RESULTS

• Heavy Machinery VS Chris Payne & Sean Maluta; Heavy Machinery wins.
• Kairi Sane VS Billie Kay w/ Peyton Royce; Kairi wins.
• Velveteen Dream VS Cezar Bononi; Velveteen Dream wins.
• Roderick Strong VS Adam Cole; Strong wins, by disqualification.

Image via the WWE Network streaming service.

PLAY BY PLAY

Houston going to be hectic!

SAnitY and the Authors of Pain battled it out for the NXT Tag Team Championships, and just as Akam & Rezar looked to be new champoins, The Undisputed Era created even more chaos as they attacked. Roderick Strong appeared and appeared to on their side, only to escalate the madness! William Regal therefore felt the only way to settle this is to put these three teams inside two rings and one cage! Houston is now WarGames!

Heavy Machinery VS Chris Payne & Sean Maluta!

Tucker tags Otis, Otis picks up Payne, and uses him to plow through Maluta! With everything in position, Tucker gets running, and they hit the Compacter!

Heavy Machinery wins! This two man demolition crew is still going strong, who else will be flattened on the path to the tag team titles?

Backstage interview with Ember Moon.

At TakeOver: WarGames, the Prophecy of Flame faces three other worthy contenders for the vacated NXT Women’s Championship. However, what is her response to Mercedes Martinez saying Ember can’t win the big one? If that’s how Mercedes feels, meet Ember in the ring next week, and we’ll all see why Ember is the biggest threat in the Women’s Division. Can Ember gain momentum to keep up with Kairi Sane, Nikki Cross and Peyton Royce?

Kairi Sane VS Billie Kay w/ Peyton Royce!

Speaking of the NXT Women’s Championship, The Pirate Princess and the Iconic Duo’s Venus Flytrap are also looking to gain momentum, but it’s the Iconic Duo’s Femme Fatale who is stepping up to the winner of the inaugural Mae Young Classic tournament. Who will be the one sunk this close to WarGames? The fans cheer for Kairi, which annoys the Iconic Duo. The bell rings, Billie wants to see if Kairi understands English. Kairi boys, then mocks Billie’s big eyelashes. Billie swings, Kairi ducks and runs, slips off of Billie’s back and gets a waistlock. Billie bucks her off, then shoulders her down. Billie runs, Kairi dodges, times it so that she can springboard up to headscissor and dropkick Billie, TWO. Peyton reaches for Billie, Kairi kicks Peyton’s arms away. Kairi swipes at Peyton but misses, Billie’s stiff forearm decks Kairi, TWO. Peyton is annoyed, Billie rains forearms, covers, TWO. Billie is annoyed now, but she keeps on Kairi with a cobra clutch and torture rack. Kairi endures the bend, pries her way out, fans rally but Kairi ends up dumped into buckles. Billie drags her out for a high stack, TWO. Billie is frustrated now, and eggs Kairi on by shoving her down. Billie says Kairi will never #BeIconic! Billie whips Kairi, Kairi dodges, SPEAR!

Kairi is fired up, she grabs Billie and gives her stiff chops and ax handles. Kairi stands Billie up for chop after chop after chop! Kairi marches corner to corner, runs back in, sliding forearm! Cover, TWO, Peyton distracts Kairi but Kairi kicks her off the apron. Small package trap from Billie, TWO. Back hand from Kairi, Billie goes down. Kairi points to her elbow, fans fire up again. She climbs up, takes aim and drops anchor for the InSane Elbow!

Kairi wins! She sets sail for Houston, can she win the NXT Women’s Championship with that same impact?

GM William Regal is visited by Kassius Ohno.

Ohno has been thinking about his ups and downs since return. But now that he’s finally on a roll, he wants back towards the NXT Championship. So what does he have in mind? At TakeOver, give him Lars Sullivan. If Ohno can be the first person to even dent that battleship, it’s big points towards the title. Regal makes the match, Ohno thanks him, but will Ohno come to regret it?

NXT takes a look at the infamous WarGames.

“The Ultimate Battleground.” Legends and veterans all admit “WarGames are the toughest match you could ever go through.” It takes a piece of you with it. It just keeps going until all nine men fight. “You fans out there wanna see somebody get their ass kicked!” Dusty Rhodes’ creation coming back is like bringing the American Dream back. He’d be so proud to see this. The nine men going in must prepare physically and mentally, and those that survive will have a story to tell. Something memorable happens inside that cage. “Seek and destroy, lock and load, war has been declared!” WarGames is a history making match, with unlimited surprise, danger and risk. You don’t win, you survive. “Blood, guts and glory!” “Let the WarGames Begin!”

Exclusive interview with Andrade “Cien” Almas and Zelina Vega.

