411’s NXT Takeover: WarGames Preview

~THE STAFF~
* 411 reviewer, Mr. Jake St-Pierre.
* 411 columnist, Mr. Justin Watry.
* 411 contributor, Mr. Paul Leazar.
* 411 reviewer, Mr. Kevin Pantoja.
* 411 contributor, Mr. Jake Chambers.
* 411 columnist, Mr. Brandon Ewing.
* 411 contributor, Mr. Mitch Nickelson.
* 411 contributor, Mr. Ken Hill.

---

Kassius Ohno vs. Lars Sullivan

Jake St-Pierre: I’ve two schools of thought on this match. On one hand, I think Lars Sullivan has been booked nearly perfectly as a brute and has endless prospects in that realm. I hesitate to fully commit myself to thinking this, but there’s Braun Strowman potential here. And who better to have a great match with than Kassius Ohno, who could wrestle his way out of a (large, admittedly) paper bag if he needed to? On the other hand, I have questions and/or concerns. How is Lars Sullivan coming along? Can he cut it in a singles capacity? Speaking of Braun Strowman actually, people forget how putrid he was before he got his mega push and began improving rapidly. On the surface, it appears Lars has his feet under him, so I highly doubt this is a Tom Magee situation… but what’s the benchmark here? I think it’s a credit to his performances as the big monster though that I’m this intrigued. If this match reaches its potential, we’re going to get a delightful hoss fight that I think WWE needs more of in general. It’s far too early to have Lars lay down though and I trust NXT’s creative minds to understand that.

WINNER: LARS SULLIVAN

Mitch Nickelson : Lars Sullivan is greasy. Why anyone would want to step in the ring with such a mammoth of a man is beyond me. Luckily, Kassius Ohno is a knockout artist who should size up well with this young monster. Ohno is also a fantastic wrestler, so I’m looking forward to what kind of match he’ll have with the gnarly Lars. Call me crazy but I think the veteran Ohno scores the victory here, even though I think this is only the beginning of a feud. Lars will improve a lot if he gets to work with Kassius for a long while.

WINNER: Kassius Ohno

JUSTIN WATRY: Despite the general whining over how Kassius Ohno has been used since returning to NXT, it has actually made a lot of sense. He came back full of himself, full of confidence, went straight after the top title, lost and has had to rebuild himself for tougher and tougher competition as the landscape had shifted since he left. You may not like it, but props to WWE for the story telling here. He has worked all over the card and now wants to test himself against the latest sensation, Lars Sullivan. Still way too early to know if this guy will amount to anything but why not give him a shot? Beating Ohno is a nice step up the ladder. I say he not only wins but does so in convincing fashion. Back to the drawing board for Kassius Ohno, who is indeed something to mess with.

WINNER: Lars clean

Paul Leazar: This could be a really fun match. Kassius seems to be the guy hanging around as a sort of mentor for a lot the younger talent to work with. Meanwhile, Lars has been murdering everybody in his way. Even No Way Jose, a midcarder with a bit of name, hasn’t been able to stand up against the big man. Maybe this goes a bit longer than Lars’ previous matches, but I doubt the result will be any different. Lars should get the win here, but he might have the biggest fight he’s had on his hands so far.

WINNER: Lars Sullivan

Kevin Pantoja: I know a lot of people have been disappointed with the use of Kassius Ohno in NXT, but I like him in the mentor role he’s in. He’s been working a lot of the young, inexperienced guys, like Lars, on live events. This will be the first real test for Lars and there aren’t many better to be in there with than Ohno. I think the match will be solid, and Lars will surprise many by winning in rather convincing fashion. It won’t be a squash, but Lars will look very impressive.

WINNER: Lars Sullivan

Jake Chambers: Chris Hero, who I still can’t comfortably call Kassius Ohno, should be in the main event of this show. And this has nothing to do with the quality that I imagine is possible in this match or the potential of Lars Sullivan, but Chris Hero is arguably the greatest wrestler on the planet. You can make the case for whomever you want: AJ Styles, Shirai Io, Matt Riddle, Hideki Suzuki, Kenny Omega, Zack Sabre Jr., or Brock Lesnar, but Chris Hero is likely going to better them all in one category or another. C’mon WWE, Adam Cole gets the royal treatment with his debut, a guy who’s been a bore his whole career and instantly bores NXT up; Michael Bennett, who never did anything of note in his ROH and TNA runs, gets hot-shotted to the main roster upon signing and has been a total flop. No surprise on either, but the mystery here remains: what does the WWE dislike so much about Chris Hero?

