NXT TakeOver: WarGames (2018)

File:Staples_Center_2012.jpg in Los Angeles, California.]]

TakeOver was a series of professional wrestling events that began in May 2014, as WWE's NXT brand held its second WWE Network-exclusive event, billed as TakeOver.{{cite web|last=Howell|first=Nolan|title=Neville tops Kidd at NXT Takeover|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2014/05/29/neville-tops-kidd-at-nxt-takeover/|website=canoe.ca|date=May 29, 2014|access-date=September 21, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704015852/https://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2014/05/29/21705191.html|archive-date=July 4, 2015}} In subsequent months, the "TakeOver" moniker became the brand used by WWE for all of its major NXT events. Announced on November 16, 2017, the 2018 WarGames was scheduled as the 22nd NXT TakeOver event and was held on November 17, 2018, in the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California as a support show for that year's Survivor Series pay-per-view. It was the second in the TakeOver: WarGames chronology, a subseries of TakeOvers that feature the WarGames match and were originally held as a support show for WWE's annual Survivor Series pay-per-view.{{cite web|last=Namako|first=Jason|title=Los Angeles to be the host of the WWE Survivor Series 2018 weekend|url=https://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-news/93441-los-angeles-host-wwe-survivor-series-2018-weekend/|work=WrestleView|date=November 16, 2017|access-date=October 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118200513/https://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-news/93441-los-angeles-host-wwe-survivor-series-2018-weekend/|archive-date=November 18, 2017|url-status=live}} Tickets went on sale on July 20.{{cite web|title=NXT TakeOver: WarGames returns this November in Los Angeles|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/article/nxt-takeover-wargames-tickets|work=WWE|access-date=October 14, 2018|date=July 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717041613/https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/article/nxt-takeover-wargames-tickets|archive-date=July 17, 2018|url-status=live}}

The event included matches that resulted from scripted storylines. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the NXT brand, while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television program, NXT.{{cite web|title=How Pro Wrestling Works|url=https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/pro-wrestling.htm|last=Grabianowski|first=Ed|work=HowStuffWorks|date=January 13, 2006|publisher=Discovery Communications|access-date=March 5, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129050844/https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/pro-wrestling.htm|archive-date=November 29, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Live & Televised Entertainment|url=https://corporate.wwe.com/company/events.jsp|work=WWE|access-date=March 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218142749/https://corporate.wwe.com/company/events.jsp|archive-date=February 18, 2009}}

