Match predictions for NXT TakeOver: Toronto

With Survivor Series taking place Sunday, theScore is celebrating the WWE's annual fall classic throughout the week with an in-depth look. Here, we run down the matches scheduled to take place at NXT TakeOver: Toronto the night before at the Air Canada Centre.

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"The Perfect 10" Tye Dillinger vs. Bobby Roode

Two Canadian performers ... wrestling in Canada ... in front of a raucous Canadian crowd that hasn't had a meaningful event from the company in its neck of the woods in what feels like an eternity?

Tye Dillinger and Bobby Roode could very well be the two most popular guys in the 6ix on Saturday night. Heck, their entrances alone will elicit some of the loudest pops of the night as the Air Canada Centre sings and hums their themes in unison.

This confrontation is more about just the entrances, though, which rings especially true for Dillinger, whose taken a questionable gimmick and garnered quite the cult following for himself. Taking on someone the caliber of Roode is a big test for him, after merely acting as an enhancement talent at recent TakeOver shows.

Nonetheless, this is Roode's match to lose at this point. Dillinger is the lovable loser, while the "Glorious" one has legitimate championship aspirations as presumably the next No. 1 contender to whoever walks away from the main event.

Prediction: Bobby Roode

NXT Tag Team Championship: The Revival vs. DIY (2-out-of-3 Falls)

A one-fall bout at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II back in August made our hearts explode with joy. Now we're getting two, and possibly even three north of the border, so make sure to have some defibrillators on standby in case of an emergency.

Good luck finding a tag team having a better 2016 than Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder, who have managed to get an old school, throwback style over in the modern era of wrestling while consistently putting on "Match of the Year" candidates. They've outgrown the confides of NXT, though, and deserve the opportunity to showcase their abilities on weekly television.

Face pairings don't tend to get memorable, long-lasting reigns with the straps in NXT (ex. Vaudevillians, American Alpha), but Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa should change that trend beginning in Toronto. Expect these four to steal the show once again.

Prediction: DIY (2-1) become NXT Tag Team Champions

Dusty Rhodes Classic Finals: The Authors of Pain vs. TM-61

The stipulation of having Paul Ellering suspended high above the squared circle in a shark cage is interesting in theory, despite the fact that it will ultimately add very little to the bout itself. Besides, Ellering hasn't been much of a factor in The Authors of Pain's matches, bringing into question why having him isolated like that is even necessary.

There's very little substance behind either tandem at this time, but a win in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic should go a long way towards giving one of the duos something to hang their hat on. It won't magically bestow upon them a much-needed connection with the audience, but it's at least a start.

The end result will largely depend on how the tag team championship match plays out earlier/later in the show, as the victors here will presumably earn a shot at the gold somewhere down the road. In that case, chalk up a win here for Rezer and Akam before they set their sights on DIY.

Prediction: The Authors of Pain win the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic

NXT Women's Championship: Asuka (c) vs. Mickie James

The brand extension draft stripped the NXT brand for parts in order to bolster the rosters on both Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live. The women's division was perhaps hurt the most, losing Carmella, Nia Jax, and Alexa Bliss, with Bayley following suit a few months later.

Rather than skyrocket someone into a spot they're not ready for, WWE's solution of bringing back a former name in Mickie James to challenge the seemingly unstoppable Asuka was the best course of action. The likes of Ember Moon, Billie Kay, and Peyton Royce are gaining traction, but none of the three are in a position to be viewed as anything more than fodder for the undefeated titleholder.

James brings a level of credibility with her as a former five-time Women's Champion, and should help the writers bide time as they build up Asuka's next challenger. A title switch here wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, but the focus of NXT should be the up-and-coming talent who haven't established themselves yet, which isn't at all the case for James.

Prediction: Asuka retains

NXT Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Samoa Joe

This needs to be the Samoan Submission Machine's swan song for NXT, as there will be nothing else left for him to accomplish on the show following what will surely be his second-straight loss to the flamboyant Nakamura.

We've never seen a two-time NXT Champion before, and Joe isn't going to be the first. Frankly, at 37 years old, he should have gotten the call up a long time ago. He's been an invaluable asset to the brand, absolutely, but after a trilogy of TakeOver main events with Finn Balor, and now his second here with Nakamura, the time is right for him to take his talents to the big leagues.

The King of Strong Style has only held the gold for a cup of coffee. With his on-screen undefeated record still intact, it makes dollars and sense for him to keep that streak alive until he one day loses it to someone who comes along to put that feather in their cap and run with it.

Prediction: Shinsuke Nakamura retains