[epic music playing]
[narrator] The war has returned.
[male announcer] The sinister structure
will house a bone-rattling spectacle.
Welcome to NXT TakeOver: War Games.
[crowd cheering]
[narrator] Tonight, battle lines have been drawn.
[male announcer] The teams will be in two rings
in one cage
in War Games.
[narrator] Will there be retribution for valor?
[male announcer] Marina and Jessamyn
helped Shayna Baszler
win the NXT Women's Championship.
[narrator] Will treachery continue?
Where is he?
[crowd cheering]
Oh!
That's Johnny Gargano.
I'm right here.
[narrator] Can propaganda become a promise?
[man] People don't want a bunch of complaining at War Games.
What the people want at War Games is the experience.
[man 1] I am the guy that turns the Dream into a nightmare.
[narrator] In the midst of all the chaos,
opportunity still reigns.
The war is here.
Oh, but--
Oh, God.
[male announcer] This is chaos!
[narrator] Against War Raiders.
[man groans]
[narrator] It's Ricochet.
[male announcer] Can you imagine?
[narrator] It's Dunne.
[male announcer] These eight men
locked inside that War Games structure.
[man 2] There is nobody in NXT or all of WWE
who can handle War Games like the Undisputed Era can.
[rock music playing]
[woman] How many times am I gonna have to beat down Kairi Sane
before you people start to realize how insignificant she is?
[woman 1] Shayna Baszler, me and you,
2 out of 3 falls.
My treasure is coming back.
Why, Johnny, why?
Aleister, you got in the way.
[man 3] Johnny let the devil consume him.
[Gargano] I know myself, I'm the good guy.
[man 4] Johnny Gargano is a fallacy now.
[Gargano] That's the same spot I left you laying.
TakeOver: War Games, I'll leave you laying again.
[man 5] I'm going to expose you for the fraud that you really are.
[man 6] This is poetic.
At TakeOver: War Games, Los Angeles, Hollywood.
The ultimate spotlight is the NXT championship.
["Wonderful Life" playing]
[Ciampa] You get one opportunity to step into the spotlight.
[man 6] She'll be on my waist, shining brighter than ever.
[Ciampa] Your experience ends.
The Ciampa legacy continues.
[male announcer] Los Angeles better brace itself for a seismic shift.
Inside War Games, the score will be settled at TakeOver.
[narrator] Let the War Games begin.
[siren wailing]
[narrator] And now, League of Legends presents NXT TakeOver: War Games II.
[rock music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[male announcer] The Staples Center in Los Angeles is hosting
what has become an NXT Staple.
Instant classic TakeOver events.
Tonight, we burnish the Black and gold brand's rep
for delivering the hottest action in sports entertainment
with TakeOver: War Games II.
The most hostile environment in NXT
will house eight gladiators who will weave a tapestry of terror
inside the soul-stealing structure
containing two rings and the unforgettable chaos to come.
Hello there, I'm Mauro Ranallo
alongside Percy Watson and Nigel McGuinness.
Nigel, this past week, we lost pop culture icon, Stan Lee.
It's only fitting that tonight
we bring NXT's version of The Fantastic Four to the masses.
It's a quartet of combustible confrontations
culminating with War Games.
Well, that's right and if--
Last time we saw these eight superstars get their hands on each other,
it's anything to go by.
War Games is gonna be NXT's infinity war.
We always hear how brutal and physical these War Games matches are.
[narrator] War!
And you don't-- What?
[crowd cheering]
You don't win War Games, you survive 'em.
[cheerful music playing]
[Ranallo] He's not on our format.
We saw him on the pre-show,
but The Bro Show isn't supposed to stream on the WWE network until Wednesday
when he faces Kassius Ohno.
["Hey Bro" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] The self-proclaimed "king of bros,"
the "shining new toy"
from Kassius Ohno who-- guys, let's face it.
Ohno, a two-decade veteran, immense-level ring IQ,
getting fed up with being, well, looked over
at the expense of superstars like Matt Riddle.
And Matt Riddle making the seamless transition from MMA
to sports entertainment.
He is as blue chip a prospect in NXT as they come.
[Watson] That's part of it.
When Ohno first stepped on the scene in NXT,
he went right to the top, going for the spot.
He challenged Bobby Roode and Shinsuke Nakamura,
and he went to challenge this man, Matt Riddle,
to see if he will step up.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd] Bro, bro.
Bro…
[crowd cheering]
So, I'm not scheduled to have a match tonight on TakeOver.
[crowd booing]
But if you watched the kickoff show,
a certain someone, a certain Kassius Ohno
interrupted me.
[man 7 screams]
Now, we're scheduled to wrestle next Wednesday on NXT.
[crowd exclaiming]
But…
We're chilling in LA.
[crowd cheering]
We got a ring-- we got two rings down here
and I'll knock you out in both of them, bro.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd] Bro, bro.
[rap music playing]
[Ranallo] Well, it appears Kassius Ohno has answered the challenge.
Riddle, you are too stupid
to know you're not supposed to be out here right now.
And you're too stupid to know that you're not ready for TakeOver.
[crowd booing]
So we got a referee.
Hey ref, ring the bell.
Let's have ourselves a match.
And Matt, I hope you enjoy this moment
because you're not gonna be able to remember it
after I knock you out, bro.
[Ranallo] You never know what's gonna happen at TakeOver.
An unpredictable start to the card.
Ohno on the pre-show said he's going to expose--
[bell rings]
[Ranallo] Riddle in one second flat, instead he hits him with a final flash.
It's over in a flash, my God.
[bell rings]
[Watson] Was that official?
[female announcer] The winner, Matt Riddle.
[Ranallo] Yes, it was official.
The bell rang and then, Matt Riddle rang Kassius Ohno's bell.
[Watson] Ohno said he wasn't ready.
Matt Riddle looks ready to me.
[McGuinness] Kassius Ohno can't believe what just happened.
[Ranallo] Remember, during the pre-show,
Ohno said that when he steps into the ring with Riddle,
he's going to expose him in one second flat.
Well, it was Riddle who did just that.
[crowd cheering]
In a match that lasted about as long as a Hollywood marriage.
Wow!
[McGuinness] Ohno coming in, catching the knee right on the jaw.
[bell rings]
[Ranallo] Riddle me this.
"King of bros," how impressive was that?
[Watson] On a scale of one to ten, it's a ten.
Look at this right here.
[McGuinness] Look at Ohno, he can barely stand.
[Watson] Ohno said he wanted to see if he would step up.
This man stepped up in a cue here tonight.
[McGuinness] "Knockout artist" just got knocked out.
[crowd exclaiming]
[motivational music playing]
[Ranallo] Kassius Ohno can't believe what just transpired.
The veteran gets vanquished.
Well, in the time that it takes for you to post an Instagram story, Nigel.
What a lightning quick victory for the ultra-impressive Matt Riddle.
Incredible, Riddle came at it, tread his own opportunity and took it.
I mean, the bell was still ringing
when Ohno was on his way down to the mat.
Now, according to the format,
we're gonna get back to scheduled programing.
And Percy, you talked about a historic matchup.
The first-ever two-time NXT women's champion,
Shayna Baszler, welshed her epic rivalry with Kairi Sane,
continues in the first ever 2 out of 3 NXT women's championship match.
Well, Kairi Sane and Shayna Baszler have been battling
since the finals of last year's Mae Young Classic,
but the final chapter of that book
is getting written right in front of us.
[crowd cheering]
[triumphant music playing]
[Ranallo] Kairi Sane says she will retrieve her treasure tonight
and what a rivalry.
A rivalry for the ages
between the Pirate Princess and the Submission Magician,
and of course, at WWE's first ever all-female pay-per-view Evolution.
Sane lost the title to Shayna Baszler,
but with the help of Baszler's friends.
[McGuinness] You can say there were extenuating circumstances,
Jessamyn Duke, Marina Shafir were at ringside
and provided somewhat of a distraction.
[Watson] What do you mean, it cost Sane the title?
What are you talking about?
[Ranallo] Unfortunately, for Kairi Sane,
her title reign the shortest in NXT women's division,
but she is focused, she is ready
to once again, get on course and navigate the turbulent waters
that's Baszler bay.
[McGuinness] Four matches between these superstars thus far,
2-2 so far.
Who will take the rubber match?
Who will leave TakeOver: War Games as the NXT women's champion?
[joyful music playing]
[McGuinness] Sane looks nonplussed, she looks focused, confident.
[crowd cheering]
[rock music playing]
[McGuinness] Here comes her opponent, the gladiator, the champion,
the Submission Magician, Shayna Baszler.
She is ruthless, disagreeable, and ever so capable.
[Ranallo] And Baszler made history
at the historic first ever all-female WWE pay-per-view,
becoming the first ever two-time NXT women's champion.
Again, the assist to her fellow Horsewomen.
And Percy, Baszler, bad to the bone,
there are 206 bones in an adult human skeleton.
Baszler would take great pleasure in breaking every one.
[Watson] We all know Baszler likes to manipulate the body
and focus on whatever she can find to break her opponent down.
But tonight, it's about endurance.
It's about both competitors
and who will be able to go the distance in this 2 out of 3 falls match.
[rock music playing]
[McGuinness] Sane doesn't look intimidated.
Let's find out.
[rock music playing]
[Ranallo] Baszler tweeted she is the reason
this women's division has evolved.
Her favorite hashtag now is #ShaynaTwoTime.
[bell rings]
[female announcer] The following contest is a 2 out of 3 falls match.
And it is for the NXT women's championship.
[crowd cheering]
[female announcer] Introducing the challenger,
from Yamaguchi, Japan, Kairi Sane.
[crowd cheering]
[female announcer] And her opponent, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota,
she is the NXT women's champion, Shayna Baszler.
[crowd cheering]
[McGuinness] Look at that domineering face.
There is no doubt in Shayna Baszler's mind
that she is gonna leave Los Angeles with that title.
[Ranallo] There have been many memorable 2 out of 3 falls contests
in the annals of sports entertainment,
but this is the first for the NXT women's championship.
Harking back to the NXT Classic between Sami Zayn and Cesaro.
[bell rings]
[Ranallo] One of the best--
[Watson] Oh, man.
[Ranallo] Kairi Sane's wasting little time in attacking Shayna Baszler.
Wanting to quickly record that first victory
in this best 2 out of 3 falls matchup.
[Watson] Sane has vowed to reclaim her title.
Let's see if she's right.
[Ranallo] Whoa.
[McGuinness] Neckbreaker.
Not a bad start from Sane to start fast.
[crowd clamoring]
[McGuinness] In terms of strategy in this match,
that first decision, that first fall is all important.
[crowd cheering]
[Baszler moans]
[Ranallo] And Kairi Sane--
[McGuinness] Look at Baszler trying to protect herself.
[Sane yells]
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] Sane, possessed,
is reclaiming the NXT women's championship
and nailing Baszler with a sliding D.
[Watson] Baszler was not ready for this onslaught by Sane.
Let's see what she's got in mind.
Oh!
[Ranallo] Oh, flying kabuki elbow off the apron by Kairi Sane.
[Sane yells]
[Ranallo] And it's one-way traffic for the Pirate Princess early.
[man 8] Three--
[McGuinness] She's grabbing her teeth.
[crowd cheering]
[McGuinness] She's bleeding.
[Watson] She's got that mouthpiece,
teeth would be flying.
[Ranallo] Baszler has the champion's advantage
and Sane is cognizant of that.
[Watson] Wait.
[Ranallo] …back into the ring. Wait!
[Watson] Hey, come on.
[Ranallo] Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke again.
[Watson] Brilliant.
[Watson] That should be a fall.
[Ranallo] Referee doesn't see it, this is what went down at Evolution,
what cost Kairi Sane the NXT women's title.
[Watson] That should be a fall for Sane.
[Ranallo] Oh, and Baszler--
[McGuinness] The Kirifuda Clutch.
In the center.
[Ranallo] Baszler is ragdolling the dominative dynamo, Kairi Sane,
trying to cinch in the Kirifuda Clutch.
[Sanemoans]
[McGuinness] Sane, fighting for her life, understandably so.
She needs to tap now and might, yes.
[Ranallo] And she does, Sane forced to tap and relinquish
the first fall of the 2 out of 3 falls championship match to Baszler.
[female announcer] Shayna Baszler has scored a fall.
[Ranallo] But in the immortal words of Yogi Berra,
"it's deja vu all over again."
[McGuinness] Irrespective of why it happened,
it was a smart move from Kairi Sane.
She knew that this is a 2 out of 3 falls match.
If she had held longer, she could have been out
and then, that would have been--
-[Ranallo] oh, that knee-- -[Watson] This might be two.
[Ranallo] Two straight falls-- no.
Sane's able to escape the wrath of Shayna Baszler.
No surprise, the number one trend worldwide on Twitter
is NXT TakeOver,
with what has been an explosive start to this NXT women's championship match.
Baszler ahead, one fall to none.
[Watson] This is ridiculous.
After what happened at Evolution,
where Shayna Baszler took back the title,
the Horsewomen should be banned from ringside.
[McGuinness] Shayna Baszler is too fast indeed.
It's underneath the jaw.
[Ranallo] Sane's trying to roll to the rope.
[Watson] She's so close.
[McGuinness] Now, Sane has no choice.
[Ranallo] Baszler needs to break.
[man 9] Kairi.
[McGuinness] That's gotta go to Kairi Sane.
She came out really.
[Ranallo] Sane's not treading water,
she's underwater, trying to gulp air,
trying to get her breath back.
Buying as much time as she can here with this striking attack,
but Baszler catches the kick.
[Sane] Oh!
[McGuinness] Oh, nasty Single Leg Boston
with the sole of the boot on the jaw of Kairi Sane.
I don't think we'll see a submission victory out of this,
but a lot of pain.
[crowd] Oh!
[Ranallo] Oh, Baszler stomps the face of Kairi Sane.
Baszler, the former mixed martial artist,
brings back something that was legal in Japan with the pride promotion.
[Watson] Look at Shayna Baszler, completely dominating,
in complete control over Kairi Sane.
[Ranallo] And it's more than just pride on the line.
The NXT women's championship at stake.
[McGuinness] Sane can afford to--
Excuse me, now Baszler can afford to take her time a little bit.
She has that cushion, that one-fall advantage.
