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NXT TakeOver: WarGames lived up to expectations once again in Los Angeles. The final NXT Takeover of 2018 was right up there with the best, in what was another night of high drama and intensity. Just one night shy of Survivor Series the event proved why WWE's unofficial third brand is capable of rivalling anything WWE's two main brands can deliver.
The event proved that less is more with just 5 matches on the card, one of which lasted just 7 seconds. The other 4 were all contenders for match of the night. Shayna Baszler's match against Kairi Sane in a 2 out of 3 falls match for the NXT women's title was short but still good whilst Johnny Gargano and Aleister Black put on a barnstormer of a match which told a compelling story.
The NXT title match between Tommaso Ciampa and Velveteen Dream was for many fans the match of the night. It was a high stakes match which for the most part looked like we would see a new champion but ultimately it was Ciampa retaining. The WarGames match that closed the show was typically clustered, as any multi man match normally is, but there were some incredible spots and tag team wrestling that excited and enthralled the crowd.
NXT Takeover's continue to be some of the most compelling and consistent wrestling anywhere in the world right now. The basic formula that the shows follow of small cards with longer matches allow the superstars to both tell interesting stories while providing first class action in the ring.
NXT has provided a good basis for the future of the WWE's main roster. The likes of Matt Riddle, Shayna Baszler, Johnny Gargano, Aleister Black, Velveteen Dream, Tommaso Ciampa and Ricochet just to name a few, are certainly capable of making that step up to WWE's main roster and they proved why at WarGames.
#1 Matt Riddle has the charisma to succeed
The first match of the night was Matt Riddle's 7 second victory over Kassius Ohno.
On the pre-show to WarGames Riddle and Ohno confronted each other across the kick off panel. What was certainly evident here is that Riddle posses the mic skills and the charisma to get over with WWE's audience.
Riddle challenged Ohno to a match and beat him easily knocking him out and pinning Ohno in just 7 seconds.
Although the match was forgettable due to how short it was, what is clear about Riddle so far in NXT is that he is over with the crowd. Whether his character will get over with the mainstream WWE audience in the same way that it does with NXT's niche crowd is not known, but Riddle's persona can translate well as a heel or as a face.
#2 Shayna Baszler the real deal
The two out of three falls match between Shayna Baszler and Kairi Sane was the second match of the night for the NXT women's championship.
Baszler showed once again why she is ready to step up to the main WWE roster. Although this match was rushed with the match only lasting 10 minutes and 55 seconds, both women used their time effectively and put on a decent showing.
The match was notable for interferences from Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir, who provided the distraction which led to Baszler picking up the first fall. Sane fought her way back into the match and scored the second fall levelling the match up at 1-1. But it was ultimately Baszler coming out with the win after countering Sane's Insane Elbow into a roll up.
Baszler has the presence, believability and in-ring intensity to make it as one of the top females stars in WWE. Her mixed martial arts background has added more intensity to her in-ring style and she looks set to take the female division on WWE's main roster by storm.
#3 Gargano and Black on top form
In what was arguably the match of the night, Johnny Gargano faced off against Aleister Black in a highly charged match.
The build up to this was underscored by the revelation that it was Gargano who attacked Black, leaving him unconscious back in August. Black however got his revenge here as he defeated Gargano after hitting him with two consecutive Black Masses.
The match showcased both men's hard hitting offence and was the perfect culmination to this emotional feud. Black telling Gargano "I absolve you of all your sins" before hitting the final Black Masses shot was the fitting end to this match.
This match had everything from a wrestling perspective but also the story they told in the ring. The final line from Black about absolving Gargano of his sins was cold and provided the perfect return moment for Black after being out for 2 months. A much anticipated match did not let the fans in the Staples Centre down.
#4 Velveteen Dream impressive despite loss
The penultimate match for the NXT championship saw Tommaso Ciampa defend against Velveteen Dream.
In what was another contender for match of the night, it looked like Dream would capture the NXT championship after a series of near falls. After Ciampa inexplicable threw a paper pad at Mauro Ranallo, Dream capitalised by slamming Ciampa on the outside and hitting an elbow from the top. It looked to be over at this point but CIampa kicked out and scored the pin after a devastating DDT on the metal that separated the two rings.
Although it was Ciampa who would retain his title in this back and fourth match, Velveteen Dream came out with a lot of credit. Dream, who came out to the ring dressed as Hollywood Hogan, posses the charisma and in-ring ability to succeed in WWE.
At just 23 years of age Dream has all the potential to be the future face of the WWE. At such a young age there is no telling how far he could go in the WWE. His Hollywood Hogan ring entrance got one of the loudest receptions of the night and his match with Ciampa will certainly live long in the memory.
#5 Ricochet steals the show
The most highly anticipated match on this card was undoubtedly the main event WarGames match which saw the Undisputed Era take on Ricochet, Pete Dunne and the War Raiders.
This match took a while to get going as the ring would eventually fill up with superstars. Bobby Fish double locking Pete Dunne inside the cage and throwing the key away was a tremendous bit of psychology which gave the Undisputed Era a brief numbers advantage in the match. The officials used bolt cutters to get Dunne out of the cage and that was when the match really got going.
There were a number of dangerous spots in this match most notably the 720-degree backflip off the top of the cage by Ricochet which wiped everyone out. In the end it was Dunne, Ricochet and the War Raiders coming out on top after Dunne hit Cole with Bitter End and Ricochet came off the top rope with a splash.
An extremely hard fought match for which all the competitors deserve a lot of credit, at times it felt a bit clustered, such was the amount of competitors in the match but nonetheless this match delivered. It was Ricochet who comes out as the star competitor from this match, his double flip off the top of the cage in addition to his splash from the top which scored the win for his team certainly made this his night.
