Welcome to the 2nd of 3 Wrestlemania weekend posts where I predict every match that is on the card on Saturday and Sunday.
For my predictions on the non-title matches at Wrestlemania 34, click here: Wrestlemania 34 Non-Title Predictions!
This post is going to go over all my predictions for NXT TakeOver: New Orleans.
In my opinion, NXT is going to be a better show than Wrestlemania 34.
Anyway, let’s get into the predictions for this illustrious card.
Non-Title Matches:
| Unsanctioned Match | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| If Gargano wins, he is back in NXT. If he loses, he will be banished from NXT forever. | ||||
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Johnny Gargano | VS | Tommaso Ciampa |  |
PREDICTION: This is going to be match of the weekend. This feud started back at NXT Chicago back in May 2017. They are back for a big match which massive implications (Mostly for Gargano). If Johnny wins, he is re-instated in NXT but if he loses, he is ‘banished’ from NXT (Main Roster debut basically). Honestly, as much as I love Johnny Wrestling, I want him to lose so that he can debut on the main roster. So overall, I want Tommaso Ciampa to win this match. I hope that by SummerSlam 2018, Ciampa is called up. Both of them should be called up the night after Wrestlemania but honestly I think that Ciampa could do with a extra few months.
Title Matches:
NXT Women’s Championship  |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Ember Moon (C) | VS | Shayna Baszler |  |
PREDICTION: This is a re-match from NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia in which it was a submission-based match where Shayna seemed very dominant in the match. A good feud that this has been and I wouldn’t be surprised if Ember does lose the title but I hope that Ember gets to keep the belt for a good while as she does appear to be a very good champion. I can see big things for Ember in the future including a massive push when gets into the Main Roster and has a feud with Alexa Bliss/Asuka/Sasha Banks. Ember Moon to retain.
6-man ladder match for the NXT North American Championship  |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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EC3 | VS | Velveteen Dream |  |
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Adam Cole | Lars Sullivan |  |
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Killian Dain | Ricochet |  |
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PREDICTION: This one is very difficult to call as you have 6 of the best guys in NXT including EC3 (formally of IMPACT Wrestling) and Ricochet. Adam Cole seems like a good shout and would mean that all members of the Undisputed Era are champions. Lars Sullivan is a dark horse in this whole thing as he is being pushed but it is probably going to turn out that he is going to start a feud with Killian Dain later down the road. Velveteen Dream is the person that I want to win, but I won’t be surprised if the title does go to EC3 or Adam Cole.
Triple Threat for the NXT Tag Team Championship  |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Undisputed Era (sans Bobby Fish) (C) | VS | Roderick Strong & Pete Dunne |   |
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PREDICTION: Right, before I get into this…I haven’t watched this weeks NXT TV. Reads some news…Ah yes, I forgot that Bobby Fish had a knee injury. Ok, so the way that they are working this is that the finals of the Dusty Classic Tournament happened on Wednesday between Roderick Strong & Pete Dunne vs Authors of Pain. This ended in double disqualification and now the NXT Tag Team Championship is also the final for the Dusty Classic. But the issue is if Bobby is out with a injury, does that mean that Adam Cole will have to pull double-duty on the night? (He is in the NXT NA ladder match also)
Anyway, whatever way it is, I would like to see Undisputed Era retain the NXT tag team titles for a couple of reasons. 1) AoP are going to debut on the main roster…Let’s try not to hide it, it’s going to happen sooner rather than later. Roddy and Pete are not a great tag-team and it wouldn’t work that they would become NXT Tag Team Champions. So for now, ERA to retain.
NXT Championship  |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Andrade “Cien” Almas (C) | VS | Aleister Black |  |
PREDICTION: Again, another contender for Match of the Night as we see Aleister Black in his first NXT Championship match and to be honest, I would love for him to actually win this title. It would be a great fit on him and he should have a great title reign, but on the other half, Andrade is growing on me. His heel work with Zelina Vega is really staring to warm me and it would be a shame if he was to lose the NXT Championship. I am torn between these two as it really could go either way, but either way this should be an enjoyable match all round. Aleister to win the championship.
And that is my predictions for NXT TakeOver: New Orleans. I am really looking forward to this show and this is normally the show the steals the thunder of Wrestlemania (It has in the last 2 years anyway) and there is defiantly going to be talk about these matches in the years to come. Match of the night contender goes to Johnny vs Tommasso.
Also, quick note about the posts that I am doing. I am toying with the idea of these ‘tables’ with the information about the match so it is more readable. I will be improving them in the coming months but hopefully these are legible for NXT and Wrestlemania.
You can follow me on Twitter @PFWressling to catch my live reactions to NXT TakeOver: New Orleans and Wrestlemania 34.