And aside from that, as this--
[Ranallo] My goodness, Sane tied--
Being tied up like a pretzel by Shayna Baszler.
[Shayna yells]
[Referee] The torque.
[Ranallo] Just wrenching the neck of Kairi Sane.
[Watson] Look at the face when you can.
Look at the face of Baszler,
she's enjoying the punishment she's inflicting on Sane.
[Ranallo] Let's not forget that Sane finds herself
behind the proverbial eight ball.
Right here, going for the cover.
And Baszler escapes,
but, Nigel, it was Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir
that helped Baszler draw first blood in this two of three falls match.
[McGuinness] It wasn't an accident.
[Ranallo] Roll up by-- Sane, gets a two-count.
[McGuinness] These three women have--
[man 9] Again.
How much more can-- Wow, what a beautiful escape by Sane.
Shoulders of Baszler were down for two.
[McGuinness] That was exactly the way that Sane beat Baszler
for the title originally.
[crowd booing]
[McGuinness] Baszler has doubted Sane' s killer instinct.
[Ranallo] Oh!
[Sane yells]
[Ranallo] Sane's resilience on display.
Baszler trying to block the striking attack of Sane.
And Sane does not wanna get into a striking exchange.
[McGuinness] But we're seeing right now--
The striking advantage has got to go to Baszler.
Ooh!
[Ranallo] A close line by Baszler,
but Sane possess that Bushido spirit, the way of the warrior.
[McGuinness] Now we'll see that confidence advantage
from Shayna Baszler.
Not only the one-fall advantage,
but as the first ever two-time NXT women's champion.
That's got to give her some confidence.
[Ranallo] The fifth meeting between Kairi Sane and Shayna Baszler,
and Sane was looking to deliver
the shoulder into the midsection, avoided by Baszler.
[Watson] Oh, no, no.
[crowd] Oh.
[Ranallo] Oh, no.
Counter spike DDT on the apron by Kairi Sane.
[Watson] This is Kairi's moment.
Look at Shafir, look at Duke.
[crowd cheering]
[Duke] She's not there yet.
[Ranallo] Sane has to get the champion back in the ring
if she wants to even the score.
however, after blasting Shayna Baszler.
[crowd] Wow.
[Ranallo] What a DDT!
[McGuinness] It was Baszler looking for the superplex off the apron,
and instead, turned around.
[Ranallo] Oh.
Jessamyn Duke getting her comeuppance, as does Marina Shafir.
[McGuinness] They have to be careful.
The referee could disqualify--
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] Yes, and remember, if Shayna Baszler's counted out,
it will be even at one,
but Sane wants to make a statement.
[Watson] Here we go.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] Mama Mia.
The Pirate Princess is flying in Los Angeles.
[crowd chanting]
[Ranallo] Sane doesn't wanna win the fall by count-out.
She wants to pin or submit the NXT women's champion.
Kairi Sane perched on the top turnbuckle.
Dropping anchor with the Insane Elbow.
[crowd counting]
[Ranallo] We are even at one fall a piece from the NXT women's championship.
[female announcer] Kairi Sane has scored a fall.
[Watson] Give it to Kairi Sane showing a ton of heart, staying in it.
Staying in it to fight to win her NXT women's championship.
[Ranallo] And what about the statement made by Sane,
not wanting to win via count-out?
Bringing the champion back into the ring
and making her pay with the Insane Elbow.
-[Watson] Whoa. -[Ranallo] That's the interceptor.
[McGuinness] If I was Sane, I'd win any way I could.
[Ranallo] And she may very well be on her way with another interceptor.
Is Sane on the cusp of joining Baszler as the only two-time NXT women's champion?
[Watson] One more time.
[Ranallo] A hat trick of interceptors here in the home of the Los Angeles Kings.
Can Sane once again be crowned queen?
Spinning back fist, it took two, but Baszler's down.
[McGuinness] I think Baszler was on her way down after the first.
Well, if Sane hits this--
[Ranallo] But Baszler's back to her feet.
Nails Sane with the right hand.
[McGuinness] Great wherewithal from Baszler to come back.
[Ranallo] Precarious position on the second turnbuckle.
Headbutt by Sane, the challenger.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd] Oh!
[Sane yells]
[crowd] Yes!
[McGuinness] A fighting spirit from Sane.
[crowd] Oh!
[McGuinness] Baszler's giving it back.
[Ranallo] And Baszler's now firing away with right hands
and clubbing forearms to the back of Kairi Sane.
Baszler's looking for the gut wrench.
Oh!
Reversal by Sane, sunset flip powerbomb,
stacking the NXT women's champion.
Oh, just a two count.
Just a two count.
High drama in this NXT women's championship match.
Again, two superstars who know each other as well as you can,
having had four formidable meetings thus far.
[crowd cheering]
[McGuinness] What's Sane looking for?
[Ranallo] The Alabama slam in Los Angeles.
[Duke] Hey!
[Ranallo] Now, Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir--
-[Watson] No! -[Ranallo] She pushes Sane.
[Watson] Do something about this!
The Horsewomen keep interfering.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] Here she comes -[Watson] Here we go.
[Ranallo] It's Dakota Kai.
And now comes the captain of Team Kick, Jessamyn Duke,
but now Shafir's all over Kai.
[McGuinness] Kai has had her issues with Shayna Baszler in the past.
Wanted to come out here and even the odds.
[Ranallo] Shayna Baszler made her memorable NXT TV debut
against Dakota Kai, but Kai's trying to even the odds.
It's still the Numbers Game,
but here comes Sane's Japanese compatriot,
the finalist of the Mae Young Classic, Io Shirai.
[Ranallo] The genius of the--
She's gonna fly, Orihara Moonsault, mamma mia.
[crowd cheering]
[Watson] The tides have turned, this could be it right here.
[Ranallo] Insane Elbow off the top.
Oh, no. Countered by Baszler. Shoulders are down.
Baszler escapes with the NXT women's title.
[female announcer] Your winner is still
NXT women's champion, Shayna Baszler.
[Baszler yells]
[McGuinness] What a victory!
[Ranallo] By hook or by crook, Shayna Baszler continues to prove
that she has what it takes to win at all cost, Percy.
Yes, she had help from Jessamyn Duke, Marina Shafir,
the other members of the Horsewomen,
but she still stands tall as NXT women's champion.
[Watson] I give it to her,
Shayna Baszler is one of the toughest competitors at NXT,
but would the outcome be the same if the Horsewomen were not involved?
[McGuinness] As far as I can see, it was three-on-three
and at the end of the day, as we take a look here,
Shayna Baszler got the job done.
[crowd cheering]
[McGuinness] There was a little bit of help.
[Ranallo] A little?
[McGuinness] But out came Dakota Kai to try to even the odds.
And then Io Shirai made it three on three.
[Ranallo] Wow, look at this.
[McGuinness] With this thing of beauty.
[Ranallo] Picture perfect.
[McGuinness] But ultimately, when the odds were even,
when it came down to the wire, who left as champion?
This will answer your question.
Baszler, wide and awake, rolled up the Pirate Princess…
[ring bells]
[McGuinness] …and got the victory.
[Ranallo] And Shayna Baszler sends the Pirate Princess,
Kairi Sane's title aspirations to Davy Jones' locker
as she maintains her lock on the NXT women's gold.
[Duke] That's all you, all day.
[Shafir] You deserve it.
[Duke] Yeah, you're right.
[rock music playing]
[narrator] WWE Survivor Series,
the one night of the year when RAW and SmackDown live go head-to-head.
[dramatic music playing]
[narrator] Featuring matches never seen before.
[male announcer] This is monumental.
[narrator] Champion versus champion.
[male announcer] The biggest versus the best.
You can't get any better than this.
[narrator] Team versus team.
RAW and SmackDown live collide at Survivor Series.
["Voices" playing]
[narrator] You're listening to "Voices"
by Motionless In White from the album Graveyard Shift,
an NXT Loud theme song for NXT TakeOver: War Games.
It's available now on iTunes and Spotify.
["Voices" playing]
[Ranallo] And X-Pac is in the house with his canine friend.
And man, he was a member of so many memorable stables,
including D-Generation X.
And tonight, at the main event, the Undisputed Era
put their winning streak in War Games on the line.
Great to see X-Pac in the house.
[McGuinness] Well, talking of winning streaks,
121 days as champion for Tommaso Ciampa.
I guarantee you Ciampa has not forgotten
that Velveteen Dream implicated him in Aleister Black's attack.
Will Ciampa get payback or will the Dream steal Ciampa's spotlight?
[rock music playing]
[man 10] And tonight at War Games,
Black looks to collect his pound of flesh.
Gargano not only cost him his NXT title,
he brutally attacked Black and left him sidelined for months.
Tonight, Black looks for redemption
when he goes toe-to-toe with Johnny Gargano tonight.
[tense music playing]
Why Johnny, why?
[Ranallo] The identity of who attacked Black was this summer's biggest mystery.
I was walking right by--
Did you attack Aleister Black?
This was the path I took the night you were found laying.
Look into my eyes, you'll know your answer.
[Ranallo] The fog of suspicion yet to be lifted
on really anyone on the NXT Roster.
I know, I know.
I know.
The end of that path leads me to Tommaso Ciampa.
[Ranallo] What the hell?
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] Whoa.
[man 11] He didn't mean to do that.
[Ranallo] Tommaso Ciampa is now the NXT champion.
[Gargano] This is not your NXT, not while I'm still breathing.
[Ranallo] Oh, and Black--
[man 11] Oh.
[man 12] The only reason he's NXT champion is because of you.
You got in the way.
[Ranallo] With Black removed,
Ciampa will defend the championship against Johnny Gargano.
That's why, Aleister.
Can we get some help, please?
[man 13] I feel bad for you, you're confused.
[man 14] I'm not confused.
Johnny is confused.
[man 15] Do I look confused to you? I know exactly who I am.
I think it's Johnny who doesn't know who he is.
[Gargano] I'm the good guy.
[man 16] He is a fraud.
I'm the hero at the end of this story.
[man 13] No, Johnny, you're not a hero.
You're not a hero in this story.
You are a coward.
[Gargano] I do one thing,
one little thing that some people may consider evil
and everyone freaks out.
He's coming, he's coming.
-[man 13 moans] -[Ranallo] Oh, my God.
Aleister Black is back.
-[man 15] Where is he? -[male announcer] I don't know.
[crowd] Oh
[man 11] Oh!
[Gargano] I'm not ashamed.
The ends justify the means.
[McGuinness] That doesn't mean there are no repercussions.
Gargano must face atonement
when he stands face-to-face with the devil himself.
After everything I've been through…
[crowd cheering]
…I'm not scared of you.
[man 13] I want him to wake up realizing the error of his ways.
What I've learned is…
-[man 13] Emotion makes you crazy. -[Gargano] …Sometimes…
…around here…
[woman 3] Kick his ass.
[man 15 whispering] My moment.
…You gotta fight a little dirty.
["Rebel Heart" playing]
[Bell rings]
[female announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring from Cleveland, Ohio,
weighing in at 199 pounds, Johnny Gargano.
[crowd booing]
[Ranallo] A smattering of boos for Johnny Gargano
prosing the question, of course, "why, Johnny, why?"
He gave us an answer.
What do you make of the answer that Johnny Gargano gave
in regard to why he was the man who attacked Aleister Black?
[Watson] He felt like Black was in the way,
like Black was collateral damage
and all that was to get his hands again on Tommaso Ciampa.
This man was the reason why Black lost his NXT title.
He was the reason why Black could not, again, compete for the title
at TakeOver: Brooklyn 4.
I got the feeling that Gargano is gonna pay dearly tonight.
[McGuinness] I guarantee, I think that Gargano messed with the wrong guy.
[music continues]
[Ranallo] Gargano contends that he didn't do anything wrong.
He's not afraid of Aleister Black.
Remember, Gargano
pinned Aleister Black in that Fatal 4-Way to determine the number one contender
for the NXT championship last December.
[rock music playing]
[inaudible]
[Ranallo] And we wanna remind you NXT TakeOver: War Games
is presented by League of Legends.
Play for free at leagueoflegends.com
and as much games as League of Legends on display
in what is another stellar TakeOver event,
but this is a good old-fashioned grudge match.
[crowd cheering]
Come on.
Bring me the Black Mass.
[rock music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[music continues]
[crowd cheering]
[metal music playing]
[Ranallo] Johnny Gargano's heinous actions
have brought the devil out in Aleister Black who is apoplectic.
He is coming to collect his pound of flesh.
[music continues]
[female announcer] And his opponent, from Amsterdam, Holland,
weighing in at 215 pounds, Aleister Black.
[crowd cheering]
[McGuinness] The devil's envoy with a bad message for Johnny Gargano.
The horns of retribution on his shoulders.
If you're Gargano,
you gotta be shaking in your boots right now, surely.
[Ranallo] It was NXT's twisted sister, Nikki Cross,
who had a bird's eye view
of the parking lot attack at full sail live.
She spilled the beans to black, identifying Johnny Gargano, Percy.
And Johnny wrestling, he said he woke up feeling dangerous
like his beloved Cleveland Browns' quarterback,
Baker Mayfield.
"He made me the entire Cleveland Browns' team
to keep Aleister Black at bay."
[Watson] Ever since Nikki Cross told Aleister Black
who the assailant was, Black has been on an absolute rampage.
[crowd cheering]
[McGuinness] Gargano is clearly unapologetic.
Black took to social media, he said:
"Forgiveness is for those fear death…"
[ring bells]
"…there shall be no remorse."
[Ranallo] Johnny Gargano and his record, 11th TakeOver match.
That epic rivalry with Tommaso Ciampa,
still very much in Gargano's purview and he sees Black standing in the way.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting]
[inaudible]
[Ranallo] Dueling chants here at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
And Aleister Black--
[crowd cheering]
-[Ranallo] Oh, wow. -[McGuinness] Oh, no.
You are nothing.
[McGuinness] What is Gargano doing?
[Ranallo] Black explodes with a kick to the face
and Black's utilizing that technique to attack Johnny Gargano,
but Gargano misses with the--
[McGuinness] Whoa.
[Ranallo] And Black just kicked Gargano's face almost off his shoulders.
[man 17] Get in Aleister, come on, get him back in.
