Csonka’s NXT Takeover WarGames Review

Csonka’s NXT Takeover WarGames Review

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Lars Sullivan defeated Kassius Ohno @ 5:45 via pin [***]
– Aleister Black defeated The Velveteen Dream @ 14:45 via pin [****¼]
– NXT Women’s Championship Fatal Four-Way Match: Ember Moon defeated Kairi Sane, Peyton Royce, and Nikki Cross @ 9:59 via pin [***½]
– NXT Championship Match: Andrade “Cien” Almas defeated Champion Drew McIntyre @ 14:56 via pin [****]
– WARGAMES: The Undisputed Era defeated The Authors of Pain & Roderick Strong and Sanity @ 36:37 via pin [****]

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– We get a great opening video package for the show.

Kassius Ohno vs. Lars Sullivan: Ohno is sporting Duke colors tonight. Lars controls the early portion, delivering knees and just running through Ohno, Ohno manages to fire back with big boots, but Lars hits the pop up powerslam. He misses the head butt off the ropes, allowing Ohno to fire up with elbows and kicks, but Lars stays up. The cyclone kick finally takes Lars down, and Ohno kicks him in the face. Lars fires up, but Ohno keeps punishing him and lays in kicks and hits the running senton. They trade forearms, Ohno hits the bog elbow but Lars catches him with the freak accident to pick up the lately one-sided victory. Lars Sullivan defeated Kassius Ohno @ 5:45 via pin [***] This was a good, hard-hitting sprint with Ohno giving his all before falling to Lars. This is Lars’ biggest win to date, and on a major show against real competition. Ohno was the perfect dance partner for Lars, he worked hard, made him look good and this was exactly what Lars needed. Lars also stepped up and did very well. Ohno plays his role of player coach well, and this was fun.

– Some of the UK guys are in the crowd.

– Regal meets with Cole and the Gang backstage.

The Velveteen Dream vs. Aleister Black: Like Lars, this is Dream’s biggest match to date. Black has been destroying everyone. Dream is pulling a Rick rude, with Black air brushed on his tights. They lock up and work to a stalemate. Dream slaps Black, but Black attacks the arm and looks to ground Dream. Black keeps Dream grounded, staying a step ahead of his opponent. Black locks in an octopus hold, turns it into a sunset flip and goes after the arm. They trade strikes, and Black tosses Dream to the floor. Black teases the dive and takes a seat as Dream slides back in. Dream does a Rick Rude hip swivel, and sits down and stares at Black. Black now slithers towards Dream, as the mind games continue. Black hits arm drags, but Dream stuns him off the ropes and follows with a lariat. Dream takes control, demanding that Black say his name. Dream tosses Black to the floor. Dream teases a dive and celebrates. Black back in and lays in elbows and Dream kills him with a superkick for a good near fall. Dream hits the Rude awakening neck breaker, covering for 2. Dream locks on a modified camel clutch, Black fights to his feet, and they trade strikes. Dream ties Black up in the ropes and demands he say his name. Black fights out with kicks, slap by Dream but Black runs wild with knees and kicks. Black hits the springboard moonsault press, covering for 2. Dream grabs at Black’s leg, but Black takes him down, counters the DVD and Dream hits the rolling DVD, which got a great near fall! The crowd is into Dream big time. Dream has Black on his shoulders, but as he climbs, Black slides out and connects with the kick. Black hits a running knee strike for another great near fall. Dream hits a sick version of Sister Abigail, covering for another great near fall. The crowd is into this big time. Dream up top now, but the elbow drop eats a boot and Dream ends up tied in the ropes. Black lays in a kick but Dream hits a superkick. Black fires back with a knee strike for the double down. Dream battles to his feet, but eats Black mass and Black picks up the win. Aleister Black defeated The Velveteen Dream @ 14:45 via pin [****¼] This was an absolutely great match that had the crowd the whole time, and way over delivered in my opinion. We knew that Black was great, but Dream really stepped up tonight and delivered in a star making performance; the crowd loved him. This was just great work from both guys, with a mix of fun character work and then they picked it up big time, and simply delivered. This was also a great example of how a guy can get over huge, even in loss. Dream has so much potential, especially considering he’s only been working around three years; he does so many little things well, it’s almost scary.

– Post match, Black says, “Enjoy infamy… Velveteen Dream.”

