NXT TakeOver: WarGames comes to us for the third time with a stacked card that could see Dakota Kai become a dark horse in the Women’s WarGames Match.
NXT TakeOver: WarGames III will take place on November 23, 2019 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT live on the WWE Network with the kickoff show beginning at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. Here, we take a look at predicting both the card and the winners we might see at NXT TakeOver: WarGames
NXT! NXT! NXT! This chant is never absent from an NXT TakeOver, and it is bound to remain alive on the upcoming NXT TakeOver this Saturday. Indeed, this is the first TakeOver since NXT made their debut on the USA Network.
There are four matches scheduled on the NXT TakeOver: WarGames card thus far: Men’s WarGames featuring Team Ciampa vs. Undisputed Era, Finn Balor vs. Matt Riddle, Pete Dunne vs. Damian Priest vs. Killian Dain, and the first-ever Women’s WarGames featuring Team Ripley vs. Team Bayzler.
In terms of the match amongst Pete Dunne, Damian Priest, and Killian Dain, the winner will be announced the number one contender for Adam Cole’s NXT Championship at Survivor Series.
Meanwhile, it is very unlikely that only four matches will be on the NXT TakeOver card. Henceforth, it is more likely that the current championship feud between NXT Cruiserweight Champion Lio Rush and Angel Garza will take place and conclude at this event.
With that being said, it’s time to go to war and plunge into a slur of surprises for November’s PPV with my illustrious colleague, Kevin Parvizi. Let’s now predict the NXT TakeOver WarGames III card, starting with the Cruiserweight Championship match between Lio Rush and Angel Garza.
Lio Rush (c) vs. Angel Garza [NXT Cruiserweight Championship]
Mark Justice: During Lio Rush’s championship match with Angel Garza during NXT last week, Garza disrespected Rush’s wife by taking his trousers off in front of her as well as blowing her a kiss. These inappropriate actions did not sit well with Rush, and it is thereby evident that this feud is far from over.
Although Lio Rush retained the NXT Cruiserweight Championship against Angel Garza, the ending was controversial due to the fact that Garza had his foot under the bottom rope moments before the three count. This should warrant him a rematch, which could very well take place at NXT TakeOver: WarGames.
If this rematch is announced for NXT TakeOver, expect Rush to retain the championship as a way to solidify his aforementioned retention. Also, this victory should teach Garza a moral lesson to never disrespect Rush’s wife again.
Prediction: Lio Rush
Kevin Parvizi: There’s no way in hell Lio Rush loses this match. Okay, I realize such an emphatic statement of victory at NXT TakeOver leaves me vulnerable to a smattering of egg on my face on Sunday morning, so my response to this is simply, it’s a damn good thing I prefer bacon.
In all seriousness, Lio Rush is the best thing to happen to the NXT Cruiserweight Championship since Buddy Murphy. He is a star in every facet, and while Angel Garza is no slouch, Rush is in the beginning of a lengthy title reign that should last well into WrestleMania season. As the saying in wrestling goes, he is “The Guy” for the Cruiserweight Division.
Prediction: Lio Rush
Team Ciampa vs. The Undisputed Era [Men’s WarGames Match]
Mark Justice: Tommaso Ciampa’s team has been prone to complete disarray, especially since Matt Riddle was replaced by Dominik Dijakovic at the last-minute and they are still missing one more teammate. WarGames is a dangerous match to be in and that kind of match cannot be improvised at the last minute.
A WarGames team needs to be completed weeks in advance in order to form a game plan to defeat their opponents. Unfortunately, Ciampa’s team did not accomplish that and they could be in for a rude awakening at NXT TakeOver: WarGames.
Meanwhile, like the New England Patriots, The Undisputed Era is a dynasty that has been game planning with each other for their entire careers. They are 1-1 in WarGames Matches and will definitely be better prepared to win WarGames this Saturday.
All in all, it would be a disgrace to their brotherhood as well as their championship reigns if they were to lose to such a disorganized team. Henceforth, they will reign supreme and that is undisputed.
Prediction: The Undisputed Era
Kevin Parvizi: Is Team Ciampa even a team? They remind me of that time the Philadelphia Eagles signed Nnamdi Asomugha, Vince Young, and a bunch of other dudes, then said that they were some sort of “Dream Team”. And you know what happened to them? They completely imploded and never lived up to their expectations.
The same thing is going to happen here. Tommaso Ciampa will do everything he can in a valiant individual performance for the ages, and it’s still not going to be enough. Dominik Dijakovic will find some way to screw it all up, and the Undisputed Era will continue to reign supreme. Like, who the hell is going to beat these guys? Honestly, The New Day, who will face The Undisputed Era on Sunday at Survivor Series, are the only faction that stands a fighting chance against UE – and they’re the greatest faction in WWE history.
