Preview and predictions for every match at the highly anticipated NXT TakeOver: New Orleans show taking place on Saturday, April 7.
All eyes of the pro wrestling world are on New Orleans this weekend for WrestleMania 34. Yes, the Showcase of the Immortals will take place on Sunday night and it is, more or less, the finale of a wonderful weekend jam-packed with fantastic wrestling action. However, from independent shows to other great events throughout the weekend, there is a multitude of wrestling for fans to digest. And no even cultivates excitement like NXT TakeOver: New Orleans.
Over recent years, the NXT TakeOver shows have built up a ton of clout as it pertains to wrestling fans. Time and again they have delivered top-notch shows that often out-perform — from an entertainment aspect — their main roster pay-per-view counterparts. Sure, it’s easier to fill 2.5 hours than it is six hours, but these TakeOver shows have been phenomenal as a whole.
A big reason for that has been the fact that the developmental brand of WWE has continually added top-tier talent to their roster. That’s again the case heading into New Orleans as we’ll see the likes of Ricochet and EC3 make their marks for the first time. Meanwhile, the paint is still fresh on guys like Adam Cole.
More importantly, though, this NXT TakeOver: New Orleans show is full of tremendous narratives. From Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa’s heated rivalry, to other tense situations with both the Andrade Cien Alma-Aleister Black and Ember Moon-Shayna Baszler matches, it feels as if this show has real stakes in every match.
So what will happen on Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET? Let’s get into that.
NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Undisputed Era (c) vs. The Authors of Pain vs. Pete Dunne and Roderick Strong
Leading up to NXT TakeOver: New Orleans, it was supposed to be the winners of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic that would take on Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish, the Undisputed Era, for the tag titles. However, those plans have gone awry. Not only is Fish injured now, but O’Reilly and Adam Cole interfered in the finals of the Dusty Classic. Thus, William Regal was forced to make the TakeOver bout a triple threat match
Interestingly enough, we don’t know if Cole will choose to compete in lieu of Fish or not. Regal gave him the option to compete in both this match and in the later ladder match for the new North American Championship, to forfeit his spot in the ladder match or to let O’Reilly fight alone in this match. Though it would be mighty heeling to choose the latter option, I believe Cole will at least somewhat compete.
As far as what will happen, though, I’d love to see Strong and Dunne come away with the win. The Authors of Pain winning, however, seem unlikely to win as their main roster debut is looming. Ultimately, though, it seems best to have the Undisputed Era perform in some dastardly manner in this match and emerge victorious.
Prediction: Undisputed Era retains