NXT Women’s Championship Fatal Four-Way Match: Kairi Sane vs. Ember Moon vs. Peyton Royce vs. Nikki Cross: Kay is out with Royce for the entrance and then heads to the back. I like that. Everyone brawls at the bell, with Royce getting a lot in early and we get some near falls. Moon hits a plancha onto Cross, while Sane connects with a flying forearm off the apron onto Royce. Moon comes out of nowhere and wipes them out with a suicide dive. Cross attacks Moon, but Moon powerbombs her onto the floor! Sane and Moon roll back in, and Sane lays in chops in the corner. The corner spear connects, but Royce cuts off Sane and ties her up in the ropes. Moon breaks that up with a superkick, but Sane rolls her up for 2. Sane then spears Royce as Moon avoids her. Sane hits the spinning backfist and heads up top. Moon cuts her off, follows her up and Royce is over for the tower of doom. Royce makes covers, but Moon and Sane both kick out. Cross is back and hits the high cross onto all three. She then beats down Moon, sets Sane up top and into the tree of WHOA. Cross then sends Royce to the floor. Fisherman’s neck breaker onto Sane, but Moon makes the save. Moon cuts off Cross, and she heads up top. Cross cuts her off, and hits a draping neck breaker and Moon rolls to the floor. Royce hits the fisherman’s suplex on Cross, but Sane makes the save. Sane slams Royce onto Cross, heads up top and hits the elbow onto both! She covers Cross but Moon makes the save. Cross and Royce battle and Moon flies in and hits the eclipse to win the title! Ember Moon defeated Kairi Sane, Peyton Royce, and Nikki Cross @ 9:59 via pin [***½] When the NXT women have done multi-person matches, I have found them to be really clunky and flat. These four avoided that, delivering almost 10-minutes of non-stop action, with great near falls, great multi-person spots and in the end, delivering a very good match that had an invested crowd. Many matches would have failed following Dream & Black, but the ladies stepped it up big time, with Royce delivering what I feel is her best performance to date. This was a really fun sprint style match.

– Post match, Asuka presents Moon with the title.

NXT Championship Match: Champion Drew McIntyre vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas: McIntyre Vega is out with Almas. Vega talks mad shit to McIntyre, and we’re underway. McIntyre rushes Almas to the corner, but Almas shoves him away. McIntyre looks to use his size and power advantage early, but Almas lays in leg kicks. McIntyre catches Almas with a kick, countering the float over attempt. Almas goes traquilo in the ropes and gets kicked to the floor. McIntyre follows with chops, but Almas cuts him off. Vega tries for a RANA off the apron, but McIntyre cuts her off and then cuts off the Almas dive. Almas stuns McIntyre off the ropes and McIntyre then misses a charge and posts himself. This allows Almas to take control, and he works the hanging arm bar in the ropes. Back in and he covers for 2. Almas works the arm, grounding the bigger champion. McIntyre fights to the feet, and hits a dump suplex, tossing Almas across the ring. They trade strikes, McIntyre hits a lariat and then works over Almas in the corner. The overhead belly to belly follows. The double sledge off the ropes follows, and McIntyre follows with the Celtic cross for 2. Almas catches McIntyre with a dropkick, and hits the inverted tornado DDT for a good near fall. Vega yells at Almas to get McIntyre, but McIntyre fights of the hammerlock DDT and then counters the reverse RANA into the inverted Alabama slam for 2. McIntyre heads up top, Almas cuts him off, kicking him to the floor. Alams goes for a slingshot RANA, and slings McIntyre to the post. Almas up top and catches McIntyre with the moonsault press to the floor. Back in and Almas covers for 2. McIntyre cuts off Almas up top, follows him up but Almas crotches McIntyre into he tree of WHOA. Almas hits the double stomp and then the charging double knees, but McIntyre kicks out at 2. McIntyre now hits a sitout powerbomb for a good near fall. Almas fires back with chops, and gets a cradle for 2. Future shock by McIntyre and Almas kicks out! McIntyre climbs the ropes with Almas on his shoulders, Almas slides out and hits the double knees, covering for 2. Almas lays in ground and pound, and now grabs the NXT title. Vega hits a spiked RANA on McIntyre; hammerlock DDR by Almas but McIntyre kicks out! They fight to their feet, and McIntyre hits the big claymore but Vega puts Almas’ foot on the ropes. McIntyre sets again, but Almas drops down and McIntyre crotches himself on the ropes. They battle up top and Almas spikes McIntyre with a draping DDT and wins the title! McIntyre looked roughed up on the finish, hopefully he was just selling and not hurt. Andrade “Cien” Almas defeated Champion Drew McIntyre @ 14:56 via pin [****] And this is why it was important that Kay was sent to the back for the women’s match, to eliminate any interference, saving it for here, where it meant more. Vega has been such an important part of Almas’ act, they work so well together and he’s been next level since her introduction. This was a great back and forth match, with good aggression throughout, and a tremendous closing stretch. This is the Almas we’ve wanted, dude is locked in and delivered the goods here.

– Dustin Rhodes and Arn Anderson are ringside.

