Royal Rumble weekend is near! Saturday will kick things off with NXT Takeover San Antonio. This Takeover doesn’t look the best on paper, but I think it will exceed expectations. Here are my predicitions.
Roderick Strong vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas
It seems like a lot of fans are sleeping on this match. Personally, I believe this match has the potential to be the match of the night. If these two guys are given time and some creative freedom they can have a stellar match. Both of these guys have just been floating around in NXT and both really need a win here to breakout. I think Strong needs the win just a little bit more considering he has not been in NXT long. A win for Strong could establish him as a top babyface in NXT.
Winner: Roderick Strong
Tye Dillinger vs. Eric Young
This should be an entertaining match. Dillinger is in a similar spot that Finn Balor and Sami Zayn were before they debuted on the main roster. He’s done pretty much everything there is to do in NXT and I can’t see him sticking around any longer. I’m hoping he makes his main roster debut at the Rumble entering at number ten. C’mon WWE doesn’t mess this up! With Tye’s NXT future up in the air and the recent push of Sanity, I see EY getting the win. After the match, Tye should wave bye to the crowd as they chant Royal Rumble at him.
Winner: Eric Young
NXT Women’s Championship Fatal 4-Way Match
Asuka (c) vs. Billie Kay vs. Peyton Royce vs. Nikki Cross
Ever since the 4 Horsewomen left, NXT has been rebuilding their women division. With the exception of Asuka, no one has really reached the popularity level or match quality of Sasha, Becky, Bayley, and Charlotte. This new crop of women is still being established. I have a real hard time seeing Asuka losing the belt. Especially when the Orlando Takeover title match should be Asuka vs. Ember Moon.
Winner: Asuka
NXT Tag Team Championship Match
#DIY (c) vs. The Authors of Pain w/Paul Ellering
The tag division is another division that has entered a rebuilding phase. It’s going to be weird not having the Revival on a Takeover. I expect the Revival to be called up any day now. Gargano and Ciampa have been a stellar team. These guys can definitely anchor down the division. Authors of Pain are very limited and have had one decent tv match that I can recall. I know they’ve been building AOP as unstoppable monsters, but I don’t think beating #DIY is the right call.
Winner: #DIY
NXT Championship Match
Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Bobby Roode
Since Bobby Roode has debuted in NXT they’ve done a great job building him to the NXT title picture. It’s clear to me that at some point they want to put the NXT championship on him. I don’t think San Antonio is right the place to do that unless Nakamura is going to the main roster. There’s still Kassisus Ohno waiting in the background for Nakamura. If Nakamura is not going to the main roster he should retain and defend against Ohno in Orlando.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
