NXT continues to prove that sometimes less is more. We are only getting 4 matches tonight, and all four are capable of main eventing any other NXT TakeOver event.
Let's Do This!!!!
NXT TakeOver WarGames
11/17/18
BRO!!!!! HERE'S MATT RIDDLE! He gets on the mic and gets a great ovation from the crowd. He's not scheduled to have a match, but he's chilling in LA. He's calling out Kassius Ohno to have the match right now. AND HERE'S OHNO!!
1) Kassius Ohno vs. Matt Riddle
The bell rings. RIDDLE KNOCKS HIM OUT!!!!!!!!! 1-2-3!!!! THAT QUICK!
A knee straight to the jaw as soon as that bell rang.
Winner: Matt Riddle
Match Rating: A+. Riddle is made in NXT after that. It just took him 3 seconds to knockout a knockout artist. Damn. Of course you can't weigh that against a regular match, but that was a great moment.
2) NXT Women's Championship
2 out of 3 Fall Match
Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Kairi Sane
The bell rings. Sane goes immediately on the attack on Baszler jumping her in the corner. Neckbreakers start flying from Sane. Pirate walk and sliding clothesline into the down Baszler. Flying Kabooki Elbow off the apron by Sane to Baszler on the floor. The other two Horsewomen jump Sane behind the referee's back. Baszler puts the clutch immediately on Sane when she gets back in the ring. Sane has to tap out.
Winner of Fall #1- Shayna Baszler
Baszler just hits a flying knee on Sane after the bell rings. 2 count only. She's trying to get the clutch back on. And it's back on. Sane gets to the ropes. Baszler now applies a Single-Leg Boston Crab. Baszler stomps the face of Sane. Neck Twist by Baszler. Sane gets a 2 count from a rollup. She escapes another Clutch attempt with a rollup for 2. Sane is fighting back as much as she can. They are firing back and forth with strikes. Big clothesline by Baszler. Both women are on the apron! A FACEPLANT SUPLEX BY BASZLER IS REVERSED INTO A DDT ON THE APRON! SWEET DAMN!
The Horsewomen get sent down by Sane. SANE GOES OFF THE TOP ROPE AND JUMPS OFF WITH A FLYING ELBOW ONTO ALL 3 OF THE HORSEWOMEN!!!!! Baszler is rolled back into the ring! She jumps off with another ELBOW DROP! 1-2-3!
Winner of Fall #2: Kairi Sane
SPEARS to Baszler! 3 times! Backfists by Sane. She goes back up top. Baszler catches her and goes up the corner with her. They are trading blows on the corner. What a match! POWERBOMB BY SANE for a 2 count. Alabama Slam by Sane. The Horsewomen interfere again. Dakota Kai comes out and fights with the Horsewomen on the floor. Here comes Io Shirai with A MOONSAULT OFF THE TOP TO THE WOMEN ON THE FLOOR! INSANE ELBOW TO BASZLER! BUT BASZLER REVERSES INTO A PIN!!!! 1-2-3!!!!!
Winner: Shayna Baszler (STILL NXT Women's Champion)
Match Grade: A-. That match had a lot of smoke and mirrors going on with the Horsewomen interfering in the match, but sweet God was that entertaining. These two can not have a bad match. It's just impossible. Baszler now has a few other women coming after her in the NXT Women's Divison now, and it sets up some future challengers.
3) Aleister Black vs. Johnny Gargano
Gargano comes out with new dark screens and attire. He's really selling this dark side character. Gargano wants The Black Mass. And for the first time in months, we hear "Root of All Evil" play over the speakers with the great entrance of Aleister Black. Black has a cool horned outfit coming to the ring.
The bell rings. Gargano is wrestling in his 11th TakeOver match, a record for NXT. Aleister is just staring holes at Gargano while he's mouthing off. A SLAP from Gargano. A big kick by Black. It's on. Black just kicks Gargano's head off on the floor. Both are back in the ring. Gargano is playing Muhammad Ali here, trying to get in Black's head and wear him out. Gargano does the Black pose and suckers him in for more attacks. Gargano gets caught with a knee to the face. Sick kicks and attacks by Black. Gargano catches Black posing with a big kick to the side of the head. (I'M LOVING THIS DARK GARGANO ALREADY!)
Chops and attacks by Gargano with some smug mannerisms by Gargano. Big knee by Black to the midsection of Gargano. Gargano eats a big boot and and gets wiped out with a big dive by Black on the floor! Black now starts striking with some of his classic kicks and strikes. Asai Moonsault to a standing Gargano for a 2 count. BLACK GOES FOR HIS MOONSAULT OFF THE CORNER TO THE FLOOR ON GARGANO. GARGANO SLIDES AROUND AND HITS A DIVING DDT ON THE FLOOR ON BLACK! Another float over DDT by Gargano in the ring this time gets a 2. Gargano proclaims himself "The Chosen One." Black and Gargano are just trading kicks and strikes now. REVERSE SPIKE RANA BY GARGANO! A RUNNING KNEE BY BLACK SECONDS LATER! DAMN! THIS IS INCREDIBLE!
