8 Early Predictions For NXT TakeOver: New Orleans

by John Bills

1. NXT Championship - Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas (C) Vs. Aleister Black

NXT TakeOver Orlando Aleister Black Andrade Almas
WWE.com

The booking of Aleister Black since his debut at NXT TakeOver: Dallas has been nothing short of masterful. The man from Amsterdam feels like a truly unique presence on the show, and has been involved in many fantastic matches that have allowed him to slowly develop his character over the course of the year. He overcame the striking ability of Hideo Itami, the psychological attacks of Velveteen Dream and the arrogant shenanigans of Adam Cole.

It all started with a confidence-boosting win over Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas, the man currently in possession of the NXT Championship. Almas has been a revelation as champion, and the former IWGP Intercontinental Champion deserves more praise than he seems to get. Zelina Vega has been an inspired addition to his presentation, and more than ever El Idolo feels like a genuine big deal.

His title reign will come to an end at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans. The time to crown Aleister Black has come. How NXT books the Dutchman after he makes it to the summit will be the real test. He has to lose eventually, and the longer he stays unbeaten the more difficult it becomes to give someone the rub of overcoming him.

That honour should eventually go to the coward Tommaso Ciampa ahead of cage match at TakeOver: Brooklyn IV. I’m getting way ahead of myself though. NXT TakeOver: New Orleans will end with Aleister Black sat cross-legged in the middle of the ring after becoming the 13th man to win the NXT Championship.

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Born in the middle of Wales in the middle of the 1980's, John can't quite remember when he started watching wrestling but he has a terrible feeling that Dino Bravo was involved. Now living in Prague, John spends most of his time trying to work out how Tomohiro Ishii still stands upright. His favourite wrestler of all time is Dean Malenko, but really it is Repo Man. He is the author of 'An Illustrated History of Slavic Misery', the best book about the Slavic people that you haven't yet read. You can get that and others from www.poshlostbooks.com.