The 2018 NXT TakeOver: WarGames was the 22nd NXT TakeOver and the second annual NXT WarGames professional wrestling livestreaming event produced by WWE. It was held exclusively for wrestlers from the promotion's NXT brand division. The event aired exclusively on the WWE Network and took place on November 17, 2018, in the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California as part of that year's Survivor Series weekend.
| NXT TakeOver: WarGames | |||
|---|---|---|---|
_Poster.jpg) Promotional poster featuring various NXT wrestlers | |||
| Promotion | WWE | ||
| Brand(s) | NXT | ||
| Date | November 17, 2018 | ||
| City | Los Angeles, California | ||
| Venue | Staples Center | ||
| Attendance | 13,598[1] | ||
| WWE Network event chronology | |||
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| NXT TakeOver chronology | |||
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| NXT TakeOver: WarGames chronology | |||
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Five matches were contested at the event. In the main event, Pete Dunne, Ricochet, and War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe) defeated The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O'Reilly, and Roderick Strong) in a WarGames match. In the penultimate match, Tommaso Ciampa defeated Velveteen Dream to retain the NXT Championship and Aleister Black defeated Johnny Gargano.
Production
editBackground
edit
TakeOver was a series of professional wrestling shows that began in May 2014, as WWE's then-developmental league NXT held their second WWE Network-exclusive event, billed as TakeOver.[2] In subsequent months, the "TakeOver" moniker became the brand used by WWE for all of their NXT live specials. Announced on November 16, 2017, the 2018 WarGames was scheduled as the 22nd NXT TakeOver event and was held on November 17, 2018, in the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California as a support show for that year's Survivor Series pay-per-view. It was the second in the TakeOver: WarGames chronology, a subseries of TakeOvers that feature the WarGames match and were originally held as a support show for WWE's annual Survivor Series pay-per-view.[3] Tickets went on sale on July 20.[4]
Storylines
editThe event included matches that resulted from scripted storylines. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the NXT brand, while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television program, NXT.[5][6]
On the July 25 episode of NXT, Aleister Black lost the NXT Championship to Tommaso Ciampa due to interference from Johnny Gargano.[7] On the August 8 episode of NXT, Black and Gargano fought to a no contest when Ciampa attacked both men. A triple threat match between the three for the title was scheduled for TakeOver: Brooklyn 4.[8] After the show was over, Black was later found unconscious in the parking lot (This was done to allow Black to recover from a groin injury he underwent surgery for).[9][10] With Black out of action after a groin injury, the match was changed to a Last Man Standing match between Ciampa and Gargano,[11] which Ciampa won. On the October 24 edition of NXT, Gargano was revealed as the one who attacked Black before their original TakeOver: Brooklyn 4 title match, turning heel in the process.[12] The following week, a match between the two was scheduled for the event.[13]
On the October 31 episode of NXT, Adam Cole and Bobby Fish of The Undisputed Era were scheduled to face War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe) in the main event. However, Hanson and Rowe attacked the group during a backstage promo. The fight ended up in the ring, where the Undisputed Era got the upper hand. Ricochet entered on the War Raiders' behalf, but was ultimately overtaken. Pete Dunne evened the odds for Hanson, Rowe and Ricochet. During the brawl, NXT general manager William Regal announced that the two sides would face each other in a WarGames match.[13][14]
At Evolution, Shayna Baszler won the NXT Women's Championship back from Kairi Sane after interference from Baszler's fellow and former MMA Four Horsewomen Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir, becoming the first two-time NXT Women's Champion.[15] On the November 7 episode of NXT, as Sane was invoking her rematch clause, a two out of three falls match between the two for the title was scheduled for TakeOver.[16]
Event
edit| Role: | Name: |
|---|---|
| English commentators | Mauro Ranallo |
| Nigel McGuinness | |
| Percy Watson | |
| Spanish commentators | Carlos Cabrera |
| Marcelo Rodríguez | |
| Ring announcer | Kayla Braxton |
| Referees | Tom Castor |
| Drake Wuertz | |
| Eddie Orengo | |
| Darryl Sharma | |
| Pre-show panel | Charly Caruso |
| Sam Roberts | |
| Pat McAfee |
Preliminary matches
editThe event opened with Matt Riddle facing Kassius Ohno. Riddle immediately performed a jumping high knee on Ohno to win in only six seconds.
