While WrestleMania 34 on Sunday gets all of the focus, on Saturday night NXT will play host to the latest installment of its TakeOver series. The Smoothie King Center will hold the event and its just a mere few feet from where WrestleMania will take place the next night. The TakeOver card is stacked with many titles on the line and the first ever NXT North American champion will be crowned. Tune into the WWE Network at 8 pm est to catch the action and to see the next generation of WWE Superstars.
Andrade 'Cien' Almas vs Aleister Black for the NXT Championship
Not many people likely imagined Andrade 'Cien' Almas becoming NXT Champion in 2017. The Mexican Superstar cared more about having a good time than what he was doing in the ring. Enter Zelina Vega who focused her new client's energy and within months Almas had defeated Drew McIntyre for the NXT Title. Champion or not though Almas has never come up against anyone like Aleister Black. An irate Aleister Black at that following on from what Almas has been doing to him in recent weeks. The Dutch Superstar is incredibly unique and has been slowly and quietly building his path to the NXT Championship. Well on Saturday night in New Orelans that path will culminate at the door of Andrade Almas. Vega will have to be on top form if she thinks she can help Almas retain his much coveted championship beyond this weekend.
A Six Man Ladder Match For The NXT North American Championship
It's incredible what NXT has become over the past few years and no matter how big it gets it still continues to grow. At TakeOver this Saturday it will be getting a brand new title, the NXT North American Championship. The match to crown that first ever champion could very well be the best of the entire weekend. Six NXT Superstars in what will be a breathless ladder match with the brand new title hanging way above the ring. You have brand new signings EC3 and Ricochet, two battling behemoths in Lars Sullivan and Killian Dain, and also a couple of egomaniacs in Velveteen Dream and Adam Cole. What makes this match even more exciting than it already is and definitely will be is its unpredictability. Any of these six men could leave with the title on Saturday night and no matter who it is the fans will likely be happy about it.
RELATED: TRIPLE H REVEALS THE NEW NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP BELT [PHOTO]
Johnny Gargano vs Tomasso Ciampa
What did we just say about the six man ladder match being the one that could steal the entire weekend? We may need to take that back. Johnny Gargano is finally going to get his hands on Tomasso Ciampa and let's be honest, there is pretty much zero chance of this match not being an instant classic. We got a taster of what the two of them can do against one another in the Cruiserweight Classic in 2016 but this showdown will be on another level. Now one of them is perhaps the biggest babyface in WWE and the other is one of the most dastardly heels. Ciampa took Johnny Wrestling away from the NXT Universe and now he has a chance to win back his spot with legions of fans chanting his name. Prepare yourselves for an absolute wrestling clinic in this unsanctioned match.
Ember Moon vs Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women's Championship
For the longest time, more than 500 days in fact, the NXT Women's Championship was held by Asuka. On a number of occasions Ember Moon tried to take that title from her and despite coming oh so close a couple of times, she could never quite pull it off. Now that The Empress has gone however Moon has proved that she was indeed the next best thing and is currently the best female competitor in NXT. Over the past few months however Shayna Baszler has been doing her utmost to prove otherwise. The Queen Of Spades has been taking out competitors left, right and center, even taking Moon to her absolute limit at NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia. Could she make that final push in New Orleans and knock the champion off of her well-earned throne?
Undisputed Era vs Roderick Strong and Pete Dunne vs Authors Of Pain for the NXT Tag Team Championships
The ladder match for the North American Championship won't be the only chaotic affair on this weekend's TakeOver card. There's also the triple threat tag team match between the above three teams and an awful lot is on the line in this one. Not only will Undisputed Era's Tag Team Titles be on the line but the victors will also be crowned the winners of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Due to Bobby Fish being injured Kyle O'Reilly and Adam Cole thought they would be smart and interrupted the original final on NXT. That meant they had no challengers for their titles at TakeOver. That was until William Regal revealed that thanks to their meddling the match will now be a triple threat, and Cole will have to compete twice on Saturday night.
