Are you ready for WWE NXT Takeover: In Your House? Well here are my picks for the card…who will win, but who should win?

You might be asking yourself: Didn’t Greg just publish an article last week? Yes, I did! And here I am again. The fact is, I love writing. As much as I love podcasting, along with non-Chairshot activities like CrossFit and promoting IZW Wrestling, I love love LOVE writing about this beautiful one-of-a-kind business we have.

So I will carve out more opportunities to write about it!

On top of my love for the business, and my love for writing about it, you have my love for NXT–the best wrestling show on the planet. The most complete show on the planet. And they have a Takeover today (Sunday), which typically houses the best events of the year for any company anywhere. I literally have Takeover: Stand And Deliver Night 2 on as I write this.

So as you might be able to tell, I am making Takeover picks. I am following a format that I believe produced some great results on the ol’ Greg DeMarco Show: “Who Should Win? Who Will Win?” Aka WSWWWW.

(Yes, I know I can’t make that a thing.)

It’s a simple format that allows you to pick who you actually think the company is going to have win, while providing your own opinion about what should happen. Best of both worlds, right?

Now that we are all on the same page…LET’S GO!

WWE NXT Takeover: In Your House | Sunday, June 13, 2021
Capitol Wrestling Center | Orlando, Florida

Matches are listed in the order I expect them to happen.

Winners Take All
NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed & NXT Tag Team Champions MSK (Nash Carter & Wes Lee) vs. Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar and Joaquin Wilde, & Raul Mendoza)

While I know it should be obvious, all the titles are on the line, which we haven’t seen in WWE in quite some time. Unless something crazy happens (like Raul Mendoza pinning Bronson Reed and wanting the North American Championship), it’s assumed that of Legado wins, Escobar wins the North American and Wilde/Mendoza win the tag titles.

Honestly, I don’t think that matters all that much, because I don’t see a scenario where they win. It’s too soon for Bronson Reed or MSK to lose, unless there is a plan to have them chase again. It could work for MSK, who won vacant titles, but for Reed it doesn’t make any sense at all given what he had to overcome against Johnny Gargano just to become champion.

And honestly x2, I think Legado del Fantasma could be primed for a main roster call-up. Going to Raw and/or Smackdown is likely horrible for Wilde & Mendoza, but could potentially work out for a persona like Santos Escobar. Am I right? It seems like we will find out.

Who Should Win? Bronson Reed & MSK
Who Will Win? Bronson Reed & MSK

Click here to check out Steve Cook’s Gambling Picks for NXT Takeover: In Your House!

Mercedes Martinez vs. Xia Li

A surprising Takeover match-up, but I am glad to see it. You could easily have a title defense for Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell (the NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions), Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans, a title defense for KUSHIDA (NXT Cruiserweight Champion) or even something to showcase Swerve Scott & Hit Row Records (which they can still do without having a match).

But instead we get a great opportunity for both Mercedes and Xia to shine. Mercedes has had that chance before, so to me this is a do or die match for Xia Li. The Tian Sha angle has stalled somewhat, so she needs a win here to keep it going. But this would seem to set up the next women’s championship challenger, and Mercedes getting another shot seems to make sense.

For me, I think Xia Li’s situation warrants the win more than Mercedes, but I think NXT goes in the opposite direction. I hope this isn’t it for a potential Xia Li push.

Who Should Win? Xia Li
Who Will Win? Mercedes Martinez

Don’t miss Steven Mitchell’s coverage of Takeover: In Your House tonight!

Ladder Match for the (NXT?) Million Dollar Championship
Cameron Grimes vs. LA Knight

Two heels battling in a Ladder Match for a championship? Color me intrigued. But more about that in a second. First off, is this an official championship? Or should I say, ANOTHER official Championship? If so, that would make for SEVEN championships for NXT, and that’s just the US arm. That doesn’t count the four in the UK.

Now it totally makes sense for two heels to be fighting here, as the “New Million Dollar Man” needs to be a villain. Both men are fantastic talkers, and great in the ring, too. Cameron Grimes is a true gem in NXT, but LA Knight has shined in his short time back. To me, there is one obvious outcome, but it actually benefits both men.

LA Knight wins, and has the missing element added: a championship that he can make valuable. He can talk anything into existence, including the prestige of a new championship (even if it’s not official). This is his ticket, assuming he doesn’t win and then throw it down, saying he doesn’t need it (which I could see). As for Cameron Grimes, a loss is the perfect turn for his character. He’s a would-be millionaire thanks to crazy ups and downs in the stock market, and the best next-step for him is to hit rock bottom. Grimes spent all the money because he knew winning the Million Dollar Champion would being infinitely more riches, and how he’s back to rags. Comedy gold, Jerry!

And I think NXT does just that.

Who Should Win? LA Knight
Who Will Win? LA Knight

Impact Wrestling had Against All Odds this weekend as well, and Andrew has you covered!

NXT Women’s Championship: Raquel Gonzalez (champion) vs. Ember Moon

Brutal honesty time, here: Raquel wasn’t ready for the NXT Women’s Championship. Of the team, Dakota Kai being champion with Raquel as her back-up, getting more experience down and eventually unseating Dakota. Instead, we’ll get a Dakota heel turn (maybe here?) and the feud happens with Raquel Gonzalez as champion.

Notice how none of this was about Ember Moon? While you never say never in WWE NXT, she has a slightly better than zero chance of winning, here. She’s in there to make Raquel look like a million bucks.

Who Should Win? Raquel Gonzales
Who Will Win? Raquel Gonzales

Bradley Jay lets you know what he is most excited for at Takeover In Your House 2021!

NXT Championship: Karrion Kross (champion) vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Pete Dunne vs. Kyle O’Reilly vs. Adam Cole

Karrion Kross is miscast in NXT, as he is a main roster act through and through. The only thing missing? His mic skills. What has NXT exposed more than anything? His mic skills! Some of the best talkers in NXT (Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole) have had to work down to Kross’ level in the promo portion of the build. And Kross’ deficiencies on the mic surely don’t help Kyle O’Reilly or Pete Dunne, who have their own challenges when cutting a promo. Kross has to stick generic comments when talking, and it has hurt this a little. Thankfully, no one is cutting a promo during the match, and this one will kick all kinds of ass.

If I’m WWE, I am taking Kross to the main roster sooner rather than later. That’s where he belongs. Scarlett isn’t a much better promo, so they might need an ally to do the talking. But physically, in the ring, what he does is perfect for the  main roster.

So you know I don’t think he should win (but he will). So who would win? You can make an argument for anyone. But the perfect candidate is, surprisingly, Johnny Gargano!

Now I say surprisingly because you know I am the world’s biggest Adam Cole mark. But Gargano is doing the best promo work of his life, and him as NXT Champion–a reign where he can actually have successful title defenses!

This match could also see Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly take each other out, setting up another blowoff there. Plus, we could get the return of Finn Balor here, or even the return of Samoa Joe to all of WWE! If the latter were to happen, then Joe vs Kross is a must-see match and could do wonders for Karrion. Regardless, I think we get some sort of surprise during, or after, this match.

Who Should Win? Johnny Gargano
Who Will Win? Karrion Kross