6 HUGE NXT TakeOver: New York Predictions You Need To Know

5. Pete Dunne (c) Vs. WALTER (WWE United Kingdom Title)

Adam Cole NXT TakeOver New York
WWE.com

This booking looked likely the moment WALTER stomped his way into WWE via NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool on 12 January 2019, booting Scottish slugger Joe Coffey out of the ring before staring long-reigning United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne dead in the eye to close the event.

It's great that WWE are giving it the full-on TakeOver treatment rather than throwing Dunne vs. WALTER on a UK special. Britain deserves great matches, of course, but this is a bout befitting a bigger stage, and, if given time, there's no reason this clash of two hard-hitting bruisers can't steal WrestleMania weekend as a whole. It comes laced with ***** potential.

This will be the 20th defence of Dunne's near 700-day run. Johnny Gargano, Adam Cole, and Tyler Bate have all fallen to 'The Bruiserweight' in this time, but WALTER (a destroyer who wouldn't have looked out of place headlining MSG with Bruno Sammartino in the 1960s) is his most credible threat yet, and the right man to take NXT UK forward. Dunne is done there. It's time for him to move onto Raw or SmackDown, while WALTER becomes the British brand's Austrian vanguard.

Winner: WALTER

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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.