Gargano slides in between the two rings. Gargano and Black are trading blows. Big kick by Black! SOME SERIOUS STIFF KICKS BY BLACK! German Suplex Bridge gets a 2. FIGHT FOREVER! Gargano Escape locked in on Black! A rollup only gets 2 for Black. Buzzsaw Kick by Gargano. LONG DART THROW INTO THE TURNBUCKLE BY GARGANO! Gargano is going for Black Mass on Aleister Black. NO! He's going for the DIY kick. Black is sitting in the middle and saying BRING IT! A BIG KICK AND RUNNING KNEE GETS A 2!!! Gargano is losing hope as Black refuses to die. Gargano now pulls up Black and continues to pummel on him. They are now trading shots in the middle of the ring! Gargano dumps Black to the floor. GARGANO DIVES THROUGH THE ROPES ONLY TO EAT A JUMPING KNEE BY BLACK ON THE FLOOR! HOLY BLEEP!!!!!
Back in the ring, Gargano is begging off from Black. Black will have none of it. Gargano is telling Black to give him Black Mass and put him out of his misery!!!! Gargano rolls through the Black Mass and locks in Gargano Escape!!!!! They are in the middle of the ring!!! Black gets up. SPINNING KNEE BY BLACK! Jumping Knee to the Jaw! BLACK MASS!!!! Gargano is being held up by Black! "I ABSOLVE YOU OF YOUR SINS!" ANOTHER BLACK MASS!!! 1-2-3!
Winner: Aleister Black
Match Grade: A+. This was the best match I've seen Aleister Black ever have, and it's up there for me for Gargano. This was a great hard-hitting match with a LOT of storytelling and action. Gargano played the heel perfectly, a lost soul who became desperate to do whatever it took to put Black down. Black played the relentless force of nature hell bent on getting his revenge to perfection. I can't stress how great this match was, and it may end up being on my list of best matches of the year. SEEK OUT THIS MATCH!
3) NXT Championship
Tommaso Ciampa (c) vs. Velveteen Dream
It's HOLLYWOOD DREAM!!!! He's dressed like Hollywood Hogan For God's Sakes!!!!
The bell rings. A few back and forth tie ups. A slap by Ciampa starts getting this match going a little bit more. Ciampa takes Dream's Hollywood bandana, mocks the Hogan ear pose. Dream responds by taking the title belt and looking at it. Dream and Ciampa are going back at it in the ring. Standing Dropkick by Dream. Flying Ax Handle by Dream off the corner. Dream nails the Big Boot on Ciampa!!!! Ciampa avoids the Leg Drop. Dream climbs up the top rope and NAILS A FLYING DOUBLE AX HANDLE TO THE FLOOR! Ciampa spikes Dream off the corner when he tries another dive.
Ciampa nails Dream with a running knee strike with his knee brace, knocking Dream loopy. Ciampa continues to attack Dream with a bunch of vicious strikes and a Hangman's Neckbreaker that sends Dream to the floor. Another running knee on Dream using the knee brace. They are back in the ring with Ciampa continuing to press the attack with a vicious headlock. Dream gets Ciampa with a neckbreaker.
Flying forearm. Kip up. Dream is going at it with Ciampa! A knee lift by Ciampa gets a YOU! from Dream! The punches! Big Boot!!! LEG DROP!!!! 3 LEG DROPS!!!! He's DREAMING UP!!!! SPINEBUSTER SLAM! 1-2-Kickout! Ciampa is knocked to the floor. Big dive over the top to the floor on Ciampa! Dream rolls him back in. Ciampa rolls out of the way of an attack and sends Dream to the floor. Dream goes to work on the injured knee of Ciampa! Dream pulls the legs and GETS A FIGURE FOUR ON THE RINGPOST ON CIAMPA!!!! SHADES OF BRET HART!!!! Back in the ring, he reapplies the Figure Four Leg Lock! WOOO!!!! Dream is pulling out all the stops from legends of the past. Ciampa reverses it. Both men reverse back and forth. Ciampa gets to the rope.
Dream gets kicked to the railing. SUPLEX OVER THE TOP ROPE TO THE FLOOR BY DREAM SENDING BOTH MEN CRASHING TO THE FLOOR!!!!!! Ciampa is clinching at his foot and knee. Both men get in by 9. Both men are trading blows in the center of the ring. The referee almost gets kicked by accident. Ciampa rolls up Dream and gets caught holding on the tights. Dream kicks Ciampa in the back of the head and hits a DVD!!! 1-2-KICKOUT!
