NXT Takeover War Games

The pre-show features an awesome video on the War Games hype. Ellering beinig with AOP pays off wonderfully here with him talking about how hard the first one was. A historical war video package sets off the show. Mauro, Nigel, and Percy call the action. Kassius Ohno comes out in a great-looking blue and black getup. Lars Sullivan gets this new Kane-esque intro bathing him in red. Lars eats a corner elbow but FEELS NOTHING! Knocks him down off a huge shoulderblock! Another one off the apron sends Ohno down, and a giant lariat off a nip up makes Lars look even more like a monster. Lars nails him with a pop-up powerslam and goes up top and the diving headbutt misses. Rabbit elbows hit for Ohno before a cyclone kick gets 2. Lars eats some kicks and WANTS MORE! Sullivan eats a discus elbow, but he hits the Freak Accident to win it! This ruled!

Undisputed Era meets backstage and we get a recap of the Velveteen Dream vs. Black rivalry. Black's intro is candle-filled and perfect, while Velveteen is still missing something. Rude-esque tights for Velveteen tonight as they're airbrushed with he and his opponent on them. This match started with Black as the face, but Dream turned face throughout it due to the size difference and due to him really just being a likeable asshole. We get a great spot of the Indian style sit and then a faceoff. Dream puts him in the rope and demands he say his name, but Dream still can't get what he wants.

 Quebrada gets 2 for Black, but the CARTWHEEL DEATH VALLEY DRIVER GETS 2 AFTER HE EATS A KICK! This is an awesome showcase for Dream! Black hits a giant knee, but Dream HITS A SPIKE DDT FOR 2.9! This is being given a chance and fucking MAKING THE MOST OF IT. Velveteen Dream's gimmick isn't five stars, but this match sure as shit is. Purple Rainmaker is countered with a boot and he gets knocked into the Andre position he used on Black. BLACK ATTACKS, BUT EATS A SUPERKICK, AND THEN A KNEE STRIKE HITS! BLACK MASS ENDS IT! Holy shit this ruled! Black wins it and gives Dream what he wanted - he said his name!

 

Asuka, Balor, and Funaki are at ringside. Well, that's just odd. NXT women's title match is up. KAIRI HAS A REVAMPED THEME. BOO-URNS! Ember hits a weird headscissors takeover. Sloppy kicks and a neckbreaker get 2 for Peyton and then Kairi. Ember and Nikki hit a pair of huge telegraphed shots and then Ember takes her out with a powerbomb on the floor. Sane hits the big elbow on Royce, but covers Nikki and Ember makes a save for 2. DOUBLE ECLIPSE TO THE HEELS AND EMBER WINS IT! Asuka was the best - and now Ember is the Best of the Rest Champion. Asuka and Regal put Ember over as champion, with Asuka stealing the show with her body language.  Ember still feels like a Best of What's Left champion.

Joe and Owens are in the crowd and we get a Drew-Almas hype video. Zelina comes off so great in video packages - not so much in live promos though. Almas's theme is awesome! Drew comes down in a kilt, which looks cool. The theme is still not great though. Mauro just compared Drew to Super Mario Odyssey somehow. Almas steps to Drew before standing behind Vega. Ha! Almas gets 1 off a neckbreaker/Nightmare on Helms Street thing. Drew gets 2 off the celtic cross while a "3MB" chant hits. Rewind reana is met with an INVERTED ALABAMA SLAM! Drew goes up for a lariat, but eats a springing dropkick. Drew goes for a powerbomb on the post, but Zelina prevents it and ranas him into the post. A BIG MOONSAULT HITS AND GETS 2.5! Future Shock hits for 2, and a shotgun knee gets 2 for Almas. ZELINA HITS A SPIKE RANA! HAMMERLOCK DDT HITS FOR 2.9! Almas flips off the Claymore before Vega...sorta puts the foot on the rope but not really for 2. Claymore misses by nine miles. SPIKE HAMMERLOCK DDT ENDS IT! ALMAS WINS THE TITLE!

Mauo puts War Games over as the brainchild of Dusty Rhodes. Dustin and Arn are at ringside. The rules are recapped and it's a shame they have changed the time limits by letting two people in at once, but I guess it does streamline things. EY plays the role of Eaton to start things off - as it should. He can be the glue throughout it all. I like the shark cages being at the entranceway, even if it was a bit odd for guys to just agree to stand in those. Era guys mock Sanity in the cages. Adam Cole starts things off for his team.ADAM COLE BAYBAY would be so cool if they could've lined up those signs perfectly behind him.

Strong is in AOP cosplay gear. Okay, they need to nix this "one night partners do cosplay" deal. Strong starts things off and takes the vest off. Strong plays a face in peril and does this even more when the Era comes in after the first five minute period. Strong eats a ton more offense before AOP runs down! BIEL FROM RING 1 TO RING 2 TO COLE BAYBAY! AOP RUN WILD! SANITY RUNS IN. Wolfe brings in a billy club, so Daine brings in more weapons. Daine hits a big dive and gets 2. Damo hits a big Michinoku driver for 2 and then a Samoan drop/fallaway slam before Akam hits a giant powerslam for 2. FLYING ELBOW! DEATH VALLEY DRIVER ON AKAM FROM EY! RING TO RING SUPER COLLIDER!

DOUBLE TOWERS OF DOOM! And Cole stands on his perch!  Cole goes to leave, but AOP stops him and crotches him before setting up the table. DAINE GOES COAST TO COAST! Strong and Cole are up top and tease a superplex to a "please don't die" chant. SUPERPLEX TO THE PILE MID-RING! LAST CHAPTER ON THE MID-RING STEEL! Cole beats EY to win this craziness,