[Ranallo] Well-versed martial artist in his native Netherlands,
the first Dutch-born athlete in WWE, Aleister Black,
but now he's on the receiving end of that striking attack from Gargano.
Come on, come on.
[McGuinness] It's cat and mouse from Gargano.
[Watson] Look at his quickness.
[Ranallo] Gargano using his defense,
trying to tire out Black as Black has been--
[Watson] Oh, look at this.
[Ranallo] Oh, wow, you talk about getting inside the head of Black.
And Gargano avoids a kick and delivers a kick of his own.
And Johnny Gargano with the early edge on Aleister Black.
[crowd] Oh!
[McGuinness] I saw the boot landing in the shoulder blade,
but Black turns things around, no.
[crowd chanting]
[McGuinness] Gargano has done a great job in the early going of this match
by taking the majority of the offense.
[Ranallo] And while this match is as personal as it gets,
remember, both of them are still vying for the opportunity
to become NXT champion.
It was Johnny Gargano's obsession with Tommaso Ciampa
that costs Aleister Black the title.
And that may have cost Johnny Gargano some teeth.
[crowd] Oh!
[McGuinness] Now, the strikes, the kicks--
That knee caught him right across the jaw.
[Ranallo] The striking man from Amsterdam is ready to take flight.
[Watson] Whoa.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] Oh, and Gargano…
[Watson] My goodness.
[Ranallo] …immediately delivering a kick to Black.
[crowd chattering]
[McGuinness] Well, I did not expect this start to the match.
[Watson] Gargano said he's laid Black out twice, he'll do it again.
[Ranallo] And now, the boos begin to rain down on Johnny Gargano,
who's gotten in touch with his dark side and, dare I say,
he's beginning to like it.
[McGuinness] Black got caught off guard when Gargano slapped him.
It really infuriated Black, but to a certain extent.
Black forgot about his training and just came out.
[crowd chattering]
[Ranallo] Gargano lands on his feet.
O'Connor roll, shoulders down.
[Black screams]
[crowd] Oh.
[Ranallo] Beautifully done by Gargano.
There's a reason he is still called Johnny Wrestling
[McGuinness] The ability to do that sort of a technical transition
in this sort of a tense, pent-up match.
That speaks to Johnny Gargano's mental state, surely.
[crowd clapping]
[Ranallo] After so many months
of Tommaso Ciampa getting into the head of Johnny Gargano,
it appears now that Gargano's in the head of Aleister Black.
Gargano is looking for la magistral
and a good distribution of weight by black.
[crowd] Oh.
[Ranallo] And Gargano again, goes for the cover.
And Aleister Black kicks out,
but Aleister Black's trying to recalibrate,
trying to get himself back mentally and physically into this match.
[Gargano] Come on.
[Watson] Hey.
[Ranallo] How important is this match for the psyche of Johnny Gargano?
[McGuinness] This is super important, I think, really,
he sees himself as the hero in this conflict.
But he has to win here to really put any kind of belief behind that.
[Ranallo] And he's showcasing more of an edge, Percy,
with those knife edge chops against Aleister Black.
Johnny Gargano's feeling himself.
[Watson] Yeah, I can completely see why he's already taken out Black twice.
But this is not easy.
Black sees what's coming tonight.
There's no ambush tonight.
[Ranallo] I am surprised Gargano is a step ahead
in the striking department on Aleister Black
and Gargano rolls Black through.
Oh, but both of them are missing with their strikes.
Before Gargano lands that forearm from the Southpaw position
before being doubled over with that knee to the midsection by Black.
[McGuinness] This is the second time here
that Black has been able to mount a significant offense.
[Ranallo] And Gargano is avoiding Black momentarily…
[Watson] Not this time.
[Ranallo] …he didn't avoid that kick to the face.
[Watson] Whoa!
[Ranallo] Tope con hilo by Aleister Black, wipes out Johnny Gargano at ringside.
[Black] Come on!
[Ranallo] And the emotional release of Aleister Black,
put on the sidelines.
[McGuinness] Look at Aleister Black pulling out all the stops,
incredible, taking his eyes off of Gargano
for the very last second to ensure that he contacted.
[Ranallo] And that is Black's physical way
of getting into the head of Johnny Gargano,
who is used to collecting air miles.
Black's putting the boots to Gargano.
Irish whip.
Oh, beautiful sweep by Black.
[crowd] Oh!
And Black again continues that striking attack
using all eight points of his limbs.
[McGuinness] Oh.
[Ranallo] Quebrada, into the cover by Back.
[crowd] Oh!
[Watson] Gargano did not expect this type of fight,
this type of offense from Aleister Black.
He did not see this coming.
[McGuinness] How could he not?
[Ranallo] When you strip it all away,
two of the most technically proficient sports entertainers
in NXT and yet, this is more than just about the match.
This is very personal for both superstars,
and yet both of them want to get to the same destination, the NXT title.
[McGuinness] Black is a man who says,
"if you don't like me, come at me."
And that's fair enough.
It wasn't so much that Gargano attacked him,
it was that he attacked him and then hid from him for months.
[Ranallo] Waistlock by Black, back elbow breaks the grip.
Oh, superkick by Black, too.
That sends Gargano outside the ring.
And Black utilizing the ring.
[Watson] Hold on.
[Ranallo] And Black lands on his feet, doesn't know where Gargano is.
Tope, into the DDT.
Johnny Gargano just planted Black on the outside of the ring.
[crowd chattering]
[Ranallo] And another slingshot DDT, will this be it?
[crowd cheering]
[McGuinness] Oh.
[Ranallo] Black barely survives as Johnny Gargano on the cusp
of eliminating Aleister Black and focusing once again on Ciampa.
[McGuinness] So close, here, we'll take a look.
Over the top, hitting the DDT, full impact.
[crowd chattering]
[McGuinness] What's going through the head of Gargano?
He's done very well thus far in the match.
[Watson] I'll go back to a point that you made
about Johnny Gargano hiding from Black.
I don't think he hid from Black, I don't think he did at all.
I think he was trying to get his bearings together
to figure out his next move.
You couldn't do it.
[McGuinness] If this is his next move--
-[man 16] Come here, Johnny. -[man 17] Watch it.
[crowd] Oh!
You're not the chosen one, I am.
[crowd cheering]
You can't get the job done, Aleister. You can't--
[Ranallo] Gargano is talking trash.
Oh, spinning back elbow by Black.
What a beautiful step-up enzuigiri by Gargano
and both superstars are now showcasing their hard-hitting offense.
The defense is definitely not hermetically sealed.
[crowd] Oh, oh!
[McGuinness] Flurry of offense--
-[Ranallo] A dazzling display-- -[Watson] Man!
[Ranallo] Spike rana by Gargano.
Oh, what a knee.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] What a brutal knee.
[crowd chanting]
[Ranallo] They're on their feet here at Staples Center,
showing their approbation for two of the very best
in this hard-hitting grudge match.
Thirteen thousand, five hundred and ninety-eight in attendance
here tonight for TakeOver: War Games II,
and this war is just brewing.
[crowd cheering]
Well, Aleister Black said that he was gonna expose Johnny Gargano
for the fraud that he is.
I've gotta be honest.
[Ranallo] And the two rings,
which will house the War Games match coming up,
but Black's utilizing the other ring.
Gargano's in one ring, Black's in the other.
And it's Black that blasts Gargano in the face.
-[Ranallo] Oh, wow. -[McGuinness] Oh!
[crowd] Oh.
-[Watson] Oh, man -[Ranallo] Dazzling display by Black.
[Ranallo] German suplex with a bridge and a two-count.
[crowd cheering]
[Watson] We're talking about the guts and resilience
of Johnny Gargano being able to withstand that flurry and kick out
before the count of three.
[crowd chanting]
[Ranallo] A chant that has become a staple in NXT TakeOver events,
“this is awesome, this is grueling."
This is Johnny Gargano versus Aleister Black.
[McGuinness] Oh, got him.
[Ranallo] Gargano with the close line on the former NXT champion.
[McGuinness] But Gargano's slow to follow up after all the energy
that Gargano has used thus far in the match.
[Ranallo] Gargano's looking for the Gargano escape.
[McGuinness] He's got it.
Right in the center of the ring.
[Ranallo] As NXT TakeOver trends number one worldwide.
Gargano will be the number one contender, roll-up by Black
and Black almost put himself in the pole position.
[crowd] Oh!
[Ranallo] A cavalcade of kicks.
An incredibly grueling matchup here between Gargano and Black.
-[Ranallo] And-- -[Watson] Man.
[Ranallo] It was like Snake Eyes on that second turnbuckle
by a man who, I have to admit,
is beginning to act like a bit of a snake to some of the NXT universe.
[McGuinness] There's a smile on the face of that snake right now.
Salivating.
Eyeing his prey.
[Ranallo] Gargano can sense
he's a tapout away.
[Watson] What? Oh.
Wow, no.
Gargano's poking the bear.
[Ranallo] Oh, well, going back to his DIY days.
[crowd booing]
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] Black is saying, "bring it."
[Black] Give me your best shot.
[Ranallo] "Give me your best shot" is what Aleister Black wants.
[Black] Give me your best shot.
[Ranallo] Gargano exposes the knee.
-[Watson] No! -[Ranallo] Black avoids it.
-[Watson] Oh. -[Ranallo] But the kick connects.
[McGuinness] Didn't avoid that.
[Ranallo] And another running knee.
Gargano could put Black away here.
Black powers out.
[crowd cheering]
And Gargano in a mixed state of befuddlement and prayer,
wondering what is it going to take to finally vanquish Aleister Black.
[McGuinness] Aleister Black thought that he had the genius move.
He sat in the center,
expecting Gargano to come with a knee, which Gargano did.
He was gonna roll him up,
but instead, Gargano again, playing a better game of chess, hitting that kick.
[Ranallo] Both superstars have had emotionally draining years.
Gargano obsessed with Tommaso--
[crowd cheering]
[crowd booing]
[Ranallo] Johnny Gargano continues to just pummel Aleister Black.
Oh.
[Ranallo] And I'm beginning to think, and it's quite evident,
that yes, a win to get another opportunity at the NXT title
is the most important thing, but Gargano wants to hurt Black.
[McGuinness] Black is rubber-legged.
[Ranallo] Oh.
[crowd] Oh!
[Watson] Black's got a lot of fight left in him it looks like,
[Ranallo] A furious exchange of strikes.
[McGuinness] They're gonna try to protect themselves.
[Ranallo] And it does not behoove
Gargano to get into a striking contest with the striking man from Amsterdam.
But Gargano standing in the pocket.
[crowd] Oh.
[Ranallo] What a knee.
Popped Gargano's head back like a PEZ dispenser
and Gargano drops Black to the outside.
-[McGuinness] And what-- -[Watson] Hold on.
Tope suicida, but what incredible timing by Black.
Black blasting Gargano in the face with a knee.
[McGuinness] That knee directly to the jaw.
[crowd cheering]
[Watson] Guys, one more time, take a look at this.
Johnny Gargano thought he had Aleister Black dead to rights,
but watch the impact by Aleister Black.
[McGuinness] That knee landed perfectly upside the jaw of Johnny Gargano.
[Ranallo] And the Black metal fan, Aleister Black,
with better timing than a metronome on that nasty knee to the face.
[crowd chanting]
[Ranallo] A war of attrition here in Los Angeles.
Aleister Black and Johnny Gargano,
Gargano responsible for the biggest mystery of the summer.
The man responsible for attacking Aleister Black
in the parking lot and now,
Gargano begging off after all he's done to the Dutch destroyer?
[Watson] There's no way Black will have mercy.
[McGuinness] Gonna buy time.
[Ranallo] Johnny Gargano now at the mercy of Aleister Black.
[crowd yelling]
I'm so sorry.
Just do it.
Give me the Black Mass, just do it.
[Ranallo] Is Gargano--?
[McGuinness] He's kissed--
[Ranallo] Gargano asking Black to finish him, to put him out of his misery,
am I hearing this right?
[McGuinness] You have better hearing than me.
[Ranallo] What is Gargano doing?
I gave you mercy.
Thank you.
[Ranallo] Oh!
Gargano, blocking the attempt of the Black Mass,
rolls black up for a two.
[Watson] He escaped!
[Ranallo] Gargano escaped.
[McGuinness] Gargano is a [indistinct].
[Ranallo] The method to the madness of Johnny Gargano on full display.
[man 18] Come on Aleister!
[Ranallo] Johnny Gargano's looking to be Johnny TakeOver.
He wants to take Aleister Black's soul away from him in this grudge match.
I'm the hero.
[McGuinness] Black is now trying to break the grip,
that monkey grip of Johnny Gargano.
[Ranallo] Roll-up by black.
And Black able to break the grip.
And then wow, a spinning knee,
a spinning knee that cut Johnny Gargano on the side of the face.
[McGuinness] But Aleister Black is stunned.
[Ranallo] The smorgasbord of strikes
put on display by Aleister Black
as he's ready now for his [indistinct].
[Watson] He comes in.
[Ranallo] Step up knee to the jaw.
And look, he's holding Gargano up with his foot.
[McGuinness] That unprotected knee landed.
-[Watson] Oh, man. -[Ranallo] Black Mass.
And Gargano being held up by Black.
[McGuinness] Gargano's out on his feet.
[crowd cheering]
I absolve you of all your sins.
[Ranallo] Aleister Black wiped out Gargano with another Black Mass.
Last flight for Johnny Wrestling.
[ring bells]
[Ranallo] Sweet retribution for Aleister Black.
[female announcer] The winner, Aleister Black.
[metal music playing]
[Ranallo] As hard-hitting an encounter as you can experience.
[Watson] And guys, it was just a matter of time.
Gargano had this night, he had it coming.
[Ranallo] Black gains a measure of revenge.
Is it enough after all
that Johnny Gargano gets Aleister Black and his career and his health, Nigel?
[McGuinness] There's only one man who could answer that question, Mauro.
We are looking at him there.
We'll take a look at how this match wins,
there, Gargano pushing Black to the outside
but Black was lying in wait for this.
Wow.
Jumping knee strike floored Gargano flush on the jaw.
And then next the first of two Black Mass spinning heel kicks.
[Ranallo] Not one Black Mass but two, the debt must be paid.
[McGuinness] He told Johnny Gargano, "I will absolve you of your sins."
And with that, a second Black Mass.
