WWE NXT Takeover: Respect match by match analysis & predictions

NXT Takeover: RespectNXT have been consistently delivering some quality wrestling on WWE television time after time. Specifically their special Takeover events have all been superb and often outshine the WWE main roster PPV’s.With the finals of the Dusty Rhodes tag team classic, the debut match of the talented Asuka and an historic 30 min iron women main event all set to take place, the upcoming Takeover: Respect event promises to be no different.So let’s take a look now and analyse every match on the NXT Takeover: Respect card.

#1 Tyler Breeze v Apollo Crews

Both of these men are incredible athletes and solid in ring performers so expect a great match. Unfortunately, it seems certain that Tyler Breeze will once again be jobbing to the new fresher talent in Apollo Crews.

Breeze has indeed been working with top tier talents such as Balor and Jushin Liger, however, he ends up losing these bouts. The last time Breeze won at an NXT special event was back at the second ever event (NXT: Takeover) where he defeated Sami Zayn.

Crews, being new in NXT needs wins to solidify his position, therefore it seems certain that he will emerge victorious at the expense of the equally talented Breeze who needs to be utilised in a better way.

Predictions: Crews wins

#2 Finn Balor & Samoa Joe v Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder (Dusty tag team classic semi-final)

The pairing of Finn Balor & Samoa Joe was a doomed pairing from the very beginning and it’s only a matter of time before the inevitable implosion happens.

The only question that really remains is whether the team’s breakdown will happen in the semi-final or the finals of the Dusty tag team classic. I believe that Balor & Joe will capture a victory in the semi-finals to save their breakdown for the important final of the tag team classic.

Prediction: Joe & Balor advance to the finals

#3 Rhyno & Baron Corbin v Chad Gable & Jason Jordan (Dusty tag team classic semi-final)

Both of these teams are recently formed so it will be interesting to see her gets the push going forward.

The pairing of Corbin & Rhyno though seems least likely to last as WWE would probably much prefer to continue pushing the upcoming Baron Corbin as a singles competitor. The future of Gable & Jordan could very well depend on their performance in this tag team classic tournament, therefore it seems to make sense that they will advance to the finals.

Predictions: Gable & Jordan advance to the finals

#4 Asuka v Dana Brooke

The much-anticipated debut of the extremely talented Asuka will happen albeit against a sub-par opponent. Asuka is well equipped while Dana is still learning therefore this match itself probably won’t be anything special and will likely be kept fairly short.

Expect the debuting Asuka to capture the victory as she will likely continue to be built up in the coming weeks so that she can challenge Bayley for the championship sometime in the near future.

Prediction: Asuka picks up a victory in her debut match

#5 Dusty Rhodes tag team classic final

The two teams that will be competing in the Dusty tag team classic finals are unknown at this stage, however based off my own previous predictions, I have anticipated that the final bout will be Finn Balor & Samoa Joe v Chad Gable & Jason Jordan.

An implosion of the Balor/Joe team seems inevitable and although it’s possible that it happens after they win the match, I believe it would make more since for it to happen during the bout thus leading to their loss. Some sort of altercation between the two will most definitely happen to set up a Balor v Joe championship match for the next NXT special.

Gable & Jordan could use a victory they would propel them to challenge for The Vaudevillians championships.

Prediction: Gable & Jordan emerge victorious while Joe and Balor begin an epic feud

#6 Bayley v Sasha Banks (30 min iron women match)

Expectations are high for this epic rematch that will mark a historic moment for women’s wrestling. Not only will Bayley and Sasha battle in (as far as I’m aware) the first ever iron women match (in WWE history) but they have also been given the main event spot.

These two arguably delivered one of the greatest women wrestling matches of all time at the last NXT special and the 30 min iron women stipulation should only enhance the in-ring action.

However, the end result itself seems fairly predictable. Considering Bayley only just won the title and Sasha is now competing regularly on the main roster, Bayley will almost certainly retain. Despite this, though, the match itself will be entertaining enough anyway that predictably won’t matter at all.

Prediction: Bayley retains her title in what may quite possibly be the greatest women’s match ever.

Please feel free to comment your own predictions for all the matches in the comments section below.