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NXT TakeOver: WarGames is now history and not only was the Allstate Arena absolutely electrified, so was the entire wrestling world watching live via the WWE Network. Every time NXT puts together another TakeOver, the Black and Yellow brand faces the nearly impossible task of topping its previous pay-per-view. Much to the delight of the WWE Universe, NXT has been able to accomplish this lofty task each and every time, with tonight's TakeOver arguably their greatest yet.
NXT fans were treated to two WarGames Matches including the first ever Women's War Games Match, as Team Ripley bested Team Baszler. Pete Dunne overcame Damian Priest and Killian Dain to punch his ticket to Survivor Series where he will take on NXT Champion Adam Cole. After four years, Finn Balor returned to an NXT ring in a victorious effort against Matt Riddle. Plus, there was that huge surprise entrant in the Men's WarGames Match.
In this special edition of The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly, we examine the very best, worst, and downright ugliest moments from NXT TakeOver: WarGames.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article belong to the writer and doesn't necessarily represent Sportskeeda's stand.
The Good - KO is NXT!
The biggest pop of the night belongs to none other than Kevin Owens, who made his NXT return after Triple H's convincing plea on RAW. Undisputed Era may have had a little something do with it as well, as they poked the bear by attacking Owens the very same night.
Owens didn't have to wait long for revenge, however, as he was Team Ciampa's surprise member and one of the key reasons the team won WarGames. During the match, Adam Cole offered to smooth things over with Owens, but the former Universal Champion wasn't having any of it and offered a DX style "Suck it!" instead, followed by a vicious stunner.
KO was also part of one of the bout's best spots, as he frog splashed Kyle O'Reilly through a table. Owens looked revitalized throughout the match and NXT's newest returnee even cracked a smile at its conclusion.
ALSO READ: 5 Things You Should Know About Kevin Owens
The Good - Women's WarGames Match
The first-ever Women's WarGames match surpassed any and all reasonable expectations and is sure to go down in history as one of the greatest women's matches of all time. While that may seem like an overstatement to those who haven't watched, please be encouraged to put it on your playlist, as it is must-watch wrestling and history in the making.
Opening the show, NXT's women displayed why they are the future of professional wrestling. Rhea Ripley, Candice LeRae, Tegan Nox, Dakota Kai, Shayna Baszler, Bianca Belair, Kay Lee Ray, and Io Shirai all performed masterfully and seized their opportunity to shine in spectacular fashion.
Kai may have provided the shock of the evening after replacing Mia Yim, who was unable to compete due to being mysteriously attacked earlier in the night. While Kai was picked to replace Yim, the move ultimately backfired on Ripley's team. When the Captain Of Team Kick was set to enter WarGames, she instead focused her attention on Tegan Nox, and like a woman possessed began targeting Nox's surgically repaired knee. After having her knee crushed by the steel door, Nox was rendered medically unable to compete and Kai refused to participate.
This led to a 4-on-2 advantage for Team Baszler and the heels were quick to not let a good opportunity go to waste, but the babyfaces were valiant and summoned their inner John Cena by never giving up. Despite a stunning Io Shirai moonsault off the top of the steel cage and Shayna Baszler's attempt to handcuff Rhea Ripley, the two fought back from the disadvantage to win WarGames and the future. Beth Phoenix eloquently described the moment as, "history right in front of our eyes."
ALSO READ: 5 Things You Might Not Know About NXT Superstar Rhea Ripley
The Bad - Midcard Balor
Former Universal Champion Finn Balor shook the wrestling world to its core when he returned to NXT several weeks ago. One of wrestling's biggest stars had returned to his WWE birthplace and NXT saw an instant boost in viewership. 'The Prince' was home and already atop the wrestling world. With one simple return, Balor changed NXT's landscape and instantly became the brand's top Superstar, but no one expected him to have to work his way back up from the midcard once again.
One of the drawbacks to Finn Balor on the main roster was WWE Creative's inability to consistently use him in main event bouts. Instead, Balor was too often relegated to the midcard and one of the best wrestlers in the world became a forgotten man in the RAW Universal Championship picture.
With a massive amount of hype behind Balor's NXT return, the Black and Yellow Brand should have found a way to include him in the WarGames main event and not in a mid-card bout against Matt Riddle. Balor could have found a spot on Team Undisputed Era or he could have made a post-match attack, but he was inexplicably kept out of the main event altogether.
Balor is one of the most popular Superstars in WWE and should have instantly been catapulted to the main event scene, not a quickly put together match with little build on the midcard. Such a move only reminds the WWE Universe of how poorly booked Balor was while on the main roster.
It wasn't that his match against Riddle was bad, but it failed to be the game changer Balor needs, especially after such a successful NXT rebirth. At times, Balor seemed out of place and his work style as a heel didn't differ much from his work as a babyface. Balor even fought his way back from a leg injury to defeat his opponent in typical babyface style.
Wrestling fans should expect more from Balor and NXT, so hopefully this all changes in the future and maybe it will - even as early as tomorrow night at Survivor Series.
ALSO READ: Survivor Series - 5 Shocking Things That Could Forever Alter the WWE Landscape
The Ugly - What the clock?
If Back to the Future's Doc Brown had to rely on the WarGames clock to get Marty McFly back to the 1980s, Marty may have never lived to see the Cubs win the 2015 World Series. The Chicago WarGames clock was a nightmare from the get go and no one really knows why.
During the opening Women's WarGames Match, the clock disappeared from the Allstate Arena's monitors and television sets around the world. Where ever did the WarGames clock go? Some in attendance reported that the crowd attempted to hijack the match ala Dolph Ziggler & Seth Rollins' 30-Minute Iron Man Match in Pittsburgh, PA. Others claimed that it was a technical error on WWE's part.
Wrestling Inc.'s Nick Hausman was in attendance and tweeted the following, "The five minute countdown ended, the clock went off and... no one was released from the cage. Very odd." However it happened, the Chicago crowd then began chanting, "Where's the clock?"
Sportskeeda's Tom Colohue had the following to say about the clock,
Clock-gate risked tarnishing one of the greatest matches in WWE history: the first ever Women's WarGames bout. Luckily for WWE and for wrestling fans, the match continued and went on without any further issues. WWE did put the clock back up on the big screens and on television sets, but only one that counted down from 10 seconds.
Whether it was fans attempting to hijack another show or WWE simply having technical issues, the company's timing issues must be fixed because they won't be bailed out by one of the greatest matches in history every time this occurs. Next time this happens, fans might be talking about the clock and not the match, a fate no wrestling company wishes to endure.
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Have a look at the full results from WarGames right here!