[Ranallo] Aleister Black snuffs out Johnny Gargano's pilot light.
The darkness reigns.
[metal music playing]
[Ranallo] So much spite in the shots of the Dutch destroyer.
Aleister Black once again
has the NXT championship in his sights.
[metal music playing]
[McGuinness] They are the Undisputed Era,
the well-oiled machine discussing strategy.
They have the experience advantage this time,
but you have to think is there any trepidation
trepidation going into the most dangerous, brutal match in NXT history?
[metal music playing]
[Ranallo] And still to come,
it's all about the ultimate spotlight in Los Angeles,
but more importantly it's about the NXT championship.
The so-called greatest sports entertainer of all time, Tommaso Ciampa,
defending Goldy against Velveteen Dream.
Dream promises to bring the experience of a lifetime.
[Ciampa] Don't you stare at the champ's title.
When you're at the top, they will always try to chop you down.
[Ranallo] I have a feeling that his reign of terror is just starting.
[Ciampa] Be careful and stay out of the champ's spotlight.
[McGuinness] Look at how much he loves that NXT championship.
[Ciampa] Your NXT champion,
Tommaso Ciampa.
[crowd booing]
[man 6] You believe that you're a bad, bad man, don't you?
Really?
[Dream] What the people want at War Games is an experience.
Give the Dream a moment with you and the NXT championship.
And--
[crowd chanting]
Listen.
[Watson] Velveteen Dream loves the spotlight,
he loves the attention, he loves the adoration from the NXT universe.
[Dream] Dream's been loud and clear.
[McGuinness] Oozing confidence.
[Ranallo] But he has been successful inside an NXT ring.
[Dream] It's the people who have just caught on.
You think I haven't seen a kid like Velveteen Dream
get put in my spotlight and crack under pressure?
When I want to confront someone, I do it in front of an audience.
[Ranallo] And Ciampa on top of the man that will challenge
for his NXT championship.
I'm the champ, you don't steal my spotlight.
[narrator] With the entire world watching.
Do the lights get any brighter?
Your experience ends.
[Dream] One shot at the NXT championship.
My legacy.
[Dream] The next thing--
…the Ciampa legacy.
[Ranallo] Tommaso Ciampa taken out by Velveteen Dream.
[Ciampa] Velveteen Dream has gone about this entire thing the wrong way.
He need to show respect.
This means more to me
than anything Velveteen Dream has ever experienced in his life.
[Dream] You're a smart man, you are a dangerous man, Tommaso Ciampa,
but you're blind, man.
That anger, that rage, all you see is red
and if you can't see the Velveteen Dream coming,
you'll stay blind.
[Ranallo] Velveteen Dream's sending his own message to the champion.
[Dream] The ultimate spotlight is the NXT championship,
it should be on my waist, shining brighter than ever.
They chant his name and he thinks he's accomplished something.
[Dream] People understand what the Dream is capable of.
I soak in that spotlight.
[Dream] Ciampa, he's a scared little man acting like he runs the place.
But there has been a lightning bolt that has struck NXT this past year,
you're looking at him.
[Ciampa] Velveteen Dream, you step into my spotlight,
I promise you, you will burn to the ground.
["Velveteen" playing]
[Ranallo] Set for the NXT championship match,
the biggest opportunity of Velveteen Dream's career
and it looks like the Dream's gone Hollywood, brother.
[McGuinness] Well, we're not far from Venice beach,
you know what they say, when it comes crashing down and hurts inside,
you got to take a stand, but is this the stand of Velveteen Dream,
who's gonna be able to take as the NXT champion?
[Ranallo] The volupté Velveteen Dream, a walking Instagram filter,
a sartorial statement, know no bounds,
the one accoutrement Velveteen Dream is missing is the NXT championship
and it's all about the spotlight in the city of angels, Percy,
and Velveteen Dream is more than ready for his close-up at the NXT title,
what Tommaso Ciampa refers to lovingly as Goldy.
[Watson] Think of all the places in the world,
right here in Hollywood, right here in LA
as for Velveteen Dream wants to capitalize and dethrone the champ
and claim the NXT title.
[Ranallo] And, guys, remember Velveteen Dream
captured the attention of Ciampa
when he implicated the NXT champion in the attack on Aleister Black.
[McGuinness] I guarantee you Tommaso Ciampa has not forgotten that.
[instrumental music playing]
[Ranallo] Velveteen Dream seeking to bring a true experience
to the self-proclaimed greatest sports entertainer
of all time's fingerprint laden, NXT title.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] A showman nonpareil
looking to become at age 23
the second youngest NXT champion in history.
Bo Dallas won the title just shy of his 23rd birthday.
[siren wailing]
[metal music playing]
[McGuinness] And here comes the obsidian heart of a champion,
Tommaso Ciampa, since winning that title
sees himself somewhat as a cult figure.
[Ranallo] Look at this entrance, it's all about chaos,
it's all about not subscribing to society's norms.
Tommaso Ciampa, a man who lives on his own island, Percy.
And he only needs his beloved Goldy to keep him company.
[Watson] It's up for grabs tonight, but keep this in mind too,
I believe that Tommaso Ciampa is fearful of the Velveteen Dream.
He attacked Velveteen Dream
when he had his match against Lars Sullivan.
He knows the type of competitor that Dream is.
He knows he's a man that can take this championship from him.
[McGuinness] And if you look at his body language,
the way that he held that title, coveted it like a child.
[Ranallo] Well, and the reason for that I believe is the fact that Dream,
remember, Velveteen Dream DDT'd Ciampa on the NXT title on NXT TV.
It is Velveteen Dream who may have the psychological edge.
And that's saying something
when you're talking about Tommaso Ciampa and his devious ways.
[McGuinness] Yes, the maniacal Tommaso Ciampa.
[Ranallo] We'll check.
[McGuinness] Get inside his head, perhaps a place you don't wanna be.
[Ranallo] Dream tweeted, "the Dream loves Los Angeles,
Hollywood, they're beautiful, everybody's plastic
except for the champion.
He's paper."
[crowd cheering]
[bell rings]
[female announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the NXT championship.
[crowd cheering]
[female announcer] Introducing the challenger,
from Capitol Hill, Washington DC,
weighing in at 227 pounds,
the Velveteen Dream.
[crowd cheering]
[female announcer] And his opponent,
from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, weighing in at 210 pounds,
he is the NXT champion,
Tommaso Ciampa.
[crowd booing]
[Ranallo] Ciampa and Dream have talked a city landfills worth of trash.
The time for talking is over.
And in a city where people flock to reach stardom,
to dream of superstardom, Velveteen Dream has come to Los Angeles
hoping his dreams of becoming NXT champion come true.
I want that, I want that.
[McGuinness] Look at the difficulty that Ciampa had, giving up that title.
[Ranallo] Tommaso Ciampa, the 14th champion in NXT history.
The inaugural champion, Seth Rollins,
he's getting ready for a big match at Survivor Series
against another legendary NXT champion, Shinsuke Nakamura.
Tonight, it's all about Tommaso Ciampa and Velveteen Dream.
How do you break it down when it comes to keys to victory, Nigel?
[crowd chanting]
[McGuinness] Feed off the emotion of this capacity crowd.
I think, Mauro, it would be a great start for the Velveteen Dream.
[Ranallo] Collar-and-elbow tie up in the center
and Ciampa definitely with the edge in experience.
[Watson] Velveteen Dream has got youth on his side,
but it's like a home game for the Velveteen Dream.
[Ranallo] Dream is as popular
as LeBron James here at the Staples Center,
but it's Tommaso Ciampa who is king of the NXT men's division
and Ciampa no stranger to cerebral warfare.
I know Velveteen Dream loves to be the preening cock of the walk,
but Ciampa will do what he can to ground the Dream,
ground him into dust if he can.
[McGuinness] Ciampa take down the larger opponent.
Dream is switching behind, nice ride.
[Ranallo] Look at that.
-[McGuinness] Oh. -[Watson] Oh.
[crowd cheering]
[Watson] I love Dream's attitude, but he can't get caught up in that.
He's got to keep his eyes on the prize, it's the NXT title.
[McGuinness] The title that Ciampa feels is his birthright.
He deserves to be the NXT champion.
[Ranallo] Velveteen Dream's looking to go from footnote in Tough Enough
to the lead paragraph as NXT champion,
but Tommaso Ciampa wants to maintain that ironclad grip on Goldy.
But Dream taking it to the champion early.
But there's Ciampa.
[crowd cheering]
-[Ranallo] Oh. -[crowd] Oh.
I guess you don't tug on Superman's cape,
you don't spit in the wind, and you don't mess with Velveteen Dream's quaff.
Oh, a kick to the midsection by the NXT champion.
He's looking for that fairytale ending.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] Ciampa mocking Velveteen Dream.
[McGuinness] Ciampa can play mind games too.
[Ranallo] And mocking the NXT universe.
Ciampa inside Velveteen Dream's head while holding his headband.
And I think Dream almost appreciates
what Ciampa has been able to do at his expense,
knows that he's in against the champ, Percy.
-[Watson] Look what Dream has. -[Ranallo] Oh.
[Ranallo] But he could do the champ want better,
Goldy is worth a little bit more than that headband.
Oh.
[McGuinness] Oh, no, looking for a draping DDT perhaps.
[Ranallo] Front face lock on Ciampa.
[crowd cheering]
[McGuinness] Stalemate for now.
-[McGuinness] Oh. -[Ranallo] Oh, sharp right hand by Dream.
[Ranallo] Reversal of the Irish whip.
Dream slides, stops the momentum and runs right over.
Tommaso Ciampa paintbrushes him with the right hand,
scoop and a big body slam by the challenger, Velveteen Dream.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] Dream simply ravishing.
What a standing dropkick.
[Dream] Welcome to the experience.
[Ranallo] Oh.
And Dream introducing Ciampa to the experience.
Wow, Dream just utilizing the ring as prime real estate here in Los Angeles.
[crowd cheering]
[McGuinness] Is Dream taking too much time here?
[Watson] I think he may be, Nigel.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] Dream soliciting the approval of the NXT universe.
Oh, drops Ciampa with that big boot to the jaw,
and the NXT universe firmly behind Velveteen Dream.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd booing]
[McGuinness] Way too long.
[Watson] [inaudible] heap on it.
[Ranallo] Oh, Dream off the top turnbuckle.
Double ax handle
delivered by the Velveteen Dream on the NXT champion.
And Dream is aware that he can't win the title on the outside.
And Velveteen Dream is firing on all cylinders
and he is taking it to--
Oh, I spoke too soon, Tommaso Ciampa spiking Dream to the outside.
[McGuinness] The epitome of a champion,
the resiliency to go along, to take some punishment and then come back.
This is why Tommaso Ciampa is the NXT champion.
Here, the pause, oh, then the punishment.
[Ranallo] You know, NXT champion, Tommaso Ciampa,
they say the great champions possess a singular ability
to block out noise.
Velveteen Dream, well, he wants to create more noise than a BTS concert.
But it's Ciampa now flapping his gums.
[referee] Two, three.
[Ranallo] Referee administering the count
and Ciampa with champion's advantage.
Of course, the only way the Velveteen Dream
can become new NXT champion is via pin fall or submission
within the confines of the squared circle.
Ciampa with the running knee.
[McGuinness] With the knee brace as well.
[Ranallo] And remember--
[McGuinness] He's out. Dream's out.
[Ranallo] He is on dream street here at the Staples Center.
[McGuinness] Cover him, this match is over.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] Ciampa just put Velveteen Dream in a quiet spot.
[Watson] But Ciampa is in no rush to finish this match.
[Ranallo] Dream is storing and he's somehow conscious.
[referee] Let's go, one. Back it off, come on.
[McGuinness] This speaks to what we talked about earlier,
looking for retribution for Velveteen Dream implicating.
[Ranallo] Ciampa reviled for his cavalier malevolence,
doing whatever it takes to retain the NXT title,
including stabbing Dream in the face with the point of the back elbow.
[crowd] Oh.
[Ranallo] Hangman's neckbreaker.
And Velveteen Dream falls in a heap right in front of us here.
[crowd cheering]
I'm the man.
[crowd cheering]
I'm the main event.
[Ranallo] Ciampa firing himself up.
The greatest sports entertainer of all time
is what he's christened himself.
[crowd chanting]
[McGuinness] Watch out.
[Ranallo] NXT universe might not agree. Velveteen Dream--
-[Watson] No. -[Ranallo] What a knee, oh my God.
[McGuinness] Again, with the knee brace, Dream's flailing around on the outside.
[Ranallo] Velveteen Dream was in a prostrate position
on the Spanish announce table and almost got blasted into next week
as Ciampa continues to mete out punishment in the center of the ring.
[McGuinness] Dream's fighting under that chin lock,
getting it right back on.
[Watson] Look at the aggression of Ciampa.
[Ranallo] And say what you will about Tommaso Ciampa.
When it comes right down to it,
as technically gifted as any sports entertainer,
there is a reason he won the NXT title in just his 10th singles match.
Remember, he and Johnny Gargano in an epic rivalry.
Oh.
[Watson] The Dream is fading, look.
[McGuinness] Dream spit blood out of the mouth.
Oh, he's rubbing it in as well.
Oh, Tommaso Ciampa enjoys his work.
[Ranallo] What a sick individual squeezing the saliva
out of his mouth and look at Dream.
[Watson] Night-night, night-night.
[McGuinness] Indeed.
Tommaso Ciampa said that he was gonna turn the Dream into a nightmare.
[crowd chanting]
[Ranallo] NXT universe exhorting Velveteen Dream.
Counter knee strike by Tommaso Ciampa,
once again stops Velveteen Dream's momentum.
Oh, but the back slide by Velveteen Dream.
Oh.
[McGuinness] Oh, that right hand landed on the jaw.
The left missed.
[Ranallo] And another right hand on court by Velveteen Dream,
neckbreaker by the Velveteen Dream,
as he returns the favor to Tommaso Ciampa.
[Watson] Dream is digging deep,
he is staying alive in this match.
[Ranallo] Ciampa's depth of character tantamount to a foot bath
and Velveteen Dream would love to put his foot
where Ciampa would require [indistinct].
Look at the neckbreaker.
[McGuinness] The impact to the back of the neck,
top of the spine of Tommaso Ciampa.
