NXT’s “Halloween Havoc” Event comes to us Live this Saturday, October 22nd, 2022, from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando at 8 pm on Peacock TV (“Kick Off” show at 7:30 pm). Here are the Experts on the Eastern Observer’s “Essential Wrestling Podcast,” sponsored by ProWrestlingPickem.com, who are picking this event.
Photo Credit: wwe.com
**NXT Championship**
**Champion BRON BREAKKER vs ILJA DRAGUNOV vs JD MCDONAGH**
“Originally, I thought this match was made a triple threat to protect Bron while getting the title off of him. But that’s not the NXT way. Of course, you go out on your back unless your name is Asuka. That said, what the bleep was up with Austin Theory coming out!? It doesn’t seem like anyone is next in line, so I’m calling for the Money in the Bank cash-in either after the Breakker victory or during the title match.” – John Smith, EWP Senior NXT Correspondent.
Pick: BRON BREAKKER, PLUS SUCCESSFUL MITB CASH-IN
“For all of my backing of JD, I think he’s there to take the fall. And let’s do it! Go big or go home, right? Ilja Dragunov pinning JD to become the new champion!” – Gary Mehaffy, EWP Senior UK Correspondent
Pick: ILJA DRAGUNOV
“It seems like WWE is all about Easter Eggs lately. Not sure if Joe Coffey gave this one away, but Gallus recently did a promo after they were suspended, and Joe wants the NXT Title, and he specifically named Bron Breakker in that same sentence. Maybe I’m looking too deep into this, but it looks like we’re eventually going to be getting Bron vs. Joe Coffey upon Gallus’s reinstatement.” – Al Karl, EWP Host.
Pick: BRON BREAKKER
“I don’t know what else is left for Breakker to do in NXT. Not that he couldn’t use more seasoning,’ but they rushed him to the title so quickly that he will start getting stale if he doesn’t move up shortly. I’m going with Dragunov to take it because I’ve got to think the people behind the scenes who like him feel terrible for him about the injury that kept him on the sidelines for Worlds Collide.” – John D’Aconti, EWP Correspondent.
Pick: ILJA DRAGUNOV
Photo Credit: wwe.com
**NXT Women’s Championship**
**Champion MANDY ROSE vs. ALBA FYRE**
“The renewed friendship with Sonya Deville is Mandy’s trump card here. Expect a valiant effort by the challenger, but in the end, it won’t be enough to overcome Toxic Attraction.” – John Smith, EWP Senior NXT Correspondent.
Pick: MANDY ROSE
“I’m convinced that Mandy Rose and everyone will end up on the Main Roster soon. So I’m going to go Alba Fyre” – Gary Mehaffy, EWP Senior UK Correspondent.
Pick: ALBA FYRE
“Alba has already proved she can be the face of a Women’s Division as Champion. I think it’s time for our Forever Champion to return! Hell of a run by Mandy! I will be putting some respect on her damn name! She’s 100% earned it! I think now’s the time, and Alba is the correct choice.” – Al Karl, EWP Host.
Pick: ALBA FYRE
Photo Credit: wwe.com
**Spin The Wheel, Make The Deal**
**APOLLO CREWS vs. GRAYSON WALLER**
“This should be a perfect match (depending on what stipulation the wheel gives them) either way, but if this trip to NXT for Crews is going to pay off in any way, I think he has to win here & move up the card.” – John D’Aconti, EWP Correspondent.
Pick: APOLLO CREWS
“Did Apollo come back to NXT to wander around in the mid-card and lose big-time matches? I don’t think so. Look for him in the NXT Championship picture very shortly.” – John Smith, EWP Senior NXT Correspondent.
Pick: APOLLO CREWS
Photo Credit: wwe.com
**NXT North American Championship Ladder Match (Title Currently Vacant)**
**CARMELO HAYES vs. ORO MENSAH vs. WES LEE vs. VON WAGNER vs. NATHAN FRAZER**
“It seems like everything that’s gone on between Carmelo and Wes Lee the past couple of months is leading to a North American title reign for Lee. They did this with Cameron Grimes earlier this year, though, which makes me think we could get swerved. I’ll reluctantly go with the feel-good moment for Wes, but don’t be surprised if the title ends up on Mensah.” – John Smith, EWP Senior NXT Correspondent.
Pick: WES LEE
“Been saying since the beginning that this was going to be Wes Lee, so I’m not backing out now. Incredible run he’s been on since the departure of Nash Carter. They could have easily just made him do job after job, but they are letting him shine! And now he will get his moment!” – Al Karl, EWP Host.
Pick: WES LEE
“If Wes Lee’s ‘journey’ this year will pay off, here’s where it should happen. No one has to eat a pin from a cruiserweight; he has to climb a ladder. Make it happen!” – John D’Aconti, EWP Correspondent.
Pick: WES LEE
Photo Credit: wwe.com
**Spin The Wheel, Make The Deal: Weapons Wild Match**
**ROXANNE PEREZ vs. CORA JADE**
“Cora Jade is doing great heel work right now, and the weapons match should be right up her alley.” – John Smith, EWP Senior NXT Correspondent.
Pick: CORA JADE
“I was ready for Cora to get her comeuppance last time. And I was dead wrong. So, double down? Roxy is ready to get hardcore here. I mean, she BLOCKED Cora’s number!” – John D’Aconti, EWP Correspondent.
Pick: ROXANNE PEREZ
“This card could easily have 6 Face victories, but the odds of that (I would think) are pretty low. There needs to be a heel win or two at some point, so I’ll take Cora to win again. If the internet rumors are true, and Roxie is getting called up sooner rather than later, then is the correct thing to do is put over Cora? Then maybe come back to the Main Roster at some point? Guess I’ll go with that logic. Odds are, this is an incorrect pick.” – Al Karl, EWP Host.
Pick: CORA JADE
Photo Credit: wwe.com
**Ambulance Match**
**JULIUS CREED vs. DAMON KEMP**
“I don’t think the Creeds are ready to move up. And even though I know the general feeling was that Gable Steveson would debut on the main roster, maybe the new regime knows how dumb of an idea that is. And having him join his brother to face another team of high-level amateur wrestling brothers sounds like a storyline you could get some quality mileage out of.” – John D’Aconti, EWP Correspondent.
Pick: JULIUS CREED
“Kemp hasn’t shown us much in the ring since debuting with Diamond Mine. I think it’s time for him to take his game to the next level and come up with the win here. It’s hard to do programs with tag teams that don’t involve the titles, but Brutus losing his job could make for some interesting TV.” – John Smith, EWP Senior NXT Correspondent.
Pick: DAMON KEMP
“I’m hoping this is the most obvious pick on the card. I can see many outcomes for each guy to win, but I can’t wrap my head around Brutus leaving NXT. I can’t imagine the Creeds getting called up yet, so if Kemp wins, how do you get around this stipulation to get Brutus back in NXT? I hope they don’t over-complicate this.” – Al Karl, EWP Host.
Pick: JULIUS CREED
Photo Credit: Eastern Observer
Be sure to catch the “Essential Wrestling Podcast” on Tuesday Evenings at 5 pm on all of the Eastern Observer Platforms, and join the EWP Public Pool on ProWrestlingPickem.com to Play Against our Team of Experts!
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