WWE NXT Takeover: WarGames 2019 preview - Brutal rivalry to make history, huge surprise lined up for the PPV

Tonight, NXT Takeover: WarGames is set to witness the first-ever Women’s WarGames match between Team Shayna Baszler and Team Rhea Ripley. In addition, there’s a triple-threat match scheduled to determine the number 1 contender for NXT Championship and the winner will square off against Adam Cole at Survivor Series.

Tommaso Ciampa will lead his team in the WarGames match against the Undisputed Era. Meanwhile, the former member of Ciampa’s team, Matt Riddle, is now set to face Finn Balor in a Single’s Match.

Amidst several brewing rivalries, the entire Black and Gold brand also has to look out for RAW and SmackDown Superstars as the invasion angle will continue to feature surprise appearances.

So, without further ado, let’s take a detailed look at the things that can unfold tonight at NXT Takeover: WarGames.

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#6. Women’s WarGames match: Team Baszler (Shayna Baszler, Io Shirai, Bianca Belair, and Kay Lee Ray) vs Team Ripley (Rhea Ripley, Candice LeRae, Tegan Nox, and Mia Yim)

These female Superstars are set to make history tonight

The reigning NXT Women’s Champion, Shayna Baszler, is set to lead her team against rival Rhea Ripley and her teammates inside the monstrous circle. Both Baszler and Ripley have been feuding for the last few weeks. The latter is determined to show the world that she poses a serious threat to Baszler’s title run and she can’t find a better platform than this historic match.

However, this isn’t the only rivalry that will draw attention from the viewers. Last week, we saw Io Shirai bust open Mia Yim and now, she will look to avenge the brutal beatdown that allowed Shirai to win the advantage for team Baszler.

Candice LeRae and Io Shirai also share an emotional history that is filled with countless dramatic moments. These two former best friends will square off with an intention to win the match for their respective teams.

In addition, Superstars like Dakota Kai and NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray would like to make their presence known as they have played an important role in the build-up to this match. It would be interesting to see what they might end up doing outside the cage.

#5. Single’s match: Isaiah "Swerve" Scott vs. Angel Garza

Angel Garza is here to make a statement

Angel Garza recently competed against Lio Rush for the Cruiserweight Championship. Their match saw the Mexcian star mocking Rush on multiple occasions but the latter was finally successful in retaining his title.

It is expected that this storyline will turn into a full-fledged feud but for now, Graza is set to face Isaiah "Swerve" Scott. Both these Superstars possess unique in-ring skills and can effortlessly carry on a compelling match inside the squared circle.

Garza has had a decent run in the last three weeks and is expected to pick a win against Scott tonight. However, his high-flying maneuvers will meet an equally impressive defense from his opponent who is well known for his fast-paced matches.

We could also see Rush arriving at the scene following the match’s conclusion as the champion would look to avenge the insults hurled at him by Garza. The latter slapped Rush and also mocked him in front of his family.

If it were to transition into an extended rivalry, then Rush might play a key role in turning the match in favor of Scott.

#4. Triple-threat match to determine the Number 1 contender for NXT Championship: Pete Dunne vs. Killian Dain vs. Damian Priest

Another chapter in this intense rivalry?

Since Brock Lesnar is defending his WWE Championship against Rey Mysterio and The Fiend is defending his WWE Universal Championship against Daniel Bryan tomorrow night, NXT Champion Adam Cole will now defend his title against the winner of this triple-threat match at Survivor Series.

This match-up is specifically interesting considering the rivalry shared between all three participants. Killian Dain is keen on settling scores with Pete Dunne and the latter is now determined to put an end to Dain’s wreckage that shook the Black and Gold brand in the weeks building up to the PPV.

However, that wouldn’t be Dunne’s only concern. He was defeated by Damien Priest with the help of a low blow and the former NXT UK Champion will also be keen on avenging that humiliating loss against the latter.

Priest also shares a brutal history with Dain who attacked him by slamming him against the stairs last week. Priest responded by attacking Dain ahead of the latter’s scheduled match against Dunne which ultimately resulted in a brawl between three fierce Superstars.

Tonight, this rivalry will finally unfold between yellow ropes as all three men will give their heart and soul to win an opportunity to face Adam Cole for the NXT Championship tomorrow night.

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#3. Single's match: Finn Balor vs Matt Riddle

Can Matt Riddle prove Finn Balor wrong tonight?

Ever since his return to NXT, Finn Balor has taken the pro-wrestling world by storm. He turned heel and attacked Johnny Gargano which saw the latter being side-lined due to neck-injury. But that was not enough to stop the former NXT Champion.

He took the ring to mock the likes of Gargano and Matt Riddle and taunted them by saying that they can’t take the beating. Following that, he was attacked by Riddle and they continued to brawl on several occasions.

Riddle was earlier a part of Tommaso Ciampa’s team that would face The Undisputed Era in WarGames. However, his feud with Finn Balor will now see him take on the latter tonight at the PPV.

Both Balor and Riddle are exceptionally talented Superstars. Their match has the potential to be the best bout of the night despite two WarGames matches on the card. It would be interesting to see how Riddle will tackle Balor who is determined to prove that the current NXT roster takes everything for granted.

#2. Men’s WarGames match: Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O'Reilly, and Roderick Strong) vs. Team Ciampa (Tommaso Ciampa, Keith Lee, Dominik Dijakovic, and TBA)

This match has brutality written all over it

After a prolonged hiatus from WWE due to an injury that Tommaso Ciampa sustained earlier this year, he finally returned to the Black and Gold brand to take back what belongs to him. He was forced to relinquish the NXT Championship which was then won by Adam Cole.

Now that Ciampa is back, he wants to get his hands on the gold but Cole is not yet ready to give up his title. The rivalry between these two Superstars saw their respective allies helping them and now they will lead their teams into a brutal encounter inside the monstrous cage.

Ciampa’s team saw Riddle being replaced by Dominik Dijakovic who was defeated by Cole in a ladder’s match to win the advantage for Undisputed Era.

The fourth member of Ciampa’s team will be revealed at the PPV and it is being speculated that John Morrison would be the one who will join Keith Lee and Dijakovic in backing Ciampa in his brutal rivalry against the stable that shook the system.

#1. Continued invasion

Would the 'Big Dog' dare to make NXT his yard?

Over the last few weeks, we have seen Superstars from RAW, SmackDown and NXT invade the live shows of the other brands to build up for the battle brand supremacy. NXT will be heading into one of the big 4 PPV’s of WWE as the ultimate underdogs in their first-ever appearance at Survivor Series.

We are yet to see the likes of Sasha Banks, Roman Reigns and Charlotte Flair arrive on the Black and Gold brand to make a statement. All these three Superstars are the team captains of their respective brands. It would be pretty huge if they make an appearance at WarGames and initiate a brawl to draw the final straw in the rivalry between the three brands.

This is the last chance to amplify the build-up for Survivor Series. The storyline narration can see few Superstars from RAW and SmackDown using the opportunity to gain an upper hand ahead of Sunday’s battle.

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