NXT Takeover: War Games Review

by Liam Croft

Anyone who knows me knows I love NXT. I often prefer their programming to that of the main roster, and their Takeover events are no exception. It was always going to take a lot for War Games to top Takeover: Chicago from Wrestlemania weekend, but War Games delivered in spades. Let's take a look at each match one by one. I'll also be giving each match a rating out of 10, and selecting one participant from each as the standout star.

Match #1: Kassius Ohno v Lars Sullivan

This match was specifically requested by Ohno after Sullivan's relentless assault on Raul Mendoza earlier this week. Ohno entered first to a great reaction from the crowd, with Sullivan entering second. From the atmosphere in the arena, the red lighting and the menacing entrance music, Sullivan really looked intimidating from the word go. Sullivan has looked like an absolute monster in recent weeks, and tonight was no exception.

The two big men traded bombs for the entire match. Ohno continued to prove why he's one of the best pound for pound strikers in the game, with every shot resonating around the arena. Despite his best efforts, Ohno barely managed to put big Lars to the mat with a devastating Cyclone Kill. Ohno looked to have the goliath beat with an high impact strike combination, followed by an earth shattering senton, only for Sullivan to kick out at 1. Sullivan made it look easy as he decimated Ohno with the Freak Accident, scoring him the pin.

Rating: 6.5/10. A thoroughly decent and entertaining match all around. Both men displayed their strengths, and another win solidifies Sullivan as NXT's most powerful force. Ultimately however, there was really no payoff for this match other than bragging rights for Lars, though I'd love to see these two sharing a ring again.

Standout Star: Lars Sullivan. Lars silenced anybody that may have claimed he had a challenge in Ohno. He continues to run roughshod over the rest of the NXT roster; it isn't clear what Lars wants, but you'd be a fool to think he won't get it soon.

Match #2: Aleister Black v The Velveteen Dream

It should have been no surprise that this match was on second, but the way the tension between these two has grown over the past few weeks, you'd be forgiven for assuming it would be the main event. Black entered first, and confirmed that he still has the best entrance in the business. Dream walked out next to a huge response from the crowd; even at such a young age, Dream's captivating presence is seriously impressive.

Black controlled the early stages of the match, and showed that his technical wrestling is just as solid as his striking. Dream's frustration was clear, trading blows with Black as the match slowly morphed into a slugfest. Towards the middle of the match, the mind games that have been the hallmark of this feud were out in force, with Dream mimicking Black's signature pose- and, in an entertaining moment, Black mimicking Dream's. 

Black was really on form tonight, with every strike landing with the force of an atomic bomb. Dream too was impressive, at one point hitting a stunning rolling Death Valley Driver on Black that legitimately could have won him the match. However, tonight wasn't Dream's night; Black delivered Black Mass, and remains undefeated in NXT. After the match, Black finally said Dream's name, in a highly appropriate show of respect for his toughest opponent so far. 

Despite being slow to get out of the gate, this match was a thoroughly entertaining battle that truly kept me on the edge of my seat, and was as much physical as it was mental.

Rating: 9/10. This was easily the match of the night until the main event, and even then, it remained the pinnacle of dramatic, passionate storytelling. Every kick every slam, every taunt- it meant something. That's a rarity in today's WWE.

Standout Star: Both. It's truly impossible to choose between these two; this match clearly meant everything to both men, and their talent inside the ring was on display throughout. Expect huge things for both competitors in the near future.

Match #3: Kairi Sane v Ember Moon v Peyton Royce v Nikki Cross, NXT Women's Championship

In a winner takes all bout for the vacant NXT Women's Championship, the stakes simply could not have been higher. All four women fought tooth and nail to be here, but only one could be crowned the new female face of NXT. Cross entered first, carrying as ever a look of crazed determination. Next out was Mae Young Classic winner Kairi Sane, who received a somewhat subdued response from the crowd. Following Kairi was Peyton Royce, who notably came to the ring without Iconic Duo partner Billie Kay. Finally, out walked Ember Moon, who captivated the entire arena with her explosive entrance. 

