NXT continues to take over Los Angeles even after WarGames! Mrs. Wrestling wants to make the Loony Lass pay for meddling in Johnny Wrestling’s business!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Keith Lee VS Fidel Bravo; Lee wins.
• Lars Sullivan VS Kita Murray; Sullivan wins.
• Candice LeRae VS Nikki Cross; Cross wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

NXT WarGames was nothing short of incredible!

A surprise Bro Show, a Horsewomen screw job, and a double dose of Black Mass to Johnny Darkness were just some of the highlights from Saturday night. The Psycho Killer faced an Experience, but managed to survive and end a Dream’s dream. And of course, the main course, WarGames itself! Eight men, two rings and two cages, but dozens of moments worth a thousand words. Where does NXT go from here?!

Keith Lee VS Fidel Bravo!

Los Angeles, prepare to #BaskInHisGlory! The Limitless One is undefeated in NXT, does his mustache’d and energetic opponent stand a chance of changing that?

The bell rings and fans are fired up for Lee. Bravo doesn’t seem bothered by that as he circles with Lee. They tie up, Lee powers Bravo to a corner, but backs off at 2. Fans sing “Oh~ Bask in His Glory~!” and Lee basks in their serenade. Bravo shoves Lee, because he wants Lee to take him seriously. Bravo pie faces Lee, but instantly regrets it. Lee clobbers Bravo with one hand! Bravo scrambles to a corner but Lee is on him with… a CHOP! Both hands send Bravo reeling, and fans want “One More Time!” Lee runs back in at Bravo, but Bravo gets away. Lee stops himself, and tackles Bravo with a big crossbody! Then Lee builds up the energy, scoops Bravo up, and hits the Death Valley Jackhammer! Lee covers, Lee wins!

Winner: Keith Lee, by pinfall

The Limitless One wins, but there was no doubt in his mind or in the fans’ that it was going to happen. Will Lee continue to build energy and go after a title in the near future?

Exclusive post-TakeOver interview with Shayna Baszler.

The Queen of Spades has the Horsewomen by her side, because they worked together to make sure Shayna kept the title. But Shayna is the most dominant woman NXT has ever seen, as the only two time champion. Ask more about her reigns and we’ll do more interviews. But clearly, there’s no one woman who can stop them. Will Kairi Sane come back with back-up of her own for payback?

The King of Bros made a surprising appearance!

Matt Riddle was willing to wait until Wednesday (aka tonight’s episode) to fight Kassius Ohno, but the Knockout Artist just couldn’t keep from getting in Riddle’s face. So Riddle called Kassius Ohno out for a match then and there! KO accepted Riddle’s challenge, but he was the one who got KO’d! Ohno ate his words along with that knee and Riddle got the fastest win in TakeOver history!

Post-show backstage interview.

The King of Bros felt great, especially after making history. He’s almost speechless over such a great “debutt.” What else is in store for Riddle in his NXT career?

Lars Sullivan VS Kita Murray!

The Leviathan is already set for a main roster debut, though his brand of choice has yet to be declared. At the same time, he doesn’t seem done with NXT! Will he continue to dominate and destroy everyone put in front of him?

The bell rings, and Lars immediately crushes his opponent in the corner! Then he drags KM out of the corner for an atomic toss! And a sliding lariat! Lars roars, and drags KM up, for a FREAK ACCIDENT!! Cover, Lars wins!

Winner: Lars Sullivan, by pinfall

The Mile High Monster manhandles another mere mortal! Then he picks up a mic to send a message. “Let that serve as a warning and an example of what’s gonna keep happening until I get what’s coming to me. And that’s an NXT Championship match!” Lars grins, and says that just to be sure his point is understood… He puts the mic down, to pick KM up! For clubbing crossface forearms! Lars hauls Murray up and wants to throw him around again, but it’s Keith Lee to the rescue! Lee dodges Lars to hit the Pounce! Lars is floundering for the first time, and he lets Lee keep the ring. Godzilla and King Kong has nothing on this potential match-up. Will Lars be made to #BaskInLee’sGlory? Or will the Leviathan be the first man to prove Lee isn’t limitless?

Exclusive post-TakeOver interview with Aleister Black.

The Embodiment of the End was taken to the limits by “the hero” Johnny Wrestling, but proved that in the end, Gargano was just mistaken. Is this the end of his fights with Gargano? Or his vengeance? Candice LeRae stands in his way, but neither says a word. Candice leaves, and Aleister goes on his way. That wasn’t a yes but it wasn’t a no, will Aleister have to make Gargano #FadetoBlack more than once?

NXT cameras catch up with Keith Lee.

