Rate NXT Takeover Wargames 2018

[Jacob Fox]

Rate NXT Takeover Wargames 2018 and feel free to leave a comment to let us know what you thought about the show!

Spoiler: NXT Wargames 2018 Results

Matt Riddle vs Kassius Ohno

Matt Riddle won.

NXT Women's Championship Two out of Three Falls: Champion Shayna Baszler vs Kairi Sane

Bazler retained her title, 2 to 1.

Aleister Black vs Johnny Gargano

Black defeated Gargano

NXT Championship: Champion Tommaso Ciampa vs Velveteen Dream

Ciampa retained by pin fall

Wargames: The Undisputed Era vs War Raiders, Pete Dunne and Richochet

The War Raiders, Pete Dunner and Richochet won by pin fall

 

[Jacob Fox]

This really was a good show. The Velveteen Dream vs Ciampa was pretty amazing and Wargames was great too. The other matches were all right, but it was anchored by those two and yet again, I am sure the Takeover will be better than the main roster show.

 

[SWL]

another great TakeOver.. there wasn't a sleeper in the bunch. Even the quick opener with Riddle was great, simply because of the way Ohno sold being knocked out and tried to get back up after the match.

• Kairi and Baszler had their 5th consecutive match and still managed to pull something amazing out of the bag. Granted, their Evolution bout was a bit of a let down but this one definitely made up for it.
• Gargano vs Black was everything I expected, and even though Gargano's so easy to love, I have to say he's equally as easy to hate with that cocky ass smile and snaky behavior. When Aleister was still champ, I wanted this to main event a TakeOver for the title when Gargano was still the biggest babyface on the roster and Black the strongest champion, but this was a good compromise I guess, I still enjoyed it a lot
• Dream vs Ciampa took a while for me but it was a very indie match, from borrowing finishers from legends, to having a lot of near falls after a lot of signature moves and little to no rest time as the match got to its final stages. I'm not complaining tho, Dream looked like a star out there and I also loved how they dropped dead after the final pin. I'm a sucker for those moments when they're just so drained that they can't even stand up right away while the music is already playing in the background
• and War Games was War Games. I don't think anyone expected this to under deliver. I'm not sure if it was better than the one from last year but it was definitely a lot of fun to watch. Having Dunne and Ricochet pin Cole at the same time was such a cool touch and fades nicely into their champion vs champion program

I'm starting to think that certain people on this roster will never get called up and are exclusive to NXT forever, probably because Trips is so happy with how they deliver on these TakeOvers. I don't watch the weekly shows but the TakeOvers are always top notch so I'm gonna give it a 8/10. It was sick, but it wasn't one of my favorite shows of all time. It wasn't even their best TakeOver imo, but it was still really good which says a lot about these specials

 

[Grievous 3D]

Okay so I didn't take notes during the show..so these are my thoughts directly
afterwards...

+ Matt Riddle vs. Kassius Ohno +
I don't know who Matt Riddle is...but he seems like a "Bro-Douche" to me. I did
state last week leading up to the show I thought it needed a 5th match...& I was
kind of hoping they would add EC3 vs. Lars Sullivan to the card...but instead they
booked this...and IMO it was stupid.

Also Matt Riddle should put on some fucking shoes.

+ Shayna Baszler vs. Kairi Sane +
So...this match seemed a little rushed to me. It was good...but it almost felt
like the booking team tried to do too much in too little time. I was great to see
Dakota Kai & Io Shirai...but to me...this match just felt like it needed more time.

I'm not sure if this is the end of the Baszler/Sane feud...but I don't think it
is...especially now Sane finally has some back up.

Also I'm calling the alliance of Kairi/Io/Dakota Team @Seth

;P

+ Aleister Black vs. Johnny Gargano +
Heel Gargano doesn't work for me...and while this match was excellent...
Gargano is completely miscast in my opinion. Not only that...but he lost...
AGAIN. Forget Johnny Wrestling...he's fucking Johnny Loser to me from
now on.

He can't win as a face...and he can't win a heel...so LOSER.

So...when is Aleister Black getting his rematch for the NXT title?

+ Tommaso Ciampa vs. Velveteen Dream +
This one took some time to get going...but once it did...it was excellent. I swear
the Velveteen Dream gets better with every match & he did not look out of place
wrestling Ciampa. I only hope the Dream isn't called up to the main roster too soon...
as it could completely derail his career.

+ WarGames +
This was okay for me. I enjoyed last year's WarGames more...but that may have
been simply because Sanity were involved...plus IMO the 3 team dynamic worked
better then the 2 team dynamic. I'm shocked Ricochet/Dunne/War Raiders actually
won the match...but I guess the Undisputed Era went over last year...so why not
have someone else go over this year.

If Pete Dunne is REALLY injured...then get that title off him and please let the
North American & tag titles be defended at the next TakeOver.

All in All...this is one of the weaker TakeOver shows I have seen. The wrestling
was excellent...but the WarGames match fell flat for me & the Baszler/Sane match
needed more time...11 minutes was not enough & it actually felt like a main roster
women's match in terms of trying to do too much.

I'm not scoring it...just know I enjoyed it...but I have seen better TakeOver shows.

+++

Also...for the record...I have yet to watch Survivor Series...and I have no idea what
happens on the show...I did watch the kickoff show...and wasn't shocked to see SDL
go over in the tag team elimination match...& I could only laugh as Sasha & Bayley
were subbed into the women's elimination match for Ruby & Nattie...but Mandy Rose
getting the final spot in the SDL team was predictable as hell.

I'm not sure if I'm going to even watch Survivor Series...or any wrestling anymore to
be honest.

Without this place...I have no real reason to.

I mean as much as I enjoy it...it won't be fun or worthwhile without this place.