Karrion Kross’ ascent to the top of WWE NXT has been rapid.
Less than four months since his first appearance, Kross competes for the NXT Championship at TakeOver XXX.
But the TakeOver main event is not Kross’ alone.
NXT Champion Keith Lee has been every bit as impressive over the course of 2020. Perhaps NXT’s highest-achieving male titleholder, Lee made history when he staked what was then his North American Championship on a match against Adam Cole to become NXT Champion at The Great American Bash.
With the North American Title now vacant – to be decided in a Ladder Match at TakeOver XXX – Lee can now focus solely on the NXT Championship and its next contender.
Neither champion nor challenger has faced anybody quite like their opponent heading towards Sunday’s showdown.
Kross tore through former-champ Tommaso Ciampa, and Lee wiped out Adam Cole in their last high-profile bouts.
But with momentum high for both men, whose time is up? Join the NZPWI Roundtable as we break down the card for WWE NXT TakeOver XXX.
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NXT Championship:
Keith Lee (c) vs. Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett
Steve McCleary (64% accurate for 2020):
The pandemic era has led to multiple opportunities across companies for rising talent to shine. It’s a pity that Kross’ shine will be eclipsed by his glory.
Winner: Keith Lee
David Dunn (62% accurate for 2020):
Is Karrion Kross Keith Lee’s biggest challenge? Possibly. But I’ve yet to see Lee fail to rise to the occasion.
Winner: Keith Lee
Grady Hooker (62% accurate for 2020):
Keith Lee only just got the championship gold, and gave up his North American title, so he’ll be doing everything possible to hold on to it. In the end though, he will fall and pray.
Winner: Karrion Kross
Mister J:
I’ve been following Karrion Kross’ career since I first saw him in West Coast Wrestling Connection in 2015 and his name was still “Kevin”, and the guy has only become more of a monster. The guy is on fire, and Scarlett is a definite accelerant… but… as impressive as he is, Keith Lee is the man of the moment, and that moment is far from over.
Winner: Keith Lee
Sammy G (43% accurate for 2020):
Keith Lee was smart to relinquish the North American title to focus on the black-and-yellow brand’s main belt. He’s focused, and he’s ready!
Winner: Keith Lee
NXT Women’s Championship:
Io Shirai (c) vs. Dakota Kai
Steve:
C’mon. We’ve all gotta pull for the same person here. It’s New Zealand law.
Winner: Dakota Kai
David:
I will always support Dakota Kai – and with Raquel Gonzalez doing the same, we should be looking at New Zealand’s first WWE titleholder.
Winner: Dakota Kai
Grady:
I’m pretty sure I would be kicked out if I didn’t pick Kai.
Winner: Dakota Kai
Mister J:
I cannot in good conscience throw my support behind someone else in a match with Dakota Kai. Since reinventing herself she has gone from strength to strength, and she was pretty damn strong to start with.
Winner: Dakota Kai
Sammy:
Total bias in this one. I can summarise in two words: Team Kick!
Winner: Dakota Kai
North American Championship, Ladder Match:
Bronson Reed vs. Cameron Grimes vs. Damian Priest vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Velveteen Dream
Steve:
Keen on Grimes to take it, but Aussies rule! They’re almost as good as Kiwis.
Winner: Bronson Reed
David:
It’s a stacked line-up but Bronson Reed proved he can climb to the top, both metaphorically and in a literal sense, when he held the took possession of the title on WWE NXT. Look for history to repeat itself when it matters at TakeOver.
Winner: Bronson Reed
Grady:
This match is going to be good regardless of who walks out with the gold. There are a bunch of new talent that are going to get a chance to shine. I’m going with NXT’s resident ThiccBoy Bronson Reed picking up the win.
Winner: Bronson Reed
Mister J:
Bronson Reed. It has to be Bronson Reed. Anyone who says differently is an idiot. And if it comes to pass he doesn’t get his hand raised, someone obviously cheated, or the referee was incompetent, or there was bribery involved, or…
Winner: Bronson Reed
Sammy:
I’m torn between a few names coming into this match. The fire is lit under Velveteen Dream, and I feel his thirst for gold outweighs the hunger of the other competitors.
Winner: Velveteen Dream
Adam Cole vs. Pat McAfee
Steve:
I like Pat McAfee, but I’ll mainly like watching his face get kicked in.
Winner: Adam Cole
David:
Pat McAfee will likely fare better than any of us expect him to, but Adam Cole has only lost one singles match in 2020, and he won’t let that happen again.
Winner: Adam Cole
Grady:
Pat McAfee isn’t used to being a wrestling ring, and Adam Cole has three guys who will stand behind him. The odds are stacked in favour of the former NXT Champion, so I’ve gotta take the smart pick.
Winner: Adam Cole
Mister J:
McAfee might give protection to computer systems and stop them from harmful attacks, but I don’t think that extends to professional wrestling.
Winner: Adam Cole
Sammy:
This could be the night Adam Cole stands up and shows he can get things done without The Undisputed Era. Or the unit can show McAfee first-hand why they’ve been the most dominant stable in NXT.
Winner: Adam Cole
Finn Balor vs. Timothy Thatcher
Steve:
The so-called Prince hasn’t been consistent with picking up wins and I think that leaves him prone to being deposed by the new heir.
Winner: Timothy Thatcher
David:
Balor might have qualified for the North American Championship Ladder Match if it wasn’t for Thatcher. That’s got to be a sore spot, and a great source of motivation…
Winner: Finn Balor
Grady:
I love Balor as much as the next guy, but he hasn’t been able to pull out a win when needed since returning to NXT, while Thatcher is on the rise – buy Thatcher stock.
Winner: Timothy Thatcher
Mister J:
I found myself wondering the other day just what happened to Finn Balor’s career trajectory. Where did his rise to the top go? Whereas Timothy Thatcher has been impressive since my first sighting of him on Championship Wrestling From Hollywood.
Winner: Timothy Thatcher
Sammy:
This is an opportunity for Balor to reset, and refocus himself to break out of his funk. TakeOver XXX will be Balor’s night!
Winner: Finn Balor
Picks Summary
NXT Championship:
Keith Lee: 4 (80%)
Karrion Kross: 1 (20%)
NXT Women’s Championship:
Dakota Kai: 5 (100%)
Io Shirai: 0 (0%)
North American Championship, Ladder Match:
Bronson Reed: 4 (80%)
Cameron Grimes: 0 (0%)
Damian Priest: 0 (0%)
Johnny Gargano: 0 (0%)
Velveteen Dream: 1 (20%)
Adam Cole: 5 (100%)
Pat McAfee: 0 (0%)
Finn Balor: 2 (40%)
Timothy Thatcher: 3 (60%)
WWE NXT TakeOver XXX
Sunday, August 23
11am NZST (Pre-Show from 10.30am NZST)
WWE Network