Prediction: The Undisputed Era
Finn Balor vs. Matt Riddle [Grudge Match]
Mark Justice: Although the original match was supposed to feature Finn Balor and Johnny Gargano, this match between Balor and Riddle should be a treat. Due to Gargano’s injury, it seems that Balor was booked to pick a fight with Riddle, who compellingly left Team Ciampa to settle his business with Balor.
Considering that Balor recently made his return to NXT and this is his first match back, it is a foregone conclusion that he must win this match. Later on in the night, he may even assist Undisputed Era in winning their WarGames match just to further spite Riddle in the process.
Prediction: Finn Balor
Kevin Parvizi: Does it even matter who the winner will be? This is one of those matches where either man could win after five seconds or five hours, and I would still go crazy simply because this match actually happened. Can we take a moment to appreciate how awesome wrestling can be in 2019 when the bookers actually give us what we want?
OK, now that the moment has passed, I’m going to pick Finn Balor. As awesome as it would be to see Matt Riddle win yet another big match, Balor needs to win a few of these marquee bouts early in his return to NXT so that he can become entrenched as the face of the brand again…and then someone like Riddle or, better yet, Keith Lee can take that crown from him.
Prediction: Finn Balor
Pete Dunne vs. Damian Priest vs. Killian Dain [Triple Threat Match]
Mark Justice: Since the winner of this match at NXT TakeOver will become the number one contender for the NXT Championship against the heel Adam Cole at Survivor Series, a babyface will most likely win this triple threat match. Considering that Pete Dunne is the only babyface superstar in this match, he should unquestionably be the victor.
After becoming the longest reigning NXT UK Champion, it can be believed that he is on his way to becoming the longest reigning NXT Champion. However, it is very unlikely that he will dethrone Adam Cole at Survivor Series. Based on his backstabbing history with fellow Undisputed Era member and NXT North American Champion Roderick Strong, dethroning him in the near future would be so much sweeter.
Prediction: Pete Dunne
Kevin Parvizi: Honestly, I’d like to simply write “This match at NXT TakeOver: WarGames is going to be awesome so just watch it and not care who is going to win”, but I get paid enough to afford Holiday-themed, mint-flavored Twinkies, which means I am obligated to give an actual prediction.
And as much as I’d love to see a win by Damian Priest, who is ticketed for big things in NXT, Pete Dunne is winning this match. As Mark writes, he is the lone babyface in this match, which inherently makes him the favorite. But also, Dunne is one of the most magnetic stars in WWE and has been a huge part of WWE’s network-exclusive programming since being signed to NXT UK. These are the kinds of matches he wins to build momentum, even if a triple threat does make it easier for Priest to score a “W” on Killian Dain without costing Dunne an actual loss.
Prediction: Pete Dunne
Team Ripley vs. Team Baszler [Women’s WarGames Match]
Mark Justice: The first-ever Women’s WarGames Match is an unparalleled feat for WWE. The creative team should strike while the iron is hot and make this match the main event of NXT TakeOver: WarGames.
More from NXT
- Trish Stratus on WWE NXT would help elevate that women’s division
- WWE NXT DeadLine 2023 Predictions: Trick Williams Will NOT Become Iron Survivor
- The End of Trick and Melo Gang Will Break NXT Fans’ Hearts
- Dominick Dijakovic is doing his best work in WWE NXT
- Quick predictions for NXT Halloween Havoc Night Two
Both Women’s WarGames teams are well established. This indicates that each team can equivalently prepare their game plans and have a solid chance at winning this bout. Despite equivalent preparation, the babyface team should win the first-ever Women’s WarGames with some help from Dakota Kai.
Ripley left Kai off her WarGames Team, but Kai could prove her loyalty to the team by assisting them in a huge victory. With Survivor Series being the next day, Rhea Ripley, who will most likely be the captain, would appreciate this key assistance from Kai and show said appreciation by officially adding her to the Survivor Series team and not making the same mistake of excluding her.
Many naysayers may claim that Kai will turn heel out of anger of being left off the team. Although this can be teased this Saturday, it would be more ‘dope’ if she swerves everyone, does the unthinkable, and show why she can be one of the most effective and loyal babyfaces in NXT Women’s history.
Prediction: Team Ripley
Kevin Parvizi: I didn’t call Riddle vs. Balor the match of the night for NXT TakeOver, because this is going to be the match of the night. We’re finally going to see the women of NXT in a WarGames match, and WWE, thankfully, didn’t go into the water with one toe. Like, is there a more talented group of wrestlers that’s ever been in one of these WarGames matches? I don’t even think the Survivor Series elimination matches on Sunday will have this much talent in the same ring.
And on the sheer basis of talent, Team Baszler is winning this one. Beyond Baszler captaining the team, the villains have Io Shirai, Kay Lee Ray, and Bianca Belair, who are quite literally three of the best wrestlers on this planet. Belair has the star power, KLR is an absolute bad-ass, and there isn’t a better in-ring performer in ALL of wrestling than Io Shirai; it’s been that way for at least two freaking years.
Prediction: Team Baszler