WINNER: Lars Sullivan

Brandon Ewing: This is going to be a solid, hard hitting matchup. I’ve been a fan of Kassius Ohno/Chris Hero for a very long time and I’m happy he’s been given a second chance by WWE. Lars Sullivan is a natural born beast from his appearance and sheer, raw intensity. I give the nod to Lars Sullivan on this one.

WINNER: Lars Sullivan

Ken Hill:

Oh no, Kassius is nigh undefeated,
but Lars leaves opponents utterly depleted.
Elbows will be roaring, Ohno sure is hellbent,
but Lars will SMASH, and it’ll be no accident.

This is a good, tough test for Lars, going up a veteran opponent in Ohno. We can expect a brutal brawl between the two big men, but Lars stands to gain more from a victory, especially so against Ohno’s recent undefeated streak.

WINNER: Lars Sullivan

The Velveteen Dream vs. Aleister Black

Jake St-Pierre: It’s hard for me to be uninterested in a match featuring the former Tommy End, so having a tremendously entertaining buildup to his bouts is just the cherry on top. Velveteen Dream has been a fabulous foil for Aleister Black since they began their feud, and I’m hoping that chemistry lends itself to a great match. Dream is another one of those guys that I’m not quite sure of when it comes to long form singles matches, but he’s endlessly athletic and certainly looks like he has the juice. I don’t see him winning though given he’s the sort of character who can take a clean loss without harm, while jobbing Aleister Black would greatly compromise the slow build he’s been given. I expect a rock solid match if nothing else.

WINNER: ALEISTER BLACK

Justin Watry: I love these two guys 2gether. This could feud for a million days, and I’d be find with it. All this feud missed was a kiss on the cheek to really put it over the top. Seriously, let’s go crazy! I mean, Dream has really developed into a fun character – kinda wish he had a little red corvette for his entrance. Black is still being treated as a top act, delirious and all. U got the look, he’s got the look. Both have the look! Not even the Pope can deny this has been an entertaining battle on NXT for the past month. I swear, if either guy comes to the ring wear a raspberry beret, I will party like it’s 1999! Being an honest man and not trying to cause any controversy here with my dirty mind…it’s gonna be a beautiful night!

WINNER: Black after a surprisingly good match

Mitch Nickelson : The presentation of both of these guys has been amazing so far. The Velveteen Dream initially seemed a little too out there for my tastes when he first came to NXT, but Patrick Clark has hit home run after home run in the delivery of this character. He’s definitely a heel to me, but in a good way like The Miz. Aleister Black is a superstar and as long as WWE keeps his mystique, he definitely will be a major player on a top brand. I don’t want to see either guy lose when they still have that new feeling to this brand but such is life. Between the two of them, I think that Velveteen Dream could walk away with a loss more unscathed.

WINNER: Aleister Black

Paul Leazar: This has been a fairly interesting feud actually. Even though it got off to a shaky start, The Velveteen Dream has been able to show off a different side to his character against the brooding Aleister Black. Dream might just want Black’s attention, and to make him “say his name”. Yet, we I don’t really think Dream has much of a chance here. Black seems to on a collision course with whomever the NXT Champion will be come January, and Dream just seems to be a bump on the road. Saying that though, Dream getting a good match in here against one of NXT’s best could still do wonders for his career, even if it ends with him eating a Black Mass at the end of things.

WINNER: Aleister Black

Kevin Pantoja: This has been my favorite male program NXT has put on all year. Gargano/Ciampa would’ve probably been higher, but Ciampa’s injury put that on hold. The Velveteen Dream is an absolute blast, who completely nails his character. Aleister Black is a very good wrestler, who should be able to put on the best match of Dream’s young career. I don’t expect Dream to win at all, but I’d be totally happy if he did. I’m gonna say Black gets the win, but it’ll be Dream’s next step into becoming a star.

