NXT TakeOver: Toronto 2019
August 10, 2019
Scotiabank Arena
Toronto, Ontario

Watch: WWE Network

Meet our previewer

Steve Case: I might be the rare person that still gets more jazzed about an NXT show than AEW. TakeOver is the surest thing is wrestling, and until AEW has many more banger shows under their belt, I will stand by that claim. As has happened with some of the more recent Takeovers, on paper this doesn’t look as strong as many Takeovers in the past. To me, coupled with the consistent greatness that all these shows deliver, that just adds to my excitement and intrigue. Follow me @Coachcase44

Candice LeRae vs. Io Shirai

This might be my most anticipated match of the show, and a potential show-stealer. I LOVE the mean streak that Io has developed. The attitude, the look, the music, it all works. The story with her seeing Candice as a crutch and a hindrance to her success is so simple and works so well. See, this isn’t hard. Candice is the perfect babyface for this story. She can play the role in the women’s division her husband has played so well for the men for the last few years. The never say die babyface that the crowd adores and cheers throughout her journey to the top. This will also be the first time she has been showcased in a big spot. She has looked great every time she’s been in the ring, but they have all been short enhancement matches. She will be able to really show the goods here against the dastardly heel Io. Io should and will take the win here as she should continue her ascent to the top of the women’s division in NXT, while simultaneously starting Candice’s slow journey to the same mountain top. Prediction: Io Shirai

NXT Women’s Championship
Shayna Baszler © vs. Mia Yim

As someone he isn’t a huge fan of either, I’ve been pretty into this feud. I like the idea of a babyface fighting back against the bully. Mia taking Duke and Shafir out on her way to Shayna has really given her that badass aura. Whereas many of Shayna’s challengers would be intimidated by her, Mia has stared back at her defiantly. Mia’s in ring work lately has also stood out with a little more snap and passion than usual. Chemistry is always an issue in Shayna matches, but I think Mia will be the first since Kairi to deliver something special. I like the idea of Mia taking down the bully here. I feel like every Takeover seems like the right time to take the belt off Shayna, but now with evil Io rising, and even Mia with the ability to flip to a heel down the road, there are finally people in place to be the top woman heel of the brand. It might be a good time to move Shayna to the main roster to get her used to the environment. I think a feud with her and Becky could be great. Prediction: Mia Yim

NXT North American Championship
Velveteen Dream © vs. Pete Dunne vs. Roderick Strong

Talk about a random surprise! His spot probably should have gone to Riddle, but they are clearly building him up to the NXT Championship scene with the Daine feud. I am NEVER going to be upset about Pete Dunne being added to a match. This should be lots of fun, with Roddy and Pete bringing the technical prowess and Dream adding the flare. I’ve made this prediction many times over the last few Takeovers BUT, I truly feel if they are going to shower the Undisputed Era in gold, this is the show to do it. Post Summerslam call ups loom to get certain folks ready for the FOX move and supposed main roster changes coming in the next few months. This would be a perfect time to firmly put the Era on the top of the NXT mountain. Prediction: Roderick Strong

NXT Tag Team Championship
Street Profits © vs. The Undisputed Era

How fun are the Street Profits? How entertaining and talented is Montez Ford? How much has Angelo Dawkins, and the team as a whole, improved the last few months? Their run in EVOLVE really lit a fire under them and they are showing the fruits of that hard work now. I loved their promo on the go-home NXT this week. It showed fire and passion and comedy shops without being too silly. They’ve managed to have several backstage segments on the main roster, and to me, that’s very telling. They would be a nice addition to a pretty stale tag scene and hopefully breathe some life into the division. I’m not ready to see them leave NXT, but the writing is on the wall. Fish and O’Reilly are one of the best tag teams in the world over the last decade, so losing to them shouldn’t cool the Profits off at all. Plus, as I said before, it’s the Era’s time. For real this time. Prediction: The Undisputed Era

NXT Championship – 2-out-of-3 Falls
Adam Cole © vs. Johnny Gargano

The recent build to this has been tremendous. With Cole going to the AIW training facility after Gargano and trashing Big Twan Tucker, going to his dad’s pizza shop, and picking the wrestling match stipulation to stick it to Johnny, he just comes off as the biggest douche in the best way possible. An aside: What a world we live in when Big Twan Tucker shows up on NXT TV and then has MJF’s last match in AIW. Outstanding. Anyway, many are tired of Gargano being in the main event scene, and I must admit as a huge fan, he needs to be removed from it. But the guy ALWAYS delivers. This will be no different. I don’t know if this will reach the level of their last two Takeover matches, but they have surprised me before. There’s no doubt this will be a tremendous match. 

Regardless of the outcome of the previous two matches, this is Cole’s night. Cole is the golden boy, as he should be. He’s improved significantly in my eyes in his NXT run and should hold the title until at least Rumble weekend, if not Mania. As for Johnny, he can always go to the main roster, even though I would fear for his life there. He could become the next Daniel Bryan, or he could be a 205 Live undercarder. He could take more of a backstage role at NXT for a bit. But either way, something fresh needs to come his way.  Prediction: Adam Cole