Lee calls out Lars, Lars says Lee got lucky. The Leviathan says he’ll see Lee next week, and that’s exactly when these two will clash! Who will win in this battle of behemoths?

Candice LeRae VS Nikki Cross!

Mrs. Wrestling may not have known her husband attacked Aleister Black before TakeOver: Brooklyn 4, but she stuck by his side when it was revealed. Instead, Candice turned her anger towards the Loony Lass who let the cat out of the bag. Crazy Cross wants to play, but will she be taken for Ms. LeRae’s Wild Ride instead?

Nikki grins at Candice as LA pops for their SoCal Sweetheart. Candice wants her to come out of the corner and fight, but Nikki does things when she wants to. Nikki and Candice tie up and Nikki puts Candice in a corner. She backs off and then laughs. Candice shoves Nikki, but Nikki still laughs. Candice shoves her more, so Nikki runs in! But Candice gets the legs and trips Nikki up. Nikki shoves Candice away but misses her crossbody. Candice runs in but Nikki puts her on the apron. Nikki then slides out to trip Candice up! And trap her in the skirt to fire off forearms! The ref counts and Nikki stops at 4, but probably more because she wanted to flail.

Nikki puts Candice back in but Candice swings to kick Nikki down! Candice takes aim and springboards for a crossbody of her own! Just enough of that hits Nikki, and then Candice puts Nikki in. Candice backslides, TWO, basement dropkick! Cover, TWO, but Candice keeps her cool. Candice brings Nikki up but Nikki gets her with a back suplex! Nikki is mad now as Candice crawls to a corner. Nikki fires herself up and runs in for a big corner splash. Then she runs but Candice denies the bulldog, to hit the neck snap! Nikki and Candice each go to a corner, and Candice runs in for a back elbow. Candice snapmares Nikki, then uses Nikki as a step stool for the back senton! Cover, TWO! Nikki grits her teeth while Candice seethes.

Candice drags Nikki up and hits the Unprettier! But she’s not done there, she runs and springboards, but misses the lionsault! Nikki hits The Purge! Cover, TWO!? Candice survives?! Even Nikki can’t believe that. Nikki’s angry now as she grabs Candice. Fans duel as Nikki hauls Candice up to the top rope. Candice fights back as fans hit a fever pitch. Nikki climbs to join Candice but Candice clubs away. Candice sunsets but Nikki clutches that top buckle. Nikki punches but misses, Candice gets her with a SUPER German Suplex! Cover, TWO!! Now Candice can’t believe it! Both of them are down but fans rally up. Candice sits up first, but is confused to see Nikki laughing again. Candice forearms and chops the smile off Nikki’s face! The ref backs Candice off but she comes back for more!

Candice headbutts and knees and clubs away on Nikki, then wraps on a Queen Angelito Stretch. But not for the submission, but for the stomp! Candice shows darkness matching Johnny’s, and uses his GargaNo Escape!! Nikki crawls and gets a ropebreak! Candice lets go at 4, but comes back for more. Nikki yanks her into ropes, then draping Purge! Cover, Nikki wins!!

Winner: Nikki Cross, by pinfall

The Loony Lass has the last laugh, but clearly she’s not the only one disturbed. Is Candice going to join her husband in the darkness? Will Nikki use this win to finally get herself a true title reign?

My Thoughts:

A pretty good episode for a post-TakeOver episode. Usually those feel extra filler, but this one was actually really good at establishing more story elements. Just as I thought the mystery opponents for Lee and Lars were going to be each other, they dispatch of jobbers easily enough and then go after each other! Lee VS Lars is like Green Hulk VS Red Hulk or something and it’s going to be incredible. I almost wish they’d make it some kind of #1 contender’s match, even though we know Aleister Black still has to face Tommaso Ciampa 1v1 for his title rematch. At the same time, if Lars is going to main already, Lee makes for a perfect farewell match opponent.

NXT is again teasing a one-time-only co-ed match with how Candice stared down Aleister backstage. It’s really unlikely it’d ever happen but they sure love making it seem like it could. But again, Aleister has Ciampa on his schedule first. I’m surprised we didn’t get anything from Ciampa or Dream in interviews (unless I somehow skipped through them), but I suppose that in itself sells how beat up both men were after that match. Same goes for the WarGames participants, actually. And speaking of Candice, her and Nikki Cross had a great match, but I’m surprised Nikki won. I suppose it perpetuates things if Candice still wants payback on Nikki, and then their rematch can be Nikki’s own Farewell Match. Nikki made her debut on SmackDown already, perhaps we’re approaching a time when she’ll make the full call-up.

My Score: 8.4/10