10 HUGE WWE NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver Predictions You Need To Know
2. Adam Cole Vs. Kyle O'Reilly
The best ever joke at NXT's expense came years before the Wednesday Night Wars began, or even before it became popular to dunk on the brand. And it came after something awesome, too.
When Adam Cole shockingly debuted at TakeOver: Brooklyn III with an attack on Drew McIntyre following the future 'Scottish Warrior's victory over Bobby Roode, a Twitter/Reddit user sadly lost to the fragmented sands of the internet noted that indie Triple H just attacked Scottish Triple H after his win over Canadian Triple H.
Warmer than some of the gags directed at him these days, this was a reasoned assault on Hunter...knowing what he likes. He likes beards, he likes hair, and likes some f*cking gruff f*cking intensity regardless of if the characters are best at portraying that. Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly aren't, but they're such polished all-rounders that they've given it a hell of a go, and a gentle upturn in overall viewership of late suggests that fans are biting on the explosions between the former friends.
This can be a lot of things, but it cannot descend into One Final Beat-levels of parody. It's got to transcend the brand's recent thirst for melodrama despite the run-up and remain a fight. It's ideally got to feature Bobby Fish and Roderick Strong either making tough choices or making no choices at all. It's the hardest match across either night to call, but NXT tends to enjoy giving the heels the laughs that appear to be the last.
Winner - Adam Cole