NXT TakeOver: War Games 2 Predictions

IMAGE VIA WWE

Tonight NXT will once again start the weekend of one of WWE’s major pay-per-views as Takeover: War Games 2 comes to LA ahead of Survivor Series and as per will likely steal the weekend from its older brother.

It may only have four matches on the card, but War Games 2 has the potential of being one of the greatest PPVs in NXT history, if not the whole WWE.

IMAGE VIA WWE

Johnny Gargano vs Aleister Black

The rise and fall of Johnny Gargano has been one of the best stories on WWE in years. A man so determined by hated to get revenge on his former best friend Tommaso Ciampa to drive him to madness taking out Black before a triple threat match.

Now with Black fit and back, Gargano has one hell of a price to pay.

Prediction

This isn’t a title match but this a big match and should be the perfect way to begin the show and this has everything going to steal it.

While it’s possible these two could go for multiple Takeover bouts, Black has to leave has the winner as not only has it’s his big return but also it’ll continue Gargano’s downward spiral into darkness.

Plus this will Black back on track to get his NXT title rematch with Ciampa at the next Takeover.

Winner – Aleister Black

IMAGE VIA WWE

2-Out-Of-3 Falls For The NXT Women’s Championship – Shayna Baszler (c) vs Kairi Sane

After regaining the title back at Evolution (with a little help), Baszler became the first ever two-time women’s champion.

Now the scene is set for one final battle between these two emeries and I honestly couldn’t guess who will win, which is incredibly exciting.

Prediction

After the events at Evolution, Baszler will get some help from her fellow two horsewomen. However, there are rumblings big bad Shaynie B could be making her way to the main roster to be back-up to newly heel Ronda Rousey (the other member of the Four Horsewomen).

On the other hand, NXT has just begun this MMA faction and while Shayna could’ve moved up last Wrestlemania/this past Summerslam but she could be staying put as champion to help Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke get over.

In which case we could see the resurgence of Dakota Kai enter the picture and earn her way to a title shot.

Then again you have Sane, who I’m fully expecting to go full warrior pirate princess on Baszler and co and possibly become the second-ever two-time women’s champion.

With Kairi carrying the belt (and if Shayna transfers to the main roster) we could see other heel’s battle for the strap with Bianca Belair primed and ready to step up. Additionally, you’ve got Lacey Evans (who seems to be getting a major push), Mae Young Classic 2018 winner Toni Storm to have a 2017 winner vs 2018 winner for the title.

The last obvious choice is having Io Shirai join the NXT roster and start a program with Sane and ends in a classic 30-minute Takeover battle.

Speaking of battles, this 2-out-of-3 falls will differently be that and either wrestler will leave by the skin of their teeth. This could enter the Bayley vs Sasha Banks NXT: Takeover Brooklyn levels of iconic.

Winner – Shayna Baszler Retains The NXT Women’s Championship

IMAGE VIA WWE

NXT Championship Match – Tommaso Ciampa (c) vs Velveteen Dream

Ciampa is the biggest villain in WWE and Dream is the most beloved and ultimately whoever won’s this match will just showcase what both will do on the main roster once they get up there.

Prediction

Ciampa is similar to Baszler in that he’s 100% ready for the call-up, but being the most hated man in WWE with goldie has been nothing but gold for brand and wrestler and it has every right to be the main event of Takeover: NY (or whatever they’ll the NXT PPV before Wrestlemania).

There’s no doubt every WWE/NXT/wrestling fan wants to see Velveteen winning the title tonight, but I don’t want to see Ciampa’s reign end just yet. It makes sense for Black to win his title back and for Dream to win it off him.

Meanwhile, there’s poetic if Gargano was the reason Ciampa is champion in the first place then having completely crazy Johnny be the reason Black Heart loses the title.

Fans are going to be happy with whatever outcome and there’s a part of me that wants to see Ciampa lose the title to Matt Riddle.

Winner – Tommaso Ciampa Retains The NXT Championship (but I’ll pop my fucking head off if Dream wins)

IMAGE VIA WWE

War Games Match – Undisputed Era vs War Raiders, Ricochet and Pete Dunne

The Undisputed Era has been nothing but superb since being in NXT first as a threesome and now as a quartet when Roderick Strong joined back at Takeover: New Orleans. They’ve been compared to the likes of NWO and Evolution (the Triple H faction not the PPV).

Since their introduction there dominates includes scamming their way to winning the NXT Tag Team Championship, Dusty Rhodes Memorial Tag Team Classic tournament and Adam Cole becoming the first ever NXT North American champion.

Each of their opponents has a reason to hurt and fear them. The War Raiders want the tag titles and giving an arse kicking, Ricochet can put his feud with Cole to rest whilst doing some incredible high flying moves and Dunne is WWE’s longest reigning champion and hasn’t forgotten about Strong’s betrayal at Takeover: New Orleans.

Prediction

The War Games match is perfect as in this sort of gimmick match there aren’t any losers but it’s still hard to call a winner.

Undisputed Era won War Games last year and they have the capacity to do it again, yet with two heel title wins I think they’ll want to give the fans something to smile about when leaving.

For that reason, I’m going to give the win to the babyfaces in a match that’ll blow the roof off. Cole will take some sort mental bump, Ricochet will be jumping/flying around like a superhero, Dunne and Kyle O'Reilly will batter limbs and the War Raiders will try and kill Strong and Fish.

Storyline wise, Rowe and Hanson will become the No.1 contenders, Dunne focuses on new storylines, Ricochet can be put in a new North American title feud maybe with EC3 or Gargano and Cole could be in line for an NXT title match.

Winner(s) – War Raiders, Ricochet and Pete Dunne