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WHAT SHOULD GO DOWN TODAY: THE WWE NXT TAKEOVER: VENGEANCE DAY TIP SHEET

WWE NXT Takeover: Vengeance Day takes place this Sunday.  Here's our take on what will happen.

WWE NXT Champion Finn Balor vs. Pete Dunne.

Dave: Balor has been great since coming back to NXT and becoming champion.  His bouts with Kyle O'Reilly were great and I expect this will be the same.  I love Pete but I think it's too soon to take the Title off of Finn, especially with Karrion Kross looming and the feint possibility that Edge will challenge for the NXT Title at WrestleMania.  I keep the Title on Finn here.

Mike: This has all the potential to be as hard-hitting and entertaining as Balor vs. O'Reilly and I am greatly looking forward to this.  I believe this will be a kickass match that brings Dunne up a level in showing how tough he is but the only way the title should be switched is if Balor needs some time off as there's been rumblings he's still having issues with his jaw.  This could and should be tremendous.

Richard:  This should be a very good match and I like how they have built it up over the last few weeks.   With Kross waiting to get his shot at the title he never lost and with Edge suggesting that he may face Balor for the Title he never had (but he never lost the title he had at the time of his retirement), I agree with Dave that there are a lot of options on the table for Balor and I think they work better than with Dunne. With Lorcan and Burch looming in the background to possibly get involved, will we see the Undisputed Era have Balor's back or will it be Finn versus the World? (I am saying this IF they have to do anything with interference, but they shouldn't).  Now that football season is over, do we see McAfee make an appearance to help Pete win?  Give them 25 to 30 minutes, if they need that much time to tell the story of the match, and let those of us who are spending Valentine's Day covering the PPV something to enjoy.

WWE NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano vs. KUSHIDA.

Dave: I have thoroughly enjoyed delusional Johnny.  He has done a great job of completely changing his character.  Like most NXT matches, this could go either way but I think since Johnny and company have their gimmick, I pull the trigger and put the Title on Kushida and see if I can elevate him up the card.  The talent is certainly there.

Mike:  Gargano and The Way have been ridiculously entertaining in all the right way.  KUSHIDA is great but has yet to have that milestone moment that brings him to the next level and I feel like this could finally be that monent.  I'd like to see KUSHIDA get the win but I suspect Gargano and friends will steal the victory.

Richard:   After the miracle of being able to walk again after his arm 'injury' (Why Wade is so great on commentary), I think this is the night that KUSHIDA gets to wear gold in WWE.  I hope they don't try to get too cute if they need to have Theory try to get involved and then that brings out Dexter Lumis and Gargano gets freaked out and loses the match by 'slipping on a banana peel' instead of being outwrestled by one of the best Cruiserweights in the world who doesn't have to be in the Cruiserweight Division. (WWE, ignore that last sentence because if it happens, we have issues)  I hope Gargano tries to pull something before the match with Regal, only to be stopped in his tracks like Regal did on Wednesday's show.

WWE NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai vs. Mercedes Martinez vs. Toni Storm - Triple Threat Match.

Dave: We always hear how the champion is at a disadvantage in these matches and they usually come out on top.  That is what I would do here.  Storm and Martinez can get so caught up in trying to get the win that Shirai can find a way to take advantage of it and retain her belt.

Mike:  If it's me, it's Mercedes all the way, even if it's a short-term thing with Io getting the belt back.  I feel like after all her decades of grinding, she deserves that moment.  There will be a day for Storm, but it's not this show and Io won't lose anything dropping the belt here. 

Richard:  Mike and I talked about how much we would love to see Mercedes get the win and give her that title reign in the same way that Homicide got his run in ROH.  I think Martinez was put in this match so Storm didn't have to take the fall in that match.  However, if Martinez is going to win, that means the champion is pinned (when was the last time that happened in a WWE triple threat match?)  Io seems like the forgotten player in this match and I think that motivation is enough for her to put on a great performance.  I think Io wins the match, but seeing Mercedes Martinez get a chance to raise that title belt is a great thing for people who have followed her career.

Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Classic Tournament Final: Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez vs. Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon.

Dave: This is a match where it seems like there is a clear favorite in Kai and Gonzalez, due to the fact that Raquel is so dominating.  I don't do a swerve, I go with the favorites.  I would love to see Raquel face off with Nia Jax.  I have a feeling Nia will be a little bit more careful across the ring from Gonzalez.

Mike: I don't forsee a world where Raquel Gonzalez should be on the losing end of anything relatively soon.  I would go all the way with Kai and Gonzalez.  Blackheart and Moon are great but I just don't see either of them getting the win over Gonzalez and Kai right now.

Richard:  Shotzi and Ember have had a good run in the Dusty Classic and with them being a 'makeshift team', they should be the favorites in the Dusty Classic.  However, Dakota and Raquel are just so good as a team and they truly are a 1A and 1B when it comes to their contribution to the team.  This is another match I am afraid that some shenanigans could happen, but this isn't the main roster so maybe they will avoid it on Sunday night.  Cobra Kai all the way.

Men's Dusty Rhodes Tag Classic Tournament Final. MSK vs. Grizzled Young Veterans.

Dave: While I absolutely could see NXT going all the way with the new guys I love the GYV and I would have them go over here.  Those two are great.

Mike: There are two ways to go here - reward the team that has been in the trenches doing the work or push the new kids to the top.  WWE is very judicious with how they push talent and I love the Grizzled Young Veterans but I would go all the way with MSK.  They are onto something with them and they put on fun, frenzied and athletic spectacles and right now, I feel they bring a fresh, needed feel.  I say all the way with MSK.

Richard:  MSK has had a great run in the tournament and they have been booked to be more serious in the ring, but the Grizzled Young Veterans came so close to drinking out of the Giant Boot that I think this is the year.  Gibson and Drake are a great team and Gibson is one of the best on the mic in the company.  They have the momentum of beating one of the favorites in the semis (and because Tommy and Timmy were a makeshift team, they have the advantage over these teams that like to work together for a long time) and it will continue on Sunday night.  MSK will have a strong showing but Grizzled Young Veterans versus Lorcan and Burch seems like the better match based on their histories than MSK versus Lorcan and Burch.  Lee and Carter's time will come, but give them time to establish their reputation in NXT before giving them the titles.

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