They say everything is better in threes, and I think they’re right. The stacked NXT roster heads back to the Windy City on Saturday night for WarGames III. For the first-time-ever, there will be a Women’s WarGames Match pitting Team Baszler (NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler, Io Shirai, Bianca Belair, and the NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray) vs. Team Ripley (Rhea Ripley, Tegan Nox, Candice LeRae, and Mia Yim.
For the third year in a row, The Undisputed Era will do war inside of the two-caged monstrosity against the team of Tomasso Ciampa, Keith Lee, Dominic Dijokovac, and a mystery partner. There is also a huge triple-threat-match between Pete Dunne, Killian Dain, and Damien Priest where the winner receives a title shot for NXT Championship the very next night at Survivor Series.
So, let’s not waste any more time and dive right into the predictions for the 2019 TakeOver: WarGames.
Pre-show: Isaiah “Swerve” Scott vs. Angel Garza
I’m actually surprised that WWE didn’t book Lio Rush defending his NXT Cruiserweight Championship against Angel Garza after their explosive match two weeks ago where Garza disrespected the Champion’s wife. Either way, both Swerve and Garza will deliver a high-octane match that will engage the NXT Universe.
Perhaps, if Swerve defeats the number-one contender then it could potentially set up a triple-threat-match in the coming weeks for the Cruiserweight Championship.
Winner: Isaiah “Swerve” Scott
Finn Balor vs. Matt Riddle
Nobody in their wildest dreams would have predicted that Balor would have turned heel let alone on Johnny Gargano. Ever since the October 23rd edition of NXT, it was all but guaranteed that Balor and Gargano was the plan for WarGames. That was until it was announced that Gargano was injured and unable to compete.
For weeks, “The Prince” berated the NXT roster and begged for someone to step up to him and that’s when The Original Bro entered the fray. Matt Riddle was caught in the crossfire one week prior and ate a 1916 on the entrance ramp. While Riddle will once again put on another five-star performance, there’s no way in hell Balor is losing his first match back…Unless Johnny Wrestling costs Balor the match.
Winner: Finn Balor
Pete Dunne vs. Killian Dain vs. Damian Priest (Winner challenges NXT Champion Adam Cole at Survivor Series)
This a match that I’m stoked to see since all three competitors have a great chance of stealing the show. The Bruiserweight and The Archer of Infamy have unfinished business and then add The Beast of Belfast and you have a recipe for disaster. For weeks, Dunne and Priest had some incredible battles where both competitors traded victories.
On the November 6th edition of NXT, Dunne defeated Priest in another hard-hitting affair. Dain came out of nowhere and attacked The Bruiserweight and delivered a massive cannonball to The Archer of Infamy into the steel steps. Now that the stakes are raised the question is who deserves to challenge Adam Cole for the NXT Championship at Survivor Series?
The answer is simple, the former long-reigning WWE United Kingdom Champion. Dunne has had such a great run in NXT and this will be the biggest test in his young career to face Cole for the title on the big stage under the bright lights.
Winner: Pete Dunne
Men’s WarGames Match: The Undisputed Era vs. Tomasso Ciampa, Keith Lee, Dominic Dijokovac, and…?
This match is going to be an all-out massacre with all of the competitors prepared to beat the holy hell out of each other. Ciampa returned from injury on the debut USA episode of NXT and immediately set his sights on Goldie. After weeks of the numbers game getting the best of him, the former NXT Champion declared that daddy’s going to war.
Up until two weeks ago, the match was set to have Keith Lee and Matt Riddle joining Ciampa but Riddle was pulled and Dominic Dijokovac took his place. Dijokovac and Lee have battled in some of the most exhilarating matches on NXT over the past year. With both big men putting their differences aside, the heels are in a world of trouble.
The question remains who will be the fourth and final member, on a media call Triple H stated that “the mystery partner will be epic.” If we look at possible choices based on the injury list The Velveteen Dream and KUSHIDA are potential surprises. I can’t even believe I’m throwing this out here, but what if the mystery partner is none other than CM Punk.
I know it sounds absurd, but hear me out. WarGames takes place in Chicago and what better way to excite the crowd than to have their hometown hero revealed. To be fair, Punk has never ruled out wrestling for NXT he’s only stated he’s not back with WWE. That’s a huge loophole and we really have no idea what Punk has agreed to. Either way, expect a ton of high spots and incredible action with Team Ciampa picking up the victory.
Winner: Team Ciampa
First-ever Women’s WarGames Match: Team Baszler (Shayna Baszler, Bianca Belair, Io Shirai, and Kay Lee Ray) vs. Team Ripley (Rhea Ripley, Tegan Nox, Candice LeRae, and Mia Yim).
I have no doubt in my mind, this historic match should either open or close the show. All eight women are going to absolutely knock this opportunity out of the park with a fantastic high-octane match, that will once again prove that NXT has the most diverse women’s division throughout all of pro wrestling.
Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir will more than likely find their way into the match before it officially starts to help The Queen of Spades dominate and take out Ripley. The biggest wild card in this match will be Dakota Kai. After Mia Yim was chosen to be the fourth and final member of Team Ripley, rumors have been spreading that maybe we’ll see a heel turn from The Captain of Team Kick. Even though, Kai has gone to bat for the babyfaces including her long-time friend Nox there is still a chance that she ultimately costs Team Ripley the match.
This wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest and it would also kickstart a highly-personal feud between the former best friends. If it’s not Kai than I am predicting someone will inadvertently hit one of the members and give Team Baszler a huge victory heading into her triple-threat champions match the next night.
Winners: Team Baszler