WINNER: Aleister Black

Jack Chambers: I saw Velveteen Dream wrestle a fantastic house show match against Bobby Roode for his NXT retirement “celebration” in Toronto (although, why a guy who only wrestled once perviously in Toronto with NXT, hasn’t lived in the city for years, and is about to get a promotion that will mean every one is going to see him MORE often, needed a “farewell” match was a head-scratcher… even to Roode, it seemed, who gave the most lifeless “thank you” speech since Kurt Angle’s TNA Hall of Fame speech). Up until that point, I had no opinion on Dream, based on how rarely I even watch the boring-as NXT TV shows anymore. So I’m thinking it might be time for him to step up to an Aleister Black level, and what better a way to do it than by defeating Aleister Black.

WINNER: The Velveteen Dream

Brandon Ewing : I’m not going to lie. I am a big mark for Aleister Black and his persona/character. To me he has been one of the most enigmatic and intriguing characters I’ve seen on WWE/NXT television. Velveteen Dream has been a sleeper hit on NXT and he has done a great job of embracing the flamboyant colorful persona. This is a tough one for me to call, honestly. But, I’m gonna go with Aleister Black.

WINNER: Aleister Black

Ken Hill:

Clark got his wish via flirty mind games.
But Aleister’s feeling none too flattered.
Take heed from your golden inspiration,
dreams are made to be shattered.

The build-up to this has been well done; slow, subtle, and good to great little interactions between the two polar opposite superstars. Velveteen’s posed himself at the one to show Black “the light” and bringing him out of his shell, whereas Aleister is content to simply walk through the haze of Dream’s mind games and kick his face in and move on. I can appreciate a good, solid dichotomy like that. That said, Aleister’s slow, but sure rise looks to be taking him to the NXT Title picture and Velveteen looks to be the latest stop.

WINNER: Aleister Black

NXT Women’s Championship Fatal Four-Way Match: Kairi Sane vs. Ember Moon vs. Peyton Royce vs. Nikki Cross

Jake St-Pierre: One of my main qualms with NXT this year has been their spamming of multi-woman matches for the Women’s Title, and that extends here. I understand the idea behind it and would welcome it if used sparingly, but half of the NXT Women’s Title matches this year have been 4 or 3 ways. It’s a lazy plot device that lessens my excitement for the division as a whole, which is a shame considering the arrival of Kairi Sane has already made headway. With that being said though, I’m about 70% sure that this match is a four-way just so Peyton Royce can steal a pin without making Ember Moon or, more importantly, Kairi Sane do a job. Ember can’t really afford to lose directly for a third time in 7 months without needing major rehabilitation, and Kairi losing would be a boneheaded decision that Vince Russo probably wouldn’t even make. Peyton carrying the belt with Billie Kay as her sidekick is a fresh idea for a division that’s been so staunchly competitive the last two years, and I think NXT recognizes that. So even though I’ve got my personal issues with the nature of the match, it seems like a necessary evil if they’re going where I think they are.

WINNER: PEYTON ROYCE

Justin Watry: You know what the shame about this fatal four way is? The one person who should be NXT Women’s Champion right now is the one person who I think has no chance at winning: Ember Moon. I know all the pros of keeping Asuka undefeated and am all for the streak continuing up to the main roster, but geez, it really did halt Moon and her rise to the top of the division. Felt so bad for her losing Summerslam weekend. Really was a heartbreaking moment. That being said, I think the moment has passed. She won’t win here or for awhile really, if ever. Nikki Cross makes an intriguing choice because Sanity already has the tag team titles. Would be cool to see, since she has really done a great job on her own – away from the group. Yet, I will NOT predict her victory. Really, it comes down to Peyton Royce and Kairi Sane. Is the money really in the chase? We shall see. Depending on which rumor you believe, The Iconic Duo (Billie Kay and Peyton Royce) are either about to FINALLY rule the NXT scene or are ready for a main roster call up. The scenes seem kinda crowded on both Raw and Smackdown Live now, so I am leaning towards them staying in NXT for the rest of 2017 and early 2018. That means they get the title to prance around with. After being treated as jokes for so long, it is their time to shine. Sane can avoid getting pinned here, still look strong and then come after them for months on end. Maybe culminate WrestleMania 34 weekend with her getting the title and then the Iconic Duo moving on?

