Takeover New York and Wrestlemania 35 Predictions

LET'S GO!!!!

It's time for Wrestlemania weekend! 5 straight nights of entertainment for WWE but we'll be only covering two of them; NXT Takeover New York (which should be Brooklyn V but whatever) and Wrestlemania 35. For only the 2nd time in history and first since Takeover Dallas in 2016, Takeover will be live on a Friday night, leaving wrestling fans the option of either watching the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony or the ROH/NJPW show G1 Supercard on Saturday. Let's do it!

5 amazing matches on the card as usual, but the talent and match ups definitely makes this the most stacked Takeover in history. Any one of the five could steal the show and with it being Mania weekend, I expect everyone to go all out.

The War Raiders will make their first defense of the NXT Tag Team Titles when they face the winners of the Dusty Rhodes Classic, Ricochet and Aleister Black. Black and Ricochet were paired together when they got their surprise call up/checking out of the main roster and they really meshed together nicely in a short amount of time together. While they are definitely a great put together tag team, this is likely the end of their respective NXT runs. Both guys were champions and had amazing Takeover matches in their careers so going out on the biggest Takeover of the year will be a big moment for them. This will be a fast paced, high flying match and if these teams open the show, good luck everyone else. The War Raiders will retain in an amazing contest.

Pete Dunne will defend his WWE United Kingdom Championship against Walter in a highly anticipated war. The UK Title hasn't been defended at an OG NXT Takeover since Dunne's title victory at Takeover Chicago in 2017 and you remember how amazing that match was in just 15 minutes. This will definitely be another instant classic. Dunne's reign with the title is closing in on the 700 day range, nearing two years of domination. Dunne's dominance as the longest reigning champion of the modern era will never been taken from him, as I just don't see someone else holding on to this title or any other for that long for quite some time. With all that being said, I think it might finally be Dunne's time. The man has carried the NXT UK brand on his back and has put on some amazing matches in his wake but Walter is a different beast unlike anyone he has faced yet. I don't know if a Dunne loss here means we'll see him on Raw or Smackdown, mainly due to the reason that NXT UK needs main event players and Dunne is that. Regardless, his time is up as champiom. We might just be in for another 2 year reign after all! Walter will defeat Pete Dunne to win the WWE United Kingdom Championship. Dunne won't go down without a fight.

The NXT North American Championship will be up for grabs when current champion Velveteen Dream defends the title against Matt Riddle. Dream is one of NXT's best success stories and one of the last remaining homegrown talents that they have. Every time he's in the ring with one of the top indie stars, he puts on a great performance but when it comes to those matches happening at Takeover, he loses. Wargames 2017, despite a career breakout performance against Aleister Black, he came up short. At Takeover Chicago II, despite a great match against Ricochet, he loss. Even at Wargames 2018, with the NXT Championship on the line against Tommaso Ciampa, he couldn't get the job done. Riddle fits into the same boat as Black, Ricochet and Ciampa, major indie signings that have forever changed the course of NXT. This is Riddle's first championship match at a Takeover event and Dream's first defense of the title. NA Champions haven't had the best of luck at Takeovers as every time it's been defended at a Takeover, the title has changed hands. Cole to Ricochet at Takeover Brooklyn IV and Ricochet to Johnny Gargano at Takeover Phoenix. Will the same fate hinder Dream? No, probably not. I don't see Dream, as over as he is, losing the title just yet. Riddle's NXT career is just starting so taking a first loss here won't hurt him. This will be a fun match for sure but I'm definitely going with Velveteen Dream to retain over Matt Riddle. Don't think it will be a clean victory either but a victory is a victory.

