NXT Takeover War Games III is in the record books, and it was another fantastic event for the black and gold brand. Front to back, it showed why NXT is still one of the hottest brands in wrestling.
Here is a breakdown of the major happenings from the show.
Dakota Kai Snaps, Attacks Partner Tegan Nox
The show opened with the first ever womens war games match, featuring Shayna Bazler, Biance Belair, Io Shiari, & Kay Lee Ray vs. Rhea Ripley, Candice LeRae, Tegan Nox, and Mia Yim. Atleast that was the intended matchup, Yim was unable to compete due to injures suffered in her ladder match against Io Shirai two weeks prior on NXT TV.
The spot was left open, and filled by Dakota Kai, who has been overlooked until Rhea Ripley had no other options for teammates. Kai seemed to be onboard, but when it came time for her to enter War Games, she instead viciously attacked her friend & tag partner Tegan Nox. She would slam her previously injured leg in the cage used to house the team before they were able to enter War Games. This act left Rhea Ripley & Candice LeRae to face the entirety of Team Shayna on their own.
I’m sure Kai will address the issue on this weeks NXT, and I’m also sure Tegan Nox will want her head for that vicious assault.
Finn Balor Proves He’s Still One Of NXTs Best
Finn Balor was originally slated to face Johnny Gargano on this night, but due to injuries, the man known as Johnny Takeover wasn’t able to compete. Instead Balor showcased why he’s so good against The King Of Bros, Matt Riddle.
In what was the pure wrestling match of the show, both men gave star performances with Balor winning via his elevated DDT known as 1916. Balor knocking off one of NXTs hottest stars shows us that he is still one of the best NXT has, and that he is a threat to anyone. He will still eventually need to face Johnny Gargano, and fans are eagerly awaiting that coming war.
Kevin Owens Returns To NXT
The big story in the main event, Undisputed Era vs. Tomassao Ciampa, Keith Lee, & Dominic Dijakovic was who would be the fourth man for Team Ciampa?
Social media was abuzz all week with their theories on who would be the fourth man. Would it be Velveteen Dream returning from injury? Was Johnny Gargano cleared? Would someone from NXT’s past show up to help? It was a mystery that drove viewership and kept everyone on the edge of their seats as the main event raged on.
When it was time for the last competitior to enter the match, Kevin Owens music would hit to massive applause. The former NXT Champion had a bone to pick with Undisputed Era after they beat him down on Monday Night RAW, so he came to War Games to settle the score.
Owens would be crucial in their victory, saving Dijakovic from a submission by hitting a Frog Splash on Kyle O’Reilly through a table.
Did KO simply show up to settle the score, or is he back to dominate NXT once again?
NXT set up some major intrigue for future episodes, and the weekend isn’t even over for the newly minted third brand of WWE. Tomorrow, they battle for Brand Supremacy at Survivor Series.
