8 Predictions For NXT TakeOver: Toronto
1. Nakamura Retains, Joe Departs
Some called Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura’s first match a disappointment. It looked like the duo were setting themselves up for a wild, uncontrollable brawl when they were pulled away from each other in Brooklyn, but they went in the opposite direction. Joe and Nakamura wrestled a slow-burning puroresu-style main event that didn’t heat-up until the end, and while you’d struggle to justify calling it a “bad match,” it was far from flawless.
Whether you felt let-down by their first clash or not, this is their opportunity to step it up a notch. Their rivalry has been heated, savage, and intense, and after a Joe-inflicted injury put Nakamura out for much of the build-up, the NXT Champion hasn’t been shy to engage the challenger on his own violent terms.
They’re going to knock lumps out of each other in Toronto, and while it’s best to exercise a little caution after the first match’s moderate shortcomings, this’ll be a stiff, hard-hitting war of attrition from two veteran workers. There’s a credible argument to be made that neither should still be in NXT at this moment, but while the winner will stick around a little longer, losing should open a door to the main roster.
Our prediction? Nakamura retains, and Joe heads for Raw or SmackDown. We’re still early in The King of Strong Style’s reign, and it’s too early to hand him the first major loss of his WWE run. Joe, meanwhile, has been in NXT for well over a year now. He’s had his run as champion and established himself as one of the best heels in WWE, developmental or otherwise. It’s time for him to shine on a bigger stage, while Nakamura continues to hold the fort in Orlando.
-
What else do you think might happen at NXT TakeOver: Toronto? Let us know in the comments below!