NXT TakeOver: WarGames, out of the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, just wrapped up. We’ve got the NXT TakeOver: WarGames results, as well as our overall thoughts on the show, for you to check out below. Let us know what you thought about WarGames by tweeting us, @TheRumbleRamble.
NXT TakeOver: WarGames Quick Stats
- Date: November 18, 2017
- Attendance: 14,231 // Capacity: 19,000
- Featured Songs: Executioner’s Tax (Swing of the Axe) by Power Trip // Play by Marmozets
Kassius Ohno vs. Lars Sullivan
Know this about @LarsSWWE: He does NOT like to wait! @KassiusOhno #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/l50MBDVhy1
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) November 19, 2017
This match was, from start to finish, Lars Sullivan throwing himself at Kassius Ohno. Even against such a large competitor, Sullivan used his size to his advantage and moves like the pop-up powerslam highlighted his strength even more. Ohno got a bit more offense in the second half, but Sullivan simply shrugged off most of it and came back for the victory with The Freak Accident (where he literally picks Ohno up and slams him onto the mat). The goal was clearly to make Sullivan look like a beast and they absolutely succeeded.
Winner: Lars Sullivan
Velveteen Dream vs. Aleister Black
These two are leaving it ALL in the ring! @VelveteenWWE @WWEAleister #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/eJhgddiLEf
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) November 19, 2017
Nothing gets me pumped up quite like Aleister Black’s entrance, but Velveteen did his thing for his first TakeOver. There was a really slow start to this match, but from the ‘show me respect’ angle they were going for, it made sense for each of them to be trying to get the upper hand by submission rather than beating each other senseless. The stark contrast of personalities and mockery sprinkled into the action added so much to the story. They eventually picked up the pace and had some great back and forth before Aleister finally claimed his victory and left the ring — but not before acknowledging Velveteen as a worthy opponent by saying his name.
Winner: Aleister Black
Ember Moon vs. Peyton Royce vs. Nikki Cross vs. Kairi Sane
NXT Women’s Championship Fatal 4-Way
Meet your NEWWWW #WWENXT #WomensChampion… @WWEEmberMoon! #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/mzVrumO4P7
— WWE (@WWE) November 19, 2017
This felt like a championship match from the second it started. All four women went after each other like the title was the most important thing in the world. Just as we suspected, it was anyone’s game with fairly even offense between the competitors up until the very end. Ember became the new NXT Women’s Champion by pinning Nikki Cross, keeping Kairi’s undefeated streak intact and leaving a “you didn’t actually beat me” storyline available for Peyton to pursue (most likely in the near future). To make her victory feel even more special, The Empress of Tomorrow came out with William Regal to award the title to Ember herself.
Winner: Ember Moon
Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas
NXT Championship Match
HE’S DONE IT! The #NXTChampionship officially belongs to #ElIdolo, @AndradeCienWWE! #NXTTakeOver @Zelina_VegaWWE pic.twitter.com/SpEFJDBdNZ
— WWE (@WWE) November 19, 2017
Andrade Almas plays the cocky, disrespectful heel rarely saying anything, and Drew McIntyre has the size and power advantage, but still plays the persevering babyface, and they both pull it off. There were some impressive spots in this match; Almas isn’t a small guy by any means, but Drew was tossing him around like it was nothing. We had a feeling this would be the swerve of the show since everything was fairly predictable to this point and McIntyre overcame all of the heel antics Almas could throw at him. Andrade Almas walked away as the new NXT Champion after hitting a vicious La Sombra from the top rope.
Winner: Andrade “Cien” Almas
Authors of Pain and Roderick Strong vs. SAnitY vs. The Undisputed Era
WarGames Match
#SAnitY‘s @TheWWEWolfe sets the table for #WarGames! #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/pBFhS7BBp2
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) November 19, 2017
This match was amazing and just as brutal as the name suggests with multiple men busted open by the time it was over. We were kind of surprised to be watching such a violent bout in the PG era of WWE, but we’re not complaining at all. All nine men gave this match everything they had and spent every bit of it beating the hell out of each other. It’s a good thing they had two rings to work with because SAnitY came in with every object and weapon available and it was then that things got really bloody (although Eric Young managed to injure himself before the bulk of the action even started). There were too many wild spots in this match to name them all, but at one point Roderick Strong suplexed Adam Cole from the top of the cage onto the remaining seven men (yeah, if you missed it, you need to watch as soon as possible). The Undisputed Era picked up the win after Adam Cole pinned Eric Young of SAnitY, but they left WarGames far from unscathed.
Winner: The Undisputed Era
