Thursday, March 28, 2024
EditorialNXT TakeOver: Orlando Predictions: Top Stars of the PPV

NXT TakeOver: Orlando Predictions: Top Stars of the PPV

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We’ve already broken down the superstars missing from NXT TakeOver: Orlando, which means it’s time to take a look at the lucky few who not only will perform on the card, but will likely steal the show.

Whether it’s in a scripted or non-kayfabe sense by factoring in everything from wins/losses, how much of an emphasis WWE puts on that superstar, their momentum heading into the next television episode, match performance and everything between, here’s the shortlist for who I think will be coveting the most spotlight come NXT TakeOver: Orlando:

Bobby Roode

Although it does happen from time to time, it’s much rarer to see a champion win a title back from the person he/she lost it to rather than simply losing their rematch and then moving on to something else.

Bobby Roode is not going to drop the NXT Championship at TakeOver: Orlando—at least, not to Shinsuke Nakamura. The only way Roode walks out of the arena without the title to his name is if an impromptu match takes place with Kassius Ohno or someone else who then defeats him, but that is extremely, extremely unlikely.

Nakamura will put up a great fight and look like a star, but come up short before being called up to the main roster one of the next three nights at WrestleMania or on Raw or SmackDown. Roode, meanwhile, will continue his glorious track record as the top of the division, gloating about his success along the way.

Ember Moon

By all means, Ember Moon is still the underdog in her match, as she hasn’t been built up on NXT to look like someone who is above Asuka, but more so just someone closer to her level. Since The Empress of Tomorrow is undefeated and has run through everybody in her path while particularly having an easy couple of months against Peyton Royce, Billie Kay, Aliyah, Liv Morgan and Nikki Cross, Moon is the first person to seem to take the fight to her in a long while.

Still, despite Asuka’s tenacity, it seems like it’s time for her to leave the yellow brand, and to do so, she would have to either relinquish the NXT Women’s Championship by forfeit or by passing the torch to someone else.

If it’s the former, it means WWE felt it more necessary to protect Asuka than to try to capitalize on the momentum of a new champion, which hinders whoever takes the title next. If it’s the latter, there’s nobody better suited for the role than Ember Moon.

Don’t fret if this happens, though, as rumors are circling that Asuka may be a surprise participant in the match for the SmackDown Women’s Championship and if so, she instantly becomes a favorite to take that title, essentially swapping her old one out for an upgrade.

SAnitY’s Opponents

SAnitY has proven themselves to be a very dominant team, particularly over the past few weeks. Every time someone attempts to take the fight to them, not only do they end up face down beat to hell, but somehow, at least one other person also gets wrecked.

This has happened numerous times with Tye Dillinger, No Way Jose and Roderick Strong before they finally helped even the odds with some aid from Ruby Riot—a newcomer to the roster.

Since Riot is the fresh new face, it would be smart to give her team the victory, especially if it is she who scores the pinfall for them. Likewise, seeing SAnitY be victorious over the three other men time after time just gets boring and it wouldn’t move the story forward in any bit whatsoever for it to just happen again, while a loss for SAnitY could help shake the group’s foundation and give them a chance to renew their vigor out of vengeance.

Aleister Black

Similar to the Ruby Riot situation, it’s rare for a newcomer in NXT (or WWE in general) to lose their first match. More often than not, they’re given the spotlight so they can start things off with a lot of momentum.

Within the confines of WWE’s programming alone, fans should only be aware of “Tommy End” with his match against Neville in the United Kingdom Championship tournament, but since that wasn’t exactly the same as Monday Night Raw, most people might not have seen that at all. Even still, the name change could kill all connection to the average viewer and they may only know him through the vignettes.

It would be a lackluster introduction to his new character if he were to come up short against Andrade “Cien” Almas unless it were done in a way that still puts him over despite a technical loss (ie, Almas wins with a low blow the referee didn’t catch or something). The safe bet is for WWE to play it safe by highlighting him with a regular victory and an impressive showing.

Those are my picks, but who do you think will end up being the primary focal points? Drop your predictions in the comments below!

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