WINNER: Peyton Royce

Paul Leazar: Well, this one’s tough. Asuka left a huge hole to fill with her call up to the main roster, but the field is more than ready. Nikki Cross has been simply wonderful since her huge match with Asuka. Ember Moon has been #2 in the division, and the biggest threat to Asuka’s championship run despite losing to her twice. Peyton Royce and Billie Kay might be the most entertaining act in NXT at the moment, and Kairi Sane has been unstoppable since she first stepped out of the curtain during the Mae Young Classic. I’m sure a lot of people are looking at Kairi to win here, but I think it’s more open then that. Also, I don’t know if there is a wrong choice here. All of these women would make for a great champion, and have stories to tell if they get the championship. Well, everybody except Kairi, who I think people would be looking to see as an Asuka 2.0, when that is no where close to her game. I’d actually say she has the least chance of winning, just because I think it’d be smarter to let Kairi chase so we can learn more about her. As much as I might be pulling for Peyton to pull this out, I think it’s Ember Moon’s title to win. It’s her time. Let’s see what she can do with it!

WINNER: Ember Moon

Kevin Pantoja: This is the hardest match to predict by a wide margin. Nikki Cross is a great choice, because I feel she’s the most complete package among the NXT women. However, if she wins, SAnitY will have multiple titles, which I see as more of a heel stable trope. Peyton Royce would be an excellent candidate, as I could see her sharing the title with Billie Kay and their segments would be golden. She deserves this recognition. Ember Moon makes a good pick after coming up just short against Asuka multiple times. But, a loss here could send her frustration into heel turn territory, which is an interesting route for her. Kairi Sane is the least interesting pick to me, but after winning the Mae Young Classic, I could see her getting a big push. However, unlike Asuka, I think Sane works better as an underdog chasing the title, than as a dominant champion. My heart says Peyton, but I’m gonna say Ember finally does it.

WINNER: Ember Moon

Jake Chambers: The old guard of the post-Horsewomen NXT are all unlikely to get their shine here. I can only assume they’ll be stepping aside for the vastly superior Sane and, what we’re all anticipating, the coming of the MMA Horsewomen. It’s not that Moon, Royce and Cross are bad, they all just happened to get stuck in the Asuka vortex. After showing the WWE that they were so effective at putting Asuka over for the past year, why waste their losing-power on actual winning now? Claiming the title in this match only means something to Kairi Sane, who legitimizes the Mae Young Classic by beating Asuka’s fodder and starting her own winning streak. I’m sure the other women will soon make fine main roster jobbers though.

WINNER: Kairi Sane

Brandon Ewing: So many ways you can go with this bout. I’m gonna keep this one short and sweet by saying that Ember Moon will win. She has more to prove and needs this win than the others. However, I could see Nikki Cross getting the win as a heavy crowd favorite and as a hard worker. Kairi Sane is an amazing talent and I could see her being a choice to carry the torch of having that Joshi/international appeal that Asuka left behind. Peyton Royce has improved but to me the weakest contender of the bunch. At the end of the day, I’m sticking with Ember Moon. I could potentially see her turning heel as the champion and letting someone like Kairi Sane or Nikki Cross chase her for the title as babyfaces.

WINNER: Ember Moon

Mitch Nickelson : There’s probably a decent argument for any one of these ladies to walk away with the NXT Women’s Championship. Kairi Sane is the winner of the Mae Young Classic and has that “franchise player” vibe going on. When she does win the title, she’ll likely hold it for a while. Peyton Royce seems like the longest shot here but if you wanted a heel to carry the title, she’d probably do well – especially with the Iconic Duo act her and Billie Kay have going on. Ember Moon is long overdue for a title win so my gut says she’s the safest pick. Despite Moon, I’m going with Nikki Cross here. She’s my favorite in this match and that’s really my only reasoning for picking her. I think all four of these ladies fall somewhere in the range of above average to fantastic, so this could be a show stealer.

WINNER: Nikki Cross

Ken Hill:

With Asuka gone, the title’s up for grabs,
and tourney winner Kairi’s on the scene.
She seems primed, but now’s the time
for the Women’s Title to have an “Iconic” queen.

As much sense as it would make to capitalize on Kairi’s victory at the Mae Young Invitational, it would be better in the long term, in my mind, to go with a solid hand like Peyton Royce, whose “Iconic Duo” partnership with Billie Kay has been an underrated aspect of the NXT Women’s Division. The partnership could make for an effective heel deterrent, giving Royce a solid few-months title run before ultimately being dethroned by the likes of Moon or Sane, and giving that eventual winner a better edge in getting over with the live audience.

