NXT: Bumping Matt Riddle, Kassius Ohno off TakeOver a Smart Decision
By Bryan Heaton
A recent report from the Wrestling Observer states NXT TakeOver: WarGames 2 will only have four matches on the main card. To make this happen, Matt Riddle vs. Kassius Ohno will be taped for television instead of airing on the main card. It’s actually a smart decision by the company.
There’s very little in this world that is a certainty. The old adage is “Nothing is certain except death and taxes.” Lately, WWE has proven that the stellar quality of NXT TakeOver events is as consistent as gravity. The general formula for success has been a five-match card, but at TakeOver: WarGames 2, that won’t be the case.
In the Wrestling Observer’s Daily Update on Sunday, it was reported that the expected bout between Matt Riddle and Kassius Ohno has been cut from the main card. The match has yet to be officially announced on television, so it’s not a huge pivot for the production team. The match will still take place in Los Angeles; it will just be taped for an episode of NXT TV before TakeOver starts.
At first glance, this may seem like a mistake. Riddle, especially, is insanely popular, and any match featuring him is going to be a must-see event. Throw in Ohno, one of the most consistently good performers in all of NXT, and you’re pretty much guaranteed an exciting contest that will pop the crowd.
But stepping back for a moment, it’s actually a brilliant decision by NXT, WWE, Triple H, or whoever. How much time has really been spent building this match up? Next to none. Riddle first appeared on NXT programming at TakeOver: Brooklyn 4 in the crowd, he made his live event debut in September, and his television debut on the October 31 episode. Is two weeks enough time to set up a huge match like this?
While Ohno and Riddle do have some history outside of WWE/NXT, that’s not always enough to set up a feud. And if it’s not really mentioned on television, did it really happen? Sure, Ohno had some words for Riddle (and Keith Lee) after his debut, but it was a dot com exclusive (that finally aired the following week). The last thing NXT needs is to rush this rivalry, because you can squeeze a lot out of it.
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Even ignoring the speed with which this program seemed to be hurtling towards a big TakeOver event, let’s look at the rest of the WarGames card. Part of the Observer’s report indicates that the remaining four matches on the card are getting a ton of time. And they all deserve it!
Which match are you going to cut short to squeeze in a rushed Riddle/Ohno match? Neither of the two title matches should go much less than 20 minutes or so — especially a 2 out of 3 Falls Match for the NXT Women’s Championship. With the quality of past Baszler/Sane matches, you know this one will continue the story in a satisfying way. And Ciampa vs. Dream for the NXT Championship is going to be a psychological masterpiece.
What’s left? A grudge match between Johnny Gargano and Aleister Black, which will continue the self-destruction of Gargano as he inevitably will be forced to redeem himself down the road. And the WarGames match itself between The Undisputed Era and Ricochet, Pete Dunne, and the War Raiders could go an hour and no one would bat an eye, especially after how good TUE was in last year’s WarGames match.
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With such a packed card in just those four matches, it’s almost irresponsible to squeeze in a fifth match. As much as the NXT Universe may want to see Matt Riddle take on Kassius Ohno, it’s best to set it for regular television, and perhaps revisit it down the road. Perhaps at TakeOver: Phoenix in January?