Dream deadlifts Ciampa up for a Fireman's Carry. But Dream gets caught with a knee to the jaw. PROJECT CIAMPA!!! 1-2-DREAM KICKS OUT!!! Ciampa is now taking the title and walking out. No, he rolls in the ring with it. ROLLUP! 2 count. Twisting DDT on the title! 1-2-KICKOUT by Ciampa! Dream goes up top! Dream gets kicked to the floor. This is insane. DDT by Ciampa! 1-2-KICKOUT!
Ciampa is back on the floor. He's pulling the mat on the floor. The screen just froze. NO! Dream avoids a DDT and pushes Ciampa over the table to the floor. Both men are down behind the announce table. Mauro gets slapped by Ciampa. DVD ON THE CONCRETE BY DREAM!!! DREAM HITS THE PURPLE RAINMAKER! 1-2-KICKOUT! Ciampa moves out of a way of another attack, sending Dream's elbow against the apron! DDT ON THE STEEL BETWEEN THE TWO RINGS! Dream is OUT! 1-2-3!
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa (STILL NXT Champion)
Match Grade: A. That was another incredible match on a night of incredible matches. Dream showed that he deserves to be in the main event picture tonight, and he's still so frigging young. Meanwhile, Ciampa continues to deliver in these big matches on TakeOver events.
I really can't emphasize enough just how awesome this show has been so far. The 3 advertised matches have all been stellar, and the show started with an awesome Riddle knockout. And we still have WARGAMES coming!
The sirens play.... and the cage is lowered.
Main Event
WARGAMES
The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, Bobby Fish, and Roderick Strong) vs. Pete Dunne, Ricochet, and War Raiders.
LET THE WARGAMES BEGIN!
ADAM COLE (BAY BAY!) starts the match for the Undisputed Era. Ricochet starts the match for the other team.
The bell rings. Both men tell the other to come into their ring. Ricochet decides to meet Cole in his ring, and it's on after 35 seconds of postering. BIG CHOP by Ricochet. Ricochet hits a head scissors takedown and dropkick to Cole. Now they go into the other ring. Uppercuts in the corner by Ricochet. Flying back elbow by Ricochet gets met with a backstabber by Adam Cole. Cole now takes the advantage with some usual strikes. Ushigaroshe by Adam Cole to Ricochet. And now, they go into the other ring. (It's a hard thing for the first two men as you want the fans on either side of the arena to stay in the match until more guys come in.) More attacks by Cole to Ricochet. Big dropkick by Ricochet sends Cole into the other ring. SPRINGBOARD EUROPEAN UPPERCUT FROM ONE RING TO THE OTHER BY RICOCHET!
The third entrant is Kyle O'Reilly!
Palm strikes by O'Reilly to Ricochet followed by more strikes. 3 minute period here until Ricochet gets help. Cole and O'Reilly go to work. Ricochet attacks and strikes both men between the rings. DRAGON SCREW BY O'REILLY TO RICOCHET! More strikes and blows by Cole and O'Reilly. Ricochet slithers around and gets a couple blows in. But O'Reilly and Cole just unload with some crazy kicks and strikes. A 2-Man Ushigaroshe by Cole and O'Reilly.
The fourth entrant is Hanson! (Hanson kept Dunne in the cage.)
Hanson now starts striking heavily at both Cole and O'Reilly. Hanson does a lot of crazy moves for a super heavyweight. Clotheslines into the corner on both Cole and O'Reilly endlessly going. Finally, O'Reilly and Cole get Bronco Bustered at once in the same corner. Ricochet uses Hanson's back to do a Shooting Star Press to Kyle O'Reilly. O'Reilly saves Cole from an attack by Hanson.
The fifth entrant of the match is Roderick Strong.
Strong comes in and unloads both Ricochet and Hanson. Fast offense and lethal offense by Strong. Great showing in 45 seconds by Strong already. The Undisputed Era triple teams Hanson with a fast array of maneuvers, including an Olympic Slam by Strong. Ricochet gets lit up in the corner with a bunch of chops and kicks by O'Reilly and Strong. Cole continues to choke Hanson in the corner.
The sixth entrant is Rowe.
Rowe just knocks down all the UE members. Rowe hits a bunch of strikes and blows to all three men including an Psycho Knee strike to Rowe. ROWE HITS A POWERSLAM/ POWERBOMB TO O'REILLY AND STRONG AT THE SAME TIME! Damn. O'Reilly meets the steel as does Strong. Cole is alone between The War Raiders and Ricochet. LONG DART FOR COLE INTO THE CAGE WALL!
The seventh entrant is Bobby Fish.
Fish pulls Dunne's arm through the cage and DOUBLE LOCKS the cage. He takes the key and throws it into the crowd. Fish goes under the ring and throws in some steel chairs. He's in the cage as the Undisputed Era starts unloading with chair shots. By the way, the clock for 3 minutes didn't start until Fish entered the cage. Now, Ricochet and War Raiders are being destroyed with the steel chairs. The chairs have Undisputed Era markers on them. lol. ROWE GETS PUT THROUGH THE CHAIR BY STRONG WITH A ROCK BOTTOM! Rowe gets thrown into the cage so hard that the wall almost falls over. Hanson suffers the same fate.
