6 Predictions For NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III

Gold, glory, and undefeated streaks: the stakes are high this Saturday.

NXT TakeOver Brooklyn III
WWE.com

NXT TakeOver heads to Brooklyn, New York for the third consecutive year this Saturday night (August 19th), and after stealing the main roster's thunder during 2016's SummerSlam weekend, WWE's developmental brand will be out to do the same again.

The card isn't as stacked as last year's, but it's still a well-built affair across the board. Aleister Black vs. Hideo Itami and Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade 'Cien' Almas will prop the show up, before three big title matches bring it home, starting with Sanity challenging NXT Tag Team Champions The Authors Of Pain, who haven't taken a clean loss since debuting last June.

Elsewhere, Asuka will put her own undefeated streak (and the NXT Women's Championship) on the line against Ember Moon, who at last has a shot at redemption after her TakeOver: Orlando failure. Finally, we have NXT Champion Bobby Roode vs. Drew McIntyre, with speculation suggesting that whoever loses could be heading to the main roster, adding a whole new layer of intrigue to the contest.

A very solid lineup, but who'll emerge victorious, and who find themselves sliding down the ladder? Let's take a stab at it...

6. Johnny Gargano's Singles Career Takes Off With A Win

adam cole nxt
WWE.com

If it weren't for Tommaso Ciampa's injury, Johnny Gargano would likely be facing off with his former DIY partner this weekend. Ciampa's heel turn closed TakeOver: Chicago on a devastating note back in May, but a ruptured ligament incurred prior to the event is expected to keep him sidelined until March 2018, putting NXT's most anticipated feud on the back burner.

Gargano's run as a singles competitor started with a win over Raul Mendoza last month, and will continue against Andrade 'Cien' Almas this weekend. No longer adrift in the lower midcard, Almas has sharpened his focus since taking Zelina Vega on as his manager. He answered Gargano's TakeOver challenge a few weeks ago, and while his NXT run has been pretty lacklustre thus far, him and Gargano have every chance of putting on a great match.

Expect a win for the former NXT Tag Team Champion. Almas' direction has improved lately, but he has been primarily used to put others over since joining WWE, and that doesn't look like changing. Gargano, meanwhile, is a white-hot babyface commodity who must be preserved for Ciampa's eventual comeback. He'll likely win, and look strong doing so.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.