WINNER: Peyton Royce

NXT Championship Match: Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Drew McIntyre

Jake St-Pierre: I love this match on paper and welcome what will undoubtedly be an intriguing clash of styles, but there will be a handicap. No one in the galaxy is going to believe that Almas will win, and that’s a setback some wrestlers have issues overcoming. In theory, I absolutely believe that Almas and McIntyre can craft a match around it, so I’m not trying to say that I’m nervous about it. I’m actually super excited for this match. After all, Bobby Roode and Hideo Itami had a fantastic match in Chicago despite everyone and their dog knowing where it was going. And like that Roode/Itami match, this bout has the advantage of not main eventing, meaning the show isn’t going to be anchored by whatever these two men do. Not that I think it would be otherwise, but you know what I mean. All that rambling to say that I think this is going to be a real riot of a match, one with show stealing potential, even with the predictability that comes with it.

WINNER: DREW MCINTYRE

Justin Watry: Not many thoughts on this. Drew McIntyre will keep the NXT Title for another six month and continue feuding with Adam Cole, which has been side stepped a bit. Sorry to Almas, who has really upped his game since Zelina Vega arrived by his side. Should be a great match, champion retains.

WINNER: Drew McIntyre

Paul Leazar: Boy, this should be a barn burner of a match. Almas has been a can’t miss feature at TakeOver events this year. He’s stolen the show with Roderick Strong and Johnny Gargano. Once again, he finds himself in a similar position. All eyes are on the WarGames match. He’s gonna steal the show again here with one of the best in the business today in Drew McIntyre. I simply cannot wait to watch this match because I truly believe it will be something special, but I have long held true to the idea that people holding the NXT Championship are guys being groomed to carry the big shows in some fashion going forward once they get called up. Drew is no different, and I don’t see Almas being given that role yet. So while I expect Almas to come close, it’s going to be Drew holding the belt high come the end of this match.

WINNER: Drew McIntyre

Kevin Pantoja: Along with Johnny Gargano, Andrade Almas is my favorite NXT wrestler. The dude is fantastic and the addition of Zelina Vega as a mouthpiece was just what he needed to make it to the next level. If I were booking, he’d absolutely win the NXT Championship here. But I’m not booking. Drew McIntyre will retain the title here and most likely lose it to Adam Cole. Yawn. Maybe Almas gets called up after this match, though I’m not sure he’d get much of a push there. Ah, well. This should be a pretty good outing.

WINNER: Drew McIntyre

Jake Chambers: I also saw these two have a badass match at the recent NXT house in Toronto, so I’m expecting this one to be pretty great. Not sure if this is the feud to make McIntyre look like a cool champion though, as Almas outshines him in charisma, and possibly in the ring too. I think Drew is awesome, don’t get me wrong, but you gotta be thinking NXT is in dire need of a champion with a unique personality other than the whole generic “grrr argh” intense guy thing he’s doing – in fact, everyone who’s had that belt since Kevin Owens has been a bit too indy-style for me, whereas this pseudo-Ingobernables Almas feels much more main event (despite not being the main event, obviously). Eh… the WWE will probably give the title to Adam Cole in that house show match the night before this (and I dare you to squint and try to tell him and McIntyre apart anyways), so an easier call for Almas to win the match if that’s the case.

WINNER: Andrade “Cien” Almas

Brandon Ewing: Impressed by the push given to Andrade Almas lately. I feel like Drew McIntyre has been given a lukewarm reception as champion so I don’t see Drew holding on to the title for very long. Having said that this is a feud that will carry on for more than one matchup, at least. I’m seeing Drew squeaking by and retaining the title here, but with Andrade (if WWE does continue the rivalry) getting the title victory at a later date.

WINNER: Drew McIntrye

Mitch Nickelson : I feel way less invested in this match then I should be, but that’s common for me and NXT Championship matches. It’s not too common that those are the best match on the show. I also didn’t really dig the build to this one, where McIntyre felt like Almas was dodging him because he was always talking to Zelina Vega instead of Cien. It took them way too long to have a meaningful interaction. They did have a fun brawl at the go home show, though. However, I think this could over-deliver because these two are so good in the ring. It would be a huge shocker it Almas took the title but if the intention is for this to be the first of several matches, he could become more believable in a short amount of time.

