NXT Takeover WarGames 2020

NXT WarGames featured two matches inside the steel and some more action. Personally, NXT Takeover WarGames 2020 was easily forgettable as we head to the report card.

NXT Takeover WarGames 2020 Report Card: Grades Are In!

Timothy Thatcher vs. Tommaso Ciampa

NXT Takeover WarGames 2020

Two men who love to inflict pain entered the ring and only one could leave the victor. For Timothy Thatcher, he had a huge opportunity in his Takeover debut.

As expected, Thatcher relied mostly on mat based wrestling. He used mostly submissions, which slowed down the pace of the match.

While I enjoy some old school style matches, the environment was not right. Tommaso Ciampa got a long overdue win and might have found a future partner in Thatcher. Grade: B

Strap Match: Dexter Lumis vs. Cameron Grimes

NXT Takeover WarGames 2020

Thinking back to the history of NXT and this might have been the first strap match. Considering Cameron Grimes’ fear of Dexter Lumis, it was the perfect gimmick. 

Usually, the strap match is a joke. But, nice job by the producers as the match was entertaining from start to finish.

Lumis could be headed towards a title program. The finish with Lumis tying Grimes up with the strap was a nice touch. Grade: B+

NXT North American Championship: Leon Ruff vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Damian Priest

A month ago, nobody really heard of Leon Ruff. Now, he is the North American Champion heading into his first Takeover. 

Having Damian Priest narrowed down the equation by taking out Ruff was smart. That moment left fans wondering if Ruff would return before the final bell.

Ruff returned, but WWE should have waited until the last sequence of moves. The six plus people in Scream masks was a bit overboard as Gargano made history as a three time North American Champion. Grade: B+

Men’s WarGames Match: Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish) vs. The Kings of NXT (Pat McAfee, Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch) 

For the fourth time, Undisputed Era entered WarGames. What is even crazier, is how all the men’s WarGame matches in NXT have involved the same stable.

One thing remains: Pat McAfee is an amazing athlete who could be champion in NXT. Therefore, McAfee portraying a coward heel does not fit.

After spending the past few weeks getting taken out, Undisputed Era got revenge. Not the best from Undisputed Era and we have to wonder if The Kings of NXT are already done. Grade: B+

Women’s WarGames Match: Team Blackheart (Shotzi Blackheart, Ember Moon, Rhea Ripley, NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai) vs. Team LeRae (Candice LeRae, Toni Storm, Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez)

NXT WarGames Report Card

In WarGames, it is strange when the faces have the advantage with the numbers. Of course, Team LeRae had a plan to keep Io Shirai on the outside.

The use of weapons looked rather weak and some of the spots being called were easy to hear. Shirai’s leap off the cage inside a trash can was something new and scary.

Of all the pinning options, Raquel Gonzalez getting the best of the champion was surprising. The final spot was good, but the ending seemed anticlimactic. Grade: A-

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