Next, Shayna Baszler defended the NXT Women's Championship against Kairi Sane in a two out of three falls match. Baszler scored the first fall by making Sane submit to the "Kirifuda Clutch" after interference from Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir. Sane scored the second fall after an "Insane Elbow" on Baszler. Duke and Shafir tried to interfere again only for Dakota Kai and Io Shirai to stop them. Shirai then performed a Moonsault on Duke and Shafir. Sane performed an "Insane Elbow", but Baszler countered into a roll up to retain the title.[1]
After that, Aleister Black faced Johnny Gargano. Gargano performed a slingshot DDT on Black for a near-fall. Black performed a diving meteora on Gargano for a near-fall. Gargano applied the "Garga-No Escape", but Black touched the ropes. In the end, Black performed two consecutive "Black Masses" on Gargano to win.[1]
In the penultimate match, Tommaso Ciampa defended the NXT Championship against Velveteen Dream. Ciampa performed a "Project Ciampa" on Dream for a near-fall. Dream performed the "Purple Rainmaker" on Ciampa for a near-fall. Dream attempted a second "Purple Rainmaker" again on the ring apron but Ciampa avoided. Ciampa performed an elevated DDT on Dream onto the metal divider between the rings to retain the championship.[1]
Main event
editThe main event was a WarGames match between The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O'Reilly, and Roderick Strong) and the team of WWE United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne, NXT North American Champion Ricochet and War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe). The match began with Cole and Ricochet in the ring. After 5 minutes, O’Reilly of The Undisputed Era joined the match. Three minutes after, Hanson would join the match, and following a further three minutes, Strong joined the match. After another three minutes, Rowe joined the match and simultaneously performed a powerslam and powerbomb on O’Reilly and Strong respectively. After another 3 minutes, Fish escaped and locked Dunne in a cage, throwing the key lock into the audience. Fish then retrieved chairs for the Undisputed Era who struck Ricochet, Hanson and Rowe with the chairs. Three minutes afterwards, the referees attempted to unlock Dunne's cage, but failed to do so as The Undisputed Era's and Dunne's cages used different keys for the individual locks and thus a bolt-cutter had to be used to open the cage. Dunne struck Fish and O’Reilly with a kendo stick and retrieved tables, trash cans, a steel chain and kendo sticks for his team. During the climax, Cole reversed the "Bitter End" into a DDT and performed the "Last Shot" on Dunne for a near-fall. Ricochet and Cole went up to the top of the cage, and all competitors climbed up with them to help their team gain momentum. Cole got suplexed and everybody was left lying, and Ricochet performed a double Moonsault onto the pile. Cole went for another attempt at the Last Shot, but Dunne reversed it into the "Bitter End" and Ricochet executed a springboard 450° splash and both of them pinned Cole for the win.[1]
Results
edit| No. | Results | Stipulations | Times[23][1] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1N | Keith Lee defeated Fidel Bravo by pinfall | Singles match[17] | 1:59 | ||||
| 2N | Lars Sullivan defeated Keita Murray by pinfall | Singles match[17] | 0:35 | ||||
| 3N | Nikki Cross defeated Candice LeRae by pinfall | Singles match[17] | 7:00 | ||||
| 4 | Matt Riddle defeated Kassius Ohno by pinfall | Singles match[18] | 0:06 | ||||
| 5 | Shayna Baszler (c) defeated Kairi Sane 2–1 | Two out of three falls match for the NXT Women's Championship[19] | 10:55 | ||||
| 6 | Aleister Black defeated Johnny Gargano by pinfall | Singles match[20] | 18:10 | ||||
| 7 | Tommaso Ciampa (c) defeated Velveteen Dream by pinfall | Singles match for the NXT Championship[21] | 22:25 | ||||
| 8 | Pete Dunne, Ricochet, and War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe) defeated The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O'Reilly, and Roderick Strong) by pinfall | WarGames match[22] | 47:10 | ||||
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References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Powell, Jason (November 17, 2018). "11/17 Powell's NXT Takeover: WarGames II live review – Undisputed Era vs. Ricochet, Pete Dunne, and War Raiders in a WarGames match, Tommao Ciampa vs. Velveteen Dream for the NXT Title Hell in a Cell TLC Falls Count Anywhere Match, Shayna Baszler vs. Kairi Sane in a best of three falls match for the NXT Women's Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on November 18, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