A HUGE Fatal Four Way will take place when NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler defends against Bianca Belair, Kairi Sane and Io Shirai. Baszler has defeated Sane and Belair in previous Takeovers and Shirai has pinned Baszler in a 6 women's tag leading up to the show. I love Fatal Four Way matches but as previous Takeovers have shown, they can be given little time. Even though the Fatal Four between Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, Charlotte and Bayley was a thing of beauty, it was only 12 minutes. The Fatal Four between Asuka, Nikki Cross, Billie Kay and Peyton Royce from Takeover San Antonio was close to 10 minutes, as was the match between Ember Moon, Kairi Sane, Peyton Royce and Nikki Cross a few months later. I realize that having a 15 minute match doesn't necessarily make it bad (Dunne/Bate Takeover Chicago), but I really hope they give these ladies time to show the world what they can do. Baszler has to be called up soon, especially if Ronda may be taking a break or leaving after Wrestlemania. The main roster will need a vicious heel to replace her. I'll get into the Mania main event later but Shayna losing the title here is helpful to what I think will take place in the coming days. Question is, who is the one to win it here?  Kairi and Io need to stay together to be a formidable challenge for Sasha and Bayley. Here's a prediction for you; I think Boss N Hug will defend against The Sky Pirates at Takeover San Jose in June. It's two months away I know but there's only one PPV after Mania before the next Takeover so it could definitely work so by process of elimination, Bianca Belair is the only one who I think will walk out as champion. Sure, they could give it Shirai and build towards the inevitable Shirai/Sane match up, but that type of match should be saved for next year's Mania Takeover show don't you think? Belair could win here, drop it to Sane or Shirai in Toronto in August then they can do Sane/Shirai at Takeover Tampa next year. Belair winning would be good for the division and she would have a great division of challengers. The Sky Pirates obviously but also Candice LeRae, who they've apparently forgotten about, Kacy Catanzaro, who I think could be the next big face of the division for them, Lacey Lane, another athletic talent who I think could be a face of women's wrestling, Rhea Ripley, someone who could match Belair's power and has experience as a champion, Mia Yim, Deonna Purazzo, the list goes on. I'm going with Bianca Belair to finally win the NXT Women's Championship. She can't be denied for much longer.

The main event of NXT Takeover New York is one they had to put together quickly. The scheduled main event was to see reigning NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa defend against Johnny Gargano in a match that would have been their fourth main event together but one that would have been the blow off match for a feud brewing for the better part of three years. It was an end to the most ambitious and greatest storyline in NXT history. Fate interfered and Ciampa needed neck surgery and had to vacate the title so we'll have to wait a little longer for their final match. While Triple H and the team had to pull out a quick main event for the show, it's one that promises to be something special if done right. Johnny Gargano will still get a shot at becoming champion but now it's against another of NXT's top stars in Adam Cole (Bay Bay). It will be a 2/3 Falls match, a match type that has become the signature match type of NXT.

Ciampa's injury has put a new spin on plans. While Adam Cole and the Undisputed Era looked like they were on their way out of NXT, they may have found their way back in. Cole stated that each member would be covered in gold in 2019 and this may be the way they start it. I've been a huge Gargano supporter since the DIY days and I was there last year when he put on that 5 star performance against Andrade in Philadelphia. Gargano winning the title would make things come full circle. Regardless of who you back in this match, this will be a barn burner and one that looks to set the mood for the entire wrestling weekend. I'm cool with either guy winning but I'm trying to think who would be next in line for a shot at the title? I've already said Ricochet and Black are on their way out and they're both guys who've had matches with both Gargano and Cole at Takeovers past. You still have Keith Lee, Matt Riddle and Dominik Dijakovic as guys who can be main event players to come. Rumored signings Shane Strickland and/or Kushida could appear in the crowd during Takeover, leading them to be interjected in the mix. NXT has a bright future. It's hard to pick just one but I'm going to go with Johnny Gargano to finally win the NXT Championship, becoming NXT's first Triple Crown winner. In typical Gargano fashion, he'll lose the first fall and win two straight. You know, underdog stuff. It's the theme of the weekend.

That's Takeover. I'm excited! Now, let's get to Wrestlemania!

16 matches booked for the show right now, 10 being singles matches. which is strange for their biggest show of the year. As with all the big shows now, there is a 2 hour pre show and it looks like there will be three matches on it and it's the same ones as last year; a Cruiserweight Title match and both the Andre the Giant Memorial and Women's battle royals. That means 13 matches will make the main show. Let's break all 15 down. Jesus...

205 Live's best success story Buddy Murphy will defend the championship against Tony Nese. Now, I don't really know the story here as I don't watch 205 Live but I do know that anytime Murphy gets a chance on a PPV, he shines. He's one of those guys who I hope gets put on the main roster after his run in 205 is over.  Nese has the look of a superstar, His signature 8 pack is god like and I've always been high on him since his appearance in the Cruiserweight Classic back in 2016. Murphy is nearing a record reign with the title and if he can get past Nese, he would most definitely pass Neville's 197 day reign with the title and based on WWE trying to replace records from stars who've wronged them, I think that's the goal. That being said, this will be a great match but Murphy will be retaining that title.