The final entrant is Pete Dunne.
They have the key for the original lock, but they can't get him out. Meanwhile the Undisputed Era continues to destroy the War Raiders and Ricochet in the ring! STRONG AND FISH SUPERPLEX WAR RAIDERS IN OPPOSITE RINGS! The referees have bolt cutters. They cut Dunne out of the cage. Here comes Pete Dunne! Undisputed Era tries to stop Dunne from getting in, but he uses a Kendo stick to attack all of UE. Ricochet dives off the top rope and onto the UE in the ring. Dunne is throwing in trash cans into the ring. And here comes a table! Dunne isn't done yet. Another table is being slid in. This is nuts. He's in the ring.
WARGAMES IS OFFICIALLY ON!
Kendo stick shots to the backs of UE by Dunne. The faces have UE all surrounded. Kendo shots to all of them. O'Reilly takes a bad bump on the metal bar between the two rings. Tricep stomp by Dunne to O'Reilly. Dunne is torturing O'Reilly in the 2nd ring all alone. RODDY GETS X-PLEXED BY DUNNE ON TOP OF O'REILLY! Knee to the chair to the face of Fish. This is utter insanity. War Raiders are going crazy. A slam by Rowe puts Hanson directly on O'Reilly. O'Reilly and Fish double team on Rowe. reDRagon is loose in NXT. Ricochet takes a Gutbuster into a Backstabber by Strong and Cole. The Undisputed Era are now surrounding Dunne. Dunne is fighting them off. Kneebar on the bad leg of Fish!!!! O'Reilly slides in to stop the attack. O'Reilly has a chain and wraps it around the ankle of Dunne. He's trying to hog-tie him. An ankle lock by O'Reilly to the bad leg of Dunne using a steel chain. Ricochet dives into the ring and stops it.
These guys are literally destroying themselves in this match. O'Reilly and Strong are put on the corners. So much going on. Dunne and Ricochet climb up on those corners. STEREO SUPERPLEX/HURRICANRANA BY BOTH MEN! A table is being set up now by Hanson. Cole is set up on the table and it buckles. But Hanson gets it set up. POP-UP POWERSLAM by WAR RAIDERS TO COLE. 1-2-stopped. Rowe is put through a table in between the two rings by Bobby Fish. Adam Cole and Ricochet are now going at it. Ricochet is placed on the corner near the table which is set up. Cole is in a Tree of Woe by Ricochet. O'Reilly is placed on the table by Ricochet. Strong hits a big knee to Ricochet. O'Reilly gets SPLASHED THROUGH THE TABLE BY HANSON WHO DIVES FROM ONE TOP ROPE OVER THE OTHER! 1-2-NO! It's broken up.
These guys are destroyed. Cole climbs up the top of the cage as does Ricochet. They are fighting on the top of the cage. Ricochet is getting the advantage. Here comes Roderick Strong. They are trying to push Ricochet over and out to make him forfeit the match for his team. Dunne and Strong climb up to attack Cole and Ricochet respectively. TOWER OF DOOM WITH 7 of the 8 men involved. Cole gets suplexed off the cage to the floor. Ricochet is alone on the top of the cage! He stands up and turns around! DOUBLE ROTATION MOONSAULT! All 8 men are down!
Both teams are regrouping in separate rings. They meet right in the middle! TRENCH WARFARE!!! Fish and Rowe are left standing. War Raiders hit Fallout on Fish. O'Reilly stops the pin. HANDSPRING ELBOW BY HANSON TO STRONG AND O'REILLY! Superkick to Hanson by Cole! Superkick caught by Dunne. BITTER END COUNTERED INTO A DDT! LAST SHOT! 1-2- Dunne kicks out. BITTER END! RICOCHET 450 SPLASHES ON COLE! DOUBLE PIN! 1-2-3!
Winners: Dunne, Ricochet, and The War Raiders
Match Grade: A+. I don't know if it was as good as last year's match, but this was incredible nonetheless. Some really great action from beginning to end with all 8 guys looking better after the match. Ricochet's dive over the top of the cage to the other 7 men was something that should be on highlight reels. The attacks in the ring without the weapons were brutal, but once the match devolved into a hardcore war, the match actually started picking up even more.
Show Grade: A+. I know a lot of us keep saying this, but this may be the greatest TakeOver show ever produced. All the four advertised matches reached an A level or higher, and the bonus match ended up adding a whole hell of a lot to the show as an opening shock value moment. NXT has so much talent right now and even more just waiting to debut. It's a testament to Triple H, the trainers, the Performance Center, and the athletes that they bring in that these specials continue to top each other over time.
