5 Things that shouldn't happen at NXT Takeover: WarGames and 5 things that should

The third edition of NXT Takeover: WarGames is set to kick-off the Survivor Series weekend which will also see the Black and Gold brand competing against RAW and SmackDown for the first time in WWE history.

The pay-per-view match card features the first-ever Women’s WarGames match. We will also see Finn Balor competing in his first PPV match since his return to WWE. Moreover, there is another match between Team Ciampa and the Undisputed Era scheduled to take place on the night.

The show looks promising on paper and is expected to deliver one of the best PPVs of the year. However, there are a few things that will play a monumental role in determining the success of the much-awaited PPV.

Here, we take a look at the things that must happen at WarGames and mistakes that WWE must avoid.

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#5 Shouldn’t happen: Team Baszler picks up a win

Rhea Ripley has an important point to prove

The reigning NXT Women’s Champion, Shayna Baszler, is undoubtedly a force to reckon with. She has several accomplishments under her belt that cements her status as one of the most promising Superstars in WWE today.

She is set to lead her team against Rhea Ripley at the first-ever Women’s WarGames match. Ripley is the only person on the current roster that poses a serious threat to Baszler’s championship reign.

Their rivalry is expected to turn into an extended feud that might not end this year. In the past, we have seen Baszler silence her opponents right at the beginning of a feud. But this rivalry has huge potential and can become one of the most memorable feuds on the Black and Gold brand.

To achieve this, Baszler needs to acknowledge Ripley as a threat. Her team already has an advantage ahead of the historic match but that shouldn’t overshadow Ripley’s determination to prove that she has what it takes to become the next champion.

If Team Baszler wins the match, the narrative could turn one-sided for the rest of their feud. However, a win for Team Ripley will boost the captain’s confidence and she could capitalize on that momentum to take on the Women’s Champion in the coming weeks.

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#5 Should happen: Killian Dain wins the triple-threat match

Prepare for absolute carnage

Killian Dain has ensured that the entire WWE Universe is aware of the wreckage he can create if he is denied a chance to settle scores with his rivals. At Takeover: WarGames, Dain is set to go up against Pete Dunne and Damien Priest in a triple-threat match.

Dain shares a history with both Dunne and Priest. Ever since the former NXT UK Champion performed a finger snap on him, Dain has been keen on settling the score. He has attacked Dunne on several occasions and will look to continue his brutality inside the squared circle.

Dain was also attacked by Priest which led to a brawl between the three Superstars in the weeks leading up to this match. This bout allows Dain to take on both his rivals and win a shot at Adam Cole’s NXT Championship.

If Dain goes on to win, he will face Cole at Survivor Series which will allow for possible interference by Dunne so that their rivalry can continue.

#4 Shouldn’t happen: Sidelining the rivalry between Killian Dain and Pete Dunne

Can Killian Dain avenge this moment?

As an extension of my previous point, I would like to draw your attention to the ongoing feud between Pete Dunne and Killian Dain. Although Damien Priest has evidently played a crucial role in the booking of this triple-threat match, he is slightly behind Dunne when it comes to attracting Dain’s attention.

In the last couple of months, we have seen Dain continuously hunting for Dunne so that he can settle scores. This ongoing storyline between the two Superstars can turn into an incredible rivalry, provided the narration is done right.

The triple-threat match should see Priest acting as a catalyst to the brewing brutality between the two other Superstars. That alone will be enough to allow him to showcase his importance inside the squared circle without making him look like an unnecessary addition to the feud between Dain and Dunne.

Meanwhile, both Pete Dunne and Killian Dain can resume their rivalry following the Survivor Series weekend.

#4 Should happen: Lio Rush interferes in Angel Garza’s match against Isaiah "Swerve" Scott

No one can slap the 'Man of the Hour' and get away with it

The last couple of weeks saw Angel Garza winning an opportunity to challenge Lio Rush for the Cruiserweight title. Ahead of the match, Garza slapped Rush when the latter wanted to shake hands with his new challenger.

A week later, we saw both these Superstars lock horns, with Rush’s family sitting in the audience. Garza made this match personal when he mocked Rush right in front of his family and disrespected the Champion. Now that Garza is set to face Isaiah "Swerve" Scott tonight, Rush can avenge the insults hurled at him by interfering in this match and costing Garza a win at the PPV.

This, in turn, will add fuel to the budding rivalry between Garza and Rush and the two can continue to feud for the title. After all, the ‘Man of the Hour’ would be keen to have his presence known. Additionally, it will allow NXT to draw more attention to the Cruiserweight title.

#3 Shouldn’t happen: Dakota Kai’s heel turn

This much-awaited heel turn could wait for another night

Dakota Kai hinted at a possible heel turn when Rhea Ripley chose Mia Yim over her to join her team for the first-ever Women’s WarGames match. However, the following week we saw her backing Yim in her fight against Io Shirai.

Kai’s heel turn is arguably the best thing that can happen to her career at this stage. However, WarGames might not be the right time to carry out this turn. Instead, it would be better if she turns heel at Survivor Series.

Kai will be an important addition to the NXT Women’s team ahead of the battle of brand supremacy. She would be expected to prove her worth but instead, she could look to make a statement. She was first addressed as a joke by Shayna Baszler and then underestimated by Rhea Ripley which ended up keeping her away from a historic moment.

