5 Predictions For NXT TakeOver: WarGames

On the November 8th episode of NXT, Kassius Ohno approached NXT General Manager William Regal backstage. Ohno stated that he wanted to prove that he belonged in the NXT Title picture and asked if he could take on Lars Sullivan. Regal agreed to make the match and shook Ohno’s hand. On the November 15th episode of NXT, Lars Sullivan demolished Raul Mendoza. After the match, Sullivan went to beatdown Mendoza some more but Ohno rushed the ring. Lars Sullivan laughed in Ohno’s face and then exited the ring.

Even though Ohno is currently on a winning streak, Lars Sullivan is simply unstoppable. Ohno will put up a good fight, but in the end Sullivan will emerge victorious. Both Ohno and Sullivan are very athletic for their size and this should be a very entertaining match.

He may be laughing now, but will it be @LarsSWWE that gets the last laugh when he faces @KassiusOhno this Saturday in Houston? #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/5agxWaD0Jv

— WWE (@WWE) November 16, 2017

Velveteen Dream has been determined to get Aleister Black’s attention for some time now. On the September 20th episode of NXT, Aleister Black spoke for the first time. Black discussed his 15 year journey in wrestling that brought him to NXT. Velveteen Dream interrupted Black and said that Black’s biggest problem was fear.

Aleister Black was scheduled to face Lio Rush on the October 4th episode of NXT. That match never took place because Dream attacked Rush from behind in an effort to get Aleister’s attention. Velveteen Dream then faced Lio Rush the following week and defeated Rush with the Purple Rainmaker Elbow Drop. After his victory, Dream mocked Black and sat cross-legged in the middle of the ring.

Things escalated when Dream appeared behind Black during his entrance on the October 25th episode of NXT. Dream attacked Black from behind and tied him up in the ropes. Dream shouted at Black to say his name and then slapped him across the face. Aleister broke free and went for the Black Mass but Dream escaped and retreated up the entrance ramp.

Black finally addressed Dream on the November 1st edition of NXT. Aleister said that he make sure nobody ever forgets Velveteen Dream’s name at NXT TakeOver: WarGames.

This has been an absolutely fascinating feud from the start. Velveteen Dream has tried his hardest to get inside Black’s head and we will see if his antics were successful this Saturday night. All it takes is one Black Mass on Saturday night and Aleister is walking out of WarGames with another victory.

Asuka vacated the NXT Women’s Championship due to injury after defeating Ember Moon at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III. This Saturday night at NXT TakeOver: WarGames, Sane, Moon, Cross and Royce will compete to determine who will become the next NXT Women’s Champion. Kairi Sane was the first Superstar announced for this match after she won the inaugural Mae Young Classic tournament.

Peyton Royce and Ember Moon earned their spots in the match this Saturday by emerging victorious in Triple Threat matches. NXT GM William Regal announced that Nikki Cross will be added to a Battle Royal on the October 25th episode of NXT to determine the final participant in the Fatal 4-Way this Saturday night.

Cross had previously competed in one of the Triple Threat qualifying matches, but was screwed out of her opportunity when the Undisputed Era tricked Taynara Conti into costing Cross the match. Cross wound up winning the Battle Royal and claimed the final spot in the NXT Women’s Championship match at WarGames. On the November 15th episode of NXT, Ember Moon picked up a victory over Mercedes Martinez. After the match, Cross, Royce and Sane appeared while Ember Moon was still in the ring.

This match is a difficult one to predict, as you could make a case for any Superstar to win it. I don’t think Kairi Sane will get the title so quickly, but anything is possible. Ember Moon gave Asuka everything she could handle at TakeOver: Brooklyn III, so there is no doubt that she could walk out of Houston the new NXT Women’s Champion. Nikki Cross is insane and won’t back down from anyone. However, I think the x-factor in this match is Billie Kay. I think she will interfere in this match and ensure Peyton Royce picks up the victory. The Iconic Duo (Royce and Kay) will then brag about Royce’s victory over and over again on NXT.  This match is completely unpredictable and I have zero confidence in my prediction, which is exactly how it should be.

The key figure in this feud hasn’t been Drew McIntyre or Andrade “Cien” Almas. Zelina Vega has led Almas to the best run of his NXT career and he is now in prime position to become the new NXT Champion. Almas has been avoiding McIntyre for the past few weeks, but Vega has confronted McIntyre a couple of times.

Last week on NXT, McIntyre and Almas were scheduled to have a contract signing. Andrade attacked McIntyre from behind while Vega encouraged him. On the November 15th episode of NXT, Drew McIntyre came down to the ring and called out Almas. McIntyre challenged Almas to be a man and finally confront him. Vega and Almas made their way down the entrance ramp. Almas charged the ring and traded punches with McIntyre.

McIntyre got the upper-hand, but Zelina Vega once again got involved. Vega leaped off the top rope and McIntyre caught her. This allowed Almas to take advantage of the situation and he connected with a chop-block to McIntyre’s knee. Almas then planted McIntyre with the Hammerlock DDT as Vega held the NXT Championship and ensured that Almas will become the next NXT Champion.

Zelina Vega has completely revitalized Almas’ career in NXT. Vega has added so much to Andrade’s character and he is now a legitimate threat for the NXT Championship. Zelina’s impeccable work on the microphone and her ability to become physical in Almas’ matches have made the tandem must-see television. Vega’s Hurricanrana on Roderick Strong ensured a victory Almas recently and it was just awesome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGuvJ3LsfZA

Having said all of that, I don’t see Drew McIntyre dropping the title yet. I can’t wait for this match on Saturday night because I think Almas and Vega will try anything to get the victory. McIntyre will fight through it all and walk out of WarGames with his NXT Championship. If it were up to me, I’d have Almas and Vega on the main roster as soon as possible.

The WarGames match features two rings, side-by-side, surrounded by a gigantic steel cage. One member from each team will start off the match inside the cage, while remaining Superstars are locked inside of shark cages by the entrance ramp. After five minutes, two members from one team are released into the cage and that gives that team a clear advantage for a brief period of time. After three additional minutes pass, another team’s final two Superstars are released from their cages. Three minutes later the final team has their remaining two Superstars released from their shark cages and all nine Superstars will be inside the steel cage.

The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly) arrived in NXT at TakeOver: Brooklyn III. Fish and O’Reilly attacked the SAnitY after they defeated The Authors of Pain to claim the NXT Tag Team Championships. Adam Cole arrived and Superkicked Drew Mcintyre to close the show. Eric Young, Killian Dain and Alexander Wolfe spent the next few weeks trying to get revenge on The Undisputed Era.

Adam Cole tried to recruit Roderick Strong to join The Undisputed Era after Strong lost to his NXT Championship match against Drew McIntyre. Cole, Fish and O’Reilly once again approached Strong after his loss to Andrade “Cien” Almas.

On the November 1st episode of NXT, Roderick Strong came down to the ring after The Undisputed Era attacked SAnitY and The Authors of Pain during their NXT Tag Team Championship match. Strong put on an Undisputed Era arm band and made it seem like he was going to join the group. However, Strong attacked Cole, Fish and O’Reilly. A massive brawl broke out and NXT GM William Regal came down to the entrance ramp. Regal announced that the 9 Superstars will settle their differences in a WarGames match.

This match may wind up being the best match of the entire weekend. NXT TakeOver’s have routinely been excellent and I expect these three teams to try and tear the house down. I’m think that The Undisputed Era is going to escape WarGames with a victory. They said that this is their era in NXT, it is time to prove it Saturday night.