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NXT Takeover: WarGames II – Recap & Review

NXT Takeover: WarGames II
#NXTTakeOver

Original Air Date: November 17, 2018
Event Date: November 17, 2018 (aired live)

City: Los Angeles, CA
Venue: Staples Center
Attendance: 13,598

Commentary: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson
Spanish Commentary (ringside): Carlos Cabrera, Marcelo Rodriguez
Ring Announcer: Kayla Braxton

Theme Song: “Voices” by Motionless in White

 

Video
The war has returned.

Ring Area
Unannounced, Matt Riddle heads to the ring. After getting into a verbal battle with Kassius Ohno on the kickoff show, Riddle challenges Ohno to a fight tonight. Ohno heads to the ring. He says Riddle is too stupid to understand that he’s not ready for NXT, but if he wants to fight, then Ohno will oblige.

 

Match 1
Matt Riddle vs Kassius Ohno
(referee: Drake Wuertz)

Show/Hide Results

Result: Matt Riddle wins via pinfall after a knee strike
Time: 0:07

Match Thoughts
This was fun. Hopefully they’ll have a nice rematch though.

 

Match 2
Two out of Three Falls NXT Women’s Title Match
Kairi Sane vs Shayna Baszler (NXT Women’s Champ)
(referee: Drake Wuertz)

Show/Hide Results

Result: Shayna Baszler wins with 2 falls to 1 and retains the title
Fall 1: Baszler forces Sane to submit to the Kirifuda Clutch (2:00)
Fall 2: Sane pins Baszler after the Insane Elbow (7:35)
Fall 3: Baszler pins Sane with a crucifix pin as a counter to the Insane Elbow (10:54)
Time: 10:54

Match Thoughts
Very good match. I wasn’t too surprised with how it turned out, and I think that affected how invested I got in the match, but this was yet another great fight in their series. I love how each match builds on the last and becomes something new and different. There were callbacks to their previous matches in this one, and I love how they were worked in seamlessly.

It was no surprise that Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke would get involved, but Sane had some friends of her own late in the match. That led to an exciting final fall where it seemed like Baszler and Sane were as close as they’ve ever been in regards to either woman being able to win the match at any time.

 

Ring Area
X-Pac is in the crowd (with his dog).

Backstage
Tommaso Ciampa stares at the NXT Title.

 

Match 3
Johnny Gargano vs Aleister Black
(referee: Tom Castor)

Show/Hide Results

Result: Aleister Black wins via pinfall after two Black Mass kicks
Time: 18:10

Match Thoughts
Great match. It was emotional and violent. The sequences and counters were great, the strikes were numerous and brutal, and the finish was sad yet satisfying. I couldn’t have asked for more. The best story in wrestling this year just had another great chapter.

 

Backstage
The Undisputed Era is engaged in a discussion.

 

Match 4
NXT Title Match
Velveteen Dream vs Tommaso Ciampa (NXT Champ)
(referee: Darryl Sharma)

Show/Hide Results

Result: Tommaso Ciampa wins via pinfall after a draping DDT on the metal connector between the two rings and retains the title
Time: 22:25

Match Thoughts
Great match! Both men pushed each other and themselves beyond their limits. I thought the match was over like three or four times before it actually ended. This was a great fight where it felt like neither man would give in. It feels like it’s both of their times right now, and this match showed why. It’s just a shame that there had to be a loser.

 

Video
Xavier Woods hosted a League of Legends battle between Team WWE and Team NXT yesterday in Los Angeles.

Team NXT won. Handily.

Ring Area
Nita Strauss is in the crowd.

 

Match 5
WarGames Match
Undisputed Era vs War Raiders & Pete Dunne (UK Champ) & Ricochet (NA Champ)
(referee: Eddie Orengo; stage referees: Drake Wuertz, Darryl Sharma)

Show/Hide Results

Result: Pete Dunne and Ricochet pin Adam Cole after the Bitter End (Dunne) and a 450 splash (Ricochet)
Entry Order
1. Adam Cole
2. Ricochet
3. Kyle O’Reilly
4. Hanson
5. Roderick Strong
6. Rowe
7. Bobby Fish
8. Pete Dunne
Time: 47:28

Match Thoughts
Fantastic match. It kept going on and on, and it kept getting bigger and bigger. I think they pused hard to make this more exciting than last year. I’m not sure which match I prefer, but this one definitely left a huge impression. Everyone looked great, and hopefully everyone is okay after this brutal, breathtaking match.

 

Show Impressions
Another great Takeover. Every match was built to well and had a great payoff tonight.

Match of the Night
WarGames
It’s difficult to pick the best match, but I think the spectacle of WarGames might have made the biggest impression on me.

 

Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/takeover-wargames-ii

 

 

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