At TakeOver: WarGames, El Idolo is set to take on Drew McIntyre for the NXT Championship, what is the strategy going in? Zelina has already said this: she wouldn’t be successful if she gave it all away. The only man that knows it all is Almas. McIntyre wants to say Almas isn’t a man because he has Zelina? THey did what he asked: they met him face to face, McIntyre just wasn’t ready. Then, fans wonder, what exactly is their relationship? They do not have to answer that. They have a past, 7 long years, Zelina knows the real El Idolo. Fans saw the “old” Almas, but this is the “new” Almas. Almas is head and shoulders above the others, and that’ll include McIntyre. Almas has the momentum, and will be the next NXT Champion. Ten days from now, the match will happen, but will it go the way Almas & Vega think?

Velveteen Dream VS Cezar Bononi!

The Patrick Clark Experience has been obsessed with getting the Embodiment of the End to #SayMyName but it only got Aleister Black obsessed with putting Velveteen in his place. Can Velveteen use the Brazilian V8 to gain momentum towards TakeOver? The bell rings, they tie up, Velveteen gets a big takedown and then slaps Bononi’s back. Stiff European Uppercuts and a corfner to corner whip, but Bononi replies with a stiff back elbow. Bononi clubs and clobbers Velveteen, but the scoop slam is denied by Velveteen holding ropes. Bononi lets Velveteen go, only to get clobbered but a clothesline! Velveteen shows his aggression as he rains down rights. Bononi gets away and to a corner but Velveteen stomps a mudhole. The referee backs him off, Velveteen shouts in her face.

Bononi fights out of the corner but gets a spinebuster slam! Fireman’s carry, rolling Death Valley, Velveteen wins. Velveteen shows little respect to Bononi, he just wants his hand raised.

Velveteen wishes to speak. “Aleister Black. Gotcha. Aleister, I gave you what you needed. And now the Velveteen Dream is on your mind. In Houston, at NXT TakeOver: WarGames, when all that is dark comes to light, the Velveteen Dream gets what he wants when your lips say my name.” Velveteen takes his leave, will he get what he want? Or will he #FadetoBlack?

Ruby Riot competed for a chance at the NXT Women’s Championship, but lost.

Not only that, but the damage to her ankle at the hands of Sonya Deville is keeping her from doing much of anything right now. Performance Center Paparazzi caught up with Ruby in the trainer’s room to learn that her injury needs a couple weeks of rest. Sonya came in to rub that in her face. Maybe if Ruby just tapped out. Her point? That Ruby took the coward’s way out of trying to run away. Now neither of them is any closer to the title. Well, while Ruby hears it’s everyone else’s fault but Sonya’s that she lost, maybe they can have a match 1v1. Once Ruby is healthy, they can prove who is the more deserving. Fine by Sonya. This time, she might just break that ankle. Time will tell if Ruby’s leg is ready for that match, but her mind already is.

The Street Profits are having fun in Full Sail.

They’re here to bring #Swagification in the form of black Solo cups and bling. They find someone, compliment his wardrobe, but realize he’s missing something. So they give him a cup! There you go! Another guy walks in, he’s delivering a suit for Tino Sabbatelli.

Lucky him, Montez Ford is Tino Sabbetelli. What? He’s Italian? Of course! Well alright. What do we have here? Oooo~! The REAL Tino comes in, along with Riddick Moss, and get that suit away from the Street Profits. That is a $5000 suit, special delivery. Angelo Dawkins and Ford can’t afford their stuff. Stop touching their stuff. Stop trying to be them. Please, nobody wants to be those two. But since you’ve got some bass in your voices, let’s see how things measure up in the ring. If you’re really about that life, that is. Tino and Moss smirk, but challenge accepted. Moss says they’re gonna come to regret it, but can they put their money where their mouths are?

Roderick Strong VS Adam Cole!

Despite the constant attempts at recruiting him, Roddy chose not to join up with his fellow former ROH compatriots, and instead chose to stand in their way. Strong has his pride, but will he have a win against the ringleader of the Undisputed Era? The bell rings, fans already rally as the two stare down. They near each other, tie up, and go all around before breaking. The fans duel, Strong says Cole doesn’t have it. They circle, Strong with a takedown and floatover into a modified armlock, then chinlock, Cole slips out to a hammerlock but is snapmare’d into a chinlock. Cole slips out to get another hammerlock, Strong slips around to a headlock takeover, Cole keeps off the mat. Cole pries his way out with a headscissors, Strong slips out, Cole shoves but Strnog chops! Now they brawl, Cole giving forearms, whip reversed, but Cole pushes Strong back with boots. Cole catches Strong with a back elbow, more forearms, whip reversed again, dropkick from Strong! Cole ends up outside, Strong pursues with an apron knee strike. Strong gets Cole up for another chop before putting him in the ring. Cole uses the referee as a shield, then gets Strong with a SUPERKICK!

Strong tumbles out and to the floor, Cole catches his breath in the ring as we go to break.