I hate to say this but this year's Wrestlemania Women's Battle Royal is pointless. There are no compelling rivalries with the women who are involved and it's so obviously done to get them all on the show. That being said, as of this typing, there are only 13 women confirmed for the match. Last year, there were 20 ladies involved so I fully expect some of the NXT ladies to get the call here as they did last year. 2018 saw Kavita Devi, Kairi Sane, Peyton Royce, Bianca Belair, Tanyara Conti, and Dakota Kai enter the fray. Kairi or Bianca might be NXT Women's Champion but I'll say whoever doesn't win the Fatal Four Way at Takeover will be in the match excluding Shayna. So if Belair wins like I predicted, expect to see Kairi and Io. Kacy Catanzaro is a must, especially after her performance in the Royal Rumble. I could see either Aliyah or Vanessa Bourne getting the nod as well as Deonna Purrazzo (born in Jersey, literally a half hour away from MetLife Stadium), Mia Yim or even Toni Storm. And of course, the winner who hasn't been announced, Lacey Evans. Yeah, that's who I'm going with to win. Regardless of whoever they get from NXT, it won't matter as the Southern Sassy Belle will get the win in Metlife. She'll probably eliminate Asuka last. Mandy Rose is my back up pick.

I'm a bit surprised the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal isn't featured on the main card only due to the celebrity involvement. I guess this will be the match that airs on USA Network because, you know, NBC. 29 stars confirmed so I'm expecting one more star to be added to make it an even 30 like last year. Your guess on that one is as good as mine (Bray Wyatt please but probably Kevin Owens). Anyway, this match is centered around Colin Jost and Michael Che of Saturday Night Live fame and fallen from grace Braun Strowman. I don't think either of those three will win the match but most of it will definitely center around them. There's really no one in the match that stand to Strowman's power, except maybe Otis and Tucker so maybe they'll team up and get him out. I'm going with a dark horse pick in Andrade to win it all. Andrade will need the momentum to push him forward on Smackdown and this is perfect to build momentum upon. If rumors are true that he's dating Charlotte, then I could see 2019 being a very good year for the Tranquilo One. Let's go Andrade!

OK, now we've come to the main card and it's time for the opening match, which is just as important at the main event. The Intercontinental Championship Triple Threat was a barn burner start last year but I don't think this year's IC Title match can hold a candle to that so that will be saved for later. If I had to pick, it's either between The Miz VS Shane McMahon or Drew McIntyre VS Roman Reigns.

The Miz will face heel Shane McMahon in a Falls Count Anywhere match. Great job by whoever put the stip on. For two reasons. One, a heated feud like this needs a stipulation where both men can go all out (I'm looking at you HHH/Orton and HHH/Reigns from Mania 25 and 32 respectively). Two, we'll probably get to see Shane jump off of something, like maybe the Wrestlemania set itself. With the stipulation, I expect a great match between the two and one that will help flesh out babyface Miz going forward. Miz needs the victory here more than anything, especially after coming up short at the past FIVE Wrestlemanias. He lost in both ATGMBRs at 30 and 31, lost in the IC Title Ladder match at 32, lost to Cena and Nikki at 33 and of course, lost the IC Title at 34. He hasn't won at Mania since it was at MetLife in 2013. The Miz needs the win more than Shane. Shane had a successful win outing last year with Bryan so it's owed to him. I'm going with The Miz to win big here.

So....The Revival will defend their Raw Tag Team Titles at Wrestlemania. The team they're facing? Uh...Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder. Is this Wrestlemania or Backlash? I'm not sure who thought about this one but the only reason I can see this being a WM worthy match is if they finally give Hawkins a win here. I think the crowd would be behind the win as well. While it's a random Mania match, it could provide an underdog win, which seems to be the overall theme of Wrestlemania 35. I'm going with Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins to win the Raw Tag Team Championship.

The Usos made it on the card! They will defend their Smackdown Tag Team Titles against Ricochet and Aleister Black, Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura and The Bar. No New Day, no Good Brothers, no Sanity or most importantly, no Hardys. So, let me get this straight, they bring The Hardys back together on a random Smackdown and then they DON'T do the dream tag team match between The Hardys and The Usos? That's dropping the ball. Anyway, this will be a very fun match, given 10-15 minutes. Kudos to Aleister Black and Ricochet who will be making history by challenging for 3 out of the 4 male tag team championships in WWE in a week's time. They've already lost their shot against The Revival and I have them booked to lose against The War Raiders. Will they finally win tag gold on their third attempt? Probably not. I still think New Day will win the titles sooner rather than later so no reason to do a title change here and then to New Day. I'd love if Nakamura and Rusev won the titles though but I'm picking The Usos to retain in this makeshift match.