- ^ Howell, Nolan (May 29, 2014). "Neville tops Kidd at NXT Takeover". canoe.ca. Archived from the original on July 4, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
- ^ Namako, Jason (November 16, 2017). "Los Angeles to be the host of the WWE Survivor Series 2018 weekend". WrestleView. Archived from the original on November 18, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
- ^ "NXT TakeOver: WarGames returns this November in Los Angeles". WWE. July 20, 2018. Archived from the original on July 17, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
- ^ Grabianowski, Ed (January 13, 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- ^ "Live & Televised Entertainment". WWE. Archived from the original on February 18, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
- ^ James, Justin (July 25, 2018). "7/25 NXT TV REPORT: Aleister Black vs. Tomasso Ciampa for the NXT Title, Cole vs. Maluta, Evans vs. Price, Ricochet, War Raiders, William Regal". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
- ^ James, Justin. "8/8 NXT TV REPORT: Aleister Black vs. Johnny Gargano, Kassius Ohno vs. Adrian Jade, Nikki Cross vs. Amber Mova, Keith Lee vs. Marcel Barthel". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
- ^ "Aleister Black found unconscious in the Full Sail Live parking lot after WWE NXT". WWE. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
- ^ Johnson, Mike (August 8, 2018). "SPOILER: NXT TAKEOVER MAIN EVENT UPDATE". PWInsider. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ^ Martin, Adam (August 9, 2018). "Video: William Regal confirms a new NXT Title main event for NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4". WrestleView. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ^ James, Justin (October 25, 2018). "10/24 NXT TV REPORT: EC3 vs. Adam Cole, Aliyah vs. Mia Yim, plus big angle with Johnny Gargano, Evolution hype with Bazler vs. Kairi". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
- ^ a b James, Justin (October 31, 2018). "10/31 NXT TV REPORT: Matt Riddle vs. Menzies, Nikki Cross vs. Mercedes Martinez, Street Profits vs. The Mighty". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
- ^ "A brawl erupted between Ricochet, Pete Dunne & The War Raiders and The Undisputed ERA, culminating in an epic WarGames announcement". WWE. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
- ^ Powell, Jason (October 28, 2018). "Powell's WWE Evolution live review: Ronda Rousey vs. Nikki Bella for the Raw Women's Championship, Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair in a Last Woman Standing match for the Smackdown Women's Championship, Mae Young Classic Finals". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
- ^ Ravens, Andrew (November 7, 2018). "WWE NXT Results – November 7, 2018". PWMania. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ a b c "WWE NXT results, Nov. 21, 2018: Cross' mind games have LeRae seeing red". WWE. November 21, 2018. Archived from the original on November 22, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
- ^ Bristout, Ralph (November 17, 2018). "Matt Riddle def. Kassius Ohno". WWE. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
- ^ Bristout, Ralph (November 17, 2018). "NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler def. Kairi Sane (2-out-of-3 Falls Match)". WWE. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
- ^ Bristout, Ralph (November 17, 2018). "Aleister Black def. Johnny Gargano". WWE. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
- ^ "NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa def. Velveteen Dream". WWE. November 17, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
- ^ Bristout, Ralph (November 17, 2018). "Ricochet, Pete Dunne & War Raiders def. The Undisputed ERA (WarGames Match)". WWE. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
- ^ Moore, John (November 21, 2018). "Moore's NXT TV Live Review: Candice LeRae vs. Nikki Cross, Keith Lee and Lars Sullivan in action, Takeover: WarGames II highlights". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on November 22, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2023.