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The 2020 edition of NXT TakeOver: WarGames lived up to the reputation of the Black and Gold brand-exclusive shows. From surprising returns to a title changing hands, this pay-per-view had it all. The two WarGames battles absolutely stole the show and brought the best out of all the Superstars involved.
It is fair to say that Triple H's show did justice to the match card, and even ended up delivering more than what it promised on the paper. In this article, we will take a look at six moments during the NXT TakeOver: WarGames event that will keep this event in our memory for a long time. So, without further ado, let's take a look at them.
#1 Adam Cole puts Pat McAfee through the table at NXT TakeOver: WarGames
The main event of the show was nothing short of epic. Although The Undisputed Era had a lot of experience in the format, they faced fierce competition from their opponents inside the ring. The best part about the match was that they never lost the main plot, i.e., Adam Cole and Pat McAfee's personal rivalry. One of the spots involved Adam Cole pushing McAfee off the top of the ring, and the latter went through the table.
Everything about this move was executed with utmost perfection. Cole was careful around McAfee when he threw him from the top of the ring post. McAfee was brilliant with his fall that saw him go right through the table even when it was kept in almost the center of the ring. In addition to that, Cole's devastating neck breaker to Pete Dunne also deserves to be mentioned as one of the best moments from the show. The match looked brutal throughout its duration, and in the end, it was revealed that Oney Lorcan was bleeding and he was the one who took the pin.
#2 Pat McAfee’s picture-perfect moonsaults at NXT TakeOver: WarGames
Pat McAfee’s in-ring prowess were well-proven the last time he faced Adam Cole in NXT. However, tonight at NXT TakeOver: WarGames, it was his brilliantly-executed moonsaults that had the entire pro wrestling business buzzing. His first moonsault in the match saw Rodering Strong going through the table that had the latter’s name on it. That said, McAfee’s best moonsault was from the top of the steel structure as he nailed it with an extremely smooth landing over the rest of the Superstars inside the ring.
Bear in mind that this was McAfee’s first WarGames match and only his second match in WWE overall. Yet, he managed to deliver an epic performance that accounted for a convincing narration inside the ring. Another shocking spot from the match saw McAfee kick out of Adam Cole’s Panama Sunrise. Overall, the match was entertaining and made up for a perfect main event to end the NXT TakeOver: WarGames pay-per-view.
#3 Tommaso Ciampa makes Timothy Thatcher bleed at NXT TakeOver: WarGames
When WWE booked a match between Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher for NXT TakeOver: WarGames, it received a mixed response from the viewers. But both Superstars managed to exceed the expectations of the WWE Universe by putting up a highly-engaging match that was entertaining from start to finish.
Just last week, Thatcher had put Ciampa to sleep, and the latter remembered his humiliation. During their match at NXT TakeOver: WarGames, a frustrated Ciampa ended up hitting Thatcher with a brutal running knee that busted open the latter’s ear. Blood streamed down Thatcher’s ear and face as he continued to battle against Ciampa. In the end, Ciampa picked a deserved victory, but he also ended up respecting Thatcher’s toughness inside the squared circle.
#4 Austin Theory returns at NXT TakeOver: WarGames
At NXT TakeOver: WarGames, the North American Championship was on the line as Leon Ruff defended his title against Damian Priest and Johnny Gargano. After a point in the match, Gargano's masked men returned to help him and ended up attacking Priest. The latter managed to take down six of those men is masks before he turned his attention towards Gargano. But he was soon hit by someone with a lead pipe.
This interference allowed Gargano to regain momentum and he capitalized on it to become a three-time North American Champion at NXT TakeOver: WarGames. On his way, he was joined by the man in a ghost mask who turned out to be none other than Austin Theory. After a real-life controversy, the latter went missing from WWE television. He was one of Seth Rollins' disciples on WWE RAW before he moved back to NXT in August.
As it turns out, his was not the only return that had the fans excited during the event. At NXT TakeOver: WarGames, WWE also teased the return of Karrion Kross. The former NXT Champion was forced to relinquish his title after he sustained a serious injury at TakeOver: XXX during the title match itself. As hinted at NXT TakeOver: WarGames, the clock is now ticking, and the countdown to his return on the Black and Gold brand has finally begun.
#5 Ember Moon’s devastating eclipse on Dakota Kai at NXT TakeOver: WarGames
During the women’s WarGames match, a spot saw Ember Moon and Dakota Kai come face to face. The latter had just gotten the best of all her opponents and was now planning her next move. But Moon remembered a promise she made to Kai and was determined to make the latter pay for her actions. She arranged two steel chairs next to the ring post following which both Moon and Kai exchanged hard-hitting blows.
Ember Moon then slammed Kai’s head into the chairs, and the latter remained in that position. Moon then went on top of the ring post to deliver her signature move – Eclipse. She executed the move perfectly and slammed Kai’s face into the bottom half of the chair. Both Superstars deserve credit for the perfect delivery and reception in this spot that made it look extremely dangerous.
#6 Raquel Gonzalez puts Io Shirai through the ladder at NXT TakeOver: WarGames
The closing moments of the WarGames match saw Io Shirai and Rhea Ripley taking on Toni Storm and Raquel Gonzalez. After a point, both Superstars combined forces to become attack Ripley and take her out of the action. Soon after that, Gonzalez brutalized Shirai and carried her to the top of the ring post, balancing herself in the middle of both the rings.
Raquel tried to deliver a powerbomb on the NXT Women’s Champion, but the latter was successful in resisting the move. However, a determined Gonzalez then went on to execute a perfect one-armed Powerbomb that sent Shirai through the ladder bridge, breaking it into two halves. Following that, Gonzalez pinned the NXT Women’s Champion to win the WarGames match for Candice LeRae’s team. It is expected that she will be the next challenger for the women’s title on the Black and Gold brand.
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