[Ranallo] You can tell, guys, Velveteen Dream letting it all hang out,
throwing it all at Tommaso Ciampa.
Kip-up by Velveteen Dream.
[McGuinness] Where is Dream finding this energy?
Adrenaline has got to be coursing through his veins.
[Ranallo] And Velveteen Dream's giving Tommaso Ciampa a run for his money,
but I spoke too soon or did I?
[Watson] Hold on.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] Velveteen Dream looking for that twisting DDT,
well-scouted by Ciampa.
And Dream continues to fire away on Tommaso Ciampa.
[crowd] Oh.
[Ranallo] A big boot to the face, leg drop by the Dream.
[Watson] One more time.
[Ranallo] And the ode to Hollywood hogan by Velveteen Dream,
one of the greatest champions in WWE history.
Velveteen Dream wants to be an NXT champion, he's hulking up.
[crowd chanting]
Oh.
[Watson] Oh man.
[Ranallo] Spinebuster slam by the Dream.
Will it be enough for him to realize his dream?
No, Ciampa escapes.
[McGuinness] Make no mistake about it, Tommaso Ciampa is hurt.
[Watson] Dream's firing on all cylinders, but how much does he have left?
[crowd chanting]
[Ranallo] Ciampa, kicked out at one and a half,
still has a lot of fuel in his tank.
[McGuinness] Like an injured animal, now Ciampa is at his most dangerous.
[Ranallo] Velveteen Dream, expending energy with those right hands
not as much pop as they used to have on them as this grueling match unfolds,
but Dream continues his tenacious attack on Tommaso Ciampa.
[Watson] Oh.
[Ranallo] Pescado connects.
[man 19] Velveteen, Velveteen.
[McGuinness] This is what Dream has got to do, he cannot let up.
[Ranallo] And he has to make sure that Ciampa is in the ring
and Ciampa's struggling to get back to his feet.
Velveteen Dream, however.
[McGuinness] Dream wanted that elbow and Ciampa knew it was coming.
[Ranallo] And Ciampa deposits Dream unceremoniously out of the ring.
[McGuinness] Well, for a second there, Ciampa perhaps, looking for that--
Oh, draping DDT, but instead--
…and Velveteen Dream attacking
that surgically repaired knee of Tommaso Ciampa,
the knee that put him on the sidelines for nearly a year.
And, Velveteen Dream, doing his homework,
realizing that the champion is compromised.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] And Velveteen Dream is doing his homework
as far as a sports entertainment.
Shades of "Hitman" Bret Hart.
He's got to be careful that he doesn't get disqualified.
-[Watson] Did you see that? -[McGuinness] Was that?
[Watson] It was a tap, Tommaso Ciampa tapped.
[Ranallo] An illegal move on the outside.
However, now, he has to try it again.
The roll-up small package by Ciampa for a two count.
[McGuinness] Forearm from Ciampa.
[Ranallo] Waistlock, Dream.
…into the figure-four leglock.
[Watson] This could be it.
[Ranallo] And he's pulling out all of the greatest hits here in Los Angeles.
[Watson] No way he did.
[Ranallo] Figure-four leglock, Dream summoning up the legends of the past
in hopes that he could begin his course
as an NXT legend by becoming the NXT champion.
[McGuinness] He's dragging Ciampa back into the center.
Ciampa rolled to his belly to try to reverse some of this pressure.
[Watson] Look at the agony and pain Ciampa is in right now.
This could be all but over.
[Ranallo] One tap and we have a new NXT champion,
but the reversal by the veteran Ciampa.
[McGuinness] He's reversed the pressure,
taking the pressure off it, and now back.
That posterior cruciate ligament.
[Ranallo] This is gonna keep both superstars grounded.
Remember, Velveteen Dream loves to use that purple rainmaker
but now the shoulders are down on Ciampa for a two.
[McGuinness] And now, both superstars…
they would force to break the hold.
[Ranallo] And you wonder what toll has been exacted on both lower limbs
of the champion Ciampa, the challenger Velveteen Dream.
Oh, and Ciampa kicks Dream to the barricade,
buying himself some time.
[McGuinness] We're seeing here the effects of that figure-four leglock, so dangerous.
[Watson] If Dream will continue to attack
that surgically repaired knee of Ciampa, it will be Dream over tonight.
[McGuinness] And again… I thought he was attempting that draping DDT
that he hit [indistinct] before.
[Ranallo] What a hand to the rib cage by Ciampa.
[Watson] Not enough--
[Ranallo] Exactly what Ciampa's trying to do.
[McGuinness] Whoa.
[Ranallo] Velveteen Dream suplexes Ciampa over the top,
but Dream also feels the effects of what was a high-risk move.
[crowd cheering]
[McGuinness] Ciampa's undoing his boot.
It was a suplex,
[crowd] Oh!
from Velveteen Dream and fallen out with the momentum.
-[Ranallo] Look. -[McGuinness] It's angled out.
[Ranallo] You wonder if it's not a Pyrrhic suplex
in the bigger picture of this NXT championship match.
[McGuinness] Gargano--
Ciampa must've landed on his knee with the fall
and he's loosening that boot to release some of the pressure
on that knee joint.
[Ranallo] Champion's advantage if the referee reaches a count of 10,
Ciampa retains the NXT title.
But it's Velveteen Dream, the younger, Velveteen Dream, remember--
[McGuinness] That's eight.
[Ranallo] Ciampa has that injured leg.
And it's Dream, wow, having the wherewithal.
-[Watson] His intelligence-- -[Ranallo] Ring presence.
[Watson] Due to the champion's advantage, he has to get Ciampa in the ring.
[McGuinness] You mentioned his youth, there, that was the experience of Dream.
Knowing he could not win the title on the outside,
had to get Ciampa back inside.
[Ranallo] But he seems to have a little bit more at stake,
although now Ciampa's firing back, and Dream and Ciampa are going at it.
[crowd cheering]
Hammer and tong here for the NXT title.
Ciampa was looking for the fairytale ending.
[Watson] Hold on.
[Ranallo] He nearly took a superkick,
Ciampa with the tights.
[Watson] Ciampa will hit him with the tights.
[Ranallo] Referee caught it just in time.
[McGuinness] Handfull of tights.
[Ranallo] Fantastic job by the referee.
[McGuinness] Oh.
[Ranallo] Opportunistic Velveteen Dream.
-[Ranallo] Will it get him a title? -[Watson] Dream over.
[Ranallo] Oh my, two count.
Velveteen Dream almost became NXT champion
under the biggest spotlight of his career.
[McGuinness] Tommaso Ciampa was in disbelief.
[Watson] Think that Dream
just saw his name up in lights all across Hollywood.
He can't believe Ciampa just kicked out.
[Ranallo] And Velveteen Dream quickly establishing the reputation
of Mister TakeOver, delivering again here tonight
in a Valiant effort for the NXT title,
but Tommaso Ciampa's valiantly fighting back.
Oh, but--
[McGuinness] Dream's going to the injured knee.
[Ranallo] What a transition.
Ciampa in a fireman's carry, but Ciampa fights off.
[Watson] Oh.
[McGuinness] Elbow to the side of the jaw.
[Ranallo] Elbow to the other side of the jaw.
-[Watson] Oh, man. -[Ranallo] Ciampa…
[Ranallo] …cracks Velveteen Dream.
[McGuinness] Oh, shades of his Nemesis, Johnny Gargano.
Is this it?
[Ranallo] Looking for Project Ciampa.
Project Ciampa, the NXT champion rolls.
-[McGuinness] Ciampa retains. -[Ranallo] He covers Dream.
[Ranallo] And Dream rolls that right shoulder just in time,
Ciampa can't believe it,
another instant classic for the NXT title!
[crowd chanting]
[McGuinness] Tommaso Ciampa's knee must still be bothering him,
he wants to relieve the pressure.
There must be fluid building up in that knee
going all the way down to his ankle.
[Ranallo] I once said Ciampa had no heart,
but he is showing plenty of it… what?
Don't tell me.
[Watson] No heart, Ciampa is trying to walk away.
-[Ranallo] I was just saying. -[McGuinness] He's not.
[Ranallo] Oh.
[McGuinness] The official want [indistinct].
[Ranallo] And Dream rolls-up Ciampa.
Dream rolls up Ciampa for a count of two.
And Dream--
Twisted DDT off the title, shades of what happened on NXT TV.
-[Ranallo] It's time! It's for the title. -[Watson] Man!
[crowd] Two, one!
[Ranallo] Dream almost realized right there.
[Ranallo] Velveteen Dream wants to reach the ultimate height of success in NXT,
instead Ciampa gets his boot off and kicks Dream to the proverbial curb.
[crowd] Oh.
[Ranallo] DDT by Ciampa.
NXT champion with the cover.
Oh, holy bleep.
Dream just kicked out again.
[Watson] This is unreal,
look at the look of disbelief on the face of the champion, Tommaso Ciampa.
[crowd chanting]
[Ranallo] Why is the NXT title so coveted?
Listen to the NXT universe.
[crowd cheering]
[Watson] Look, the Dream has taken every shot from the champion,
and he finds a way to kick out and get up.
[Ranallo] So has Ciampa, taking everything Velveteen Dream has offered up.
[McGuinness] Both of these gladiators have given and taken it all.
Look at Ciampa, he's only wearing one boot.
[Ranallo] Ciampa, hampered by the surgically repaired--
-[Ranallo] Ciampa-- -[Watson] We've seen this before.
[Ranallo] Resorting to a blueprint he has used in the past,
to great success.
Ciampa, wreaking havoc wherever he goes,
and now tearing apart
the area surrounding the ring, but wasting precious time,
allowing Velveteen Dream to--
[Watson] He has to be careful.
Ciampa's unloading.
[McGuinness] Dream's desperately trying to get a hold of the title.
[Ranallo] Oh, no. Oh, God.
Velveteen Dream in a perilous position.
[Watson] Oh, no.
[Ranallo] Ciampa looking to [indistinct].
They just flew right over the announcer's table,
came crashing right down in front of us.
And this will be to the advantage of the NXT champion.
[crowd chanting]
[McGuinness] Look
It was Ciampa looking for the draping DDT,
instead, Dream drives the champion over our announcer table.
[Ranallo] You know, everything that the NXT champion, Tommaso Ciampa,
has put people through, including Gargano,
maybe this is the sickness he deserves
and yet Velveteen Dream's desperately trying to get back to the ring,
but he needs to bring Ciampa with him if he wants to--God.
[Watson] Oh, oh.
[crowd booing]
I'm the champion.
[Ranallo] Oh, the death valley driver.
Rolling death valley driver by Velveteen Dream on the outside.
[Watson] This could be it.
[Ranallo] Dream's on the top of the turnbuckle,
looking for the purple rainmaker.
Is it gonna rain, oh,
for the new NXT championship? Bring that big gun.
[Watson] Dream wasted no time going to the top.
-[Ranallo] He isn't done. -[Watson] Look out.
[Ranallo] Oh, but Dream crashes and burns.
[McGuinness] Dream got a little overanxious there.
Ciampa was lying in wait, moved to the last second
and now
the black heart
is ready to end this.
[Ranallo] Dream from the top turnbuckle
crashing to the--oh.
And just got spiked with that DDT
in the partition in between the two rings,
the cold, unforgiving steel
courtesy of the cold, unforgiving heart of Tommaso Ciampa.
[referee] One, two, three.
[Ranallo] Goldy remains around the waist of the scourge of NXT.
[female announcer] The winner and still NXT champion,
Tommaso Ciampa.
[Ranallo] The truculent NXT champion in the fight of his life, Percy.
Velveteen Dream came so close to realizing the dream
in this, the venue that he was hoping for his crowning achievement.
[McGuinness] As close in my mind as anyone
to prying that title from around the waist of Tommaso Ciampa.
Look at the face of Tommaso Ciampa.
Here it was, again, Tommaso Ciampa trying to end things on the outside,
instead, Dream keeping the match alive.
[crowd booing]
[Watson] This is the just frustration kicking in from Ciampa,
but Dream is able to capitalize and turn things around.
And this was where we all thought
the Dream was gonna walk out of LA the new NXT champion.
[McGuinness] He's soaring 12 feet in the air with the purple rainmaker,
a deep hook of the legs, but somehow, Tommaso Ciampa refused to quit.
[Watson] Now, Tommaso Ciampa found the perfect spot right here
to hit this DDT and put an end to the Velveteen Dream.
[McGuinness] You could see Ciampa scream out in pain when his back landed,
so you can only imagine the damage done to Velveteen Dream
and if you want--
[bell rings]
[McGuinness] And taking advantage that there are two rings here tonight.
[Ranallo] And while the night may belong to Tommaso Ciampa
to retain the NXT championship,
you know in your heart of hearts the Dream's time is coming here in NXT.
But for now, Goldy remains the property
of the so-called greatest sports entertainer of all time.
["No One Will Survive" playing]
Yeah. Yes!
Yeah.
I'm the champ.
Me.
[music continues]
[McGuinness] A kiss goodbye for Velveteen Dream
and the NXT title stays in the hands of Tommaso Ciampa.
[music continues]
[Ranallo] Another epic night of action.
And more still to come, War Games II,
but what a war between Tommaso Ciampa and the Velveteen Dream
as Ciampa continues to add to his championship legacy.
Look me in the eyes.
I am the greatest sports entertainer of all time.
This is it.
[Ranallo] The greatest sports entertainer of all time.
We've got to talk about, well,
what may be the greatest video game competition of all time.
Dream over!
[Ranallo] Two teams, one from NXT and one from WWE
have been training over the past few weeks
to compete against one another in League of Legends,
one of the world's most popular video games.
And it all came to a head yesterday right here in Los Angeles.
["No One Will Survive" playing]
[Watson] You're listening to "Mariana Trench" by Nita Strauss
from the album Controlled Chaos,
an NXT theme song for the NXT TakeOver War Games.
It's available now on iTunes and Spotify.
[Ranallo] Well, here tonight at TakeOver War Games II,
Staples Center, at times the chaos has been out of control,
but we are getting set for our main event.
Every match on this card could be the main event.
And there's our main event when it comes to guitar players.
One of the best guitarists on the planet, Nita Strauss,
a great supporter of NXT, dropped a new album yesterday,
looking forward to hearing more from Nita Strauss.
