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NXT will look to continue its streak of impressive PPVs, as their highly-acclaimed Takeover series will air its 30th installment this weekend. Takeover XXX will precede WWE&#8217;s Biggest Party of the Summer, <a href="https://api.wrestlingworld.co/match-card/wwe-summerslam-2020-match-card-and-predictions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SummerSlam 2020</a>, and has a pretty decent card going into Saturday.



Unlike main-roster PPVs, NXT gets much more time to build their stories for PPVs, which has given several interesting matchups for the PPV. Several new names will be featured at the PPV this time with the likes of Bronson Reed and former NFL star Pat McAfee making their Takeover debut. 



NXT Takeovers are known for their short yet highly engaging presentations, and this weekend promises to be no different. Takeover XXX will go up against AEW Dynamite, as it has been moved this week due to TNT&#8217;s scheduling conflicts. 



We run down the WWE NXT Takeover XXX match card and give our thoughts and predictions on how it will go down on Saturday, August 22nd, live on WWE Network. 



<h2 class="has-text-align-center wp-block-heading">Pre Show: Breezango vs Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch vs Legado del Fantasma</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i.imgur.com/PlyxbL4.jpg" alt="" width="1068" height="600"/><figcaption>Image via WWE</figcaption></figure>



A late addition to the card saw the three teams get a spot on the pre-show with the opportunity to become No.1 contenders for the NXT Tag Team Championships on the line. Breezango has already faced off with the champions Imperium on previous occasions, and are in this match simply due to their ongoing rivalry with Legado del Fantasma. 



The upcoming stable led by Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar has shown great promise so far, and a reign with the tag-titles could be a great way to enhance the group&#8217;s supremacy on the roster. With Undisputed Era turning faces, Escobar&#8217;s faction can easily put them up as the top stable on the black-and-gold brand. 



Prediction: Legado del Fantasma wins. 



<h2 class="has-text-align-center wp-block-heading">Finn Balor vs. Timothy Thatcher</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://i.imgur.com/ogGtv5i.jpg" alt=""/><figcaption>Image via WWE</figcaption></figure>



NXT is the land of opportunities, and Thatcher will get a grand opportunity to showcase himself on the big stage with a match against the former NXT and Universal Champion Finn Balor at Takeover XXX. The duo first crossed paths during their Triple Threat qualifier, also involving Dexter Lumis, and later Thatcher cost Balor his second-chance match against Velveteen Dream earlier this week.



Thatcher has emerged as a strong contender for a top heel status ever since his break-up from Matt Riddle and the vicious submission specialist will look to take down Balor with one of his several deadly holds. Balor, on the other hand, will probably end up winning this match, but it doesn&#8217;t add much to his second stint in NXT. It has been perplexing as he is winning several of his matches, but is still light years away from a title reign.



Prediction: Finn Balor wins



<h2 class="has-text-align-center wp-block-heading">Ladder Match for Vacant North American Championship: Damian Priest vs Bronson Reed vs Cameron Grimes vs Johhny Gargano vs The Velveteen Dream</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://i.imgur.com/gcVY31C.jpg" alt=""/><figcaption>Image via WWE</figcaption></figure>



Mid-card championships are often used to promote the newer stars in a company, give them a proper title to challenge for, as the primary title remains the main attraction of the show. NXT has used several big names in their NA title feuds so far, such as Johhny Gargano, Adam Cole, Keith Lee, but this time they are using the title as a platform to showcase the lesser-known names. 



Lee relinquished the title last month in order to give chances to new superstars, and several new names are already in contention for the title. It will be interesting to see who leaves the PPV with the title around their waist, but Damian Priest looks the most likely name considering his recent success.



Ladder matches rarely disappoint, and expect this one to be a five-star encounter as well. 



Prediction: Damian Priest wins



<h2 class="has-text-align-center wp-block-heading">NXT Women&#8217;s Championship: Io Shirai(c) vs Dakota Kai</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://i.imgur.com/r3yQY7V.jpg" alt=""/><figcaption>Image via WWE</figcaption></figure>



Io Shirai finally won the NXT title at In Your House after taking down Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley, and after a brief encounter with Bayley-Banks, she found a challenger in Dakota Kai. Kai&#8217;s NXT run has been puzzling at times, as her heel turn opened up new avenues, but her booking remained questionable. 



Kai has all the tools to be a top star in the Women&#8217;s Division, but her booking and her chicken-shit heel persona haven&#8217;t made heads turned around. Shirai should comfortably retain her title in this encounter, and WWE should put more effort in order to make Kai a much more legit challenger for the title. 



<h2 class="has-text-align-center wp-block-heading">Adam Cole vs Pat McAfee</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://i.imgur.com/137qZC0.jpg" alt=""/><figcaption>Image via WWE</figcaption></figure>



NXT became the third brand of WWE last year with a flashy TV deal and expansion to two hours, and this match will be the first-time NXT replicates the main-roster with a celebrity matchup. Tyson Fury, Cain Velasquez, Stephen Amell, etc. are some of the non-wrestling personalities who have wrestled on WWE PPVs in the past, and now Pat McAfee joins the list.



Cole and McAfee have had quite a ruthless rivalry so far, with McAfee using his bundles of charisma to stand out as a legitimate superstar. Cole is one of the best wrestlers in the world and should easily carry McAfee to half-a-decent match on the event. Triple H has been quite particular with his Takeover events, and if he has put McAfee in the event, he must be doing something right. 



The result majorly depends on whether WWE is trying to include McAfee as a full-time wrestler going forward. If it&#8217;s a one-off appearance (which it seems so far), Cole should take the win. 



Prediction: Adam Cole wins. 



<h2 class="has-text-align-center wp-block-heading">NXT Championship: Keith Lee(c) vs Karrion Kross</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://i.imgur.com/kEbfhbK.jpg" alt=""/><figcaption>Image via WWE</figcaption></figure>



An extremely fresh matchup will headline the PPV as Karrion Kross gets his first title shot in the company with a direct push in the main event. Kross joined the company earlier this year but was immediately pushed into the main event and it has paid off so far. His partnership with Scarlett has paid dividends so far and is a welcome change in the main-event scene which has largely been stagnant for the last few years.



Lee just won the title last month in the Winner-Take-All match, and NXT is known to give long reigns to their stars instead of measly one-month stints. A dusty finish is in on the cards, as it is highly unlikely that Lee loses the title so soon, while Kross being pinned will take the shine off his mystique. 



Prediction: Keith Lee retains via DQ/Count-Out

WWE NXT Takeover XXX Match Card and Predictions

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