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2) Team 2.0 defeats Team Black & Gold to win War Games
NXT 2.0 had their first major event in December when they held War Games 2021. The main event saw a group of new superstars led by Bron Breakker face a group of stalwarts led by NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa. The match was filled with a lot of emotion as Johnny Gargano had his first War Games Match and possibly final NXT match.
The main event was action packed with all the competitors being highlighted. Grayson Waller stood out in particular for his huge diving elbow off the steel cage on LA Knight through a table. Tony D'Angelo and Pete Dunne kickstarted their rivalry, while Ciampa and Gargano had a DIY reunion. However, it was Bron Breakker who earned the victory by pinning his rival Ciampa to win for Team 2.0.
1) Ilja Dragunov defeats WALTER to win the NXT UK Championship at TakeOver 36
WALTER became the longest reigning champion of the modern era with his 870 day reign as NXT UK Champion. Along the way, the Ring General had classics against Tyler Bate, Tommaso Ciampa and Ilja Dragunov. The latter went on a journey to find himself after the brutal beating he took at the hands of WALTER.
Ilja Dragunov became the number one contender for the NXT UK Championship and it was announced that the rematch would take place at TakeOver 36. This clash had a big match feel after their empty arena showdown in 2020. The energy of the audience added so much more to this rematch.
This match was a physically intense, brutal war between the men. WALTER beat landed several brutal chops on Dragunov which bruised his opponent's chest. Ilja fought from underneath valiantly and made a spirited comeback. Dragunov applied a sleeper, shocking the CWC crowd by making WALTER tap out to win the NXT UK Championship.
This was an absolute masterpiece that told a brilliant story of a hero overcoming a monsterous villain. The hatred, drama and storytelling were all top-notch and offered fans the best WWE match of 2021. Ilja Dragunov defeating WALTER to end his 870 day reign as NXT UK Champion was the defining moment of NXT in 2021