On the July 25 episode of NXT, Aleister Black lost the NXT Championship to Tommaso Ciampa due to interference from Johnny Gargano.{{cite web|last=James|first=Justin|title=7/25 NXT TV REPORT: Aleister Black vs. Tomasso Ciampa for the NXT Title, Cole vs. Maluta, Evans vs. Price, Ricochet, War Raiders, William Regal|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2018/07/25/7-25-nxt-tv-report-aleister-black-vs-tomasso-ciampa-for-the-nxt-title-cole-vs-maluta-evans-vs-price-ricochet-war-raiders-william-regal/|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|date=July 25, 2018|access-date=August 3, 2018}} On the August 8 episode of NXT, Black and Gargano fought to a no contest when Ciampa attacked both men. A triple threat match between the three for the title was scheduled for TakeOver: Brooklyn 4.{{cite web|last=James|first=Justin|title=8/8 NXT TV REPORT: Aleister Black vs. Johnny Gargano, Kassius Ohno vs. Adrian Jade, Nikki Cross vs. Amber Mova, Keith Lee vs. Marcel Barthel|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2018/08/08/8-8-nxt-tv-report-aleister-black-vs-johnny-gargano-kassius-ohno-vs-adrian-jade-nikki-cross-vs-amber-mova-keith-lee-vs-marcel-barthel/|date=August 8, 2018|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|access-date=August 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043832/https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2018/08/08/8-8-nxt-tv-report-aleister-black-vs-johnny-gargano-kassius-ohno-vs-adrian-jade-nikki-cross-vs-amber-mova-keith-lee-vs-marcel-barthel/|archive-date=March 6, 2019|url-status=live}} After the show was over, Black was later found unconscious in the parking lot (This was done to allow Black to recover from a groin injury he underwent surgery for).{{cite web|title=Aleister Black found unconscious in the Full Sail Live parking lot after WWE NXT|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/article/aleister-black-found-unconscious-after-wwe-nxt|work=WWE|access-date=August 8, 2018}}{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Mike|title=SPOILER: NXT TAKEOVER MAIN EVENT UPDATE|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/119474/spoiler-nxt-takeover-main-event-update.html?p=1|date=August 8, 2018|website=PWInsider|access-date=August 5, 2018}} With Black out of action after a groin injury, the match was changed to a Last Man Standing match between Ciampa and Gargano,{{cite web|last=Martin|first=Adam|title=Video: William Regal confirms a new NXT Title main event for NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4|date=August 9, 2018|url=https://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-news/111343-william-regal-new-nxt-takoever-brooklyn-main-event/|work=WrestleView|access-date=August 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812092811/https://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-news/111343-william-regal-new-nxt-takoever-brooklyn-main-event/|archive-date=August 12, 2018|url-status=live}} which Ciampa won. On the October 24 edition of NXT, Gargano was revealed as the one who attacked Black before their original TakeOver: Brooklyn 4 title match, turning heel in the process.{{cite web|last=James|first=Justin|title=10/24 NXT TV REPORT: EC3 vs. Adam Cole, Aliyah vs. Mia Yim, plus big angle with Johnny Gargano, Evolution hype with Bazler vs. Kairi|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2018/10/25/10-24-nxt-tv-report-ec3-vs-adam-cole-aliyah-vs-mia-yim-plus-big-angle-with-johnny-gargano-evolution-hype-with-bazler-vs-kairi/|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|date=October 25, 2018|access-date=November 3, 2018}} The following week, a match between the two was scheduled for the event.{{cite web|last=James|first=Justin|title=10/31 NXT TV REPORT: Matt Riddle vs. Menzies, Nikki Cross vs. Mercedes Martinez, Street Profits vs. The Mighty|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2018/10/31/10-231-nxt-tv-report-matt-riddle-vs-menzies-nikki-cross-vs-mercedes-martinez-street-profits-vs-the-mighty/|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|date=October 31, 2018|access-date=November 3, 2018}}

On the October 31 episode of NXT, Adam Cole and Bobby Fish of The Undisputed Era were scheduled to face War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe) in the main event. However, Hanson and Rowe attacked the group during a backstage promo. The fight ended up in the ring, where the Undisputed Era got the upper hand. Ricochet entered on the War Raiders' behalf, but was ultimately overtaken. Pete Dunne evened the odds for Hanson, Rowe and Ricochet. During the brawl, NXT general manager William Regal announced that the two sides would face each other in a WarGames match.{{cite web|title=A brawl erupted between Ricochet, Pete Dunne & The War Raiders and The Undisputed ERA, culminating in an epic WarGames announcement|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2018-10-31|date=October 31, 2018|website=WWE|access-date=October 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101024904/https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2018-10-31|archive-date=November 1, 2018|url-status=live}}

At Evolution, Shayna Baszler won the NXT Women's Championship back from Kairi Sane after interference from Baszler's fellow and former MMA Four Horsewomen Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir, becoming the first two-time NXT Women's Champion.{{cite web|last=Keller|first=Wade|title=WWE Evolution results 10/28: Keller's PPV report on Ronda Rousey vs. Nikki Bella, Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch, plus battle royal, Trish & Lita's return to ring, Mae Young Finals, Baszler defense|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2018/10/28/wwe-evolution-results-10-28-kellers-ppv-report-on-ronda-rousey-vs-nikki-bella-charlotte-flair-vs-becky-lynch-plus-battle-royal-trish-litas-return-to-ring-mae-young-finals-baszler-defense/|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|date=October 28, 2018|access-date=October 28, 2018|archive-date=June 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605064716/https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2018/10/28/wwe-evolution-results-10-28-kellers-ppv-report-on-ronda-rousey-vs-nikki-bella-charlotte-flair-vs-becky-lynch-plus-battle-royal-trish-litas-return-to-ring-mae-young-finals-baszler-defense/|url-status=live}} On the November 7 episode of NXT, as Sane was invoking her rematch clause, a two out of three falls match between the two for the title was scheduled for TakeOver.{{cite news |last=Ravens |first=Andrew |title=WWE NXT Results – November 7, 2018 |url=https://www.pwmania.com/wwe-nxt-results-november-7-2018 |access-date=December 31, 2022 |work=PWMania |date=November 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528013623/https://www.pwmania.com/wwe-nxt-results-november-7-2018 |archive-date=May 28, 2019 |url-status=live}}

The event opened with Matt Riddle facing Kassius Ohno. Riddle immediately performed a jumping high knee on Ohno to win in only six seconds.