For more WarGames-related posts, check out my Table of Contents and other posts for more.
Until we meet again, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.
Let's Do This!!!!
NXT TakeOver WarGames
11/17/18
BRO!!!!! HERE'S MATT RIDDLE! He gets on the mic and gets a great ovation from the crowd. He's not scheduled to have a match, but he's chilling in LA. He's calling out Kassius Ohno to have the match right now. AND HERE'S OHNO!!
1) Kassius Ohno vs. Matt Riddle
The bell rings. RIDDLE KNOCKS HIM OUT!!!!!!!!! 1-2-3!!!! THAT QUICK!
A knee straight to the jaw as soon as that bell rang.
Winner: Matt Riddle
Match Rating: A+. Riddle is made in NXT after that. It just took him 3 seconds to knockout a knockout artist. Damn. Of course you can't weigh that against a regular match, but that was a great moment.
2) NXT Women's Championship
2 out of 3 Fall Match
Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Kairi Sane
The bell rings. Sane goes immediately on the attack on Baszler jumping her in the corner. Neckbreakers start flying from Sane. Pirate walk and sliding clothesline into the down Baszler. Flying Kabooki Elbow off the apron by Sane to Baszler on the floor. The other two Horsewomen jump Sane behind the referee's back. Baszler puts the clutch immediately on Sane when she gets back in the ring. Sane has to tap out.
Winner of Fall #1- Shayna Baszler
Baszler just hits a flying knee on Sane after the bell rings. 2 count only. She's trying to get the clutch back on. And it's back on. Sane gets to the ropes. Baszler now applies a Single-Leg Boston Crab. Baszler stomps the face of Sane. Neck Twist by Baszler. Sane gets a 2 count from a rollup. She escapes another Clutch attempt with a rollup for 2. Sane is fighting back as much as she can. They are firing back and forth with strikes. Big clothesline by Baszler. Both women are on the apron! A FACEPLANT SUPLEX BY BASZLER IS REVERSED INTO A DDT ON THE APRON! SWEET DAMN!
The Horsewomen get sent down by Sane. SANE GOES OFF THE TOP ROPE AND JUMPS OFF WITH A FLYING ELBOW ONTO ALL 3 OF THE HORSEWOMEN!!!!! Baszler is rolled back into the ring! She jumps off with another ELBOW DROP! 1-2-3!
Winner of Fall #2: Kairi Sane
SPEARS to Baszler! 3 times! Backfists by Sane. She goes back up top. Baszler catches her and goes up the corner with her. They are trading blows on the corner. What a match! POWERBOMB BY SANE for a 2 count. Alabama Slam by Sane. The Horsewomen interfere again. Dakota Kai comes out and fights with the Horsewomen on the floor. Here comes Io Shirai with A MOONSAULT OFF THE TOP TO THE WOMEN ON THE FLOOR! INSANE ELBOW TO BASZLER! BUT BASZLER REVERSES INTO A PIN!!!! 1-2-3!!!!!
Winner: Shayna Baszler (STILL NXT Women's Champion)
Match Grade: A-. That match had a lot of smoke and mirrors going on with the Horsewomen interfering in the match, but sweet God was that entertaining. These two can not have a bad match. It's just impossible. Baszler now has a few other women coming after her in the NXT Women's Divison now, and it sets up some future challengers.
3) Aleister Black vs. Johnny Gargano
Gargano comes out with new dark screens and attire. He's really selling this dark side character. Gargano wants The Black Mass. And for the first time in months, we hear "Root of All Evil" play over the speakers with the great entrance of Aleister Black. Black has a cool horned outfit coming to the ring.
The bell rings. Gargano is wrestling in his 11th TakeOver match, a record for NXT. Aleister is just staring holes at Gargano while he's mouthing off. A SLAP from Gargano. A big kick by Black. It's on. Black just kicks Gargano's head off on the floor. Both are back in the ring. Gargano is playing Muhammad Ali here, trying to get in Black's head and wear him out. Gargano does the Black pose and suckers him in for more attacks. Gargano gets caught with a knee to the face. Sick kicks and attacks by Black. Gargano catches Black posing with a big kick to the side of the head. (I'M LOVING THIS DARK GARGANO ALREADY!)
Chops and attacks by Gargano with some smug mannerisms by Gargano. Big knee by Black to the midsection of Gargano. Gargano eats a big boot and and gets wiped out with a big dive by Black on the floor! Black now starts striking with some of his classic kicks and strikes. Asai Moonsault to a standing Gargano for a 2 count. BLACK GOES FOR HIS MOONSAULT OFF THE CORNER TO THE FLOOR ON GARGANO. GARGANO SLIDES AROUND AND HITS A DIVING DDT ON THE FLOOR ON BLACK! Another float over DDT by Gargano in the ring this time gets a 2. Gargano proclaims himself "The Chosen One." Black and Gargano are just trading kicks and strikes now. REVERSE SPIKE RANA BY GARGANO! A RUNNING KNEE BY BLACK SECONDS LATER! DAMN! THIS IS INCREDIBLE!
