NXT TakeOver: WarGames II Recap

NXT TakeOver: WarGames II opens with a video package hyping all four of the matches scheduled for the show. We then go into the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, and Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, and Percy Watson welcome us to the show.

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Matt Riddle’s music hits and “The Bro” makes his way to the ring. Riddle grabs a mic and says he is not scheduled to have a match tonight, but Kassius Ohno interrupted him on the kickoff show. Riddle says they are scheduled to wrestle next Wednesday on NXT, but they are in LA and there are two rings. Riddle says he will knock Ohno out in both of them…bro. Ohno’s music hits and he comes out with a mic. Ohno says Riddle is too stupid to know that he isn’t supposed to be out here and too stupid to realize that he isn’t ready for TakeOver. Ohno says he hopes Riddle has enjoyed this, because he is about to knock him out. The referee calls for the bell.

Match #1 – Singles Match: Kassius Ohno vs. Matt Riddle
Ohno charges at Riddle, but Riddle catches him with a knee strike to the jaw and gets the pin fall.
Winner via pin fall: Matt Riddle (0:07)

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Match #2 – NXT Women’s Championship Two-Out-of-Three Falls Match: Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Kairi Sane
Sane kicks Baszler into the corner and drivers her shoulder into her midsection. Sane drops Baszler to the mat and then delivers a neck-breaker. Sane delivers another neck-breaker and then chops Baszler against the ropes. Sane connects with the Sliding D, and Baszler rolls to the floor. Sane connects with an elbow strike from the apron and then tosses Baszler back into the ring. Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke attack Sane as the referee checks on Baszler. Baszler locks in the Kirifuda Clutch and Sane taps out.
Winner of the first fall via submission: Shayna Baszler

Baszler immediately takes Sane down with a knee strike and goes for the cover, but Sane kicks out at two. Baszler locks in the Kirifuda Clutch again, but Sane makes it to the ropes. Sane fights back with a few strikes, but Baszler takes her down again and locks in a modified single-leg Boston Crab. Baszler stomps Sane’s face into the mat and then delivers a few kicks to her back. Baszler applies a neck wrench, but Sane counters with a quick roll-up for a two count. Sane gets another quick roll-up, but Baszler counters and locks in the Kirifuda Clutch again. Sane rolls through for another two count, but Baszler comes back with more kicks to the back. Sane fights back and they brawl for a bit before Baszler drops Sane with a clothesline. Baszler charges at Sane, but Sane pulls the rope down and Baszler lands on the apron. Baszler grabs Sane, but Sane counters with a spike DDT on the apron.
Duke and Shafir try to interfere again, but Sane takes care of them both. Sane goes up top and delivers an In-Sane Elbow to all three women. Sane tosses Baszler back into the ring and goes up top again. Sane delivers another In-Sane elbow and gets the pin fall.
Winner of the second fall via pinfall: Kairi Sane

Sane takes Baszler down with three Interceptors and then connects with spinning back fists. Sane goes back up top, but Baszler cuts her off with a right hand. Baszler and Sane battle on the top, but Sane eventually takes her down with a sunset flip power bomb. Sane goes for the cover, but Baszler kicks out at two. Sane delivers an Alabama Slam and goes up top, but Shafir and Duke get involved again. Dakota Kai runs down to help out, but Duke and Shafir overpower her as well. Io Shirai runs down as well and takes out Duke and Shafir with a moonsault. Sane goes back up top and hits the In-Sane Elbow, but Baszler counters with a roll-up and gets the pin fall.
Winner of the third fall via pinfall and still NXT Women’s Champion: Shayna Baszler (10:56)

