NXT Takeover R Evolution Preview and Predictions

It’s that time on your calendar again. NXT has a live special with a weird name.

Giving their thoughts and predictions on what to expect from the PPV are members of the site @JoeySplashwater, @TimWelcomed and @TomBlargh.

Finn Bálor and Hideo Itami vs. The Ascension

Joey:

Finn Bálor and Hideo Itami haven’t stood out much from my skimming through NXT episodes. They come off like just another set of guys. Still immensely talented, hopefully this match is an early breakout performance. I have a feeling Itami will turn on Bálor and the Ascension will get the win before going up to the main roster.

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: The Ascension win.

Tim:

I’m looking forward to seeing Finn Bálor and Hideo Itami wrestle as always but they really need to work on making them stand out more. They’re great talents. The Ascension still sucks. I’m thinking they go with Itami and Bálor will getting the win as The Ascension descend to the main roster.

Interest Level: 6/10
Prediction: Finn Bálor and Hideo Itami win.

Tom:

Fuck The Ascension! FUCK OFF! FUCK OFF TO SMACKDOWN! Praying for this to be super short and just a strong style (PURO TERM!) showcase of Bálor and Itami having great fighting spirit.

Interest Level: 5/10
Prediction: Finn Bálor and Hideo Itami win.

The Lucha Dragons (Kalisto and Sin Cara) vs. The Vaudevillains (Aiden English and Simon Gotch) for the NXT Tag Team Championship

Joey:

I like both these teams! The Lucha Dragons are great together as a fun little act. I haven’t seen too much of The Vaudevillians as a team but I love Aiden English so I’m very much looking forward to this. Hoping The Lucha Dragons win as current Sin Cara is very underrated.

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: The Lucha Dragons win

Tim:

This should be enjoyable. The Lucha Dragons are great and Kalisto is awesome to watch. Sin Cara II has even stepped it up a whole lot. The Vaudevillains are an entertaining act and can probably keep up in the ring. The Lucha Dragons will win here and continue with their title reign.

Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: The Lucha Dragons win.

Tom:

I like both teams well enough but I can’t say I’m particularly excited for this match, especially given the rest of the card having things I’m more interested in. ALSO, I find it pretty hard to be that into The Vaudevillains when they both kind of look like Damien Sandow but they’re NOT Damien Sandow and Damien Sandow is AMAZING right now. Does that make sense? Sort of? Anyway, hopefully I’ll be proven wrong and it’ll be a good laugh but we’ll just see about that, won’t we? Yes, yes we will.

Interest Level: 5/10
Prediction: The Lucha Dragons win.

Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks for the NXT Women’s Championship

Joey:

Don’t know much about Sasha Banks but she looks interesting from promos and has a great presence. Charlotte is excellent. I’m a little disappointed there’s no Bayley but hopefully she has a role.

Interest Level: 6/10
Prediction: Charlotte wins.

Tim:

Sasha Banks is close to being my favorite WWE female competitor (…if only Bayley wasn’t so amazing at what she does). I’ve liked the build to this and expect for these two to put on a show with this one. Charlotte is amazing and is a great NXT Women’s Champion. I really don’t now who will win here necessarily. I’m going with Banks ending Charlotte’s reign.

Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: Sasha Banks wins.

Tom:

These two are both P. GOOD STUFF. I’ve not been watching enough NXT to really understand what’s going on – are they both jerks? Is Sasha less of a jerk now? What’s ol’ Becky Lynch up to? HUH WHAT. I think this’ll be a good time BUT! Charlotte should hold onto that belt for a while longer before ultimately losing it to that adorable Bayley.

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: Charlotte wins.

Adrian Neville vs. Sami Zayn for the NXT World Championship (If Zayn loses, he will quit WWE NXT)

Joey:

To put it into perspective, I don’t generally care about NXT as a program but even I’m fully invested in this one. It feels like one of the biggest matches of the year. I don’t know how this can’t be a “stellar must see MOTY candidate.”

Sami Zayn has taken his game to another level and the predictable story of him FINALLY winning the title is the right way to go. I can’t wait to see this.

Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: Sami Zayn wins.

Tim:

I am so ready for this match-up. Outside of MAYBE Daniel Bryan’s path to Wrestlemania XXX this is the best story told in WWE this year. These two have brought it every single time they are together. I can wait. Sami Zayn should win here but I’m worried they will make him lose to try being unpredictable. Maybe they’ll then do a “get your contract back” thing. I don’t know. I love seeing a simple storyline executed so perfectly and with such emotion and that would take away from it a bit. Hopefully I am wrong.

Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: Adrian Neville wins.

Tom:

As much as I love Sami Zayn and as amazing as it would be to see him as champion, I can’t picture him winning the belt yet. The way the stipulation has been phrased makes me think that some interference is the way they’ll get out of having to go through with it and I kind of like him being the (infinitely slimmer and more talented) Tommy Dreamer of NXT. It’d be nice if they handle the finish well because everything else until then is almost guaranteed to be completely amazing and it’d be a shame if they spoiled it with something silly.

Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: Adrian Neville wins.

Kevin Owens Debuts

Joey:

Even more anticipated than the main event is seeing Kevin Owens debut in WWE. As a big Steen fan for about 8 years now, it will be a surreal moment to see his first appearance on a WWE program.

Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: Kevin Owens attacks Sami Zayn after he wins the title.

Tim:

Kevin Owens deserves this so much. I can’t describe how excited I am to see him finally make his WWE debut. I’m fully prepared to lose my shit over it.

Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: Kevin Owens attacks an already downed Zayn (who then has to be stretchered out) after he loses the main event and then Owens stares down Neville and his title…?

Tom:

Jesus Christ, yes please. Maybe my most anticipated moment in wrestling for at least a couple of years, I can’t wait for this and I really think Kevin Owens has all the potential to be an immediate home-run main event smash straight out of the gate in NXT.

Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: Something that involves the ring apron and Sami Zayn’s back.