5 things NXT TakeOver: WarGames 2021 got right: Cora Jade stuns; Johnny Gargano bids farewell?

NXT TakeOver: WarGames had some big matches this year. The new crop of NXT was set to go against the veterans of the brand in the men’s WarGames match. It was the first men’s WarGames match without the Undisputed ERA.

Raquel Gonzalez, Io Shirai, Cora Jade, and Kay Lee Ray teamed up to take on Dakota Kai and Toxic Attraction in the women’s WarGames match. Imperium defended their NXT Tag Team Championships at the show.

Meanwhile, Joe Gacy challenged Roderick Strong for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship at WarGames. Cameron Grimes and Duke Hudson competed in a Hair vs. Hair contest.

Grimes defeated Hudson and shaved off his head in the middle of the ring.

It was a good night for wrestling fans as some big matches took place at WarGames. Take a look at the five things NXT got right at TakeOver: WarGames this year.

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#5. Raquel Gonzalez and her team picked up the win at NXT TakeOver: WarGames

The women’s match at NXT TakeOver: WarGames saw Raquel Gonzalez’s team of babyfaces take on Dakota Kai and Toxic Attraction. Kai and Kay Lee Ray started the match for the respective teams.

Ray had a baseball bat in hand, while Kai brought in some kendo sticks to even the odds. Soon after, young Cora Jade entered the cage for the biggest match of her career.

Gigi Dolin entered next and brought in a trash can and a bag with her. Io Shirai came after and brought some steel chairs with her to the ring. The ring started to crowd up as all the women involved delivered some brutal strikes to stay on top.

Jacy Jayne brought in a table with her, but this proved to be costly. The babyfaces set her up on the table and Jade delivered a beautiful Senton from the top rope. Shirai snapped Jade’s shoulder into place after it looked like she’d dislocated it.

Surprisingly, Gonzalez was the final woman to enter the cage for her team. Mandy Rose also joined her team inside the WarGames structure to complete the match at NXT TakeOver.

All eight women kept taking their best shots in hopes of picking up victory. Kai and Gonzalez had some face-offs that didn’t end well.

In the end, Jade picked up the win for her team after pinning Jayne. It was a fantastic contest that lifted the mood early at NXT TakeOver: WarGames. Many believed Gonzalez would lose the contest and move to the main roster.

However, the ending suggests that she still has a lot left in her and could move back into the NXT Women’s Championship picture soon.

#4. Cora Jade made the pin for her team at NXT TakeOver: WarGames

There are numerous ways the women’s match at NXT TakeOver: WarGames could have ended. NXT decided to go big and do something different on the show.

Instead of having Raquel Gonzalez pin Dakota Kai or Mandy Rose, the creative team decided to have two newer superstars involved in the finish. Cora Jade delivered the final blow to Jacy Jayne and pinned her for the biggest victory of her career.

Adding Jade to the WarGames match came as a bit of a surprise. Having her win the match for her team came as a huge surprise.

With Gonzalez, Io Shirai, and Kay Lee Ray involved in the match, it was a big decision from NXT. Jade pinned the NXT Women’s Champion last week and picked up the win for her team on Sunday.

It looks like NXT is ready to give the young star a big run on the brand. The two big wins will give her a huge push and take the youngest NXT Superstar to the top right away.

#3. Imperium retained their titles at NXT TakeOver: WarGames

Imperium defended their NXT Tag Team Championships at TakeOver: WarGames on Sunday. Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel put their titles on the line against Kyle O’Reilly and Von Wagner.

Barthel and O’Reilly kicked off the match with some good technical exchanges. Aichner came in and started to impress.

Wagner came into the match to showcase his power, but he slowed down the pace of the contest. The two teams continued to exchange some good moves to keep the action ticking.

In the end, KOR locked in some submission moves. However, Barthel and Aichner finished him off with the Imperium Bomb for the win. After the match, Wagner tried to attack O’Reilly, The former NXT Tag Team Champion turned things around and took out Wagner with a combination move.

It was good to see Imperium have a successful title defense at NXT TakeOver. Aichner was just too good throughout the match. Wagner felt like the odd one out, and it’s good that NXT broke him up with KOR at WarGames.

O’Reilly needs to get back on a solo run. A good rivalry with Wagner will help him get back on track.

#2. Roderick Strong defeated Joe Gacy to retain his title at NXT TakeOver: WarGames

Roderick Strong put his title on the line against Joe Gacy at NXT TakeOver: WarGames. The all-inclusive superstar was looking to disrupt the NXT Cruiserweight Championship on Sunday and win the title.

Gacy started playing mind games early and took control of the match. Strong fought back and tore off Gacy’s shirt to deliver some thunderous chops to his opponent’s chest.

Gacy used his size advantage to take back control and dominated Strong for some time. The NXT Cruiserweight Champion exploded with a superplex and nearly picked up the win.

The newer superstar wiped out Diamond Mine outside the ring with a big dive. Meanwhile, Harland picked up Ivy Nile and prevented her from getting involved.

Back in the ring, Gacy hit a powerbomb for a near fall. Strong recovered and finished his opponent with the End of Heartache for a successful defense.

Strong has done well with whatever NXT has thrown at him over the years. It was the right call to keep the NXT Cruiserweight title with him. Diamond Mine is slowly picking up on NXT. It would be good to see what The Creed Brothers and Nile do following WarGames.

#1. Bron Breakker pinned Tommaso Ciampa to win the men’s match at NXT TakeOver: WarGames

Team Black & Gold and Team 2.0 looked to take their rivalry inside the steel cage at NXT TakeOver: WarGames. Johnny Gargano started the match for his team and went up against NXT North American Champion Carmello Hayes.

The two men punished each other before Grayson Waller entered the cage. Trick Williams helped his team out by throwing a chair into the ring.

Pete Dunne came in next and unloaded on Waller and Hayes. He teamed up with Gargano to punish the two men from Team 2.0. Tony D’Angelo came into the match after and brought a table into the ring.

Williams tried to continue helping Hayes and his team, but Dexter Lumis appeared from under the ring and chased him away. Meanwhile, D’Angelo locked the cage with a steel chain to keep the rest of the men out of the ring.

LA Knight decided to climb to the top of the cage to get into the ring. Bron Breakker came into the match and used his strength to help overpower Team Black & Gold.

Finally, Ciampa made his way to the ring and teamed up with Gargano to deliver some combination moves. Waller set up Knight on a table and hit a huge elbow from the top of the cage in one of the biggest spots of the night.

In the end, Breakker took out Ciampa and picked up the win for his team. The match was amazing and kept fans at the edge of their seats. Fans wondered how NXT would build a WarGames match without the Undisputed ERA.

However, the new crop delivered and picked up the win in the end. Bron will likely move back into the NXT Championship picture with the win at WarGames.

It was likely the farewell match for Gargano. He fittingly kicked off the match for his team and kept fighting till the end in hopes of picking up a win.