Gargano slides in between the two rings. Gargano and Black are trading blows. Big kick by Black! SOME SERIOUS STIFF KICKS BY BLACK! German Suplex Bridge gets a 2. FIGHT FOREVER! Gargano Escape locked in on Black! A rollup only gets 2 for Black. Buzzsaw Kick by Gargano. LONG DART THROW INTO THE TURNBUCKLE BY GARGANO! Gargano is going for Black Mass on Aleister Black. NO! He's going for the DIY kick. Black is sitting in the middle and saying BRING IT! A BIG KICK AND RUNNING KNEE GETS A 2!!! Gargano is losing hope as Black refuses to die. Gargano now pulls up Black and continues to pummel on him. They are now trading shots in the middle of the ring! Gargano dumps Black to the floor. GARGANO DIVES THROUGH THE ROPES ONLY TO EAT A JUMPING KNEE BY BLACK ON THE FLOOR! HOLY BLEEP!!!!!
Back in the ring, Gargano is begging off from Black. Black will have none of it. Gargano is telling Black to give him Black Mass and put him out of his misery!!!! Gargano rolls through the Black Mass and locks in Gargano Escape!!!!! They are in the middle of the ring!!! Black gets up. SPINNING KNEE BY BLACK! Jumping Knee to the Jaw! BLACK MASS!!!! Gargano is being held up by Black! "I ABSOLVE YOU OF YOUR SINS!" ANOTHER BLACK MASS!!! 1-2-3!
Winner: Aleister Black
Match Grade: A+. This was the best match I've seen Aleister Black ever have, and it's up there for me for Gargano. This was a great hard-hitting match with a LOT of storytelling and action. Gargano played the heel perfectly, a lost soul who became desperate to do whatever it took to put Black down. Black played the relentless force of nature hell bent on getting his revenge to perfection. I can't stress how great this match was, and it may end up being on my list of best matches of the year. SEEK OUT THIS MATCH!
3) NXT Championship
Tommaso Ciampa (c) vs. Velveteen Dream
It's HOLLYWOOD DREAM!!!! He's dressed like Hollywood Hogan For God's Sakes!!!!
The bell rings. A few back and forth tie ups. A slap by Ciampa starts getting this match going a little bit more. Ciampa takes Dream's Hollywood bandana, mocks the Hogan ear pose. Dream responds by taking the title belt and looking at it. Dream and Ciampa are going back at it in the ring. Standing Dropkick by Dream. Flying Ax Handle by Dream off the corner. Dream nails the Big Boot on Ciampa!!!! Ciampa avoids the Leg Drop. Dream climbs up the top rope and NAILS A FLYING DOUBLE AX HANDLE TO THE FLOOR! Ciampa spikes Dream off the corner when he tries another dive.
Ciampa nails Dream with a running knee strike with his knee brace, knocking Dream loopy. Ciampa continues to attack Dream with a bunch of vicious strikes and a Hangman's Neckbreaker that sends Dream to the floor. Another running knee on Dream using the knee brace. They are back in the ring with Ciampa continuing to press the attack with a vicious headlock. Dream gets Ciampa with a neckbreaker.
Flying forearm. Kip up. Dream is going at it with Ciampa! A knee lift by Ciampa gets a YOU! from Dream! The punches! Big Boot!!! LEG DROP!!!! 3 LEG DROPS!!!! He's DREAMING UP!!!! SPINEBUSTER SLAM! 1-2-Kickout! Ciampa is knocked to the floor. Big dive over the top to the floor on Ciampa! Dream rolls him back in. Ciampa rolls out of the way of an attack and sends Dream to the floor. Dream goes to work on the injured knee of Ciampa! Dream pulls the legs and GETS A FIGURE FOUR ON THE RINGPOST ON CIAMPA!!!! SHADES OF BRET HART!!!! Back in the ring, he reapplies the Figure Four Leg Lock! WOOO!!!! Dream is pulling out all the stops from legends of the past. Ciampa reverses it. Both men reverse back and forth. Ciampa gets to the rope.
Dream gets kicked to the railing. SUPLEX OVER THE TOP ROPE TO THE FLOOR BY DREAM SENDING BOTH MEN CRASHING TO THE FLOOR!!!!!! Ciampa is clinching at his foot and knee. Both men get in by 9. Both men are trading blows in the center of the ring. The referee almost gets kicked by accident. Ciampa rolls up Dream and gets caught holding on the tights. Dream kicks Ciampa in the back of the head and hits a DVD!!! 1-2-KICKOUT!