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Match #3 – Singles Match: Aleister Black vs. Johnny Gargano
Gargano slaps Black across the face, but Black comes back with a kick. Black takes Gargano to the floor and delivers another kick to the face. Black gets Gargano back into the ring, but Gargano turns the tide for a bit and connects with a few strikes. Black comes back, but Gargano dodges and sits down in the ring to taunt Black. Gargano dodges a kick and delivers one of his own. Gargano goes on the attack, but Black takes control and sends Gargano to the floor with a flurry of strikes. Gargano runs around the ring as Black springboards and sits down in the ring. Gargano gets into the ring and catches Black with a kick to the face. Black comes back with a roll-up attempt, but Gargano counters into a modified surfboard submission. Gargano keeps Black grounded a bit longer and then takes him to the corner. Gargano delivers a few chops, but Black begins to fight back.
Gargano and Black try to exchange stikes, but each dodge the other’s attack. Black finally connects with a knee strike and then a kick to the face that sends Gargano to the floor. Black takes Gargano out with a suicide dive and then tosses him back into the ring. Black kicks Gargano in the corner a few times and then slams him down to the mat. Black goes for the cover, but Gargano kicks out at two. Black goes up top, but Gargano catches him with an enzuiguri. Black comes back with a back elbow and a superkick that sends Gargano to the floor. Black goes for a moonsault, but Gargano gets back into the ring and Black lands on his feet. Gargano connects with a suicide dive DDT and then gets Black back into the ring. Gargano drops Black with a slingshot DDT and goes for the cover, but Black kicks out at two. Black comes back and takes Gargano down with strikes, but Gargano counters back with a knee strike and both men are down.
Gargano gets on the apron, but Black cuts him off. Black kicks Gargano into the ropes of the other ring, but Gargano comes back for the slingshot spear. Black hits him with a knee strike instead and then delivers a German suplex. Black goes for a bridge pin, but Gargano kicks out at two. Black goes another kick, but Gargano counters and drops Black with a clothesline. Gargano locks in the Gargano Escape, but Black counters with a roll-up for a two count. Gargano comes back with kicks and then takes Black into the corner and slams him face-first into the turnbuckle. Gargano mocks Black’s Black Mass set up and then sets up for his DIY finisher, but Black stops him and then tells him to try it. Gargano goes for the knee, but Black dodges it. Gargano connects with a kick and then two knee strikes. Gargano goes for the cover, but Black kicks out at two.
Gargano delivers forearm shots, but Black fights back with some of his own. Black delivers a knee strike and goes for a springboard, but Gargano shoves him to the floor. Gargano goes for a suicide dive, but Black counters with a knee strike and both men are down on the floor. Black tosses Gargano back into the ring, but Gargano begs off and says he is sorry. Gargano tells Black to finish the match and Black sets up for the Black Mass. Gargano catches him with a roll-up, but Black kicks out at two. Gargano locks in the Gargano Escape, but Black counters with a roll-up for a one count. Black connects with a knee strike and then delivers another. Black holds Gargano up and delivers the Black Mass. Gargano falls against Black and Black delivers another Black Mass and gets the pin fall.
Winner via pin fall: Aleister Black (18:15)

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The Undisputed ERA is shown backstage. Adam Cole is leading the group in a pep talk before the WarGames Match.

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Match #4 – NXT Championship Match: Tommaso Ciampa (c) vs. The Velveteen Dream
