Match Predictions and Heat Index Anticipation Levels
Temperature Scale = Scorching > Hot > Lukewarm > Temperate > Chilly > Cold > Freezing
Heat Index is my assessment of how interesting the segment is, including how excited I am for the match and how intriguing the feud has been. The hotter, the better. Scorching translates to not being able to wait to see it, while Freezing means I couldn’t possibly care less and think it will be awful.
NXT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Bron Breakker (c) vs. Santos Escobar
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Prediction: Bron Breakker wins.
Thoughts: I fully get WWE’s methodology of taking someone like Escobar and positioning him as one of Breakker’s first challengers. Escobar’s a veteran who can guide Breakker in this match and teach him while making him look strong. Since they’ve already set up a match between Breakker and Dolph Ziggler, that forecasts already who will win, as if it wasn’t obvious the belt wasn’t changing hands. But that’s okay. The match should be good.
NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Cameron Grimes
Heat Index = Temperate
Prediction: Carmelo Hayes wins.
Thoughts: Grimes is great and deserves to be on the main roster already. Hayes isn’t at the level in my mind that he’s being presented at, but he’s been showing lots of promise, so I’m interested in watching his career unfold. This should be totally fine, but run of the mill. I don’t expect anything fancy or interesting to happen. Straight-up, Hayes retains, with or without help from Trick Williams, and it’s just another title defense.
NXT WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Toxic Attraction (c) vs. Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta
Heat Index = Temperate
Prediction: Toxic Attraction wins.
Thoughts: Given the state of the women’s division in NXT right now, this is the best these belts could have had to offer. I like all parties, but I just can’t get too excited about what I feel is ultimately just a match for the sake of having a match. The feud isn’t really hot to me and I don’t think the titles are changing hands.
WEAPONIZED STEEL CAGE MATCH:
Pete Dunne vs. Tony D’Angelo
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Prediction: Pete Dunne wins.
Thoughts: This is supposed to end the feud, right? That means either Dunne wins outright or someone interferes and starts a new feud with Dunne to divert his attention. I’m going against my better judgment and saying the former. While the latter is more WWE’s style and it would make sense to put D’Angelo over, my gut’s telling me there are enough heels already set to win this night and they might go with Dunne to offset that. This should be kind of fun, but I don’t think it’ll be all that memorable a month down the line, even, let alone at the end of the year looking back.
DUSTY RHODES TAG TEAM CLASSIC TOURNAMENT FINAL:
The Creed Brothers vs. MSK
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Prediction: The Creed Brothers win.
Thoughts: These two teams can go out there and have a great match, we know that. The tournament itself means jack shit, unfortunately. But hey, the in-ring action will be fun. I’m expecting The Creed Brothers to win and even beat Imperium for the tag titles at Stand & Deliver.
OVERALL:
How excited am I for the event as a whole?
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Thoughts: I’m more excited to watch this than a regular episode, that’s for sure. However, gone are the days where NXT was so red hot and easily the best wrestling out there that a TakeOver would be something I was eagerly anticipating. This is just a normal show with a slight boost of importance and a fancier label. I’m glad WWE is doing it, instead of it just being another normal two hours, but with this crop of talent, it doesn’t feel the same as when we had Johnny Gargano, Kevin Owens and others. This should be decent, but not great.
What do you think is going to happen at WWE NXT Vengeance Day? Which matches are you most excited to see? Keep the discussion going in the comments below!