Kai can avenge the unfair treatment meted out to her by turning on her team and declaring her intention to stand alone against the entire roster. Moreover, she is the only Superstar on NXT that has a valid reason to betray her brand at Survivor Series.

#3 Should happen: John Morrison joins Team Ciampa

A welcome surprise!

Earlier, Matt Riddle was scheduled to appear as a member of Tommaso Ciampa’s team that's set to square off against the Undisputed Era at WarGames. However, he was replaced by Dominik Dijakovic as another rivalry crept up to destroy his plans.

Riddle was insulted by Finn Balor who said that the current Superstars in NXT cannot take a beating. This led to Riddle attacking Balor and initiating a feud with the returning Superstar. The two are now set to square off in a singles match tonight.

On the other hand, Ciampa is yet to announce the fourth member of his team. It is being widely speculated that John Morrison will be the one who will have Ciampa’s back against the Undisputed Era. Several rumors suggest that he is one of the biggest surprises lined up for the Survivor Series weekend.

Back in 2011, Morrison was a part of the WWE roster and even went on to win the Tag Team title alongside The Miz. Now that his time with IMPACT has come to an end, he could return to WWE and be a wonderful addition to the WarGames match.

#2 Shouldn’t happen: Interference in the match between Finn Balor and Matt Riddle

They don't need help!

Finn Balor returned to NXT and his heel turn took the entire pro-wrestling world by surprise. He attacked Johnny Gargano who was admitted to the hospital owing to a neck injury. But Balor had a point to prove.

He addressed the WWE Universe and boldly stated that NXT Superstars like Gargano and Matt Riddle cannot take a beating. An irked Riddle attacked Balor and is now looking to prove the former NXT Champion wrong.

Both Riddle and Balor are exceptionally talented and can certainly deliver a brilliant match at WarGames. This bout will see both Superstars try to deliver their best inside the squared circle as both are desperate to prove that they are better than their opponent.

This classic babyface vs heel feud does not need interference, something that we have seen in almost every match in the last few weeks. WWE must allow them to narrate the match at their pace which could lead to a full-fledged feud between the two Superstars.

#2 Should happen: Finn Balor picks up a win

To the beginning of something new and exciting...

This is the first time Finn Balor has turned heel in his WWE career. Ever since his return to the Black and Gold brand, Balor has been a hot topic of discussion. In fact, the entire attention surrounding him in the last few weeks prove why NXT is the only brand that can do justice to his caliber.

Tonight, we will see Balor fight in his first televised match since his return and he has a promising opponent in Matt Riddle. Although Riddle can prove to be a worthy opponent, Balor needs to win tonight in order to establish himself as an arrogant heel that delivers.

Moreover, Balor’s victory will not go down well with Riddle who might end up attacking his opponent once the match is over. This, in turn, can plant the seeds for a compelling rivalry between two creative Superstars.

Following the Survivor Series weekend, Tommaso Ciampa will be busy with his NXT Championship feud with Adam Cole. Moreover, Johnny Gargano’s absence leaves no potential rival for Balor at the moment. Therefore, WWE can use this booking to introduce an unexpected rivalry to keep the fans invested for weeks.

#1 Shouldn’t happen: Undisputed Era lose at WarGames

'Shock the System!'

The Undisputed Era are undoubtedly the best faction in the current WWE roster. All four members have gold wrapped around them and are seen as a strong team. They are also the heels that often end up winning the crowd’s support and have truly succeeded in shocking the system.

Heading into WarGames, the chemistry between the members of the Undisputed Era would be one of the biggest highlights of the evening. They also have an advantage and are likely to use that to its full potential. All four members might lose their respective matches at Survivor series which leaves WarGames as the only platform for them to show why they deserve appreciation from the WWE Universe.

There are only a few factions in WWE that currently draw as much attention as the Undisputed Era. They have it in them to go down as one of the best stables in WWE history and a win at WarGames might just do the trick.

Their win will also end up benefitting Tommaso Ciampa and his team members in the long run. Following a loss in a brutal encounter, Ciampa would like to go solo against Adam Cole in his quest to take back what belongs to him. That will allow the likes of Keith Lee and Dominik Dijakovic to look for other rivals following the Survivor Series weekend.

#1 Should happen: Brand invasion

Will NXT be prepared for the threat that lingers in the dark?

Ever since WWE announced that this year’s Survivor Series will feature NXT vs RAW vs SmackDown, the Black and Gold brand has not shied away from proving their mettle against the ‘main-roster’. For weeks, we have seen the NXT Superstars brutally taking down their RAW and SmackDown counterparts.

At WarGames, the Red and the Blue brands will have a final chance to return the favor. Superstars from both these rosters can invade the NXT locker room in order to gain an advantage ahead of Survivor Series.

Top names like Roman Reigns and Sasha Banks must arrive at Takeover to prove why they are the people who run the business. Moreover, this will the creatives to get more fans behind NXT who will be the ultimate underdogs in the battle for brand supremacy.

NXT’s team for the traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series match has not been announced yet. Therefore, an invasion could hint at the names that could represent the Black and Gold brand in the historic pay-per-view, this Sunday.

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