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Countdown to NXT TakeOver Wargames 2020

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War Games is finally here and after the year everyone has had we need and deserve some serious steel cage carnage. ‘Supreme Douche Bro’ Pat McAfee and his legion of hooligans are set to take on The Undisputed Era in the massive double cage while Team Shotzi seems to have the edge in the power department over Team Candice. Who will survive? Slam Wrestling presents our predictions and prognostications.

John Powell

Editor-in-Chief

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

Betonline.ag

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

Matthew Byer

Contributor, Reporter

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.

Bob Kapur

Senior Editor

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.

David Hillhouse

Slam Hollywood Headlock Editor

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

Gavin Hillhouse

Smackdown Reporter, Contributor

The streak of bad luck that the Garganos have been having, combined with the advantage that Team Shotzi has as well as the ever-present threat of an insane Eclipse off of the cage, will be too big of a mountain for Team Candice to climb.
Winners: Team Shotzi

John Powell

Editor-in-Chief

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

Betonline.ag

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

Matthew Byer

Contributor, Reporter

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.

Bob Kapur

Senior Editor

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. 

David Hillhouse

Slam Hollywood Headlock Editor

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

Gavin Hillhouse

Smackdown Reporter, Contributor

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

John Powell

Editor-in-Chief

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.

BetOnline.AG

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

Matthew Byer

Contributor, Reporter

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.

Bob Kapur

Senior Editor

So far, the best part about this feud was the visual of the belt falling off of Ruff because he’s so small. But the ha-ha factor can go on for only so long, and at some point, you have to move things forward. I just don’t think that this is that time. I see Priest taking out Gargano and handing Ruff the win. This leads to a singles feud between Ruff and Gargano, while Priest actually does move forward and upward, as he goes after Finn Balor’s title next.
 

David Hillhouse

Slam Hollywood Headlock Editor

This trio has been good for everyone involved, as each gets to show some unique personality with one another. The plucky, out-of-left-field champ must now stake more of a claim with a victory, though I think Gargano has his number a bit further down the road. Winner: Ruff
 

Gavin Hillhouse

Smackdown Reporter, Contribuitor

Damien Preist has been great as a (sort of) face, but personally, he’s still a much better heel. I see him returning to his roots tonight by turning on Leon Ruff and allowing Gargano to pick up the win. Winner: Gargano
 

John Powell

Editor-in-Chief

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

BetOnline.AG

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

Matthew Byer

Contributor, Reporter

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.

Bob Kapur

Senior Editor

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.

David Hillhouse

Slam Hollywood Headlock Editor

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

Gavin Hillhouse

Smackdown Reporter, Contribuitor

I feel like the only reason this is happening is because nobody wants to end a rivalry on a Haunted House of Terror match. Lumis will put Grimes to sleep once again, and both wrestlers will move on to bigger and better things. Winner: Lumis
 

John Powell

Editor-in-Chief

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.

Matthew Byer

Contributor, Reporter

It seems as if Ciampa needs a new direction.  Unfortunately it won’t be in this match with Thatcher getting the pinfall.

Bob Kapur

Senior Editor

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.

David Hillhouse

Slam Hollywood Headlock Editor

I expect nothing short of a potato-laden, rock-solid thing of beauty here. Topping it all off would be a good win for Ciampa which would set him back on the path to the big things that he has proven capable of. Winner: Ciampa

Gavin Hillhouse

Slam Hollywood Headlock Editor

Nobody gets put to sleep the show before the Pay-Per-View and then loses the Pay-Per-View match. This rivalry seems like a placeholder for Ciampa until Finn Balor gets better and those two can go at it. It’s still going to be a great match though.
Winner: Ciampa
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