We return, Cole stomps away on Strong in the ring. Strong fights back, but Cole kicks him to a corner. Cole whips corner to corner, Strong bounces off buckles. Cole takes his time with Strong, dropping a double ax handle, cover, TWO. Cole puts Strong in a chinlock, Strong works to get out as fans rally for him. Strong is up, fights back and out, haymaker but he runs into Cole’s back elbow. Cover, TWO, Cole is getting annoyed. He puts Strong in a headscissor vice, but fans rally again. Strong pushes back, TWO, they’re up but Cole puts Strong in a sleeper hold. Cole wants Strong to go to sleep, but fans keep rallying for Strong in this even as Cole puts all his weight on him. Strong fades, fans rally, Strong gets a second wind and powers Cole into buckles. Cole lets go but comes back for more, Strong swings him into a backbreaker!

Cole is writhing while Strong is gasping, fans are rallying and both men work to their feet. Cole and Strong brawl, forearm for forearm, Strong gives chops and buckle bumps. Strong whips corner to corner but is reversed, goes up and over, clobbers with a leaping lariat. Strong gives forearms to Cole in a corner, runs adjacent for the forearm smash! Strong goes for the Olympic Slam but Cole slips out of it, so Strong tries and hits a pump-handle backbreaker!

Not the cleanest hit, Strong covers, TWO! Strong is getting annoyed, frustrated even. He drags Cole up, fireman’s carry, but Cole slips down. Waistlock, standing switch, enziguri from Cole! Cover, TWO, now Cole is the one frustrated. Cole gets up, brings Strong up, wants a suplex but Strong slips out. Strong boots then enziguri, blocks Cole’s bicycle boot, Cole uses a knee to get out of the cradling backbreaker, SUPERKICK!

Strong is dazed, Cole lifts him up, Last Shot!

Cover, TWO! Cole is shocked by Strong’s resiliency. Strong is stirring as Cole gets to his feet and fans duel. Cole drags Strong up, Strong revives to give forearms, then the jumping knee! Strong hoists Cole onto the top rope backwards, Cole resists and adjusts but now Strong fights back. Strong has Cole up, SUPER BACKBREAKER!

Both men down, the fans are loving this! Strong crawls to a cover, but that’s when Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish appear to drag Strong out. The match is disqualified, reDRagon checks on Cole, but Strong has reinforcements in the form of the Authors of Pain!

Akam & Rezar are Strong’s teammates for WarGames, and they all target The Undisputed Era in the ring. Not just them, here comes SAnitY!

The nine men that will wage war in Houston are in the ring right now, stare downs abound. It explodes into a chaotic brawl!

Cole stomps Strong, Damo and Rezar move outside the ring, reDragon throws Akam out but have Eric Young and Alexander Wolfe to deal with. Eric dumps out reDRagon only to be dragged out by them, Wolfe revs up to FLY!

Cole and Strong are still in the ring, Cole hits Strnog with a knee strike. SAnitY, the Authors and reDRagon all brawl in a mass, Cole climbs up but Strong follows. Strong goes after Cole, and with the cluster in range, Strong SUPERPLEXES Cole!!

Nine men go down in a heap! This is just a sampler, wait until the match in Houston!

My Thoughts:

Excellent work to hype up TakeOver right here. Great return for Heavy Machinery, they’re keeping afloat while the tag titles are put on hold, their time will likely come on the road to the Royal Rumble and TakeOver: Philadelphia. Same goes for The Street Profits and Blue Chip Boys. They’re having their tag team match next week to see if monetary fortune favors Heels or Faces. I guessed right that “Mean Ms. Martinez” is going to be Ember Moon’s go-home opponent, and I’m sure Ember will win because she really does need to stay even with her three opponents. Nikki Cross has been on a roll since basically going Face alongside the rest of SAnitY, and has the fact she came so close to defeating Asuka a couple times to go in her favor. Kairi is red hot from winning the MYC, even without adding in defeating Billie Kay. Peyton Royce is so strong as a Heel, and always has Billie to be her back-up in that Fatal 4 Way. Ember is the underdog in all this, as Mercedes pointed out before, she would definitely surprise by finally pulling off that big win. And good of NXT to keep a secondary women’s feud going with Sonya Deville and Ruby Riot aimed at each other.

Almas and Vega are making a solid Heel duo, like Miz & Maryse but not actually together in real life (Vega is with Austin Aries). The go-home will have one last, true face-to-face between Almas and McIntyre, I smell a brawl coming. Cezar Bononi is already Jobber to the Stars as he loses to Velveteen Dream, Patrick Clark delivers a solid promo aimed at Aleister Black, the go-home gives Aleister a chance to respond, but I feel Aleister is still winning their match. And then Cole VS Strong was incredible, worthy of a TakeOver on its own. And it was perfectly fine that reDRagon “ruins” the match, neither Strong or Cole look weak in the grand scheme of things, and it naturally sparks the chaos that closed things out in amazing fashion. The WarGames package they gave tonight was great to give perspective to those — like myself — who never got to watch this match type before. I’m sure all nine of these guys will give a performance worthy of this match, those who competed in it before, and Dusty Rhodes who invented it, and either of these three teams could win and it’d do massive things for them in their NXT standings.

My Score: 8.5/10