It's NXT Takeover: Chicago preview time!
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Roderick Strong Vs. Eric Young
I figured they'd add something like this to the card at the last minute. Can't say I'm disappointed. Strong is arguably the best worker in NXT right now and Young is a solid, veteran hand. I feel like they're gearing Strong up for an NXT title run in the near future, so I'd imagine he'll take this one.
Winner: Roderick Strong
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WWE United Kingdom Championship Match - Tyler Bate (c) Vs. Pete Dunne
The last time these two faced off at a WWE event, it was an absolutely fantastic match, and I expect more of the same here. Both guys are fantastic performers. Apparently, the WWE Network will release the first UK series footage Friday night, which provides the set-up matches that led to this title match. While Bate hasn't really done much as champion aside from a couple of NXT appearances, I think it's the right time to give the belt to Dunne. Bate winning the UK tournament was a great story, and they built him up perfectly as a face over two days, but Dunne is the best performer on the WWE's UK roster. I think he can do for that division what Neville has done for the cruiserweights.
Winner: Pete Dunne
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NXT Tag Team Championship Ladder Match - The Authors of Pain (c) Vs. #DIY
The stipulation really makes this one interesting. It seems like it would play to DIY's strengths, as they are smaller and more mobile, whereas the Authors are big and lumbering. However, I find it unlikely that DIY wins here. If they were going to give them the titles back, they probably would have done it at the previous Takeover. I think this is the loss that finally causes Ciampa to turn on Gargano, leading to a rivalry between the two that culminates at Brooklyn III at the end of the summer. Gargano is over as all hell, and Ciampa can play a great foil for him.
Winner: The Authors of Pain
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NXT Women's Championship Match - Asuka (c) Vs. Ruby Riot Vs. Nikki Cross
It really sucks that Ember Moon got hurt, because she would have made this match a lot more interesting. That said, you've got three of the four best workers in the women's division here, so this should be a good match. Nikki and Ruby have had a nice little feud going, and Asuka has continued to destroy everything in her path. It's hard to see her losing the title before Brooklyn, and I can't imagine she'll lose it to anyone other than Ember Moon, Kairi Hojo, or Io Shirai.
Winner: Asuka
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NXT Championship Match - Bobby Roode (c) Vs. Hideo Itami
Perhaps the most interesting factor in this match is whether or not Itami will hit the Go to Sleep in front of the Chicago crowd. You know they'll be teasing that move all night. The match itself, though, doesn't really interest me all that much. I just don't see Itami winning. He's spent most of the past two years on the shelf with various injuries, so I can't imagine they'll trust him with the NXT title heading into their second-biggest show of the year in August. It's also hard to see Itami being the one to take down Roode when they've got guys like Drew McIntyre, Kassius Ohno, Aleister Black, and Roderick Strong on the roster, not to mention the likely signing of Adam Cole (BAY BAY). The smart money right now is probably on Strong being the next NXT champion.
Winner: Bobby Roode
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This is a really damn good card, even if the outcomes of the three NXT title matches all seem pretty predictable (the UK one is more of a toss-up...I could see that going either way).
Regardless, I'd pencil this one in as a must-watch.