Ranking the matches at NXT TakeOver: War Games

The final NXT TakeOver event of 2017 is in the books, and like always, it delivered. We saw the making of a monster, a psychological battle like none other, destiny realized, a shocking title change, and an all-out war that had us lapping up the delicious carnage.

Which of these matches delivered the most?

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#5 Kassius Ohno vs. Lars Sullivan

Sullivan was knocked down, but it wasn't long until the situation was reversed.

While not a bad match, it was certainly the least artistic on the card.

Looking for an NXT Title opportunity, Kassius Ohno needed to prove himself worthy. What better way than calling out NXT's rising monster in Lars Sullivan? The match was being billed as Sullivan's biggest challenge to date and that proved true, but only in the form of a minor annoyance more than a total squash.

At one point Kassius Ohno managed to take Lars Sullivan off his feet, the first man to do so, but nothing he did worked, and Sullivan crushed him in five minutes. None of it was pretty, but it was effective, doing what it needed to do.

#4 Kairi Sane vs. Peyton Royce vs. Ember Moon vs. Nikki Cross

Ember Moon realized "her destiny" at last, but was it the right call?

Unfortunately, I have to say I was expecting a lot more out of this match. What I thought would have potential to steal the show instead fell relatively flat. Nobody really seemed to shine very brightly, and with the exception of a powerbomb to Nikki Cross on the outside, an InSane Elbow onto the pile of Peyton Royce and Nikki Cross, and Ember Moon's double Eclipse to end the contest, nothing was particularly memorable.

The match also didn't do a good job of teasing a future rivalry between Ember Moon and Kairi Sane, who's clearly the next in line for the NXT Women's Championship, probably at TakeOver: New Orleans the night before WrestleMania. Instead of starting that build here, the two just sort of sank into the multitude, fighting it out at times with no added psychological edge.

The ending also felt a bit formulaic, as if NXT went with the safe choice in Ember Moon rather than a change agent like Peyton Royce or Nikki Cross, who I thought should have won.

And while Asuka handing the title to Ember Moon was a nice symbolic passing of the torch moment, it even more endangers the new champion of being overshadowed by her predecessor, almost as if she was saying: "OK, you couldn't beat me but I don't want this anymore, so it's yours now."

Again, the match certainly wasn't bad, but I was just expecting a lot more.

#3 Drew McIntyre vs. Andrade "Cien" Almas

This was the shock to the system we didn't see coming.

This was surely the night's most shocking moment. Not many people saw this coming.

As far as the match itself went, it was exciting, particularly with Zelina Vega's antics, but it wasn't the best NXT title match we've seen. It was a back and forth affair, with both men hitting their big moves until Zelina Vega screwed Drew McIntyre out of a victory by putting her client's leg on the bottom rope after a hard-hitting Claymore kick. A top rope hammerlock DDT was good for the title change.

With McIntyre seemingly injured, what seemed set to be an extension of the rivalry might have to be put on hold. It also throws a monkey wrench into what seemed to be the plan for the rise of the Undisputed Era into the most dominant force in NXT. One has to wonder where Andrade "Cien" Almas fits into that picture and what rival he could potentially have next. The NXT Championship picture is set to be the most chaotic over the coming months.

#2 SAnity vs. the Authors of Pain and Roderick Strong vs. the Undisputed Era, War Games

The victor of the war.

Many were leery of the return of the War Games match, especially with the new rules and the lack of top of the cage. There was little room for error. It would either be a spectacle or a total disaster. Fortunately, this proved that you can always count on NXT to deliver.

The match was a fun car crash for nearly 40 minutes. The addition of weapons into the cage when SAnity entered had the crowd roaring with approval and added to the intensity. The spot with Roderick Strong superplexing Adam Cole off the top of the cage onto the other competitors, leaving everyone laying, was clearly the most exciting of the bout.

The right decision has ultimately reached the victory of the Undisputed Era, but it was a disappointment that Roderick Strong didn't turn heel to join them. We'll now see how the trio decides to "shock the system" next.

#1 Aleister Black vs. Velveteen Dream

"Enjoy infamy...Velveteen Dream!"

The War Games match was fun, but this was the one that stole the show. It was an incredible story told between two totally opposite forces, capping off a fantastic feud.

In addition to a great match by work rate standards, we saw the weaponization of taunts at an unprecedented level. The psychological battle between these two competitors was absolutely superb, and in my opinion, was far more effective in ensuring the viewer's investment than even the carnage of the War Games. We've seen carnage before, but this was something totally unique.

The match not only made a new star in Velveteen Dream, it kept Black's mystique, culminating at the very end when Aleister, seemingly impressed by his opponent's performance, finally gave him the recognition he wanted all along.

It's definitely a match of the year contender, and I can't wait to see what these two do next.