Next, Shayna Baszler defended the NXT Women's Championship against Kairi Sane in a two out of three falls match. Baszler scored the first fall by making Sane submit to the "Kirifuda Clutch" after interference from Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir. Sane scored the second fall after an "Insane Elbow" on Baszler. Duke and Shafir tried to interfere again only for Dakota Kai and Io Shirai to stop them. Shirai then performed a Moonsault on Duke and Shafir. Sane performed an "Insane Elbow", but Baszler countered into a roll up to retain the title.

After that, Aleister Black faced Johnny Gargano. Gargano performed a slingshot DDT on Black for a near-fall. Black performed a diving meteora on Gargano for a near-fall. Gargano applied the "Garga-No Escape", but Black touched the ropes. In the end, Black performed two consecutive "Black Masses" on Gargano to win.

In the penultimate match, Tommaso Ciampa defended the NXT Championship against Velveteen Dream. Ciampa performed a "Project Ciampa" on Dream for a near-fall. Dream performed the "Purple Rainmaker" on Ciampa for a near-fall. Dream attempted a second "Purple Rainmaker" again on the ring apron but Ciampa avoided. Ciampa performed an elevated DDT on Dream onto the metal divider between the rings to retain the championship.

The main event was a WarGames match between The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O'Reilly, and Roderick Strong) and the team of WWE United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne, NXT North American Champion Ricochet and War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe). The match began with Cole and Ricochet in the ring. After 5 minutes, O’Reilly of The Undisputed Era joined the match. Three minutes after, Hanson would join the match, and following a further three minutes, Strong joined the match. After another three minutes, Rowe joined the match and simultaneously performed a powerslam and powerbomb on O’Reilly and Strong respectively. After another 3 minutes, Fish escaped and locked Dunne in a cage, throwing the key lock into the audience. Fish then retrieved chairs for the Undisputed Era who struck Ricochet, Hanson and Rowe with the chairs. Three minutes afterwards, the referees attempted to unlock Dunne's cage, but failed to do so as The Undisputed Era's and Dunne's cages used different keys for the individual locks and thus a bolt-cutter had to be used to open the cage. Dunne struck Fish and O’Reilly with a kendo stick and retrieved tables, trash cans, a steel chain and kendo sticks for his team. During the climax, Cole reversed the "Bitter End" into a DDT and performed the "Last Shot" on Dunne for a near-fall. Ricochet and Cole went up to the top of the cage, and all competitors climbed up with them to help their team gain momentum. Cole got suplexed and everybody was left lying, and Ricochet performed a double Moonsault onto the pile. Cole went for another attempt at the Last Shot, but Dunne reversed it into the "Bitter End" and Ricochet executed a springboard 450° splash and both of them pinned Cole for the win.

