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WWE will present NXT Takeover 36 on tonight, live in the US on Peacock. Here is our take on what will happen in the matches.
NXT Men's Champion Karrion Kross vs Samoa Joe
Dave: With Kross on Raw they need to get the Title off of him. Jeff Hardy beat him and doesn't even want the belt. They are hurting it, big time. Put it on Joe. He will be more than credible.
Mike: The sooner the belt gets away from Kross and the terrible Raw booking, the better. I just hope Joe can resurrect it after everything that the main roster creative did to blemish the title. This should be a fun little brawl.
Richard: With Karrion Kross starting to win matches on Raw, does this mean we are going to be seeing the final appearance of Karrion Kross? If so, will we see Scarlett with him or does he walk alone going forward? If Kross can beat four of the top guys in a single match, should he LOGICALLY have any problem with Joe? I think history will be made and Samoa Joe becomes a three time NXT Champion.
NXT Women's Champion Raquel Gonzalez vs Dakota Kai
Dave: I love Dakota and it was just a matter of time until this happened but I just don't see her winning. The champ retains and boy, would this be the perfect time to introduce the US to Kay Lee Ray.
Mike: This feels more like Kai's chapter endpoint and exit than a chance at a title win. It seems like she's main roster bound, as she should be, so Raquel beats her former partner and runs her off, just as she did Rhea.
Richard: Ever since Raquel won the title, I expected this match to happen. I would be a lot happier about this match if we didn't have that 'Thing' happen to Dakota on Main Event a few weeks ago (but we aren't supposed to remember that). Dakota is playing the Shawn Michaels role so well being pissed that Raquel is not acknowledging her contributions to Raquel's success as champion. I would love to see Dakota get the win since she has also assumed the role that Bayley had when the other three went to the main roster, but I don't think they take the title off Raquel on Sunday. Since Mike mentioned that there is a former champion who has been in Florida for a while, what if she is the next challenger for Raquel and the one to take the title from her?
Adam Cole vs Kyle O'Reilly in the Undisputed Finale Two Out Of Three Falls Match (Fall One: Standard Match, Fall Two: Street Fight, Fall Three (If necessary): Steel Cage Match)
Dave: Cole's contract status has to factor in here. With that said, even if he is staying Kyle needs the win here more that Cole does.
Mike: Internally, these are considered the top babyface and heel (other than Kross, who is likely exiting) so they have to give them a chance to go all out and try and top their previous matches. I expect a lot of damn good near falls and twists and of course we are getting the cage. My guess is Cole pins Kyle for round one, Kyle makes him tap for Fall Two and then they go all out. In the end, who wins? I say Cole, just to keep people talking.
Richard: If they wanted a three hour show with only five matches, this match is how they get there. If this doesn't go a combined 50 minutes, I will be disappointed. We saw this format before with Gargano and Cole. I really hope Cole was a prophet when he said this would be a sweep. The future of these two men will likely be revealed with the result of this match. If Cole is staying, I would expect him to win, but if he loses, does this mean the final appearance of Mr. Cole? Cole wins the first fall and then Kyle gets the second fall to bring out the cage. Despite Kyle's best efforts, he will fall short and then we can build to Joe vs Cole for the title.
NXT UK Champion WALTER vs Ilja Dragunov
Dave: This is the match of the weekend for me, by far. Nothing else is even close. I can't wait. I would have Ilja go over here. But since they had him lose to Pete Dunne last week, which was main roster level stupid booking, if he does win he has to take on, and beat, Dunne really quickly.
Mike: For everything else that is hyped this weekend, this may be far and away the best bell to bell match of the weekend. I think Ilja is great and NXT UK has done a masterful job of building thid up, but I don't see WALTER losing.
Richard: This match is the reason why I will not be doing the commentary for this show since I will be in Orlando for this match. Just like with Dakota, we can ignore the recent match that Ilja had against Pete Dunne, since that did nothing to help with the hype for this match for the casual fan (for the people who have been watching NXT UK over the years, we know that these two showing up is enough to get us to care about this match). I have said many times that I thought WALTER's title reign was vulnerable but he has persevered every time. This might be the night, but if it is going to happen there cannot be any outside interference because that would take the bloom off this rose. Give them 20 to 25 minutes.
Million Dollar Champion LA Knight vs Cameron Grimes (if Knight wins, Ted DiBiase becomes Knight's Butler)
Dave: Grimes needs to win here, on his own. Ted can't help. Ted, however, can be getting jawed at by Knight when Grimes takes advantage and scores the pin.
Mike: This should be the next step in Grimes stepping up and making it to the next level. I can see a finish where Knight uses the Million Dollar Belt as a weapon but it backfires.
Richard: Cameron Grimes will win this match but the question will be how does DiBiase help Grimes get the win over Knight. Will he 'pay off' the referee or will we see a switcheroo with the referee and suddenly there is a familiar face to make the three count . . . VIRGIL.
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