WarGames Match: The Undisputed Era (Cole, Fish, & O’Reilly) vs. The Authors of Pain & Roderick Strong vs. Sanity (Young, Dain, & Wolfe): EY, Cole, and Strong will begin. Strong is in AOP gear, showing unity. It’s like when you tag with War Machine, you have to paint up. Cole backs off to the second ring, but EY and Cole follow and fight over who gets to beat on Cole. EY attacks Strong and brawls with Cole. Strong cuts off EY, hitting a back breaker and then trades strikes with Cole. They all three climb the cage, with Strong and EY working over Cole. Cole then drops down and crotches them. He lays the boots to Strong, tosses him to the second ring and hits the last shot on EY. Cole then attacks Strong, working him over in the corner, and then attacks EY. A suplex follows on Strong, and then the neck breaker as it’s all Cole right now. Strong fires back with chops and a lariat, and then lays in chops and knee strikes to both. And now Fish and O’Reilly are in. They attack Strong right away, kicking the shit out of him and Cole joins in. They also beat down EY, as the Undisputed Era control with ease. O’Reilly works a knee bar on Strong, as Fish and Cole double team EY. And now the AOP are in. They rush the ring and it is time for big lads to do big lad things. They immediately start wrecking fools, tossing the Undisputed Era around with ease. They then toss Strong into the other ring onto everyone else. The AOP put O’Reilly and EY in the tree of WHOA and hits running DVDs onto them. Strong and the AOP control and Sanity is in and WarGames is underway. Wolfe has a nightstick and beats on everyone with it. Dain brings in chairs and trashcans, a chain and other assorted toys as this turns into Lethal Lockdown. The crowd wants tables so Dain brings out some. This crowd loves these guys. Wolfe starts throwing Germans and slams Fish onto the trashcan. Dain closes the door and uses the chain to make sure it stays shut. He then locks it and swallows the padlock key. Dain runs wild on the AOP, and hits a shotgun dropkick/senton combo. Dain climbs the cage and hits a high cross off the top rope, wiping out the pile. Cole gets a kendo stick, but Dain blocks that and throws it away. Fish makes the save, but Dain hits Cole with a Michinoku driver onto Fish, covering for 2. Dain tosses O’Reilly into the cage, and picks up Cole and Strong and hits a fall away slam/Samoan drop combo. He and Rezar battle center cage, throwing big strikes and just light each other up. Dain then wipes him out with a running cross body, but Akem cuts him off with a powerslam for 2. It breaks down into everyone brawling, the Undisputed Era hits chasing the dragon on Strong. O’Reilly and Fish work over Dain, Wolfe makes the save, but O’Reilly takes him out with ax and smash. O’Reilly grabs the chain, and ties up Wolfe with it. O’Reilly then locks in the arm bar with the chain, but EY hits the big elbow drop to break it up. Everyone is down now, as the bodies have hit the floor. The AOP hits a super collider, also catching Dain in the middle. Dain is bleeding a bit, EY runs wild and hits a DVD on Rezar onto Akem, but the pin attempt gets broken up. Strong hits a lumbar check on Cole, and then runs wild with knee strikes and a cornucopia of back breakers. The Angle slam on Dain gets 2 as Cole hits the superkick to break that up. Cole heads up top, EY follows up with him and then Strong follows. Everyone is now over and we get a DOUBLE tower of doom, one ion each ring. Cole is left up top by himself. The AOP are up and have their sights set on Cole. Cole climbs and gets cut off. They grab a table and then the other and set them up. The AOP head up top with Cole, but Wolfe cuts them off and he heads up top as Cole looks to escape. Wolfe then GERMANS an AOP off the top and through the tables! EY hits a neck breaker off the top onto the other AOP. Cole slides along the top of the cage; Wolfe is busted open from that German spot. Dain kills O’Reilly with a lariat. Dain places O’Reilly in the corner and puts a trashcan in front of him. Dain heads up top and hits a fucking Van Terminator! BIG LAD AIRLINES! Cole is up on top of the cage and String is waiting on him and then climbs. Cole teases escaping, String stops him and we get please don’t die chants. SUPERPLEX ONTO THE PILE IN THE RING! Everyone is down, Strong covers Cole but Cole manages to kick out. Dain and Akem trade strikes, but the AOP double team him and O’Reilly grabs Rezar with a sleeper, Fish joins in and lays in strikes and a running knee strike follows as Fish and O’Reilly hit total elimination. Wolfe is back up and he an EY hit the double team neck breaker. It breaks down to Cole and Strong, they trade strikes and Cole gets tossed into the cage. EY slams Strong into the cage. Cole hits EY with a kendo stick shot. EY has a chair, but Cole hits a shining wizard into the chair and picks up the win. The Undisputed Era defeated The Authors of Pain & Roderick Strong and Sanity @ 36:37 via pin [****] I know that some will say that “this wasn’t WarGames,” and that’s fine, but I thought that this was a wonderfully wild and great main event. They played into the stipulation well, the introduction of the weapons escalated the violence and got the crowd into it on a completely different level. This was brutal, violent, they played off of the Cole vs. String dynamic very well and kept it going with EY taking the loss. It was really long, but laid out well and never felt long to me, which is always good. Everyone delivered here, and I greatly enjoyed this.

– Thanks for reading.

– End scene.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

8.5

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

NXT Takeover WarGames was a great, kick-ass show with three big matches delivering, two new champions, Velveteen Dream putting in a star-making performance and Almas rising to a level many had hoped for. This was a great show, as NXT continues to deliver.