Even though NXT TakeOver: War Games is only a couple weeks away, there is a Tag Team Championship match on this week’s episode of NXT. Also, Nikki Cross gets her hands on Taynara Conti, Johnny Gargano faces Fabian Aichner, and we find out how TakeOver: War Games gets its name.
Taynara Conti vs. Nikki Cross
A few weeks ago, Nikki Cross competed against Peyton Royce and Liv Morgan for a chance to compete for the NXT Women’s Championship at NXT TakeOver: War Games. With the Undisputed Era directing her, Taynara Conti appeared to distract Cross and cost her from winning the match. While Cross lost the match when Peyton Royce pinned Liv Morgan, Cross then won a battle royal with the rest of the division to enter the final spot. She will fight for the vacated title against Royce, Kairi Sane, and Ember Moon.
Cross’ unorthodox offense throws Conti off guard for almost the entire match. After an elevated inverted DDT in the corner, Cross hits a swinging neckbreaker to pick up the victory. Winner: Nikki Cross
Johnny Gargano vs. Fabian Aichner
Ever since Johnny Gargano was betrayed by Tommaso Ciampa, he has been on a mission to prove himself as a solo competitor. Johnny Wrestling has been able to defeat both Riddick Moss and Tino Sabbatelli in respective singles matches. Well, anybody can do that, but he has built up momentum. Fabian Aichner made his first WWE appearance in the Cruiserweight Classic but he has recently converted to an NXT Superstar. Aichner showed an impressive performance against Kassius Ohno and he looks to pick up a big win.
Both men go back and forth with great technical wrestling and huge spots. Aichner counters Gargano into an Abdominal Stretch, which the Italian cleverly uses to transition into a pinfall that the former NXT Tag Team Champion cannot escape out of. Winner: Fabian Aichner
Announcement
At NXT TakeOver: War Games, Aleister Black will go one-on-one with Velveteen Dream. For weeks, Velveteen Dream has been stalking and harassing Black just so he could get some attention. He definitely has Black’s attention now and perhaps it is not the kind of attention they want.
Almas & McIntyre Face to Face
Through his business associate Zelina Vega, Andrade “Cien” Almas challenged Drew McIntyre to an NXT Championship match at TakeOver: War Games. McIntyre accepted as he will fight “anyone, anytime,” and NXT General Manager William Regal scheduled a session for them to go face to face.
Eric Young & Alexander Wolfe (c) vs. The Authors of Pain – NXT Tag Team Championships
At NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III, The Authors of Pain lost for the first time ever when SAnitY captured the Tag Team Championships. After a couple months of being away, Akam and Rezar returned a couple weeks ago to attack the champions and state their claim for a rematch. Unlike last time, no one outside of the four competitors (and the referee) are allowed near the ring. Part of SAnitY’s victory was using their numbers game to their advantage and in order to be fair, Paul Ellering is banned from ringside as well.
The Authors of Pain start steamrolling and they go for a cover on Eric Young. Before the referee can count, the Undisputed Era interrupts the match and attacks everyone involved. Killian Dain tries to help out his fellow champions but Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, and Kyle O’Reilly outnumber the big man.
While The Undisputed Era stands tall, Roderick Strong comes to the ring and approaches them. At first, it seems like Strong is going to join them, but he attacks Cole and sends them retreating with the help of the Authors of Pain.
After the “utter madness,” William Regal appears on the entrance stage to announce a match to resolve everything. All of SAnitY (Eric Young, Killian Dain, & Alexander Wolfe) will take on The Undisputed Era and the team of the Authors of Pain and Roderick Strong in War Games. War Games is a match that hasn’t been seen in twenty years and it pits all three teams against each other inside a giant steel cage surrounding two adjacent rings. It is specifically built for this type of chaos.
