The big weekend is upon us as Survivor Series is this weekend which means it is the first time ever that NXT will have to do double duty starting with NXT TakeOver: WarGames. More first-time evers happen on this night alone, as there will not be just one, but two matches contested under WarGames rules. In what could quite possibly be the main event, women will step into WarGames for the first time in history. Per usual, this is for sure to be one heck of a show.
Finn Balor vs Matt Riddle
An impromptu match has many times proven in the WWE, and especially NXT, to be a great decision. Johnny Gargano has been taken out of action for the foreseeable future with a neck injury suffered at the hands of Finn Balor when he was attacked. Since the attack, we have been left without a re-debut match for Balor. Well, that was until Balor found a new target in Matt Riddle, who was laid to waste by the former NXT Champion. Balor has made clear he is doing things his way now that he is back in NXT, and this his first chance. Not only will this match must-see, but it could hold a lot of sway down the line as the winner of this one could earn a championship opportunity. Finn Balor is on a mission to make the world know… the Prince is back.
NXT Championship #1 Contenders Match: Pete Dunne vs Damien Priest vs Killian Dain
A match that was once scheduled for this past week’s NXT television not only got bumped to TakeOver but is now even more important than before. The winner of this one will go to Survivor Series the next night to take on Adam Cole for the NXT Championship. Big stakes for three big contenders. Pete Dunne and Damien Priest had entered a feud weeks ago where they ended up splitting the feud 1-1 with Dunne getting the most recent victory.
However, Killian Dain has inserted himself into this rivalry after Pete Dunne said he didn’t care about Dain, which only led to an angered Dain to attack Dunne after the match between him and Priest. Priest took exception and these two started teeing off each other as well, which has gotten us to this point. A blood feud between three contenders with an opportunity of a lifetime on the line. Can the longest-reigning United Kingdom Champion set his eyes on a new prize, or will the newbie or returnee have enough to grab the win? We will surely see it as this one has a shot to surprise a lot of people.
WarGames: The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Bobby Fish, & Roderick Strong) vs Team Ciampa (Tommaso Ciampa, Dominick Dijakovic, Keith Lee, & Mystery Partner)
The first WarGames bout of the night is between veterans of the match, The Undisputed Era, and Team Ciampa, as Tommaso Ciampa is leading his team into war before ultimately going for the NXT Championship. The Undisputed Era holds all the gold and is on pace to have one of, if not the biggest weekends a stable has had in some time. In their prior appearances, The Undisputed Era won the first WarGames bout in 2017 and came up short a year ago, so they sit at 1-1. At this time, none of the members of Team Ciampa have even stepped inside WarGames, but Dominick Dijakovic and Keith Lee bring a size advantage.
What is the most unique factor is with Matt Riddle removed from the match, Tommaso Ciampa must find one more member to fill his team. The list of names are few and far between, with Isaiah “Swerve” Scott or a returning Velveteen Dream making the most sense. But of course, there could always be a surprise up the sleeve of the “Blackheart” himself. Either way, this match is sure to wow. The resident champions of NXT are on one side, while Team Ciampa has a chance to jump the line and solidify front spots for the titles with a win. Don’t forget that The Undisputed Era holds the advantage for the big match after Cole beat Dijakovic in a ladder match on Wednesday.
WarGames: Team Baszler (Shayna Baszler, Kay Lee Ray, Io Shirai, & Bianca Belair) vs Team Ripley (Rhea Ripley, Candice LeRae, Mia Yim, & Tegan Nox)
Maybe the match of the weekend is set to take place in the main event of TakeOver, while not confirmed to be. Either way, Team Baszler vs Team Ripley is going to be a must-see bout between some of the best wrestlers in the world. For the first time, women will step into WarGames and go to war as they look to make their mark in history. Shayna Baszler and Rhea Ripley have been at each other’s necks for months now it seems and they finally can go to war with their teams right behind them.
As Shayna Baszler approaches history as over a year-long champion, she has the team of Io Shirai, Bianca Belair, and the true wildcard, NXT UK Women’s Champion, Kay Lee Ray. “The Joshi Judas” has been on another level since finding her darker side and is sure to pull off some jaw-dropping accomplishes in the ring on Saturday night. Bianca Belair and her overall athleticism is sure to be a spectacle in itself. And for Kay Lee Ray, she is the wildcard due to her instant rise to the top overseas and is a rather unknown to the regular NXT crowd, which could give her an advantage.
Then there is Team Ripley, led but “The Nightmare” and first-ever NXT UK Women’s Champion, Rhea Ripley. She has been on a tear since coming over from the UK, setting her sights directly on Baszler. With her is the fantastic Candice LeRae, who is one that has some experience when it comes to extreme matches like this one. LeRae has made her name by showing out in matches like these, which is sure to happen again. Mia Yim went through hell just two weeks ago but is still standing, which is the reason she is on Team Ripley. And finally, Tegan Nox, who brings her history haunting injuries of the past into this difficult, unforgiving match. Nox is one of the best, as “Lady Kane” is going to bring the fire of her childhood hero into this one and help Team Ripley get the hopeful victory. History is going to be made in this highly anticipated match between the best thing going in all of WWE… the NXT women’s division.
Here we go. WarGames is sure to be a fantastic event to kick off Survivor Series weekend.
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. Be sure to catch all of the action from NXT Takeover: WarGames on the WWE Network.
