NXT TakeOver: WarGames discussion, Nov. 18, 2017: The battle lines have been drawn

[Smart Marx]

NXT TakeOver: WarGames preview, Nov. 18, 2017: The battle lines have been drawn

The wait is almost over. For the first time in 20 years, WarGames returns tonight! Three teams will enter two rings surrounded by a steel cage, but only one team can emerge victorious. Which squad will prevail in the barbaric battleground: Roderick Strong & The Authors of Pain, The Undisputed ERA or SAnitY?

NXT Champion Drew McIntyre vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas

NXT Champion Drew McIntyre will put his title on the line tonight at TakeOver: WarGames against the red-hot Andrade “Cien” Almas.

Over the last few months, Almas has been on an incredible winning streak, turning his previous misfortunes completely around thanks in large part to Zelina Vega coming back into his life.

Vega – who is acting as Almas’ business manager – has done everything from offer up a timely in-ring distraction to ordering Almas when to strike. Simply put, Vega has kept Almas’ focus on the prize: the NXT Championship.

If Almas and Vega want to claim the coveted title, it’s going to take the performance of a lifetime. Since coming to NXT, McIntyre has shown no signs of slowing down. Having reached his goal of claiming the NXT Title, the Scottish Superstar is determined to be a champion the NXT Universe can be proud of. And that means being a fighting champion.

Over recent weeks, the outspoken Vega made multiple attempts to get a title opportunity for her client by egging on McIntyre, who in response demanded Almas challenge him to his face. Following the Oct. 25 episode of NXT, McIntyre finally had heard enough from the trash talking Almas and Vega, taking to Twitter to declare that he would meet Almas face-to-face the following week. This prompted General Manager William Regal to step in via Twitter and make a title showdown between the two adversaries official.

As a result, two of the world’s most talented in-ring competitors will face off at TakeOver: WarGames to see who will be crowned NXT Champion. Don’t miss Drew McIntyre vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas for the NXT Title, streaming live on WWE Network tonight at 8 ET/5PT.

SAnitY vs. The Undisputed ERA vs. The Authors of Pain & Roderick Strong (Triple Threat WarGames Match)

The highly popular WarGames Match is back, and it’s returning in the biggest way imaginable.

Tonight at NXT TakeOver: WarGames, the teams of SAnitY, The Undisputed ERA and The Authors of Pain & Roderick Strong will wage war inside the hellacious steel structure that surrounds not one, but two rings.

The WarGames Match is as barbaric as it is historic, dating back to the days of the NWA before becoming a staple in WCW. The unique and unforgiving contest features two rings, side-by-side, surrounded by a giant steel cage. At TakeOver: WarGames in Houston, each group selects one member to start the bout inside the cage, while the remaining team members are locked inside shark cages by the entranceway. Click here to get the complete rules for NXT TakeOver’s WarGames Match

This showdown has been months in the making, starting after Adam Cole, Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reillyattacked NXT Tag Team Champions SAnitY and NXT Champion Drew McIntyre at TakeOver: Brooklyn III. The talented trio made it clear that they intended to shock the system of the black-and-yellow brand, and they did just that, shaking NXT to its very core. Their actions drew the ire of Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe & Killian Dain, who sought not only chaos, but retribution. However, it was the returning Authors of Pain, seeking their own payback from SAnitY for taking their titles, that would turn NXT into a warzone.

On the Nov. 1 episode of WWE NXT, all hell broke loose during SAniTy’s NXT Tag Team Title defense against The Authors of Pain as The Undisputed ERA interrupted the AkamRezarNXT General Manager William Regal had seen enough of the pure bedlam. At that point, he declared that SAnitY, The Undisputed ERA and The Authors of Pain & Roderick Strong would battle in a three-team WarGames Match in Houston.

With WarGames returning for the first time in more than 20 years, you can expect to see pain, chaos and, yes, a shock to the system. It all goes down at TakeOver: WarGames tonight on the award-winning WWE Network.

NXT Women’s Championship Fatal 4-Way Match

A new NXT Women’s Champion will be crowned at TakeOver: WarGames when Kairi Sane, Ember Moon, Peyton Royce and SAnitY’s Nikki Cross do battle in a Fatal 4-Way Match for the vacant title.

For weeks, the NXT Universe watched with baited breath as new contenders qualified for the hotly anticipated title showdown, which determines Asuka’s successor as the NXT Women’s Champion.

Asuka’s countrymate, Kairi Sane of Japan, was the first Superstar named to the match. The Pirate Princess, a newcomer to NXT, earned the right after triumphing in the inaugural Mae Young Classic. Royce and Moon both qualified by claiming victories in Triple Threat Matches, while Cross earned her berth by winning a massive Battle Royal on the Oct. 25 edition of NXT.

The NXT Women’s Title has been vacant since Asuka chose to relinquish the championship on Sept. 6, bringing a close to The Empress of Tomorrow’s historic 523-day reign.

With the table finally set for what’s destined to be an epic encounter, the only thing left to do is count down the days until TakeOver: WarGames. Witness history in the making when the next edition of NXT’s critically acclaimed TakeOver series streams live tonight at 8 ET/5 PT, exclusively on the award-winning WWE Network.

Aleister Black vs. Velveteen Dream

Velveteen Dream has succeeded in getting Aleister Black’s attention, but come NXT Takeover WarGames, the purple-clad provocateur might wish that he hadn’t.