{{Pro wrestling results table

|times = {{cite web|last=Moore|first=John|title=Moore's NXT TV Live Review: Candice LeRae vs. Nikki Cross, Keith Lee and Lars Sullivan in action, Takeover: WarGames II highlights|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2018/11/21/moores-nxt-tv-live-review-matt-riddle-vs-kassius-ohno-candice-lerae-vs-nikki-cross-keith-lee-and-lars-sullivan-in-action/|date=November 21, 2018|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|access-date=November 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122063737/https://prowrestling.net/site/2018/11/21/moores-nxt-tv-live-review-matt-riddle-vs-kassius-ohno-candice-lerae-vs-nikki-cross-keith-lee-and-lars-sullivan-in-action/|archive-date=November 22, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=11/17 Powell's NXT Takeover: WarGames II live review – Undisputed Era vs. Ricochet, Pete Dunne, and War Raiders in a WarGames match, Tommao Ciampa vs. Velveteen Dream for the NXT Title Hell in a Cell TLC Falls Count Anywhere Match, Shayna Baszler vs. Kairi Sane in a best of three falls match for the NXT Women's Championship|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2018/11/17/11-17-powells-nxt-takeover-wargames-ii-live-review-undisputed-era-vs-ricochet-pete-dunne-and-war-raiders-in-a-wargames-match-tommao-ciampa-vs-velveteen-dream-for-the-nxt-title-sha/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=November 17, 2018|access-date=November 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118061935/https://prowrestling.net/site/2018/11/17/11-17-powells-nxt-takeover-wargames-ii-live-review-undisputed-era-vs-ricochet-pete-dunne-and-war-raiders-in-a-wargames-match-tommao-ciampa-vs-velveteen-dream-for-the-nxt-title-sha/|archive-date=November 18, 2018|url-status=live}}

|note1 = regnxt

|match1 = Keith Lee defeated Fidel Bravo by pinfall

|stip1 = Singles match{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2018-11-21|title=WWE NXT results, Nov. 21, 2018: Cross' mind games have LeRae seeing red|date=November 21, 2018|work=WWE|access-date=November 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122033536/https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2018-11-21|archive-date=November 22, 2018|url-status=live}}

|time1 = 1:59

|note2 = regnxt

|match2 = Lars Sullivan defeated Keita Murray by pinfall

|stip2 = Singles match

|time2 = 0:35

|note3 = regnxt

|match3 = Nikki Cross defeated Candice LeRae by pinfall

|stip3 = Singles match

|time3 = 7:00

|match4 = Matt Riddle defeated Kassius Ohno by pinfall

|stip4 = Singles match{{cite web|last=Bristout|first=Ralph|title=Matt Riddle def. Kassius Ohno|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/takeover-wargames-ii/article/matt-riddle-vs-kassius-ohno-results|date=November 17, 2018|work=WWE|access-date=November 17, 2018}}

|time4 = 0:06

|match5 = Shayna Baszler (c) defeated Kairi Sane 2–1

|stip5 = Two out of three falls match for the NXT Women's Championship{{cite web|last=Bristout|first=Ralph|title=NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler def. Kairi Sane (2-out-of-3 Falls Match)|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/takeover-wargames-ii/article/shayna-baszler-vs-kairi-sane-results|date=November 17, 2018|work=WWE|access-date=November 17, 2018}}

|time5 = 10:55

|match6 = Aleister Black defeated Johnny Gargano by pinfall

|stip6 = Singles match{{cite web|last=Bristout|first=Ralph|title=Aleister Black def. Johnny Gargano|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/takeover-wargames-ii/article/aleister-black-vs-johnny-gargano-results|date=November 17, 2018|work=WWE|access-date=November 17, 2018}}

|time6 = 18:10

|match7 = Tommaso Ciampa (c) defeated Velveteen Dream by pinfall

|stip7 = Singles match for the NXT Championship{{cite web|title=NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa def. Velveteen Dream|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/takeover-wargames-ii/article/tommaso-ciampa-vs-velveteen-dream-results|date=November 17, 2018|work=WWE|access-date=November 17, 2018}}

|time7 = 22:25

|match8 = Pete Dunne, Ricochet, and War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe) defeated The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O'Reilly, and Roderick Strong) by pinfall

|stip8 = WarGames match{{cite web|last=Bristout|first=Ralph|title=Ricochet, Pete Dunne & War Raiders def. The Undisputed ERA (WarGames Match)|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/takeover-wargames-ii/article/wargames-match-result|date=November 17, 2018|work=WWE|access-date=November 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118164457/https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/takeover-wargames-ii/article/wargames-match-result|archive-date=November 18, 2018|url-status=live}}

|time8 = 47:10

}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt|WWE NXT Official Website}}

{{2018 WWE Network events}}

{{WWEPPV|NXT TakeOver}}

WarGames 2018

Category:2018 WWE Network events

Category:2018 in Los Angeles

Category:November 2018 in the United States

Category:Professional wrestling shows in Los Angeles