They lock up, but neither man gains the advantage. Dream takes Ciampa down to the mat and slaps the back of his head. Dream backs Ciampa into the corner, but Ciampa rakes his eyes. Dream comes back with a slap, but Ciampa delivers a kick to the midsection. Ciampa pulls Black’s headband off and mocks him with it. Dream goes to the floor and grabs the NXT title belt. Ciampa runs out to get it, but Dream gets back into the ring. Dream goes for a DDT back in the ring, but Ciampa gets away. Dream connects with right hands and then drops Ciampa with a clothesline. Dream slams Ciampa to the mat and then delivers a dropkick. Dream drapes Ciampa over the top rope and then connects with a clubbing shot from the top. Dream puts his headband back on and then kicks Ciampa in the face. Dream goes for a leg drop, but Ciampa rolls to the floor.
Dream takes Ciampa down with a double ax-handle from the top. Dream tosses Ciampa back into the ring, but Ciampa knocks him down to the floor. Ciampa gets Dream back into the ring and stomps away on him in the corner. Ciampa delivers a knee strike in the corner and then delivers a forearm that sends Dream to the apron. Ciampa delivers a hangman’s neck-breaker over the top rope and Dream falls to the floor. Ciampa puts Dream on the announce table and delivers a running knee strike. Ciampa tosses Dream back into the corner and kicks him in the face. Ciampa applies a rear chin-lock and then delivers another knee strike when Dream gets to his feet. Dream comes back with a back-slide, but Ciampa kicks out at two. Dream delivers a right hand and a neck-breaker and both men are down. They get to their feet at the same time and Dream keeps the advantage.
Dream drops Ciampa with a few forearm shots and then some right hands. Dream kicks Ciampa in the face and delivers a leg drop. Dream delivers two more leg drops and then goes for the Dream Valley Driver. Ciampa gets free, but Dream drops him with a spine-buster. Dream goes for the cover, but Ciampa kicks out at two. Dream sends Ciampa to the floor and then takes him out with a suicide dive. Dream tosses Ciampa back into the ring and goes up top, but Ciampa rolls away. Ciampa comes back and sends Dream to the floor, but Dream grabs him and slams his knee across the apron. Dream wraps Ciampa’s knee around the post and Ciampa taps, but it doesn’t count since the move was illegal. Ciampa comes back and takes Dream down to the mat, but Dream locks Ciampa in the Figure Four. Ciampa rolls through and reverses the pressure of the hold, but Dream turns it right back.
Ciampa drops to the mat and his shoulders are down, but he lifts back up at two and makes it to the ropes. Ciampa goes for a suplex, but Dream counters and suplexes Ciampa to the floor. Dream falls out of the ring as well and both men are down. Dream tosses Ciampa back into the ring at the nine count and they exchange strikes. Ciampa grabs Dream and rolls him up with a handful of tights, but the referee sees it. Dream hits the Dream Valley Driver and goes for the cover, but Ciampa kicks out at two. Dream lifts Ciampa up, but Ciampa fights out and delivers an elbow strike. Dream comes back and comes off the ropes, but Ciampa catches him with a knee strike. Ciampa goes for the cover, but Dream kicks out at two. Ciampa connects with Project Ciampa and goes for the cover, but Dream kicks out again. Ciampa grabs the NXT title and brings it into the ring, but Dream catches him with a roll-up for two.
Dream DDT’s Ciampa and Ciampa hits the title. Dream goes for the cover, but Ciampa kicks out at two. Ciampa comes back with the draping DDT and goes for the cover, but Dream kicks out at two. Ciampa goes to the floor and rips up the mats. Ciampa delivers right hands and sets up for the draping DDT, but Dream backs him into and over the announce table. Ciampa gets in the announcers faces, but Dream drops him with a Dream Valley Driver on the exposed floor. Dream hits the Purple Rainmaker and goes for the cover, but Ciampa kicks out at two. Ciampa comes back and throws Dream to the floor and then delivers the draping DDT on the metal connection of the two rings and gets the pin fall.
Winner via pin fall and still NXT Champion: Tommaso Ciampa (22:21)