Dream deadlifts Ciampa up for a Fireman's Carry. But Dream gets caught with a knee to the jaw. PROJECT CIAMPA!!! 1-2-DREAM KICKS OUT!!! Ciampa is now taking the title and walking out. No, he rolls in the ring with it. ROLLUP! 2 count. Twisting DDT on the title! 1-2-KICKOUT by Ciampa! Dream goes up top! Dream gets kicked to the floor. This is insane. DDT by Ciampa! 1-2-KICKOUT!
Ciampa is back on the floor. He's pulling the mat on the floor. The screen just froze. NO! Dream avoids a DDT and pushes Ciampa over the table to the floor. Both men are down behind the announce table. Mauro gets slapped by Ciampa. DVD ON THE CONCRETE BY DREAM!!! DREAM HITS THE PURPLE RAINMAKER! 1-2-KICKOUT! Ciampa moves out of a way of another attack, sending Dream's elbow against the apron! DDT ON THE STEEL BETWEEN THE TWO RINGS! Dream is OUT! 1-2-3!
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa (STILL NXT Champion)
Match Grade: A. That was another incredible match on a night of incredible matches. Dream showed that he deserves to be in the main event picture tonight, and he's still so frigging young. Meanwhile, Ciampa continues to deliver in these big matches on TakeOver events.
I really can't emphasize enough just how awesome this show has been so far. The 3 advertised matches have all been stellar, and the show started with an awesome Riddle knockout. And we still have WARGAMES coming!
The sirens play.... and the cage is lowered.
Main Event
WARGAMES
The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, Bobby Fish, and Roderick Strong) vs. Pete Dunne, Ricochet, and War Raiders.
LET THE WARGAMES BEGIN!
ADAM COLE (BAY BAY!) starts the match for the Undisputed Era. Ricochet starts the match for the other team.
The bell rings. Both men tell the other to come into their ring. Ricochet decides to meet Cole in his ring, and it's on after 35 seconds of postering. BIG CHOP by Ricochet. Ricochet hits a head scissors takedown and dropkick to Cole. Now they go into the other ring. Uppercuts in the corner by Ricochet. Flying back elbow by Ricochet gets met with a backstabber by Adam Cole. Cole now takes the advantage with some usual strikes. Ushigaroshe by Adam Cole to Ricochet. And now, they go into the other ring. (It's a hard thing for the first two men as you want the fans on either side of the arena to stay in the match until more guys come in.) More attacks by Cole to Ricochet. Big dropkick by Ricochet sends Cole into the other ring. SPRINGBOARD EUROPEAN UPPERCUT FROM ONE RING TO THE OTHER BY RICOCHET!
The third entrant is Kyle O'Reilly!
Palm strikes by O'Reilly to Ricochet followed by more strikes. 3 minute period here until Ricochet gets help. Cole and O'Reilly go to work. Ricochet attacks and strikes both men between the rings. DRAGON SCREW BY O'REILLY TO RICOCHET! More strikes and blows by Cole and O'Reilly. Ricochet slithers around and gets a couple blows in. But O'Reilly and Cole just unload with some crazy kicks and strikes. A 2-Man Ushigaroshe by Cole and O'Reilly.
The fourth entrant is Hanson! (Hanson kept Dunne in the cage.)
Hanson now starts striking heavily at both Cole and O'Reilly. Hanson does a lot of crazy moves for a super heavyweight. Clotheslines into the corner on both Cole and O'Reilly endlessly going. Finally, O'Reilly and Cole get Bronco Bustered at once in the same corner. Ricochet uses Hanson's back to do a Shooting Star Press to Kyle O'Reilly. O'Reilly saves Cole from an attack by Hanson.
The fifth entrant of the match is Roderick Strong.
Strong comes in and unloads both Ricochet and Hanson. Fast offense and lethal offense by Strong. Great showing in 45 seconds by Strong already. The Undisputed Era triple teams Hanson with a fast array of maneuvers, including an Olympic Slam by Strong. Ricochet gets lit up in the corner with a bunch of chops and kicks by O'Reilly and Strong. Cole continues to choke Hanson in the corner.
The sixth entrant is Rowe.
Rowe just knocks down all the UE members. Rowe hits a bunch of strikes and blows to all three men including an Psycho Knee strike to Rowe. ROWE HITS A POWERSLAM/ POWERBOMB TO O'REILLY AND STRONG AT THE SAME TIME! Damn. O'Reilly meets the steel as does Strong. Cole is alone between The War Raiders and Ricochet. LONG DART FOR COLE INTO THE CAGE WALL!
The seventh entrant is Bobby Fish.
Fish pulls Dunne's arm through the cage and DOUBLE LOCKS the cage. He takes the key and throws it into the crowd. Fish goes under the ring and throws in some steel chairs. He's in the cage as the Undisputed Era starts unloading with chair shots. By the way, the clock for 3 minutes didn't start until Fish entered the cage. Now, Ricochet and War Raiders are being destroyed with the steel chairs. The chairs have Undisputed Era markers on them. lol. ROWE GETS PUT THROUGH THE CHAIR BY STRONG WITH A ROCK BOTTOM! Rowe gets thrown into the cage so hard that the wall almost falls over. Hanson suffers the same fate.