Demon Balor will make his grand debut at Wrestlemania and he will challenge Bobby Lashley for the Intercontinental Championship. I don't really need to go in depth with this one right? Demon Balor is used rarely and as a way to make Balor larger than life. With a character like that, he's not losing anytime soon with the paint on. Demon Balor will win the Intercontinental Championship. It won't be a long affair.

Samoa Joe will (maybe) defend his United States Championship against Rey Mysterio. I put maybe because Mysterio hurt his ankle during his Raw match with Baron Corbin. His status is now up in the air. I'm hoping the match will happen and I'm also hoping that Rey will be replaced, mainly because John Cena is still without a match for this show. Joe/Cena was one of the matches I just knew that was going to happen at Mania. Well, even if Mysterio is good to go, this will still be a fun match. If Mysterio wins, he'll be a Grand Slam Champion, which is a great accomplishment to achieve at Mania. I like Joe's run as champ and I hope it continues so he can run into Kevin Owens and we finally get a feud between those two. Mysterio's high flying antics won't be enough and he'll go to sleep. Samoa Joe retains.

Kurt Angle will wrestle his final mattch in WWE against Baron Corbin. This is funny to me. I'm all for Corbin getting the rub against Angle in his final match. You know, pushing future stars and what not. The backlash for the match has been severe, mainly because they had such a great opportunity to have John Cena be Angle's last opponent, especially when he announced his last opponent in Chicago, in the same arena Cena debuted against Angle. Nope, we're getting Angle/Corbin. The crowd will eat this alive. I'm looking forward to that and what chants we'll be getting. I hope Angle wins and taps Corbin out, go out on his own merit. I'm not looking forward to the match but the crowd should make this fun.

The Women's Tag Team Titles will make their debut at Wrestlemania when Sasha Banks and Bayley defend their titles against Nia Jax and Tamina, Beth Phoenix and Natalya, and The IIconics Billie Kay and Peyton Royce. Beth Phoenix returning to the ring was definitely a shocker, mainly because I know I was expecting Trish and Lita coming back instead. I'll take it though. Beth looked fantastic in the ring on Monday. She could come back full time if she wanted. Anyway, her return is solely to put the titles over with her friend Natalya. I hope she does stick around afterwards though. Sasha and Bayley retaining is best for the end of the show so that's the route I'm going with, although I would not be upset if Kay and Royce picked up the win.

In one of the biggest matches of this year's Wrestlemania, Randy Orton will face AJ Styles. WWE has done a great job of having these two stay away from each other for most of their careers in WWE. Yes, they had a match two years ago on the road to Wrestlemania but nothing since. This might be the best pure wrestling match at this year's show. Orton always performs best when he has a compelling feud or someone that can work with him ala John Cena so this will be fun. They've already done the Forearm into RKO spot on Smackdown so they have to come up with something else. I'm looking forward to whatever it is. AJ Styles could use the win so I'm picking him.

The Big Dog will be making his singles return to PPV from leukemia when he faces Drew McIntyre. Roman will not main event Wrestlemania this year. Reigns has spent many of his time at past Wrestlemanias in matches that were meant to push him to the top of the card. He now finds himself in the opposite role as the one doing the pushing. This is McIntyre's first Wrestlemania since his return to WWE and he's going against a four time Wrestlemania main eventer. This is one of those crossroads matches. I can see why either guy could win. Reigns is coming back from cancer and it's his first big singles match back. He NEEDS the win. McIntyre has destroyed The Shield and Reigns is the last one standing. He's a big star and a win against the biggest star in the company is a major statement at the Grandest Stage of them all. I'm torn. My heart says McIntyre but my brain says Reigns. This will be a hard hitting match for sure. I'm going with my brain. Roman Reigns will win in his return to singles competition. Darn it.

It's a match 14 years in the making. Triple H will face Batista in a No Holds Barred match and if Triple H loses, his in ring career will be over. Batista has been wanting a match with HHH for awhile now and after his injury at the horrible event that was Crown Jewel, it looked like it would never happen. That is not the case though. I don't know the in ring prowess of Batista, especially since he hasn't been in the ring since 2014. Triple H's last match was a tragic disaster. This has the making for a terrible match, hence why they made it No Holds Barred. Triple H has never defeated Batista so I think he'll finally get his win back, although it would make sense for him to finally hang up the boots and focus on his behind the scenes role. It would definitely be the shocker WWE needs for the show though. I'm still going with Triple H to win after the expected slegdgehammer shot followed by a Pedigree.