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Match #5 – WarGames Match: Pete Dunne, Ricochet, and War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe) vs. The Undisputed ERA (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly, and Roderick Strong)
Ricochet and Cole start the match for their teams. Cole goes on the attack first, but Ricochet turns the tide in his favor. Ricochet takes Cole down with a head-scissors take down and then delivers a dropkick. Cole goes to the other ring, but Ricochet follows and keeps the attack going. Cole turns it around and delivers a back-stabber to Ricochet. Cole delivers right hands down on the mat and then delivers a neck-breaker. Cole delivers a neck-breaker over his knee and then tosses Ricochet to the other ring. Cole delivers a few knees to the back, but Ricochet begins to fight back. Ricochet delivers a kick to the face and then a dropkick that sends Cole to the other ring. Ricochet delivers a springboard uppercut from one ring to the other and the countdown is on.
Kyle O’Reilly enters WarGames.
O’Reilly goes on the attack as Cole recovers in the corner. Cole then joins the beatdown, but Ricochet fights back. O’Reilly takes the advantage back with a dragon screw leg-whip. Cole joins again and they double-team Ricochet down on the mat. Ricochet fights back and shoves Cole into O’Reilly, but O’Reilly comes back with a kick to the face. Cole delivers a neck-breaker to Ricochet over O’Reilly’s knee and the countdown is on.
Hanson enters WarGames.
Hanson takes O”Reilly and Cole to the mat. He delivers a cross-body to O’Reilly and then power slams Cole to the mat again. Hanson smashes O’Reilly and Cole in the corners an then throws O’Reilly into Cole. Hanson delivers a double Bronco Buster and Ricochet joins again. Ricochet delivers a Shooting Star Press to O’Reilly from Hanson’s back. Cole gets involved and takes Ricochet away and then takes down Hanson. Ricochet goes after O’Reilly and takes him down again and then battle Cole in the corner as the countdown is on.
Roderick Strong enters WarGames.
Strong delivers knee strikes to Ricochet and Hanson and then delivers back-breakers to Ricochet. Strong throws Ricochet into Hanson and Cole superkicks Hanson in the face. O’Reilly hits Hanson with a forearm and Strong delivers a back-breaker. Cole, Strong, and O’Reilly pound away on Hanson and Ricochet and the countdown is on.
Rowe enters WarGames.
Rowe goes after and takes down all of the ERA. He slams Cole to the mat and backs O’Reilly into the corner. He slams Strong and O’Reilly to the mat at the same time. The Raiders overpower the ERA as Ricochet gets to his feet as well. The Raiders back Cole into Ricochet and the Raiders sam him face-first into the cage. The Raiders pound away on Cole in the corner as Ricochet goes after Strong and the countdown is on.
Bobby Fish enters WarGames.
Before he gets into the match, Fish attacks Dunne through his cage and double locks Dunne in the cage. Fish takes the key and throws it into the crowd. Fish brings weapons into the ring as well. The ERA beat down the Raiders and Ricochet. The countdown is on, but the referees cannot unlock the cage to let Dunne out. The ERA keeps the numbers advantage and continue to beat down Ricochet and the Raiders. Strong and Fish superplex the Raiders back down to the mat and Cole mocks Dunne from the cage. The referees find bolt cutters and…
Pete Dunne enters WarGames.
Dunne hits all of the ERA with a kendo stick and the cage door. Ricochet takes all four of them down with a cross-body as Dunne brings more weapons into the ring. Dunne finally enters the ring and WarGames begins. All eight men brawl and Dunne waylays on the ERA with the kendo stick. Dunne, Ricochet, and the Raiders all have weapons and begin beating down the ERA with them. Dunne begins to manipulate O’Reilly’s fingers as Ricochet and the Raiders keep using the weapons. Dunne delivers the X-Plex to Strong onto O’Reilly, but Cole comes back with a knee shot to Dunne. Cole slams Ricochet into the cage, but Hanson comes back with a chair shot to O’Reilly. Hanson puts a trash can on Cole and sets him in the corner. Rowe throws Hanson into Cole.
The ERA begin to fight back and they take advantage of the match. They take out Ricochet and the Raiders and then surround Dunne. Dunne fights them all off and locks Fish in a knee-bar. O’Reilly breaks it up, and locks Dunne’s leg with a chain. Dunne turns it into a submission of his own, but Fish hits him with a chair to break it up. O’Reilly locks Dunne in an ankle lock and Cole, Strong, and Fish hold off Ricochet and the Raiders. Strong joins O’Reilly with the submission, but Ricochet takes out Cole and Fish and then breaks up the submission. Hanson sends Strong to the other ring with a back body drop and then delivers an elbow shot to O’Reilly. The Raiders put Strong an O’Reilly on the top rope, but Cole cuts Hanson off. Ricochet kicks Cole in the face and Fish cuts Rowe off. Dunne takes Fish out and then he and Ricochet slam Strong and O’Reilly to the mat.
Ricochet goes for the cover, but O’Reilly kicks out at two. One of the tables gets set up and Hanson puts Cole on it. Rowe grabs Cole and Hanson power slams him to the mat. Hanson goes for the cover, but O’Reilly breaks it up with a chair shot. Fish hits Rowe with a kendo stick and spears him through one of the tables. Cole and Ricochet battle in the corner and Cole tries to put Ricochet through the table. Ricochet blocks it and hangs Cole in the Tree of Woe, but O’Reilly gets involved. Ricochet puts O’Reilly on the table, but Strong delivers a knee strike to Ricochet. O’Reilly locks in the face-lock from the table, but Hanson goes up top and frog splashes O’Reilly through the table. Hanson goes for the cover, but Strong breaks up the cover and everyone is down.
Cole and Ricochet climb to the top of the cage and begin to brawl. Strong climbs as well and he and Cole try to shove Ricochet to the floor. Ricochet holds on and Dunne climbs as well. Rowe and O’Reilly climb as well, and then Hanson suplexes everyone down with Fish on his back. Ricochet is still on top of the cage and he takes everyone down with a double back-flip moonsault.
All eight men get back to their feet. The ERA are in one ring and Team Ricochet are in the other. They all get in each other’s faces from their respective rings and then all stand on the metal platform and an all out brawl begins again. Fish and Rowe battle and Rowe drops Fish with a knee strike. Hanson goes up top and they slam Fish down with the Fallout. Strong gets involved with a kick to Rowe and then Hanson drops Strong and O’Reilly with a handspring double back elbow. Ricochet gets caught with a superkick from Cole and Dunne manipulates Cole’s fingers. Cole comes back with a DDT and the Last Shot to Dunne. Cole goes for the cover, but Dunne kicks out at two. Cole goes for it again, but Dunne drops him with the Bitter End. Ricochet splashes down onto Cole and then he and Dunne cover Cole for the pin fall.
Winners via pin fall: Pete Dunne, Ricochet, and War Raiders (47:18)