As the opening bell rang, Peyton went right after Kairi, as was to be expected from their exchanges in recent weeks, as Cross and Moon duked it out. Every competitor in this match put on an impressive spectacle, and there truly wasn't a dull moment throughout; Kairi, however, seemed to struggle to find her place in the match at times. Highlights included a sensational pop up powerbomb on the outside from Moon to Cross, which rightfully knocked Cross out of the running for most of the match, as well as a deadly corner suplex combination involving Peyton, Moon and Kairi which almost secured the victory for Peyton, inciting chants of "that was 3" from the fans in attendance.

Kairi looked to have it in the bag after an In-Sane Elbow to both Peyton and Cross, but Moon made the save. Spurred on perhaps by Kairi delivering her finishing move to two opponents, Moon scaled the turnbuckle to deliver the Eclipse with authority to both Peyton and Cross. Moon covered Cross for the win, becoming the new NXT Women's Champion. In a heartwarming passing of the torch moment, Asuka entered the ring to bestow her former rival with her well-deserved championship, with the two sharing an embrace.

Rating: 7.5/10. This was an explosive display from all involved. Ember proves she is one of the most exciting members of the NXT Women's division once again. I only wish the match could have gone on a little longer- with 4 talented competitors, it was difficult for the likes of Kairi and Cross to find their place and make their mark on the match. Couple that with questionable decisions- I, for one, also thought Peyton deserved a three count- and we're left with a match that, while entertaining, deserved an extra 5 minutes. That said, it was great to finally see Moon pick up the gold after trying for so long to defeat Asuka.

Standout Star: Peyton Royce. Often overlooked as part of the Women's division, the Venus Flytrap put on a stunning performance and came inches away from being crowned the new champion. Between the stroke of genius that was her corner suplex laying waste to two of her opponents and her picture-perfect fisherman suplex, Peyton put on a performance that is sure to solidify her as a legitimate threat to Moon's championship.

Match #4: Drew Mcintyre (c) v Andrade "Cien" Almas, NXT Championship

This was to be Almas' make or break performance. For the past few weeks, we've seen a change in Almas, from the laid back, party-loving playboy into a focused, determined fighter vying for the gold. He and his advocate, Zelina Vega, have got the better of McIntyre in every one of their previous exchanges; undoubtedly, McIntyre was looking for redemption tonight in his second title defence since winning the title from Roode.

Almas was out first, looking motivated. A large section of the crowd was clearly behind him, as evidenced by the cheers as Zelina led him to the ring, spouting advice and encouragement. As his Latin-infused entrance theme faded into silence, the familiar bagpipe-laden drone of McIntyre's war song filled the arena, as the NXT Champion strode down to the ring. Adorned in a kilt, McIntyre looked like a Celtic barbarian, eyeing up his next kill and looking like a true champion.

As the match began, Almas showed shades of his former fun-loving persona, hanging himself up in the ropes, only to be kicked to the outside by McIntyre. The match took on a slower pace as McIntyre used his strength and size advantage to wear down Almas. The fight once again spilled to the outside, including an astonishingly beautiful moonsault by Almas. The challenger's agility and innovative offence was truly on display here, delivering a range of strikes and a nasty looking pair of double knees to the front and back of the champion's head. 

Distracting the referee by picking up the NXT Championship outside the ring, Almas gave Zelina the opportunity to deliver a headscissors driver to a kneeling McIntyre, which was followed up by a hammerlock DDT from Almas. The challenger looked to have it won, but McIntyre rolled his shoulder up at the last second. The Claymore kick seemed to spell victory for McIntyre, but an assist from Zelina unseen by the referee gave Almas the rope break. It looked to be anyone's contest, but a stunning rope hung DDT scored a hard-fought victory for Almas.

