Friday, November 17, 2017

NXT TakeOver: WarGames Preview & Predictions

Oh man.......oh mama......it finally happened.......WWE is resurrecting WARGAMES!!!!


Nevermind that the new version of the rules doesn't make much sense and is yet another entry in the WWE Fixed Something That Wasn't Broke category, this is gonna be a lotta fun.  I've been a fan of WarGames since I first bought the NWA Great American Bash '87 tape back in the day.  The visual of two rings surrounded by a steel cage with ten guys bloodying each other senseless for 25 minutes was the stuff of legend.  I'm not sure how NXT will handle the blood situation; maybe there will be a few "accidental on purpose" hardways.  Regardless, I'm looking forward to this main event.  But as always, NXT has a host of other intriguing matchups this Saturday, so let's take a look...


First off, there's a dark match between UK Champ Pete Dunne and Johnny Gargano, and I'm baffled this isn't on the special.  That would probably steal the goddamn show.  Christ.



Kassius Ohno vs. Lars Sullivan


I know next to nothing about Sullivan, so it's hard to give much of an educated opinion on this one, but Ohno will work hard to make him look good I'm sure.  Since Sullivan is 303 pounds you know WWE officials are salivating at the idea of a new monster character.  I'm guessing Ohno's only here to give him a good win.

Justin: Lars
Landon: Sullivan





Aleister Black vs. The Velveteen Dream


Former Tough Enough contestant Patrick Clark will be the latest to get bludgeoned by Black, on his rise to the NXT main event scene.  Not much more to say about this; it's obviously another Black showcase match.

Justin: Aleister Black
Landon: Black is probably being groomed to take the title from Adam Cole, or he'll be ready very soon.





NXT Women's Championship: Ember Moon vs. Kairi Sane vs. Nikki Cross vs. Peyton Royce


I'm looking forward to this.  Asuka's departure left a vacant NXT Women's Title, and this is the match to fill that vacancy.  As I see it, this is really a two-horse race.  Royce has no chance of winning, nor should she, Nikki is the spoiler candidate here but won't end up taking it.  It's realistically between Ember Moon, who was Asuka's heir apparent, and Kairi Sane, who, like Asuka, is a very accomplished Japanese import.  I think it's too soon for Sane to win the belt, and it would look too much like they were just plugging her into Asuka's spot.  Ember Moon should finally capture the title and get a decent run before Sane eventually dethrones her.

Justin: Ember
Landon: Ember







NXT Championship: Drew McIntyre vs. Andrade Almas


Well, the former La Sombra is finally getting an NXT Title shot.  He won't win, but the match should be solid stuff.  Good to see Almas gaining some traction since the potential has always been there.

Justin: Drew retains
Landon: McIntyre





WarGames: The Undisputed Era vs. Sanity vs. Roderick Strong/Authors of Pain


I'm not crazy about the three-team format, I'm not crazy about the new rules where one guy starts the match for his team and both partners come in simultaneously a few minutes later, and I'm definitely not crazy about Adam Cole, Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly being known as The Undisputed Era - what the fuck kinda name is that?  How 'bout Code of Honor??  But goddamn this is gonna be a lotta fun.  WarGames is one of the great clusterfuck match types, invented by Dusty Rhodes and run as a mainstay NWA/WCW gimmick match for years.  They all played out pretty much the same way, but almost all of them were fun.  This should be too.

Justin: Code of Honor wins
Landon: I trust their ability to fuck up WarGames.  Cole and reDRagon.




There's your TakeOver: WarGames lineup - hopefully the match plays well and NXT uses this annually going forward whenever there's a big team feud that needs resolving.  Enjoy the show, and join us on Facebook by clicking HERE.







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