And guys, we'll we've heard and seen a little bit of everything
and the hits, the real hard hits are to come
in one of the most barbaric matches in NXT history.
Still to come here tonight,
what a night of action and controversy.
Of course, you know, everybody here in the NXT universe
is gonna have their opinion,
but do you know one man whose opinion I'd love to hear?
WWE COO Triple H and we can hear that following TakeOver War Games.
The cerebral assassin will be on Facebook live
giving his opinion about the wins, the losses,
everything that's happened here tonight,
Facebook live immediately following TakeOver War Games.
[rock music playing]
[siren wailing]
[Ranallo] The ominous sounds, the buzz palpable
as tensions rise here at the Staples Center.
The chamber of horrors lowers.
It will encompass two rings.
There are no victims,
only volunteers in War Games.
[siren wailing]
[Watson] And these competitors tonight
will be forever changed
when they step into the steel structure here at War Games.
But the question is, who will stand tall when North American champion Ricochet,
UK champion Pete Dunne and War Raiders
take on the Undisputed Era
in the most grueling match ever constructed here in WWE?
War Games is next.
[rock music playing]
[Ranallo] And now, let the War Games begin.
These three teams will be in two rings,
in one cage, in War Games.
[man 19] We've been there.
[Ranallo] I have never witnessed anything like we have just seen here tonight.
[man 20] The most barbaric match, not just in NXT history but all of WWE.
[Ranallo] Oh my God!
[man 20] There are no winners in war, there are no losers,
and The Undisputed.
[McGuinness] What does this mean for the future of NXT?
[Ranallo] A definite shock to the system.
[crowd cheering]
[man 21] Since the beginning here in NXT,
NXT's mission has been doing everything in its power
to prevent this from happening.
[man 22] At War Games, we were thrown to the wolves.
[man 23] Yet boys and girls, here we stand.
[Watson] Is that Ricochet?
[Ranallo] And Ricochet's got it--no.
[Watson] Oh my God.
[Ranallo] Adam Cole is the first ever NXT North American champion.
What the hell?
What is Strong doing to his partner, Pete Dunne?
Roderick Strong has joined the Undisputed Era.
[man 23] I want you to relish in this right now.
[man 22] I mean look at all this gold.
[man 21] We can't be stopped.
Our time is now and we are forever here to shock the system.
[man 22] Enough.
[man 20] The war is here.
[Ranallo] Oh, my God it's the War Raiders.
[McGuinness] Viking destruction.
[Ranallo] Rowe and Hanson laying waste to the Undisputed Era.
[man 24] Undisputed Era, we like to think that you're on another level.
You're gonna have to level up
if you want to be on the same level as Ricochet.
Boom.
[man 22] Here we go now.
[Watson] New champion!
[Ranallo] Ricochet has done it.
[man 25] Time and time again, Undisputed Era have used the numbers game
to be a force in my sight.
[Ranallo] The night for the Undisputed Era is about to get a lot more dangerous.
[man 25] This time there's no numbers game.
Whether it's Ricochet, Pete Dunne,
or the War Raiders.
[Watson] What the--
[Ranallo] Roderick crashed his back.
[man 20] Full strength starts now.
[man 24] The result is the same, they aren't on our freaking level.
Oh, my gosh.
-Yeah. -Whoa.
[Ranallo] They are not waiting.
All hell is broken loose.
[McGuinness] It's breaking down all over full sail.
[man 25] This is not how this fight is gonna happen.
If you guys are hell bent on destroying each other,
then you can a TakeOver, you will be inside of War Games.
[crowd cheering]
Here we go again.
[Ranallo] Can you imagine all these eight men
inside that War Games structure.
[man 22] Kyle O'Reilly pinning Hanson to gain us the advantage,
we know how important that advantage is.
[man 20] There is nobody who can handle War Games
like the Undisputed Era.
You asked for this.
[man 21] War Games is steel and pain.
This is gonna be a war.
[man 25] Undisputed Era might figure they got themselves the advantage,
but last year, Undisputed Era barely walked out of War Games.
[man 26] This year we're gonna make sure we will carry it.
[Ranallo] Los Angeles better brace itself for a seismic shift,
the score will be settled inside War Games at TakeOver.
[crowd cheering]
[ring bells]
[female announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,
welcome to War Games.
[crowd cheering]
[female announcer] The rules of the match are as follows,
two teams will be contained in separate cages
with one member of each team starting the match.
After five minutes,
a member from the Undisputed Era will be released to enter the match.
After a three-minute period,
alternating members from each team will enter the match
until all competitors are inside the cage.
Once all competitors have entered, War Games officially begins.
Escape or leave the cage, you will forfeit the match for your team.
The only way to win the match is by pinfall or submission.
And now let the War Games begin.
[crowd cheering]
[tense music playing]
[Ranallo] Here we go.
["Undisputed" playing]
[female announcer] Introducing first Adam Cole, Bobby Fish,
the NXT Tag Team Champions Kyle O'Reilly and Roderick Strong,
the Undisputed Era.
[Ranallo] For the first time in its history,
all four members of the Undisputed Era
will be competing at the same time and they have the advantage.
Following this week's NXT TV,
when Kyle O'Reilly picked up a victory
with a little help from the rest of the UE.
[Watson] Man, but you can see the swag,
maybe the confidence, possibly arrogance, just dripping off of Undisputed Era.
They have been here for [indistinct].
Not only that, they won last year's War Games.
But it's a different time, we've got new players now.
[McGuinness] I love what they did, they choose to put Adam Cole in first,
that's the important strategy.
[Ranallo] He may have chosen himself as the leader of the quartet.
[McGuinness] I guarantee there was some discussion to that.
I talked to Arn Anderson.
There's been a number of these War Games matches.
He said the order of entrance is super important.
Oftentimes, you wanna leave your heavy hitters for the latter part of the match.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] Well, the two teams will be contained in separate shark cages
and a member from each team will be chosen to start the match
five minutes on the clock.
When that time expires,
it'll be a member of the team with the advantage,
that being the Undisputed Era, that will enter the match.
And of course, War Games officially sanctioned
to be won once all eight superstars are in the contest.
[McGuinness] Let's be clear.
Until every one of those competitors, all eight are in the ring,
the match does not officially start.
["War" playing]
War.
[McGuinness] The drum beats of destruction.
[female announcer] And their opponents, first, Hanson, Rowe, War Raiders.
[Ranallo] Modern-day vikings.
Their name, tailor-made for War Games.
Rowe and Hanson, War Raiders.
[music continues]
[McGuinness] Ever since showing up in NXT in January,
the War Raiders have had their sights set.
You're gonna deal with us.
-No, no. You wanna keep yourselves in that cage.
You might wanna keep yourselves in that cage.
Now is the time where you wanna end up with this [indistinct].
I will tell you, my friend, I'm your [indistinct]
[McGuinness] The war of words
will very soon turn into a war of attrition.
[Watson] Yeah, but you called it,
the War Raiders said this match is built for them.
The pain, the agony, the destruction,
they absolutely live for moments like this.
[Ranallo] And interestingly, neither of the War Raiders will start,
as they are already housed in their shark cage.
[suspense music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] So, will it be
the longest reigning champion in modern WWE history,
the UK champ, Pete Dunne, who gets things started?
[crowd cheering]
[rock music playing]
[female announcer] Next, the WWE United Kingdom champion,
"the Bruiserweight," Pete Dunne.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] Dunne's got the war paint on,
bringing up British strong style to War Games.
[McGuinness] The war paint on his face, but if you take a look further down,
the right knee of Dunne heavily taped up that was injured last week,
that's another thing Anderson mentioned to me.
He said another important factor in War Games matches are injuries.
If you are hurt, you are sitting duck.
[music continues]
[Ranallo] Of course, Undisputed Era
won the inaugural NXT War Games match,
and let's not forget, Hanson also injured this past week,
courtesy of the Undisputed Era.
[Watson] In matches like these--
[Ranallo] We know who will start, it will be Adam Cole
for the Undisputed Era
against the man that beat Adam Cole for the NXT North American championship,
the one and only, Ricochet.
[crowd chattering]
["One And Only" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[female announcer] And their partner,
the NXT North American champion,
Ricochet.
[Ranallo] And Ricochet also sporting war paint,
all eight gladiators are ready for war.
And it promises to be scorched-earth warfare,
in which only one side can survive.
[McGuinness] What a perfect strategy
from the team of Dunne, Ricochet, and War Raiders,
putting in the man arguably with the best cardio,
first into the match.
[Watson] The irony between these competitors starting,
they both say there is absolutely no way you can prepare for a match like this.
You're essentially just had to go to war and hope for the best.
[Ranallo] And Ricochet wants to run NXT like cardio,
and was taunting Adam Cole, and continues to do so,
sporting the NXT North American championship.
So many tantalizing threats interwoven
in what should be a masterpiece of mayhem.
[McGuinness] It's ironic that Ricochet and Adam Cole start this matchup,
of course, neither team knew which man of the other team would start.
[rock music playing]
[McGuinness] So, five minutes now, Ricochet and Adam Cole.
[Ranallo] Again, this is not the official War Games match.
This is simply to try to beat up your opponent,
take whatever you can from the opposition,
in hopes that once the War Games begin,
things will be a little less hostile.
[bell rings]
[crowd cheering]
[Indistinct] you can't have.
You're a joke.
[Ranallo] …a standoff.
[crowd yelling]
Hey, champ, why don't you come and fight me?
[Ranallo] Adam Cole…
…begging Ricochet to come and fight him in his ring.
Come and fight me, Ricochet.
Come on.
[Cole] Come on.
-[Ranallo] Two rings. -[Cole] Come.
[Ranallo] The sinister structure.
This is War Games II.
[Cole] I'll let you, go ahead.
[McGuinness] It's a cautious start.
[Ranallo] And Adam Cole is able to bait Ricochet into his web,
and Cole exploding on the NXT North American champion.
But Ricochet immediately turns the tables, firing off a volley of right hands
with a European uppercut to boot.
Come on, Adam.
-[Ranallo] Oh. -[Watson] Oh.
[McGuinness] Like the crack of a whip, that chop landed hard.
[Ranallo] Reversal of the Irish whip.
Beautifully done by Ricochet.
-[Ranallo] Ricochet head-scissors-- -[Watson] Bingo.
[Ranallo] …dynamic dropkick by the NXT North American champion.
Remember, it was Adam Cole who made history
earlier this year in a legendary six-man ladder match
that included Ricochet.
Ricochet came within, well,
fingertips of becoming the inaugural NXT North American champion,
only to be scuttled by Cole.
[crowd] Oh!
[Ranallo] But since then, Ricochet has rebounded,
being the NXT's Skywalker.
You think this is your match, huh?
[McGuinness] And a bit of trash talk, saying this is Cole's match,
referring, of course, to last year's War Games match.
[Ranallo] Whoa.
And Ricochet gets caught into a backstabber by Adam Cole,
well-timed.
[Cole] I don't think so.
[Watson] Cole says, no one can handle War Games like UE.
And he's showing us why, take a look one more time.
Picking Ricochet out of the air, backstabber applied.
[Ranallo] It was Cole who recorded the victory,
courtesy of the last shot last year,
and now, Cole, with the ground and pound on Ricochet.
[McGuinness] You got to think the UE has to feel that advantage.
They have to feel confident because they've been in this match before,
they've been to hell and back.
[Ranallo] Neckbreaker by Adam Cole, continues to soften Ricochet,
knowing full well that another member of the Undisputed Era
will be the next to enter.
[Ranallo] The cage.
[McGuinness] Not only the experience advantage as well,
the Undisputed Era, as a team, they've got each other's back.
They know each other well.
[Ranallo] Supercharged alliance,
though facing up with "the enemy of my enemy is my friend"
with Ricochet now in a [indistinct].
Ushigoroshi by Cole,
who had plenty of success in Japan,
and now is dominating NXT as a member of the Undisputed Era.
[McGuinness] The question is, that enmity for your opponents,
is that a strong enough bond to form a team?
I mean, if we think of the traditional 5-on-5 survivor series matches
tomorrow night at Survivor Series,
the teams there are just a brand that keeps them together.
[crowd chattering]
[Ranallo] Adam Cole utilizing all of the real estate with the two rings,
now continues to beat down Ricochet,
keeping the preeminent high-flyer grounded.
And Adam Cole,
as smart as they come when it comes to ring IQ,
has been a champion wherever he has performed in his illustrious career.
[Watson] One of the things I like most about Adam Cole
is his patience in the ring.
How about doing this?
[McGuinness] Cole's wearing down his opponent.
But first, let's see what happens in a couple of minutes,
when another man of the Undisputed Era comes into the ring.
And Adam Cole already has the advantage.
[Ranallo] A [indistinc] with Cole raking Ricochet's face across the cage.
[McGuinness] Conceivably, Ricochet could be taken out
before the match officially even starts.
[Ranallo] And Ricochet on the receiving end of a diverse attack from Adam Cole,
attacking all areas of his anatomy, but Cole telegraphing the back body drop.
And Ricochet putting the boots to Cole.
[crowd] Oh!
[Watson] There's the life coming back into Ricochet.
[Ranallo] Yeah, Ricochet is showcasing his resiliency.
[crowd chattering]
[Ranallo] It's man who always wakes up in the sky,
man who has no fear, as NXT North American champion,
and on cue.
-[Watson] Whoa. -[Ranallo] Wow.
[Ranallo] Springboard soaring European uppercut by Ricochet.
[Watson] That's it, Nigel, oh, you said it.
You cannot hesitate.
You cannot show fear inside this cage.
You must be ready for anything at all times.
[McGuinness] There we are,
ten seconds left until one man from the Undisputed Era comes down.
And if you're Ricochet, oh, dear,
who's it gonna be?
[Ranallo] Which member of the UE will it be?
-Come on. -Come on.
[Ranallo] The referee is unlocking the shark cage.
It will be--
-[Ranallo] What? -[referee] Which one?
[Ranallo] Kyle O'Reilly earned the advantage--
[Indistinct] on NXT TV.
[McGuinness] Almost seem like a moment of hesitation,
but not from Kyle O'Reilly now.
[Watson] The palm strikes.
[Ranallo] Immediately, in the land of palm trees,
Kyle O'Reilly is looking to obliterate Ricochet
with those open palm strikes.
