NXT Takeover: War Games Review

NXT Takeover: War Games took place last Saturday at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Not only we will get to see a match not seen in almost 20 years but the crowning of a new NXT Women's Champion. So, let's take a look.

The first match was between Kassius Ohno and Lars Sullivan. Sullivan is dominant early on, shaking off any offence Ohno manages to get in. After an impressive pop up powerslam for 2, he misses a top rope diving headbutt and this gives Ohno the chance to make a comeback. However, it was not enough as Sullivan avoids a discus elbow to hit the Freak Accident to get the win. This was a short yet enjoyable match.
Winner: Lars Sullivan (1 for 1)

The next match was Aleister Black taking on The Velveteen Dream. In the early going, Black puts Dream through a technical masterclass. After they both do mind games to each other, Dream gets the advantage with a running clothesline. Dream gets some near falls and comes close to winning after a death valley driver. Black goes on to get the win after hitting the Black Mask out of nowhere. Afterwards, Black says Dream's name. This match was really good and a lot better than I thought it would be. I also loved the mind games they were doing to each other. As for Dream, he finally got Black to say his name so, I guess mission accomplished?
Winner: Aleister Black (2 for 2)

Our first Championship match is a fatal 4-way between Ember Moon, Kairi Sane, Nikki Cross and Peyton Royce for the vacant NXT Women's Championship. The match goes at a fast pace with one highlight being Ember powerbombing Nikki on the floor. Other highlights include: Kairi spearing Peyton; Peyton, Kairi and Ember doing a tower of doom; Nikki hitting a swinging fisherman's neckbreaker on Kairi; and Peyton hitting Nikki with a fisherman's suplex. In the end, Ember hits the Eclipse on both Nikki and Peyton and pins Nikki to get the win. This was a good match and congratulations to Ember Moon on finally becoming the Champion.
Winner: Ember Moon (2 for 3)

The penultimate match is for the NXT Championship as Andrade "Cien" Almas with Zelina Vega challenges Drew McIntyre for the NXT Championship. There was a great bit when Zelina tries to hit a hurracarrana but McIntyre stops it mid move and puts her on the apron. Almas does get athe advantage  but McIntyre starts his comeback only a couple of minutes later. After some back and forth, Zelins manages to hit the hurracarrana on McIntyre while the referee was distracted. Almas follows that up with a Hammerlock DDT but that somehow only gets 2. Eventually, Almas hits a hangman's DDT to become the NXT Champion...wait, what the fuck? I honestly did not see that coming. The match was pretty godo, although I feel that the spot with Zelina interfering should have ended the match. I am surprised that McIntyre lost the Championship so soon but it might mean that he might get called up to the main roster in the new year.
Winner: Andrade "Cien" Almas (2 for 4)

The main event is SAnitY, The Authors of Pain and Roderick Strong and The Undisputee Era int he first War Games Match since WCW Fall Brawl 1998. Highlights of the match include: Bobby Fish hitting a wheelbarrow suplex on Eric Young, Akam and Razr chucking everyone from one ring to the other.; Killian Dian hitting a senton dropkick on Akam and Razr; a super tower of doom involving everyone; and Alexander Wolff sending Razr through a table with a German suplex. In the end, Adam Cole manages to hit the Shining Wizard on Eric Young to get the win. This was a good match and I really enjoyed it.

I quite enjoyed NXT Takeover: War Games. Most of the matches were good and we got a couple of surprises as well. Unfortunately, I don't know if Survivor Series will be the same.