NXT TakeOver: Orlando: Match Card, Full Preview and Predictions

On the eve of WrestleMania 33, WWE's third brand will get its own chance to deliver a thrill ride in the form of NXT TakeOver: Orlando.

The build to Saturday's event has been pedestrian. The hype level isn't nearly anywhere what The Show of Shows boasts. Still, when the action kicks off inside the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, TakeOver will deliver.

NXT is poised to set the bar high for WrestleMania weekend on the backs of some of the best performers in the company.

Bobby Roode will defend the NXT Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura. The unstoppable Asuka will face her toughest test to date when Ember Moon challenges her for the NXT Women's Championship. And Aleister Black is poised to impress in his first outing with the brand.

Read on for a look at all the bouts lined up for NXT's homecoming.

Match Card

• Tye Dillinger, Roderick Strong, No Way Jose and Ruby Riot vs. Sanity (Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe, Killian Dain and Nikki Cross)
• The Authors of Pain vs. The Revival vs. #DIY (NXT Tag Team Championship)
• Aleister Black vs. Andrade "Cien" Almas
• Asuka vs. Ember Moon (NXT Women's Championship)
• Bobby Roode vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (NXT Championship)

Predictions

• Sanity wins
• The Authors of Pain retain
• Black over Almas
• Moon over Asuka
• Roode over Nakamura

Match Previews

Eight-Person Tag Match

The stable of crazed dogs that is Sanity has failed to entice Dillinger to join them.

Faction leader Eric Young laid out a Faustian deal for the popular star. The Perfect 10 refused, not trusting the snake regardless of his charm.

That has sparked a battle that now includes several of NXT's other babyfaces. Riot (previously Heidi Lovelace) was the latest to join the fight against Sanity. TakeOver will mark her official NXT debut.

She and Nikki Cross are bound to tear into each other as the match unfolds.  

As for Dillinger, fans should savor his flashy ways while they can. He's one of the top candidates to leave for the main roster post-WrestleMania.

Tag Team Title Bout

The Authors of Pain have plowed through the NXT tag team division thus far.

Led by Hall of Fame manager, Paul Ellering, the black-glad bruisers remain undefeated. Akam and Rezar are big, sneering beasts who employ a straight-ahead offensive style.

The champs are still raw as performers, though, and TakeOver: Orlando offers them their latest chance for a standout showing. Going up against the tag team artistes The Revival and the always entertaining #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) will certainly help them in that regard.

The elimination match format should add some extra drama and ring time. The tag team bouts have been the heart of TakeOver often in the past year-plus. There's a good chance that pattern repeats on Saturday.

Black's Arrival

Black, formerly known as Tommy End, will look to take his first victim.

The Dutchman is a tattooed bruiser with an affinity for the occult. He's one of the most promising prospects on the roster, and a man fully capable of being one of NXT's next top talents. 

His opponent is no tomato can. Almas, the luchador with sledgehammer-like elbow shots, has been excellent of late. It took him a while to adjust to NXT after venturing out of Mexico, but that has changed. Almas is looking like an NXT title contender right now. 

There is no subplot to this battle, no personal issues between these men. Much like Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn last year, this is a simple showcase of two stars.

The End of Asuka's Streak?

Can someone finally topple the Japanese gladiator?

Asuka has been a force of nature since arriving on the NXT stage. Aside from a Battle Royal loss last January, Asuka is 22-0, including 7-0 at TakeOver events, per CageMatch.net. She heads into Orlando as the longest reigning women's champ in the brand's history, as seen on WWE.com.

There is no better time for that historic reign to end than now.

Moon is the most viable challenger Asuka has faced. The Texas native is a hard-hitting world-class athlete with the best finisher in NXT—a diving corkscrew stunner.

And NXT has built her up as a foe capable of conquering Asuka. Whether this marks the end of the champion's time in her throne or not, though, this bout is guaranteed to be one of the night's best.

Roode-Nakamura II

At TakeOver: San Antonio, The Glorious One outlasted Nakamura to snatch the NXT title from him.

The King of Strong Style suffered a (storyline) knee injury, and as he writhed on the mat, Roode's predatory instincts kicked in. Roode pounced on his hobbled opponent, wrenching at his knee until the battle was won.

That first match buzzed near the end, an enthralling drama unfolding on the canvas.

The sequel should be even better, as Nakamura has payback on his mind. Sparks will fly as he attempts to become the only three-time NXT champ in history 

Roode expressed high hopes for the event overall in a recent interview with Bleacher Report.

"The NXT TakeOver: Orlando card has the opportunity to be the best TakeOver of all time. The challenge is there. Hopefully, we go in there and set the bar pretty high," he said.

The narrative foundation isn't great, but the show will feature the kind of talent that can prove the champ right.