I can't believe I'm actually typing this but Daniel Bryan will defend the WWE Championship against Kofi Kingston at Wrestlemania. If I told you on April 1st, 2018 that Daniel Bryan would enter Wrestlemania 35 as WWE Champion, you probably could believe that. Now, if I said it was going to be a heel Daniel Bryan, you probably would be less likely to believe me. Now, if I said a heel Daniel Bryan would defend against a crazily over Kofi Kingston who's on his WM30 Daniel Bryan run, you'd probably think I'm crazy but that it what is happening. I love pro wrestling. This was not my idea for the WWE Title match at the beginning of the year but it's now the match I want to see most at Wrestlemania. Kofi's rise in popularity has been amazing to watch and we can only hope it leads to the moment we all want to see; Kofi Kingston with the WWE Championship. I mean, that's where this is all leading to right? I can't imagine them not pulling the trigger here. It's the Wrestlemania moment that this show needs. It's funny to think I'm rooting against Daniel Bryan, especially 5 years after his amazing WM30 win. Maybe it's now Kofi's turn at a big moment. Kofi winning would be a huge moment and he'd make a lot of history. He'd become a Triple Crown winner and the first black Grand Slam champion. I think it's time. We're all ready. Pull. The. Trigger. Plus the merchandise sales would be amazing for him. Kofi Kingston will defeat Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship, becoming only the 51th man to hold the championship.

Now the only thing about this is what happens afterwards. Rumors are circulating that John Cena will compete at Wrestlemania and it's being kept secret. What if, and I'm sorry for putting this out there, Vince brings out someone for Kofi to defend against after finally winning the title? What if he brings out Cena to face him? Or Kevin Owens? Or Bray Wyatt? What if Kofi gets his moment but it's taken away from him. I'm nervous for the aftermath, especially with the whole Cena thing....

Royal Rumble winner Seth Rollins will finally get his shot come Wrestlemania as he will face Universal Champion Brock Lesnar. Rollins hasn't had a shot at a World Title in some time, dating back to 2016. That's a super long time without at least one shot. He's been in #1 contender matches but with Raw without a Universal Champion for much of the title's inception, it's been hard on him. This is Rollins' big opportunity to get back to the main event picture. I want to believe he'll do it but with Reigns back and McIntyre getting hot, Rollins might not be the chosen one anymore. Lesnar, if he won, probably wouldn't defend the title again until they return to Saudi Arabia, which is scheduled for June now. That's anoter 2 months without a main title on the show. There's also the case of having all the underdog faces win on one show. I already got Kofi winning, Reigns winning and you can guess my pick for the main event. All are underdogs. There has to be a heel winning and I think it will be here. I'm unfortunately going with Brock Lesnar to win here and continue his stranglehold of the Universal Title. This should go 15 minutes or less.

The main event of Wrestlemania will be Raw Women's Champion Ronda Rousey facing Smackdown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair and 2019 Royal Rumble winner Becky Lynch in a Winner Takes All Triple Threat match. Ronda being in the main event of Wrestlemania was talked about last year but it will come to fruition on Sunday. The ladies will do everything in their power to put on a show with the lights on bright. This match might receive the most time come Sunday and I'm expecting a war. If Charlotte doesn't do a Corkscrew Moonsault off of something, I'll be severely disappointed. Who wins the first ever women's main event of Wrestlemania? Ronda might be on her way out or taking a break so not her. Charlotte has won enough but I wouldn't put it past Vince to do a swerve and give it to her. Becky is the people's choice and had to scratch and claw her way to the main event. If Becky wins, she wins two titles in one night. I just hope they don't unify them. Fitting with the whole underdog theme of the night, Becky Lynch will make Ronda tap out to win both women's championships. Don't miss this barn burner.

Now, the ending of the show should see Sasha and Bayley come out to celebrate with the Becky, with Becky and Charlotte squashing things between them, only for Ronda to get upset. This would lead to the ladies tossing her from the ring, while the WWE Four Horsewomen hold their titles up and the iconic 4 hand gesture, signaling the end of the PPV. This would lead to Raw the next night, with Becky coming out with both titles, talking about how she took out Ronda. This would lead to Shayna Baszler making her main roster debut either with or without Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir. If they do it probably, they can start the build to the inevitable Four Horsewomen showdown for SummerSlam. ALL TITLES on the line mega main event. It would be hard to push it towards Mania 36 so SummerSlam is the next best thing.

And there you go! That's the weekend. I wonder who will interrupt Elias though? Taker? Cena? Honky Tonk Man? The options are endless! Anyway, enjoy the wrestling everyone!