Unsanctioned Match: Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa
Though it’s not technically the main event, this might be the match that fans are most looking forward to on Saturday night. The feud between Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa has spanned what essentially amounts to a full year and has so many layers to it. Not only have they been brutally attacking one another throughout that time, starting with Ciampa turning on his former friend and tag team partner, but Gargano has since lost his job in storyline and will be fighting to get it back at TakeOver.
What’s been clear throughout the entirety of this feud, however, is that Ciampa is being billed as the unstoppable force in this scenario with Gargano coming across as the underdog. While NXT turns a lot of tropes on their heads, that doesn’t seem to be the case here. The best course of action moving forward is for Johnny Wrestling to give Ciampa his comeuppance and for the former to get his job back in storyline — in beautiful, brutal fashion, of course.
Prediction: Johnny Gargano wins, gets his job back
NXT Women’s Championship Match: Ember Moon (c) vs. Shayna Baszler
When Asuak was the Women’s Champion, she was undoubtedly dominant in her reign. However, one thing that was also true about the Empress of Tomorrow is the fact that she was largely beloved by the majority of the fans. She was a force that, even on the main roster, hasn’t been stopped. All of that is to say that Shayna Baszler appears to be a different type of force.
While Ember Moon has been a solid champion to follow up Asuka, it would appear that she’s not ready for the challenge that the brutal Baszler presents. There is a ruthlessness in the way that the former MMA star wrestles that is just fascinating and frightening for anyone standing across the squared circle from her. And for my money, it makes the most sense for that mean-streak to lead her to the title on Saturday night.
Prediction: Shayna Baszler wins