll watch it before I go to bed when I get in. As for this match, boy… it’s a hard call. I think Almas might take it after a healthy dose of shenanigans and heel desperation, but I don’t think it is the last time we will see these two on a Takeover going for this strap…

WINNER: Andrade “Cien” Almas

Jake Chambers: Who am I kidding, I don’t have a wife. Just woke up in my empty bed. So depressing. I’m all Aleister Black; rising out a dark, smoky coffin, and looking enviously at Andrade and his relationship with Zelina Vega. Does he desire what they have more than he wants the NXT Championship? What really drives that man. So little do we actually know about his dark motivations. And yet he’s our hero, and Almas is the villain? I’m conflicted. Do I want Black to win and fill the emptiness in his heart, or do I want to see the successful relationship of Almas and Vega triumph? Why do I care though. Another lonely day coming for me after delusional dreams of grandeur. I punch my mattress, scream into the pillow. Life sucks, I think. NXT sucks too really, doesn’t it? I shake myself out of all this lovely-dovey nonsense. No way is this match any good, or this whole show for that matter. Ugh. It’s all just going to be more mediocre WWE bullshit, isn’t it? But then I hear a faint buzz. Is that… a hair dryer? I can see light coming from under the bathroom door. It opens, my wife pokes her head out. “Awake?” she asks. Yes, yes I am. All we need in life is the right partner. The Zelina Vega to our Andrade Almas. Sorry Black, you’re cool and all, but Satan isn’t real pal: Rise Above Hate!

WINNER: Andrade “Cien” Almas

JOIN 411 TONIGHT AT 7PM ET FOR OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE SHOW