[McGuinness] And the Undisputed Era now has a three-minute advantage.
[Watson] Cole has time to recover.
[Ranallo] And O'Reilly is looking to just skeletonize Ricochet
as if O'Reilly was a piranha and Ricochet was a water buffalo.
And now Cole and O'Reilly, with the numbers advantage.
[McGuinness] Forget about recovering.
If you're Cole, I wanna put Ricochet away now when I've got this advantage.
[Ranallo] Cole and O'Reilly, two-thirds of the winning version
of the Undisputed Era last year
at the first NXT War Games match.
Bobby Fish was on the shelf.
[crowd ] Oh!
[Ranallo] And Ricochet--oh.
Nice right hand and a right hand for Cole.
And Ricochet--oh.
Ricocheting off both O'Reilly and Cole.
Oh, dragon screw leg whip--
[McGuinness] Oh, no.
[Ranallo] By O'Reilly.
[McGuinness] Is that now three members of the Undisputed Era's opponents
with bad knees?
[Ranallo] And the Undisputed Era has done a great job
of taking liberties with their opposition, attacking Hanson,
Pete Dunne, and now Ricochet's lower limbs,
and a Muay Thai clinch,
knee strikes and wow.
You talk about Tag Team positioning.
You got to say the Undisputed Era,
all four members with more chemistry than a science fair,
and these are sports entertainment scientists
working their craft right now on Ricochet.
Get up, Ricochet, get up.
[indistinct]
[Watson] And Cole said last year, this is where things really start.
This is where they began to take over NXT.
And if they win this year,
what does that mean for NXT going forward?
[Ranallo] NXT universe is rallying behind Ricochet,
knowing odds are against the current NXT North American champ.
Oh, Ricochet drives Cole into O'Reilly.
And, of course, a right hand on Kyle O'Reilly,
but then, a bicycle kick meets the face of Ricochet.
[Watson] Oh.
[Ranallo] Wow.
[McGuinness] Hold on.
[Ranallo] Oh, an assist--
[Watson] Oh, man.
[Ranallo] An assist from O'Reilly and another ushigoroshi from Adam Cole,
whether it'd be Japan or North America,
O'Reilly and Adam Cole are two of the best.
[McGuinness] And now finally Ricochet is gonna get some help.
Percy, if you are Ricochet, 15 more minutes
until the match even starts officially--
[Watson] The question is if it is late.
Ricochet was out--
[Ranallo] War Raiders and Dunne--whoa.
And Hanson keeps Dunne from entering,
and Hanson, who lost to Kyle O'Reilly for the advantage on Wednesday,
wants retribution.
Instead, he's mauled by O'Reilly and Cole momentarily.
[Watson] He's a bigger man, he can absorb most punishment.
[McGuinness] He's also gonna get tired earlier.
[Ranallo] And, of course, Ricochet will be given an opportunity to recover,
as it's Hanson laying waste now to members of the Undisputed Era.
Remember Killian Dain, an MVP performance
for Sanity and a losing effort at last year's War Games.
And look at Hanson--
Guys his size aren't supposed to be able to move like this.
[crowd cheering]
[Watson] Again, this is valuable time for Ricochet to recover.
If Hanson can keep this pace going,
this what put this team back in contention
in this War Games match.
[McGuinness] It's a fair play [indistinct]
[Ranallo] Oh.
[McGuinness] …Opponents…
[Ranallo] …there are close lines
[indistinct] corner close lines by Hanson.
[McGuinness] But Hanson is expending a lot of energy,
running corner to corner, nonstop.
Oh.
[Watson] He keeps his team alive.
[Ranallo] He was trained by the killer Kowalski,
and is showing the killer instinct here early.
Wow.
Hanson, with a tour de force.
[crowd cheering]
[McGuinness] A big War Raider sucking air, ready to attack again.
[Watson] Cannonball coming through.
Boom.
[Ranallo] Oh, bronco buster on both, O'Reilly and Cole,
driving the air out of their lungs.
And the air that is going to become--well, so premium,
as this match unfolds.
And now, Ricochet, back on his feet, joins Hanson,
and for now, the odds are even.
[McGuinness] In terms of numbers,
and if you take a look in the ring now,
both men of Undisputed Era are down-- what's this?
[Ranallo] Ricochet and Hanson are teaming up.
[Watson] Show time is what it is.
[Ranallo] Shooting star press off the back of Hanson by Ricochet.
[McGuinness] Some nice teamwork there.
[Watson] One more time.
Take a look at the shooting star press--
[Ranallo] And Ricochet lands hard across the ribcage of Kyle O'Reilly.
[crowd cheering]
Oh.
[Ranallo] Adam Cole playing possum,
and led Hanson into an elbow, but there-- oh,
O'Reilly is coming to Cole's aid,
Cole is dropping elbows.
Again, no pinfalls or submissions on the War Games match yet
to officially begin.
This is all about beating the hell out of your opposition.
[McGuinness] There is Ricochet, who has absorbed a lot of punishment…
-[Ranallo] Ricochet is-- -[McGuinness] …early.
[Ranallo] And who's also meet it out his own unique brand of punishment.
[crowd] Three, two…
[Ranallo] Again, the advantage to the Undisputed Era.
Their third member is about to enter.
Go, go, go.
[Ranallo] It's gonna be Roderick Strong,
who, you recall at last year's War Games,
was a member of the team with the authors of pain.
He was, in fact, an opponent of the Undisputed Era,
but not tonight.
[McGuinness] Oh, Roderick Strong is completely fresh,
tearing into both Ricochet and Hanson.
[Ranallo] Oh.
What a dropkick by Roderick Strong.
[crowd] Oh!
[McGuinness] Just picking apart his opponents.
[Ranallo] Oh, step-up knee in the corner,
one half of the NXT Tag Team champions,
laying waste to War Raiders, and ura-nage across the knee.
-[Watson] Again? -[Ranallo] Another one.
[Ranallo] The Messiah of the backbreakers is innovative as they come,
putting Ricochet in a torture rack…
[crowd] Oh.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] …and dropping Ricochet across both of Strong's knees.
Strong with that strong effort, to say the least.
[McGuinness] Oh.
[crowd chanting]
[McGuinness] Using Ricochet as a missile.
[Ranallo] Hold on.
Strong got caught by Hanson
and then it's Cole that kicks Hanson in the face.
Axe kick, and the forearm smash by O'Reilly, and look…
-[Watson] No. -[Ranallo] …at the UE.
[Ranallo] What a trio.
[McGuinness] Now, the numbers game come back into play.
Fancy the time, but you've got to have at least two minutes left
to put some big punishment.
[Ranallo] Undisputed Era, as close to a stable as you will ever find
in sports entertainment.
These warriors have traveled together for years.
They battled each other over the years,
and found a common good in the Undisputed Era.
[crowd chattering]
How's that feel, Hanson?
[crowd chanting]
[Ranallo] And, boy, the Undisputed Era just decimating Hanson and Ricochet.
How's it feel?
[Ranallo] Strength in numbers.
[crowd] Oh!
[Ranallo] NXT Tag Team champions team up on Ricochet.
[crowd] Oh.
Oh.
[McGuinness] Ricochet dropped there.
[Ranallo] And by the way, the match, War Games,
yet to officially begin guys.
Look at the punishment being meted out by the Undisputed Era.
Teamwork makes the dream work.
[McGuinness] I said it before, by the time this match start,
Ricochet, to all intents and purposes, is useless.
[Watson] I can't imagine what it'll be like
when all competitors are in the ring.
Based on how it looks now, it'll be crazy.
[Ranallo] It'll be the second win at War Games for Undisputed Era.
That's what you're saying, if this continues,
the onslaught by O'Reilly, Cole and Strong.
And now, in less than 10 seconds,
we will be even, once again, in terms of numbers in the ring.
[crowd] Three, two, one.
[Ranallo] Will it be Rowe or Dunne?
They're both fighting to get in,
and it's gonna be Rowe, the other half of the War Raiders.
[McGuinness] Doesn't it speak volumes?
Both men fighting to get in, they hadn't made the decision beforehand.
[Ranallo] I guess, they're not--
[McGuinness] Not on the same page.
[Ranallo] Not like the UE, but they'd better get on the same page
in a hurry if that Rowe--
-[Watson] Whoa. -[Ranallo] Wow, what a suplex.
[Watson] War Raiders don't create strategies.
They just wanna brawl.
[Ranallo] Gutbuster into the gutwrench.
Forearm by Cole, but--
-[Watson] Oh. -[Ranallo] Rowe [indistinct].
[Ranallo] What an explosive [indistinct] Knee by Rowe.
And look at the striking display of one-half of the War Raiders, Rowe.
[McGuinness] How about that rear naked sleeper holder?
[Ranallo] O'Reilly training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
in his native British Colombia--wow.
-[crowd] Oh. -[McGuinness] Oh.
The sick neck of Ray Rowe, protecting himself there,
tucking that chin, protecting the carotid artery.
[Ranallo] Rowe scoops up O'Reilly.
Hanson puts Strong--what?
[Watson] Look at the power of Rowe.
[crowd chattering]
[Ranallo] Mamma Mia, wow.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] Power bomb, power slam, power War Raiders.
[Watson] Can you say momentum shift?
[crowd cheering]
[Watson] Look at this.
Look at the power of Rowe of War Raiders
and check out the impact on both Kyle O'Reilly and Roderick Strong.
[McGuinness] That's gonna be nearly 450 pounds driven into the mat.
[Ranallo] Another tremendous night for NXT TakeOver,
currently the number one trend worldwide,
and five of the top ten trends on the planet.
All have to do with NXT TakeOver: War Games,
and the sequel already living up to what transpired a year ago.
[McGuinness] Look at--look at the face of Adam Cole now.
[Watson] Look where he's backing up to, right into Ricochet.
[Ranallo] Oh, Cole is surrounded.
[McGuinness] Uh-oh.
[Ranallo] And Cole, Ricochet pushes him right into the War Raiders' battering ram,
face first, into the cage goes Adam Cole.
[crowd cheering]
[McGuinness] That's an interesting point, the order of entrance?
Yes, if you come in first, you have an advantage,
but if you come in second, your man's a lot fresher.
[Ranallo] War Raiders, enjoy smiting foes on the field of battle.
[crowd chanting]
[McGuinness] Oh.
[crowd chattering]
[McGuinness] Oh.
Again, the right arm from Ricochet.
Oh.
[McGuinness] Finding a second wind--
He may have to find a third and a fourth wind before the end of it.
[crowd cheering]
[McGuinness] The final member of Undisputed Era
will enter the ring.
No question who it is.
[Ranallo] Bobby Fish, who made an instant impact in his return--what?
-[Ranallo] Bobby Fish is going-- [Watson] What's he doing?
[Ranallo] He locked Dunne, but he's attacking his fingers.
What's Bobby Fish doing?
[Watson] Oh.
[Ranallo] Wow.
Bobby Fish is supposed to be headed to the--
-[Watson] No. -[Ranallo] War Games, but instead--
[Watson] What?
[crowd chattering]
[Ranallo] What--
[Watson] Is he locking him?
[Ranallo] Dunne is locked in the cage and he's got the key.
[McGuinness] Fish used the padlock from his cage
to lock the other team's shark cage, he's a genius.
[Ranallo] The Undisputed Era, again, with an advantage.
Bobby Fish is ensuring that they may have the advantage
for the rest of this match.
-[Ranallo] What? -[McGuinness] Oh.
[crowd] Oh!
[Ranallo] You've got to be kidding me, he threw it away.
I got it, boys.
And guys, Pete Dunne has to make into the cage
for War Games to be official.
And now, Bobby Fish with his trusted chair.
[McGuinness] What? Undisputed Era--
[Ranallo] Bobby Fish, the chairman of the board of the UE.
[McGuinness] This is clearly premeditated.
What a brilliant plan from the Undisputed Era.
[Ranallo] Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly with the [indistinct].
One half of the War Raiders, Hanson, and there's--
[McGuinness] We see that time clock in the bottom corner.
Two minutes, fifty seconds, but when that runs out, it won't matter.
[Ranallo] Pete Dunne's locked in the cage and Bobby Fish threw away the keys.
And until Dunne gets into the match, it doesn't officially start.
[Watson] The era, has all of this time, with the one-man advantage.
What is this? What is Ricochet--
[Ranallo] It's bad enough they have the numbers advantage.
They're each in possession of chairs,
and they're using those chairs to destroy their opponents.
[McGuinness] Mangling those Undisputed Era chairs.
[Watson] This is big trouble for Ricochet and War Raiders.
[Ranallo] And guys think about this, if Dunne somehow escapes the cage
and gets into the mat, it's gonna be four-on-one
because the Undisputed Era's decimating the War Raiders and Ricochet.
Right here.
[McGuinness] What an absolutely brilliant strategy
from the Undisputed Era.
[Ranallo] Undisputed Era is brutalizing Hanson of the War Raiders.
[McGuinness] I don't know who came up with it, but they need a medal.
[Ranallo] It was obviously premeditated,
a plan that had been put into effect,
as Rowe gets put through the chair by Roderick Strong.
How does that feel?
[Ranallo] And have we ever seen the Undisputed Era look stronger?
[Watson] And I guess Strong didn't get all of it,
but it doesn't matter, it was effective.
[Ranallo] And it helps that it's four-on-three
with the fourth member of the other team in purgatory right now.
[McGuinness] Well, we talked about the physicality,
the brutality of the War Games matches,
we didn't necessarily talk about the intelligence of the teams.
And that's been the biggest factor in this match.
[Ranallo] That's why the Undisputed Era
Rose so quickly in the NXT ranks.
Oh, wow, almost putting Rowe right through the cage.
And again, this match is yet to begin officially, and look at the carnage.
Let's do it.
[Ranallo] Bobby Fish, of course, who's recovering from that leg injury,
was on the shelf for a long period of time,
but came back and made impact with the chair.
[McGuinness] And then Ray Rowe,
I think, made impact to Bobby Fish's injured leg.
[Ranallo] In fact, War Raiders blamed Bobby Fish, Percy,
for not being the NXT Tag Team champions.
They had a shot at the titles before Bobby Fish made a shocking return.
[crowd counting]
[McGuinness] The time is ticking down,
but fellas, at this point, it's academic.
[crowd counting]
They obviously dreaded--oh, they found the key.
