NXT Minus 6: Takeover 30…Before

Bradley Jay checks in with a special NXT Minus 6 to preview WWE NXT Takeover XXX–what matches is he most excited for?

I’m introducing a new format for my Takeover previews and reviews. Before, I’ll rank the matches in the order of my excitement for them. After, I’ll rerank then & see how they compare.

6. Lucha Outhouse Party versus Brit-Am Brawlers versus Breezango: I don’t like Takeover adding a pre-show match. Less is More. That said, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch are always fun to watch. I’d like Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde more if they weren’t burdened with carrying the world’s largest cruiserweight. Sadly, Breezango should be on Main Event. The fire has completely died out. This match would be better without them.

5. Adam Cole versus Pat McAfee: Prior to Wednesday night, I legit forgot this was on the card. McAfee sounds like a guy who deserves multiple real punches to the face. Such a tool in the worst possible way. I hope Cole goes Hardcore Holly on him. If this even sniffs 3 stars, then Greg DeMarco is right & Adam Cole is the greatest wrestler on this or any other planet.  

4. Keith Lee versus Karrion Kross: Imagine watching Die Hard. Greatest action movie ever. Greatest buddy movie ever. Greatest Christmas movie ever. An hour of bloody carnage rips by. As John McClane fights for his life, Hans Gruber breaks into a song & dance about being misunderstood. For the rest of the movie, you’re wondering what in the Hell was that. That’s what the fireball did for this feud. This went from MOTY candidate to hoping to be pleasantly surprised. And Keith better not come out with face bandages.  

3. Io Shirai versus Dakota Kai: I was fully expecting Raquel Gonzalez to make her return Saturday night. Kai swerved us good. Nice work. This year, no female has been as consistently good as Kai. As much as I don’t like short championship reigns, I would not be surprised, or disappointed, if Kai leaves with the title. 

2. Timothy Thatcher versus Finn Balor: No Undisputed Era versus Imperium? How about this world class consolation prize. Frequently, NXT gives me a dream matchup I had no idea I wanted to see. This is one of those matches. Thatcher’s style is as real as it gets, and Balor is absolutely flawless in ring. What’s not to love? This has show stealer written all over it. 

1. North American Title Ladder Match: Bronson Reed, Cameron Grimes, and Damian Priest, three of NXT’s brightest young superstars, are fighting to grab the big brass ring. That triple threat alone would have me salivating. Throw in Johnny Gargano, attempting to become a 2 time NA champ, and Velveteen Dream, the guy who ended Gargano’s first reign, and we’re floating into MOTY waters. This one is standing in the shadows of the first NA Title ladder match. It probably can’t be as good as the original, but if it comes close, then my August network subscription will be money well spent.