WINNER: Drew McIntrye

Ken Hill:

Vega’s done wonders for Almas,
he now finds himself in the title scene.
Will he cast the shadow over Drew’s reign?
Whomever the victor, the fight won’t be clean.

The fact this match won’t likely being going on last with War Games looming opens up a little more doubt as the possibility of Almas winning. With Vega in his corner, Almas has most assuredly grown into the bombastic but confidently arrogant heel we’ve been hoping he would be upon his inauspicious arrival to NXT, and a title win would cap that off wonderfully. What keeps me in McIntyre’s corner, however, is that this is Drew’s first PPV title defense since his victory over Roode. While Drew has had good wins over Roode and Roderick Strong, a victory here would reaffirm his status as being the very top tier of talent in NXT, and a reinvigorated Almas with the devious Vega in his corner is the best guy to bring more of the fire out of McIntyre that we’ve seen in the past.

WINNER: Drew McIntyre

WarGames Match: The Undisputed Era vs. The Authors of Pain & Roderick Strong vs. SAnitY

Jake St-Pierre: At the risk of sounding cynical of a match that’s quite overdue in WWE canon, I have reservations. The last time a three-way War Games match was done, it was 1998. It was also one of the worst matches in the history of wrestling. Now granted, that was WCW which was unraveling magnificently by September 1998, so the comparison is hardly concrete. The booking of that specific match was so unbelievably illogical that I feel dirty even mentioning it here, but it’s really our only point of reference. This is not me saying I expect the bigwigs in charge to have Stevie Ray run wild on everyone, although that’s definitely what I would do if I had the book. I believe that this match will be put together intricately and worked with the amount of fluidity and tact that the men in the match are known for. I don’t expect many logic holes, nor do I see there being any slacking in the work rate department. My reservations are largely the pessimistic side of me talking, rather than actual expectations. But… I do think this is an incredibly overcomplicated and unnecessary way to bring back War Games, a match so many of us have pined for year after year. The tried and true formula is stripped away here, not for any real reason. The AOP and Roderick Strong’s inclusions were painfully contrived and again, unnecessary. I’ve seen it bandied about that Roderick Strong is going to do the old Ric Flair Horsemen turn and join up with Adam Cole and co, which makes sense. But why overbook a very easy concept to get the job done? Surely NXT has the tact to do it some other way, not at the expense of one of the most legendary matches in wrestling history. However, NXT has earned enough goodwill with me that I have no problem waiting and seeing. In fact, I expect to come away highly impressed with this match, just because that’s what I’m used to when watching an NXT event. Either way, they have my attention, which is really all that matters at this point. The winner? I think that’s pretty clear. I’ll be massively surprised if anyone but The Undisputed Era comes out of this the winner, with Roderick Strong by their side or not.

WINNER: The Undisputed Era

@JustinWatry: You can officially shut down yet another internet conspiracy theory about Vince McMahon not pushing things he didn’t create. You know, like the nWo, Great American Bash, AJ Styles, Bill Goldberg, Finn Balor, etc. Add War Games to that list. Sure, it is NXT, Triple H’s baby. I am well aware but still, guess who owns the $2.11 billion company? Yep, same guy who has for decades. That being said, I was never much of a WCW fan. I’ve made that quite clear over the years. During the Monday Night Wars, the only channel changing I did was to turn over and laugh at what was airing on TNT. My whole family was the same way. Sorry, the “big” return of War Games is cool and all but doesn’t strike much of a chord. The announcement from William Regal was awesome, and I am positive the spectacle will be amazing. No doubt, the match will probably main event and rule! The hype, buzz, and the rest of the build? Eh. Just ring the bell and give me the classic I expect. That is what I am tuning in for. As for a winner? Non-title so doesn’t matter too much…take a pick…

WINNER: The Undisputed Era

Paul Leazar: I might not be a huge fan of how they are going to execute this match, but WarGames is WarGames, and this is sure to be an awesome spectacle if nothing else. I really like the idea, but I don’t think the winner is in question here. If The Undisputed Era doesn’t win here, what’s the point? Sure, they’ll get their asses handed to them for a while. SAnitY might look damn near unstoppable in there, and AOP might actually kill somebody, but The Undisputed Era get the victory here. Hopefully, we get a run-in from a new member of the group to give them that edge, but The Undisputed Era need this win to feel like a big deal because they haven’t really done all that much yet.