The final entrant is Pete Dunne.
They have the key for the original lock, but they can't get him out. Meanwhile the Undisputed Era continues to destroy the War Raiders and Ricochet in the ring! STRONG AND FISH SUPERPLEX WAR RAIDERS IN OPPOSITE RINGS! The referees have bolt cutters. They cut Dunne out of the cage. Here comes Pete Dunne! Undisputed Era tries to stop Dunne from getting in, but he uses a Kendo stick to attack all of UE. Ricochet dives off the top rope and onto the UE in the ring. Dunne is throwing in trash cans into the ring. And here comes a table! Dunne isn't done yet. Another table is being slid in. This is nuts. He's in the ring.
WARGAMES IS OFFICIALLY ON!
Kendo stick shots to the backs of UE by Dunne. The faces have UE all surrounded. Kendo shots to all of them. O'Reilly takes a bad bump on the metal bar between the two rings. Tricep stomp by Dunne to O'Reilly. Dunne is torturing O'Reilly in the 2nd ring all alone. RODDY GETS X-PLEXED BY DUNNE ON TOP OF O'REILLY! Knee to the chair to the face of Fish. This is utter insanity. War Raiders are going crazy. A slam by Rowe puts Hanson directly on O'Reilly. O'Reilly and Fish double team on Rowe. reDRagon is loose in NXT. Ricochet takes a Gutbuster into a Backstabber by Strong and Cole. The Undisputed Era are now surrounding Dunne. Dunne is fighting them off. Kneebar on the bad leg of Fish!!!! O'Reilly slides in to stop the attack. O'Reilly has a chain and wraps it around the ankle of Dunne. He's trying to hog-tie him. An ankle lock by O'Reilly to the bad leg of Dunne using a steel chain. Ricochet dives into the ring and stops it.
These guys are literally destroying themselves in this match. O'Reilly and Strong are put on the corners. So much going on. Dunne and Ricochet climb up on those corners. STEREO SUPERPLEX/HURRICANRANA BY BOTH MEN! A table is being set up now by Hanson. Cole is set up on the table and it buckles. But Hanson gets it set up. POP-UP POWERSLAM by WAR RAIDERS TO COLE. 1-2-stopped. Rowe is put through a table in between the two rings by Bobby Fish. Adam Cole and Ricochet are now going at it. Ricochet is placed on the corner near the table which is set up. Cole is in a Tree of Woe by Ricochet. O'Reilly is placed on the table by Ricochet. Strong hits a big knee to Ricochet. O'Reilly gets SPLASHED THROUGH THE TABLE BY HANSON WHO DIVES FROM ONE TOP ROPE OVER THE OTHER! 1-2-NO! It's broken up.
These guys are destroyed. Cole climbs up the top of the cage as does Ricochet. They are fighting on the top of the cage. Ricochet is getting the advantage. Here comes Roderick Strong. They are trying to push Ricochet over and out to make him forfeit the match for his team. Dunne and Strong climb up to attack Cole and Ricochet respectively. TOWER OF DOOM WITH 7 of the 8 men involved. Cole gets suplexed off the cage to the floor. Ricochet is alone on the top of the cage! He stands up and turns around! DOUBLE ROTATION MOONSAULT! All 8 men are down!
Both teams are regrouping in separate rings. They meet right in the middle! TRENCH WARFARE!!! Fish and Rowe are left standing. War Raiders hit Fallout on Fish. O'Reilly stops the pin. HANDSPRING ELBOW BY HANSON TO STRONG AND O'REILLY! Superkick to Hanson by Cole! Superkick caught by Dunne. BITTER END COUNTERED INTO A DDT! LAST SHOT! 1-2- Dunne kicks out. BITTER END! RICOCHET 450 SPLASHES ON COLE! DOUBLE PIN! 1-2-3!
Winners: Dunne, Ricochet, and The War Raiders
Match Grade: A+. I don't know if it was as good as last year's match, but this was incredible nonetheless. Some really great action from beginning to end with all 8 guys looking better after the match. Ricochet's dive over the top of the cage to the other 7 men was something that should be on highlight reels. The attacks in the ring without the weapons were brutal, but once the match devolved into a hardcore war, the match actually started picking up even more.
Show Grade: A+. I know a lot of us keep saying this, but this may be the greatest TakeOver show ever produced. All the four advertised matches reached an A level or higher, and the bonus match ended up adding a whole hell of a lot to the show as an opening shock value moment. NXT has so much talent right now and even more just waiting to debut. It's a testament to Triple H, the trainers, the Performance Center, and the athletes that they bring in that these specials continue to top each other over time.
For more WarGames-related posts, check out my Table of Contents and other posts for more.
Until we meet again, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.
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