NXT TakeOver: New Orleans Preview – Tag Team Turmoil

The triple threat tag match between The Undisputed Era, The Authors of Pain and the team of Pete Dunne and Roderick Strong will crown both the winner of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and the NXT Tag Team Champions. Aside from what’s at stake in this match, there are a lot of interesting talking points heading into NXT TakeOver: New Orleans on Saturday night.

#WWENXT GM @RealKingRegal just raised the stakes in a BIG way for The #UndisputedERA, #AOP, and @PeteDunneYxB & @roderickstrong! #NXTTakeOver #DustyClassic pic.twitter.com/FWsV5kTcmZ

— WWE (@WWE) April 5, 2018

This match came to fruition due to an unfortunate injury to Undisputed Era’s Bobby Fish. As a result of this, Adam Cole stepped into Fish’s position and attacked both challenging teams in what was supposed to be the final of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic this past week. Due to this, NXT General Manager William Regal made the triple threat match official much to Adam Cole’s dismay. Cole is also scheduled to compete in the new NXT North American Championship ladder match the same night and depending on the card order, he may enter this match already beaten up.

#WWENXT GM @RealKingRegal has spoken!

OPTION 1: @AdamColePro competes in the #LadderMatch AND The #TagTeamChampionship Match.
OPTION 2: @KORcombat defends the gold on his own.
OPTION 3: Cole withdraws from the NXT North American Title Match.

What lies ahead for #UndisputedERA? pic.twitter.com/AvhtpZ2Cy2

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 5, 2018

The tag title bout also marks the first time Pete Dunne will be competing on a TakeOver show since NXT’s Match of The Year 2017 with Tyler Bate. Dunne and Strong are both fan favorites and the unlikely duo have set the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic alight with their no-nonsense, smash mouth style. With a win over SAnitY in the semi-finals and a teaser of the damage they can inflict on AOP seen on this week’s NXT, Dunne and Strong have shown they are a genuine threat to the champions.

Authors of Pain have been on a path of complete destruction since debuting in NXT in 2016 and they will be looking to become not only two-time NXT Tag Team Champions in New Orleans but two-time Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic winners as well. Akam and Rezar have already shown they can perform in a triple threat scenario with their match at Takeover: Orlando against DIY and the Revival being an instant classic. The team is likely to head to the main roster in the near future and with War Machine’s debut looking imminent, it doesn’t look like AOP will be walking out as the new champions on Saturday night.

With this in mind, I believe that Undisputed Era will retain their belts and Adam Cole will be winning his first title for the company in the process. As a result, I also think that due to Undisputed Era winning this bout that Adam Cole will be out of the running to win the NXT North American Championship. Although it would be great to see Dunne and Strong pick up the win, it seems like their pairing was a short-term plan as Strong looks set to find a permanent home on 205 Live soon.

Our 10th NXT Takeover this Saturday in New Orleans we WILL become 2 time @wwenxt tagteam and #DustyClassic cup winners! #AOP #AlbanianPsycho pic.twitter.com/tOrOtzTyHz

— Gzim Selmani / Rezar (@AlbanianPsycho) April 5, 2018

With so many interesting variables in this match and the implication it has on the event as a whole in terms of Adam Cole’s success on the night, this is one to keep your eyes on for sure.

Prediction: The Undisputed Era

 

What do you think of this match? Is there any chance the ragtag team of Dunne and Strong could pick up a win, the trophy, and the titles? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter here.

• WrestleMania 34
• pete dunne
• akam
• adam cole
• NXT Tag Team Championships
• Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
• Bobby Fish
• kyle o'reilly
• Trending
• rezar
• Roderick Strong
• NXT TakeOver: New Orleans
• New Orleans
• WrestleMania
• AOP
• nxt
• wwe

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