Rating: 8.5/10. This was a hard hitting bout between two of NXT's most impressive talents. McIntyre may not have had the response he expected from NXT audiences, but in the ring he's a serious slugger. Almas, too, put on a perfect performance, with a well-deserved title win reflecting his change in outlook.

Standout Star: Andrade "Cien" Almas. If you'd have told me 2 month ago that Almas would beat McIntyre for the NXT Title, I'd have never believed you- in the past few weeks, he has looked like a legitimate contender, and he solidified that reputation in this match. I look forward to seeing how Almas performs at the top of the brand.

Match #5: War Games Match

This was it, the main event we'd all been waiting for. It wasn't a traditional War Games match, in that a few house rules were added and, notably, the roof was taken away, yet this was still a thoroughly entertaining contest.

First to enter the match were Eric Young for SAnitY, Adam Cole for The Undisputed Era, and the honorary Ghostwriter of Pain, Roderick Strong, who came decked out in AoP gear. The rules meant nobody could win the match until all 9 competitors had entered, so the three got to work n wearing each other down in the meantime. The three used the cage to great effect, throwing one another into the unforgiving steel relentlessly. After a 5 minute interval, The Undisputed Era's remaining members Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly were let out of their shark cages and joined the match. UE's assault on both Young and Strong demonstrate their effective chemistry as a unit, and looked to have favourable chances in the early goings.

Next to enter were Akam and Rezar from the Authors of Pain, who, as expected, laid waste to Young and UE. Some smash mouth powerhouse action followed, with AoP looking as strong as ever in their return to in-ring action. Another interval passed, and Killian Dain and Alexander Wolfe entered the fray. Wolfe produced a baton he'd been hiding, using it to clear the ring of competitors, while Dain retrieved more weapons from under the ring. The crowd let their intentions be known- they wanted tables, and as a pleasant surprise Dain delivered, puling two into the ring with him along with several chairs, metal trash cans, kendo sticks and a chain.

Dain went on a tear, delivering an athletic sequence that had the crowd on their feet. The weapons were used to great effect, with O'Reilly using the chain in a submission attempt, Dain delivering an astonishing coast to coast using a trash can, and Wolfe delivering a German suplex to Rezar through both tables. In the closing moments of the match, Strong delivered a death defying superplex from the top of the cages on Cole, decimating the rest of the competitors below. With blood pouring from the head of Wolfe, this was a seriously brutal spectacle worthy of its namesake. 

As all but two competitors lay motionless on the canvasses, Cole delivered a shot with a kendo stick to Young, following up with a chair-assisted Shining Wizard to take home the victory for The Undisputed Era.

Rating: 10/10. We expected a bloodbath, and War Games was exactly that. An unpredictable bout that was impossible to call in advance, War Games may have just knocked off DIY v AoP as my personal Match of the Year.

Standout Star: Killian Dain. Playing to the crowd like a true professional, Dain delivered a king-making performance in Houston. The definition of "monster," Dain laid waste to all who stood in his way, including the imposing Authors of Pain. His team may have lost the match, but Dain will be the name on everybody's lips following last night's main event.

What happens next?

Sullivan is the most dominant force in NXT. Black and Dream put on a show-stealing spectacle that can be considered a modern classic. We have two new champions in Ember Moon and Andrade "Cien" Almas. The Undisputed Era have solidified their position as serious contenders for SAnitY's tag team championships, and will undoubtedly turn up on next week's episode of NXT to gloat. With rumours that McIntyre has a bicep injury, it's possible that we may not see him on our screens for some time- when he does return, expect it to be on Raw or Smackdown Live. 

NXT proved once again that they're far more than just developmental- they're a unique third brand deserving of the spotlight.

Liam Croft is a contributor to Official Wrestling and their regular podcast, "A Few Good Marks." You'll often find him pounding down coffee, fantasy booking like a champion and praying that Kassius Ohno is called up to the main roster some time soon.