Ranking the matches at NXT TakeOver: War Games

#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.