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NXT Takeover: Brooklyn II – Thoughts & Predictions
August 20. 2016
Coming up tonight at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York is NXT: Takeover Brooklyn II. It’s a big show for the NXT brand and the WWE. Of course, that means predictions, right? Well, Sister Cleo died a few weeks ago and Jeanne Dixon has been dead for decades so I guess we’re stuck with channeling Gary Spivey now. Where is a good fortune telling psychic when you need one? Let’s look at the matches and pick some winners and losers. Let’s do this…

NXT Takeover: Brooklyn II – Thoughts and Predictions…

NXT Championship Match
Samoa Joe (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

The build has been excellent and I expect this match will be pretty damn awesome as well. Nakamura ia a big star and huge deal just waiting to bust out and Joe… his reputation speaks for itself. He kills bitches dead! As much as I like Nakamura and expect many big things from him in the future, I think it’s too early to put the NXT strap on his waist though. Unless the WWE is planning to move Joe up to the main roster (and who wouldn’t like to see Joe versus Owens or Joe versus Brock?), his reign as the NXT Champion still has plenty of ways to go. It’ll be a good match and go above and beyond, but I think Samoa Joe will retain his title when the smoke clears.

Winner and STILL NXT Champion: Samoa Joe

NXT Women’s Championship Match
Asuka (c) vs. Bayley

This is probably the match I’m most looking forward to. Asuka is just amazing in my eyes and is well on the way to approaching “Ivory status”. Yes, I like her that much. And Bayley is a just awesome in her own right and is the next big breakout star for NXT whenever they decide to move her up to the main roster. I wouldn’t switch the title and think Asuka should retain, but I’m not the man booking this match. WWE is going to want at least one title change tonight and I think this will be it. The “feel good moment” of the evening. Look for Bayley to take a beating, but come back at the end for the win and the title.

Winner and NEW NXT Women’s Champion: Bayley

NXT Tag Team Championship Match
The Revival (c) vs. Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa

The Revival are doing a great job as champions and it’s too soon to have them drop the belts. No new champions here. The big story for this match is whether Gargano and Ciampa will still be a team at the end of the night. They’ve been teasing issues between the two men for several weeks now and I’m thinking that when / if Gargano and Ciampa lose the match and fail to get the titles, we’re going to see discord and chaos and probably a turn by one of the men. It’s just a theory at this point, but we’ll see. Anyhow, look for the Revival to retain the tag team gold.

Winners and STILL NXT Tag Team Champions: The Revival

Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Bobby Roode

Andrade Almas is another talent that I see a big future in. He’s charismatic and exciting and really seems to connect with the fans. But that being said, he seems to have lost a little bit of his fire since his debut a few months ago. He’s still hot, but the flame seems to be flickering a bit here and there. And he’s facing Bobby Roode. ‘Nuff said! It’ll be another damn good match, but in the end, look for Roode to walk out with his arm raised as he takes that trip to the pay window.

Winner: Bobby Roode

No Way Jose vs. Austin Aries

No Way Jose is… okay, I don’t really get him or see what’s so special about the character. But admittingly, I’ve only seen him perform a couple of times so far so what do I know, right? Jose is facing Austin Aries and Aries is an amazing talent and great heel. He won’t be hurt by a loss and can use it to get over even more if that’s possible. Jose is a currrent NXT favorite and he’ll walk out with the win. Why? I don’t know, but he will. No way? Yes way!

Winner: No Way Jose

Ember Moon vs. Billie Kaye

Ember Moon is making her debut and the company is said to be very high on this young woman. Billie Kaye is said to be a tough lady and this should be a good match, but is there any real doubt to who the winner will be? I don’t think so.

Winner: Ember Moon

And there you go. Those are the matches announced for tonight’s show as of this writing (at 6:25am on Saturday morning) and those are my predictions as to who will win and lose. I’ll be back later today or late tonight with predictions for SummerSlam, the WWE event of the Summer, coming Sunday night at the Barclay Center in New York. Thanks for reading and I’ll catch you on the flip side.

Ubuntu!