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NXT TakeOver: WarGames is considered one of the most grueling annual events of the year. After an entertaining buildup to the night, there were many competitors who walked out with the best matches of their career. This year's edition was certainly a night filled with tremendous effort from every Superstar on the black and gold brand.
There were spectacular spots and great efforts throughout the night. Some competitors were making their first TakeOver appearance, or simply picked up massive momentum. TakeOver: WarGames has to be looked at as one of the best special events of 2020 for the NXT brand.
With a five-match card featuring a wide variety of experienced and young talent from the roster, it will be a night that is truly remembered. In this article, we will be ranking every match on the NXT TakeOver: WarGames 2020 card.
#5 Dexter Lumis vs. Cameron Grimes - Strap Match (NXT TakeOver: WarGames 2020)
The final blowoff in the feud between Dexter Lumis and Cameron Grimes took place at NXT TakeOver: WarGames 2020, with the two men meeting in a Strap Match. After Blindfold and Haunted House of Terrors matches, the two rivals have seen some outrageousness throughout their time going head-to-head.
The bout has to be considered their best contest, with the two men putting on a decent brawl around the ringside area and inside the ring. The use of the strap brought some unique offense from both competitors. Grimes looked to keep his distance from the always-creepy Lumis, but the strap came into play to help Dexter close the distance.
Expectations going in were low, but there is no denying that both men put in a quality effort to keep it entertaining, even if a slow start led to some fans not being drawn into the action.
The level of in-ring work picked up in the later stages, but it would be hard to deny that this was the weakest match of the NXT TakeOver: WarGames 2020 card.
#4 Leon Ruff vs. Damien Priest vs. Johnny Gargano - NXT North American Championship Match (NXT TakeOver: WarGames 2020)
The Triple Threat Match for the NXT North American Championship had an enjoyable buildup, with the underdog Leon Ruff winning the gold on a quest to be taken seriously. The former champions, Damian Priest and Johnny Gargano, had two different strategies in the contest at NXT TakeOver: WarGames 2020.
Priest wanted Ruff to stay out of his way, so he could get his hands on Gargano in an attempt at revenge for him cheating him out of the gold at Halloween Havoc.
On the other hand, Johnny Wrestling wanted to get Priest out of the way, so he could get what he considered the easier win over the smaller North American Champion.
It was a fun contest that was high octane and had plenty of enthralling action, with Priest's Razor's Edge into the crowd on Ruff being one of the highlights.
The finish involving the ghost face army was very convoluted and had to take some fans out of the match. It fit within the story heading into the title defense, but also took away from the NXT TakeOver: WarGames bout.
#3 Tommaso Ciampa vs. Timothy Thatcher (NXT TakeOver: WarGames 2020)
The leadup to Tommaso Ciampa vs. Timothy Thatcher at NXT TakeOver: WarGames 2020 was brief, but most expected this to deliver an enjoyable contest. However, the hardhitting affair that the fans witnessed exceeded expectations.
This physically intense encounter was extremely captivating. The bout started on the ground with both Superstars exchanging in a MMA simulation of sorts.
Things then intensified, as the competitors traded stiff strikes that left Thatcher with a bloody ear. The closing stretch led to both men taking the other's biggest moves and looking for the victory.
The way this NXT TakeOver: WarGames match built allowed the NXT Universe to get more into the fight as it went on. Thatcher and Ciampa both needed a win for their own reasons. The master of Thatch-As Thatch-Can wanted his first big TakeOver victory, while the Black Heart needed to end his TakeOver losing streak in 2020.
It was Ciampa who came out the victor by hitting the Willow's Bell for the three count to end a good encounter. It was riveting to watch unfold with the different stages of pain that the two opponents tried to cause to one another.
#2 Team Shotzi vs. Team Candice - Women's WarGames Match (NXT TakeOver: WarGames 2020)
What a way to kick off the show. The second-ever Women's WarGames match was a beautiful portrayal of what is the absolute best women's division in North American wrestling. The eight women that were involved are all top notch and could carry the brand in their own right.
The opening match to NXT TakeOver: WarGames 2020 produced so many memorable spots and brutality for over 35 minutes. From Io Shirai's amazing dive off the top of the steel cage with a garbage can over her head, to Ember Moon's brutal Eclipse onto two chairs, it was a stellar effort from the ladies of the black and gold brand.
In particular, Raquel Gonzalez and Rhea Ripley stood out among the other competitors in the bout. Their exchanges delivered crowd-pleasing action that had a big fight feel. The two hardhitters of their individual teams beat down the other Superstars, while giving each other an equal obstacle to overcome.
The final sequence of spots, with Shotzi Blackheart's senton off the ladder onto Candice LaRae and Raquel's one arm slam through a ladder on Io Shirai gave us breathtaking moments to close this WarGames encounter.
The booking of the babyfaces having the advantage handcuffed the storytelling in this opener, but it was still a thrilling ride to kick off the show.
#1 Undisputed Era vs. Team McAfee - Men's WarGames Match (NXT TakeOver: WarGames 2020)
The main event of NXT TakeOver: WarGames was the culmination of the rivalry between Pat McAfee and Undisputed Era. Since before TakeOver XXX, McAfee has been a thorn in the side of Adam Cole and his crew.
Going as far to pay Danny Burch, Oney Lorcan, and Pete Dunne to be by his side, Pat McAfee had gotten the better of the premier group in NXT in recent times. Living up to the high quality of the men's WarGames matches of the past few years, the closing contest was a fitting end to this special event.
The opening session with Pete Dunne and Kyle O'Reilly presented superb wrestling, with the two men trading back and forth on the ground. Team McAfee cut off the Undisputed Era at every end when they took the advantage, until Adam Cole finally allowed the WarGames to begin. Bodies being thrown into tables and the use of cricket bats and steel chairs fit the ruthless aesthetics of the stipulation.
Pat McAfee had a star-making performance in this main event. In only his second professional wrestling match, the leader of The Kings of NXT delivered a top star effort. He showed a level of poise not even seen from competitors with years of seasoning. His selling, facial expressions and body language gripped the audience into this clash.
This men's WarGames match was sensational and marvelous through a well-balanced story of the triumphant babyface Undisputed Era overcoming the masterful heel work of Team McAfee.
This marked only the stable's second win in the structure and concluded NXT TakeOver: WarGames with a grueling main event. That is why Undisputed Era vs. Team McAfee was the best match of the night.
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