WINNER: The Undisputed Era

Kevin Pantoja: It’s still wild that I’m going to watch a WWE produced War Games match. And even crazier to think that the first WWE War Games features Roderick Strong, reDRagon, Eric Young and Adam Cole. 2017 is strange. I’m excited for this match because it’s historic, it should be bananas and I really like most of the guys involved. I believe the Undisputed Era has to win here. SAnitY have the Tag Titles, so they’ll be fine coming out of this regardless of the outcome. The Authors of Pain and Roderick Strong aren’t a usual team, so they won’t have the chemistry of the other trios and that could cost them. Plus, Cole/O’Reilly/Fish came in as big deals and a win in this kind of match would fully establish them.

WINNER: The Undisputed Era

Jake Chambers: So funny the WWE has waited almost 20 years to pull the trigger on Wargames and Starrcade, the two Blue Chip creative properties left from the old WCW archive (I mean, I guess if you’re not counting World War 3), and even then they can’t do either in a truly satisfying way… on paper. Starrcade being a “house show” event, which I’m not sure is even actually a thing, does make for something worth hunting down one day. Now with Youtube and the WWE Network, the thrill of finding rare events and matches is basically gone, so I do kind of like the idea that there’s something out there we can’t just see instantly on demand. And while it seems like a dumb idea to tinker with the classic Wargames format, I kind of like the concept they’ve cooked up. Those old Wargames matches are rarely as awesome as you think you remember, and a lot of the dead time came during the staggered handicap matches between the opening one-on-one and then the Match Beyond! So the WWE might be on to something here, despite their hubris, so color me excited. Wait, who’s in the match? Ugh! Sanity… suck. Undisputed Era… suck. Authors of Pain… suck. Roderick Strong, work your magic my friend, and save this match!

WINNER: Roderick Strong & The Authors of Pain

Brandon Ewing: I would be excited for the return of War Games but I have a gut feeling this is going to be good but not great as it could be (lack of blood/color will lower the quality of the match IMO). This is going to be similar to WCW Fall Brawl 1998, where we had WCW vs. nWo Hollywood vs. nWo Wolfpack. It’s going to a crazy match to keep up with and I do feel that each team will give it their all here. I’m just on the fence with WWE executing the War Games concept to its fullest potential. You got the two rings. The rules have been confirmed and laid out. Now, bring back the blood and the carnage brutality that made this a hit favorite. I’m going to go with The Undisputed Era to pick up the win. Those three hungry young lions are fresh out of ROH and have a statement to make in NXT/WWE. This is the way to do it. Beat two of the baddest teams/factions on the NXT roster and prove to the world why you belong here. Simple as that!

WINNER: The Undisputed Era

Mitch Nickelson : There’s so much talent in this match, I’m confident that they’re going to do this right. I feel like The Undisputed Era haven’t quite made the mark that they were hoping for so far in NXT, so a win here could cement their top status on this brand. I hope Roddy gets singled out an eventually eats the pin because I want some real time with a Cole vs. Strong feud in the following months. One more thing, and this has nothing to do with the match, but the more I see SAnitY’s name the more I see that derpy Mocking Spongebob meme. Am I alone on that one?

WINNER: The Undisputed Era

Ken Hill:

Dusty’s creation has arrived at last,
War Games finally hits the WWE stage.
A three-team war to settle the score,
two rings to hold all the seething rage.

The wait will be over this Saturday,
we shall anticipate this match no longer.
While SAnitY and the Authors will clash,
The Undisputed Era will become “Stronger.”

While I find the War Games stipulation really came out of nowhere and felt a bit rushed for a stipulation that usually signals the end of a long-standing feud, it is nonetheless exciting to see Dusty’s innovation finally find its way to a WWE setting. SAnitY, as the NXT tag champs, are the most established team going into this, so they don’t really NEED the victory here and can afford a loss. The Undisputed Era, even with the full triumvirate in action, seemed somewhat mismatched going up against the patchwork trio of Roderick Strong and AOP. The underlying story, though, is the tease of Strong joining Cole and the Gang, so if there’s any sort of match meant for a big-time climactic twist such as Strong turning on his compatriots, War Games is it.

WINNER: The Undisputed Era

JOIN 411 TONIGHT AT 7:30PM ET FOR OUT LIVE NXT TAKEOVER: WARGAMES COVERAGE!