Countdown to NXT TakeOver Wargames 2020

Shotzi Blackheart sure has come a long, long way since debuting in NXT. It is fantastic to see her as a War Games captain. It won’t be a stroll in the park but her team seems to have the experience, strength and most importantly, the NXT Women’ Champion Io Shirai. Winners: Team Shotzi

S.Blackheart, E.Moon, R.Ripley, Io Shirai: -200. C.LeRae, D.Kai, R.Gonzalez, T.Storm: +150. Winners: S.Blackheart, E.Moon, R.Ripley, Io Shirai

Looking at the two teams the obvious choice to win would be Team Shotzi.  However, in the end it will be Team Candice who picks up the victory and it may be due to a surprising heel turn by Rhea Ripley or Ember Moon.

With Shotzi’s win on Wednesday, the babyfaces get the numbers advantage here, which is the wrong dynamic. So I see one of them getting attacked before the match, so it changes things up. Then, when it looks like all is lost for her team, she makes her way to the ring to even things up and shock the heels. I think this match is going to help in the rebuilding of Rhea Ripley as the main face of the division, heading into the Royal Rumble and the Road to WrestleMania. So look for her to have a dominant performance as she leads her team to victory.

I’m looking at the two War Games matches as a pairing, with one heel victory and also one for the babyfaces. So, although I don’t feel a strong leaning for either team here (not because they aren’t both capable and deserving of winning, but rather precisely because they both are), I’m picking Team Shotzi to balance out the scales as I feel very sure about the men’s match. There is, however, always an available caveat, and that would be a heel turn. By Ripley. Please. Winners: Team Shotzi

Pat McAfee has an amazing squad. It is just too bad he is doing such a great job of being a utter slime ball. The Undisputed Era has been floundering in the last three or four months. They need to regain the momentum they once had. Winners: The Undisputed Era

The Undisputed Era: – 300. P.McAfee, P.Dunne, D.Burch, O.Lorcan: +240. Winners: The Undisputed Era

Looking at this WarGames contest it seems almost impossible for The Undisputed Era to not come out of this with their hands raised.  The only way that doesn’t happen is if there is dissension on their team, but at this stage that seems unlikely.

Pat McAfee may be the greatest talker in professional wrestling today. No, scratch that. Pat McAfee IS the greatest talker in professional wrestling today. His work in building this match has been simply phenomenal. And everyone else has played their supporting roles perfectly as well. One has to think he’s going to get his comeuppance here. But I don’t think so. I think his team weasels out a win, and this feud continues on for a while longer. 

Forget an empty arena WrestleMania. Forget Sting returning and partying like it’s a bit past 1999. Pat McAfee’s performance as an in-ring competitor is my vote for biggest surprise of 2020. He did exactly what he needed to do in his one-on-one match with Cole, which was over-perform and lose. Now, he needs to captain a victory, and though it pains me to say it, this loss will kickstart the end of an Era. Winners: The Kings of NXT

I’m a huge Undisputed Era fan, so you know I’m serious when I say that they’re just not who they used to be. The moment that they didn’t have any championships in the faction marked the start of their decline, and while they’re still amazing, the Kings of NXT have that same powerful aura about them that the Era used to have. The Kings will topple the Era and cement themselves as the dominant faction in NXT. Winners: The Kings of NXT

First off, a big congratulations to Ruff and Aja Smith who got engaged this week. What better way for Ruff to end the week than with a victory over Ultra Bland Gargano and Priest proving to them he isn’t a joke? Winner: Leon Ruff.

Leon Ruff: -200. Johnny Gargano: +150. Damien Priest: +225. Winner: Leon Ruff: -200.

Leon Ruff is too early in his NXT North American Championship reign to lose so look for him to retain by taking advantage of the work of one of the other competitors in this bout.

The only thing this feud has done is proved what a great character Grimes is if he is let off his chain. I  still say he  needs a better look, maybe him becoming a dark voodoo character would be cool after his run-ins with Lumis. Lumis continues to be as interesting as plain oatmeal for breakfast. Winner: Cameron Grimes

Dexter Lumis: -250. Cameron Grimes: +250. Winner: Dexter Lumis

Strap matches can either be really fun or kind of dull and predictable. Here is hoping it will be the former with Grimes coming out the winner.

Given the likeability of Cameron Grimes and the complete opposite of that in Dexter Lumis, this one has been confusing in terms of who to root for. Lumis has dominated the buildup entirely, and after his beatdown of Grimes on Wednesday, Grimes has all my sympathy going into this one. I see a double-turn here, with Lumis getting the win.

The prevailing wisdom seems to be that this match is a step too far in a feud that had already reached its conclusion. So, why not leg it out some more? Winner: Grimes

A battle of the brutes. What the heck is NXT doing with Ciampa? Why is he floundering around when he is one of their biggest stars? I just don’t get it. Winner: Tommaso Ciampa.