I know you’ve read War Games reviews. Here are a few gems the cameras didn’t show you.

6. Pre-show, they call out the announce team one by one. They stand at the top of the ramp and wave to the crowd. Not Mauro Ranallo. He sprints to the announcer table, eager to get to work. THAT is how you stay in character. When the show was over, he didn’t leave. He stayed ringside, clearly concerned about Adam Cole. HHH is the brains of NXT. Johnny Gargano is the heart and soul. Mauro Ranallo is the lifeblood…and Corey Graves can eat a dog shit burrito.

5. I am issuing a formal apology. I had zero expectations for the Women’s War Games match. It was insane. Everybody is talking about Dakota Kai and Rhea Ripley, but the real MVP was Candice Lerae. She started the match with frantic brawl, endured the 2-on-1 beating, withstood the 4-on-2 advantage, got crazy with a Kendo stick and stood tall in victory. Epic performance from Lerae. 4.5 stars

4. I find myself saying this about most NXT triple threat matches: It didn’t follow the standard formula of two wrestlers fighting while one plays dead. This was another example of NXT finding interesting ways for all 3 wrestlers to interact. We can add triple threat matches to the list of things that NXT does better than most. 4.4 stars.

3. Pops of the night

• Honorable mention: Keith Lee. It wasn’t one pop so much as it was frequent chants throughout the match
• 5. Rhea Ripley
• 4. Pete Dunne
• 3. Finn Balor
• 2. Undisputed Era. If I had a nickel for every time someone in the crowd yelled “Adam Cole,” I could have purchased a ticket to Survivor Series. Before the show. After the show. In the parking lot. What the Hell?!?!?
• 1. Kevin Owens

2. It pains me to say Finn Balor versus Matt Riddle was a massive disappointment. Balor was going to expose Riddle. Hurt him. Embarrass him. How did the match start? Collar and elbow tie up. I was expecting a brawl and got a wrestling match. Textbook case of the in-ring action not telling the story. The only saving grace was Riddle’s spear and power bomb. It was a good match for Wednesday night, but not Takeover. 3 stars

1. I don’t know what else to say about the men’s War Games match. It wasn’t perfect, but after what every man went through for our entertainment, I wouldn’t criticize a single thing. And enough with the imaginary controversy about Britt Baker. She’s still a real person watching her real life boyfriend trying to kill himself. When will Adam Cole learn not to climb to the top of a cage? 4.8 stars

Bonus coverage: After the show, Kevin Owens walks up the ramp and kisses the NXT backdrop. It adds another level to the story and the moment when you know the wrestlers love being where they are and love doing what they do. Once again, NXT proves it is the Black & Gold Standard of professional wrestling. Overall show rating: 4.5 stars and well worth the 5 hour drive. 

Double bonus: Special thanks to my wonderful wife for purchasing my ticket for my birthday. I’m a lucky man.