Black issued his most forceful response to the Dream’s campaign on the Nov. 1 edition of NXT, proclaiming that he will make sure the NXT Universe never forgets Velveteen Dream's name at TakeOver: WarGames.

The Dutch destroyer’s strong words came a week after Velveteen Dream blindsided him and ran him into the steel ring steps. Velveteen Dream then tied Black’s arms in the ring ropes, slapped him in the face and demanded he utter the Dream’s name. The ambush made Black, who is undefeated in NXT competition, look more vulnerable than the NXT Universe has ever seen him.

Black has maintained a steely composure while racking up one of NXT’s best win-loss records, so picking a fight with the black-metal mutilator might seem like a recipe for disaster. Yet, the Dream is a Superstar unlike any other. Beyond all the head games and unorthodox antics, he remains among the brand’s most gifted competitors. Could his outrageous bid for recognition simply be a ploy to keep one step ahead of the death-metal mutilator? Perhaps just as importantly, will Velveteen Dream make Black say his name in Houston?

Watch this compelling rivalry come to a head when NXT TakeOver: WarGames streams live tonight at 8 ET/5 PT, exclusively on the award-winning WWE Network.

Kassius Ohno vs. Lars Sullivan

In a match that WWE Hall of Famer announcer Jim Ross might term a “slobberknocker,” NXT’s resident Knockout Artist, Kassius Ohno, will battle the behemoth known as Lars Sullivan at NXT TakeOver: WarGames.

Surprisingly, this match came about at the request of Ohno, who sought out General Manager William Regal on the Nov. 8 episode of NXT in hopes moving into NXT Title contention. Currently riding an impressive winning streak, The Knockout Artist wants to show Regal that he is worthy of such an opportunity by toppling the 300-plus pound Sullivan.

Since arriving in NXT and showing that he can’t play nice with others by routinely destroying his own tag team partners, Sullivan has put together his own winning streak, proving to be unstoppable in singles competition. The hulking Superstar has powered his way past the likes of No Way Jose, Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch, competitors who are all known for their ability to unleash a hard-hitting attack.

If there is one Superstar in NXT who could overcome Sullivan’s size and strength, however, it’s Ohno. The highly-acclaimed striker’s Rolling Elbow is a finishing move that — if it lands on the jaw of Sullivan — could be enough to keep the brute down for the three-count.

Will Ohno KO the seemingly impervious Sullivan? Or will the ravenous Sullivan beat down The Knockout Artist’s hopes of fighting his way into NXT Title contention? No matter the outcome, the NXT Universe is in store for a slugfest of epic proportions.

Watch Kassius Ohno collide with Lars Sullivan tonight at TakeOver: WarGames, live on the award-winning WWE Network.

 

[Apoho Creed]

Pretty jacked and hype for this show. Pretty sure I'll be changing my Avatar to Kairi holding the NXT Women's Title after tonight yeah baby!

 

[Smart Marx]

Pretty jacked and hype for this show. Pretty sure I'll be changing my Avatar to Kairi holding the NXT Women's Title after tonight yeah baby!

I would mark out for seeing that tonight and on your avie!

That said, I am pulling a smidgen more for Nikki Cross. I'm so hype for tonight as well.

 

[Dale]

Spoiler: Kairi aint winning.

 

[Captain Charisma]

Will stay.

Kairi may win and Ember can turn heel and leave NXT later on.

 

[Smart Marx]

Will stay.

Kairi may win and Ember can turn heel and leave NXT later on.

Ember is the one I'm almost positive doesn't need this. She could show up on main TV next week.

 

[Jimmy King]

I dunno, I can see Ember finally capturing the gold but not hold it for long. I'm rooting for Nikki Cross I wouldn't be mad if Kairi or Peyton won though.

I'm so hyped for this show, hopefully it can deliver. War Games should be good, brutal fun and Drew/Almas will be a solid match between two solid workers. Black/Dream should be fun as well, I've dug the build up for it and Sullivan/Ohno should be decent.

 

[Smart Marx]

I dunno, I can see Ember finally capturing the gold but not hold it for long. I'm rooting for Nikki Cross I wouldn't be mad if Kairi or Peyton won though.

I'm so hyped for this show, hopefully it can deliver. War Games should be good, brutal fun and Drew/Almas will be a solid match between two solid workers. Black/Dream should be fun as well, I've dug the build up for it and Sullivan/Ohno should be decent.

I think at this point she's chased it so long she should be one of those don't get it.

Especially since she was Asuka's last and primary challenger. Don't want it to seem like Ember only won it once Asuka left.

 

[Deezy]

The pirate wins.

Gotta put over the Mae Young classic.

 

[Smart Marx]

The pirate wins.

Gotta put over the Mae Young classic.

Won the MYC and was the only competitor not to meet Asuka at some point in the ring.

Would be the most sound choice.

 

[Smart Marx]

Showtime! Or Pre-showtime!

 

[Smart Marx]

I just got a glimpse of the two NXT rings. So beautiful.

 

[Smart Marx]

NXT is doing the 1998 three teams of 3 WarGames, but I'm hoping next year WWE uses the 5-on-5 WarGames at Survivor Series.

 

[Smart Marx]

Drew ain't half the man Andrade is.

 

[Smart Marx]

Bobby proved a theme can make a man and Drew has proved the lack of his theme can kill him.

Give him back Broken Dreams. That's what he's lacking.