The pre-show match between Isiah Scott and Angel Garza was decent. I'm really becoming a fan of Garza. He's just flawless at what he does.
Rhea Ripley, Tegan Nox, Dakota Kai And Candice LeRae vs Shayna Baszler, Bianca Belair, Kay Lee Ray And Io Shairi. War Games match.
Dakota Kai replaces Mia Yim due to a backstage attack to Yim before the main show started and that played a role in the match. I'll tell you why in a bit. Candice LeRae and Io Shirai started off the first war games match of the evening and they wasted no time to hit each other.
Bianca Belair was up next and LeRae had to deal with a 2 on 1 mugging but Candice got some back up as soon as Ripley had her turn to enter the cage.
It was now Kay Lee Ray's turn and she brought up a series of chairs and that led to a superplex, powerbomb multi-women move on the chair to which Belair delivered a 450 splash to Ripley on the chair.
Dakota Kai is next and she attacked her best friend in Tegan Nox so that match turned into a 2 on 4 situation after Shayna entered the cage. Io Shirai did a moonsault on LeRae and Belair from the top of the cage.
The match ended when Baszler locked in the clutch and Ripley used the handcuffs to lock her hand, hits the Riptide on the steel chairs and won this match.
I unabashedly love this match. From the match itself to the storytelling crafted in it. I will not be surprised if Dakota Kai also attacked Mia Yim. I'm definitely tuning in NXT this coming Wednesday and I'm sure some of you are too.
Damian Priest vs Pete Dunne vs Killian Dain. Winner Faces Adam Cole (Bay Bay) For The NXT Championship At Survivor Series.
Dain delivers the driver to Dunne on Priest's face. The beast of Belfast then threw both guys at the same time with a double fallaway slam outside the ring. All three guys then hit themselves with a kick being executed at the same time.
Priest slams Dunne with a sitout chokeslam and then delivers the razor's edge to Dunne on the announce table which Dain crashed Priest through the barricade with a cannonball.
Dunne applied the sleeper on Killian Dain and he slammed himself on Priest, pinned him and he won the opportunity to face Adam Cole (Bay Bay) for the NXT title.
There were moments in this match that made you think that maybe Dain or Priest wins this match and that intrigue is all thanks to the performers. Can't wait to see the NXT championship tomorrow night on the Survivor Series.
Finn Balor vs Matt Riddle.
The original bro locked in the ankle lock on Balor but the prince barely escaped. Riddle then hit a knee strike on Balor's face followed by a German suplex to which Riddle hits the spear and jackhammer moments later (somewhere, Bill Goldberg shockingly loves that spot).
Balor delivered the 1916 and Riddle kicked out of that but what Matt didn't kick out was another 1916 this time it was a floating DDT of some sort. In other words, Balor wins this one.
That DDT finish to quote the McDonald's theme song, "I'm lovin’ it". I thought the win made sense. WWE should keep Balor undefeated before Johnny Gargano returns to portray the role of Johnny Wrestling. I don't know if what I just said made sense but there you go.
The Undisputed Era vs Tommaso Ciampa, Keith Lee, Dominic Djakovic And A Mystery Partner.
Tommaso Ciampa rocking the Casey Jones mask and it looks badass. Anywho, Roderick Strong and Ciampa started off this match and Ciampa kicked Roderick hard with a knee strike on the top turnbuckle.
Kylie O'Reilly was next and just like the women's match earlier in the night, it turned into a 2 on 1 beating from O'Reilly and Strong to Ciampa.
Luckily, The Croatian was next and he threw O'Reilly and Strong over the next ring. "Here we go," says Bobby Fish which means that it is his turn now and once again, The Undisputed Era has the advantage but that didn't last long because Keith Lee was next and he took put every member of Undisputed Era inside that cage with a quick crossbody.
Adam Cole was next and he brought a table and placed it on the barricade but Ciampa pushed the guy and it landed through that table. The final member of team Ciampa was Kevin Owens and he stormed to the ring with a standing ovation from the Chicago crowd rocking his old NXT branded attire.
Roderick managed to execute an Olympic slam to Keith Lee from the top rope. Cole hits Owens with the Panama sunrise after the NXT champion reversed the package piledriver from Kevin Owens.
Tommaso Ciampa and Cole were brawling on top of the cage and Ciampa picked Cole, slammed Cole through the table from 20 something feet and his team won this chaotic match. We as fans are so spoiled right now and I'm saying this as a compliment. We just witnessed two fantastic War games match in one night and that has to make somebody's day right?
So, to recap for all of you slow mofos.
Like: Every match on that show.
Didn't like: It's a Takeover show. What do you think?
Let me know what do you think about NXT Takeover: Wargames and follow the blog for honest pro wrestling opinions. Anyways, stay safe smarks.
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