[Ranallo] Did they? They're--
[Watson] That was for the original lock, oh, man.
[McGuinness] Let's see if--
My key doesn't work on this one.
He threw the other key.
[McGuinness] It's the wrong key.
It doesn't work on it.
[Ranallo] Pete Dunne is apoplectic.
He's desperately trying to get out
so we can officially begin War Games,
but the other key was thrown away by Bobby Fish,
and that may have thrown away the chances
of Dunne, Ricochet and War Raiders in this match.
[McGuinness] We need some officials from the NXT universe
to see if they find that key.
[Watson] They'll have to find a way
to get Dunne out of there to back his team up,
because this is going sideways real quick.
[crowd chanting]
[Ranallo] Chants of Bruiserweight
and Pete Dunne is doing his best to try to break the chains.
[McGuinness] Try and get some bolt cutters or something.
I didn't have any idea that this could've happened.
[Ranallo] Last year, it was Strong
who avalanched German suplexed Adam Cole, but now--
-[McGuinness] Look at this. -[Ranallo] Wow.
Strong with another suplex.
Bobby Fish with one,
and the Undisputed Era is simply laying waste and--
You can't do it!
[Ranallo] Cole mocking "the Bruiserweight" Dunne.
[Cole] You can't do it.
-[Cole] We're the UE and we run… -[Ranallo] There's gonna be hell to pay.
…this freaking show.
[Ranallo] Cole's saying they run this freaking show.
Adam Cole, Bay Bay.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] And it appears
that the Undisputed Era are running Los Angeles tonight. Wait.
-[Watson] Here we go. -[Ranallo] Your wish is their command.
[Ranallo] They managed to find bolt cutters.
And you know Pete Dunne is gonna bolt out of that cage.
[McGuinness] At this juncture, what's the point?
[Watson] What do you mean?
[Ranallo] Really?
[McGuinness] It'll be four-on-one.
[Watson] We'll see.
[Ranallo] It's the WWE UK champion Pete Dunne,
hampered by an injury, dragging himself to the ring.
[McGuinness] Dunne's already hobbling down there.
[Watson] He doesn't care.
If he only had one leg, he'd do it.
[Ranallo] O'Reilly's trying to keep Dunne from entering.
Oh, the kendo stick.
Pete Dunne came to play as well--
Oh, and rapping the knuckles of Fish
and O'Reilly, and Cole now are trying to thwart Dunne's entrance.
[McGuinness] Right a second--oh.
[Ranallo] And remember, when Pete Dunne officially enters the cage,
War Games will officially begin,
and that is why Undisputed Era are doing their best to keep him out.
[McGuinness] Dunne's trying to get some help.
Ricochet is on the top rope.
Ricochet wipes out Undisputed Era,
and it's a brand-new ball game here at War Games.
[McGuinness] They were focused on Dunne on the outside.
That gave Ricochet the chance to recuperate.
[Ranallo] Dunne's looking to take out the garbage
in the form of Undisputed Era,
and yet he still has to officially enter the ring
so we can officially begin War Games.
[crowd chanting]
[McGuinness] The UK champion, Pete Dunne,
is raising the stakes.
[Ranallo] Dunne bringing in the heavy artillery.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] He'd like to set a table for four,
all four members of the Undisputed Era that is.
[Dunne] Help me.
[Ranallo] And all hell is about to break loose.
[crowd] Oh.
[Ranallo] Bedlam about to break out and Pete Dunne's not finished.
He's the moving man
introducing another table.
[crowd chattering]
[Ranallo] Pete Dunne on the steps,
grabs a hold of the kendo stick and he's in the ring.
Let the War Games begin.
Pete Dunne going to town on Strong with the kendo stick.
Oh.
The number one trend worldwide, all night long, NXT TakeOver and--
[McGuinness] War Games now officially started.
[Ranallo] If anyone leaves the cage during the match,
that superstar's team will automatically lose.
When someone is pinned or made to submit,
War Games is over.
[McGuinness] Ricochet and the War Raiders have made an astonishing recovery.
Where are they finding this energy from?
Uh-oh.
[Ranallo] Oh, wow, and Undisputed Era on the receiving end of this onslaught.
[Watson] Man.
[McGuinness] It's hard to watch.
[Ranallo] Ricochet is slamming the kendo stick down across the back of--
O'Reilly lands hard on that partition in between the two rings.
[McGuinness] Steel grating in between the rings.
[Ranallo] And apologies to David Beckham,
it's bend it like a Bruiserweight.
[Watson] Dunne's doing what he does best.
-[Watson] Oh. -[Ranallo] Wow.
[Ranallo] Dunne maybe a vegan, but he has a propensity for finger food,
especially when it's his opponents' digits.
[crowd] Oh!
[Ranallo] And it's all Ricochet, War Raiders and Pete Dunne.
Pete Dunne has changed the complexion of this match.
[McGuinness] You are not kidding.
The numbers are equal,
but if you take a look in the ring, the Undisputed Era's opponents--
[Ranallo] The manipulation of Kyle O'Reilly's joints
courtesy of Pete Dunne,
and that will affect the grip of Kyle O'Reilly.
[McGuinness] Just remember,
at any point this match could end with a pinfall or submission.
X-plex.
[Ranallo] The x-plex strong on O'Reilly, but the knee by Cole.
And now, Adam Cole
with an opportunity to get the UE back into this War Games match.
Remember, it was Cole that captured the victory
for the Undisputed Era last year.
Oh, O'Reilly.
[McGuinness] Nearly got hit in the head.
[Ranallo] And he just did, courtesy of Hanson.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] Wanton behavior.
[McGuinness] Oh, what an incredible flagrant show of brutality.
[Ranallo] Oh, and now, Hanson
is taking out Adam Cole with the trash can,
and the tandem offense of the War Raiders.
[Watson] Oh.
[McGuinness] Taking punishment to give punishment.
[Ranallo] And, boy, did they do a number on that trash can.
[Watson] Look at this, full steam ahead, with Adam Cole, trapped inside.
[Ranallo] What the--
War Raiders are psyching themselves up--
[McGuinness] What is this?
That's Rowe up, and Hanson body slams [indistinct].
Or make that Rowe body slams Hanson on Kyle O'Reilly.
[McGuinness] The lower back of Hanson ramming into that steel grating,
somehow, adrenaline, not feeling it.
[Ranallo] War Raiders are more than happy to join the raid of War Games.
[crowd] Oh.
[McGuinness] Nasty landing.
High and across the back.
[Ranallo] And again, the cover, oh!
And Bobby Fish with the presence of mind to keep War Games going.
Wait, wait!
[McGuinness] Not for much longer.
[Ranallo] And again War Raiders, double offense--
Oh, my, that garbage can just bounced off the cranium of Hanson.
And now, it's Fish and O'Reilly.
[McGuinness] Rowe, fighting two-on-one.
Not much longer he can withstand that offense.
[Ranallo] And the packed mentality here by the Undisputed Era.
Fish and O'Reilly are a dominant Tag Team for many years.
[indistinct] Go, go, go.
[Ranallo] It was Fish and O'Reilly
who won the NXT Tag Team Titles over Sanity last year.
Get him!
[Watson] Tides had turned
as looking like all Undisputed Era here.
The only one standing is Ricochet.
[Ranallo] Ricochet is now in a fireman's carry of Strong.
Oh.
Oh, the backstabber by Adam Cole,
realigning the spine of Ricochet.
[McGuinness] Tomorrow night at Survivor Series,
it's the Battle for Brand Supremacy.
Tonight, the Undisputed Era have War Games supremacy in mind.
[crowd chanting]
[Ranallo] Dunne is surveying the landscape,
the dangerous landscape surrounded,
and Pete Dunne, the Bruiserweight,
is showcasing his fighting heart.
[McGuinness] Dunne is trying to fight,
but he's not getting anywhere with four men.
[Ranallo] But he just got the better of Cole and the better of Fish,
and he just got the better of Strong.
You were saying, Nigel, [indistinc].
[McGuinness] Let me take it back.
[crowd] Oh.
[Ranallo] Oh, enzuigiri catches O'Reilly
rolling, into the knee bar,
and look at O'Reilly--
[McGuinness] Dunne will get the match, it could end
if Bobby Fish submits, this is the end.
This could be the end.
[Ranallo] The surgically repaired leg of Bobby Fish.
[McGuinness] Fish, writhing in agony.
[Watson] Dunne's taking all four members--oh.
[Ranallo] Will the victory by Kyle O'Reilly
be able to short circuit that submission attempt--
O'Reilly is now with a chain.
[McGuinness] Where did that come from?
I suppose it doesn't matter, it only matters where it is,
in the hands of Kyle O'Reilly and now--
It's around the ankle of Pete Dunne.
[Ranallo] Remember, Dunne was also injured in that brouhaha
to close out NXT TV this past weekend.
O'Reilly is looking to exploit that on Dunne's injured leg,
but he's doing his best to fight off.
He's manipulating the joints of O'Reilly.
Now, into the kimura.
-[McGuinness] Dunne-- -[Ranallo] The chain is around it.
[indistinc]
[McGuinness] Look at the way Dunne's holding a finger on [indistinct].
He's got the chain.
[Ranallo] O'Reilly's power.
And the chair shot from Fish
onto the injured leg of Pete Dunne.
And O'Reilly continues to wrap the chain around the injured leg of Dunne.
Turn him over.
[Watson] Kyle needs some help--
[McGuinness] Ankle lock up on the injured knee.
[Ranallo] A submission--
What great victory to the Undisputed Era.
[indistinct]
[McGuinness] Look at the Undisputed Era
fending off anybody else preventing this, will we see a tap?
[Watson] Era's trying to put up a wall to the team,
can't get over and help out Dunne.
[Ranallo] Dunne is in pain.
Pete Dunne now--
Oh, while Pete Dunne is now being double-teamed
by Strong and O'Reilly--
He's using the chair.
[McGuinness] How can Dunne withstand much longer?
How can Dunne survive?
[crowd] Oh.
[Ranallo] Ricochet is flying through the air
as only he can do.
But a chair to the midsection by Strong.
[McGuinness] How on Earth did Pete Dunne hang on?
-[Watson] Whoa. -[Ranallo] Oh!
[Ranallo] Big back body drop sent Strong into the other ring.
And it's just complete carnage here at the Staples Center.
Bodies are flying all over both rings,
the only man standing is Hanson of the War Raiders.
And now, while O'Reilly was standing momentarily--
[McGuinness] Right in the scene out of an apocalypse.
Bodies thrown everywhere.
[Ranallo] O'Reilly and Strong are perched on the top turnbuckle by the War Raiders.
And they are working in synergy--
Oh, but Adam Cole blasts Hanson in the back.
[crowd] Oh.
-[Ranallo] Bobby Fish-- -[Watson] Vicious kick by Ricochet.
[McGuinness] It is so hard to get a pinfall or submission
when there are so many other competitors in the ring
who can interfere and break it up.
[Ranallo] Oh, what a shot by Pete Dunne.
[McGuinness] What that means is you have to completely wear out
every member of your opposing team.
[Ranallo] And I think we are very near to that point.
[McGuinness] How is Pete Dunne back on the top rope?
-[Ranallo] Pete Dunne. -[McGuinness] He isn't human.
[Ranallo] Unbelievable hysteria, mamma mia.
Ricochet and Pete Dunne.
[Watson] It could be the end.
[Ranallo] Going for the cover.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] To your point, Nigel, great opportunity there by Ricochet.
[Watson] Tandem offense right here
by both Ricochet and the UK champion, Pete Dunne.
[McGuinness] We saw Dunne grabbing up the knee.
He couldn't make a pinfall attempt afterwards.
[Ranallo] Now, War Raiders
are momentarily bridging the two rings with the table,
but the amount of punishment that all eight warriors have absorbed,
how much is left in this,
the soul-stealing structure that is War Games.
A match that alters careers.
Oh.
-[Ranallo] Oh. -[crowd] Oh.
And Hanson, punching Adam Cole.
[McGuinness] The legs gave way,
but that doesn't mean Hanson can't put it back up
and inflict more punishment.
[Ranallo] Even the [indistinct] were subjected to its abuse
in what has been a titanic struggle here at War Games.
Oh, wow.
[McGuinness] Cole tried to get away, but got caught.
He's fighting for his life.
[Ranallo] Oh, but Cole popped-up into the powerslam
War Raiders now have to go for that cover.
[Ranallo] War Raiders--
O'Reilly, with the chair to the back of Hanson.
And now Rowe is looking again,
but Bobby Fish behind him with a kendo stick,
crushing it across the back.
[McGuinness] Rowe was aware at the last second.
[crowd] Oh.
[Ranallo] Oh, and Rowe just got put through the table,
and the vestiges of battle,
all over the bodies, the welt, the bruising.
[McGuinness] Listen to this impact,
driving Rowe through the table.
[Ranallo] Bobby Fish blasts Rowe through the table,
and now, Adam Cole unloads on Ricochet.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] The first team to score a pinfall or submission
will be claimed the Victors of War Games.
[McGuinness] It's back to the two men that started the War Games match,
Ricochet and Adam Cole.
[Ranallo] It wasn't the official War Games match,
they started the first sequence here
to get things going at Staples Center.
Adam Cole and Ricochet have been in there longer than any other superstar,
and now, Cole tied to the Tree of Woe,
but it's O'Reilly that thwarts the attack of Ricochet from [indistinct] anywhere.
[Watson] Look at the fight of Ricochet, staying alive.
[McGuinness] Got to give it to Ricochet, remember how much punishment he absorbed
at the early part of this match.
[Watson] If anyone had a second, third or maybe even fourth wind, it's Ricochet.
[McGuinness] But this isn't about what a great strategy it was
to put Ricochet in first.
[Ranallo] Blood's rushing to the head of Cole
as he continues to be tied to the Tree of Woe,
and Roderick Strong, with a jumping knee to the jaw of Ricochet,
and now, the triangle being employed by O'Rilley
on the table on Ricochet and Ricochet taps.
-[Ranallo] The War Games match is over. -[McGuinness] Wait a second.
[Watson] Oh, boy.
[Ranallo] No, Hanson.
Hanson [indistinct] and jumps on--
[Watson] Whoa.
[Ranallo] And then Hanson wipes out O'Rilley.
[croud counting]
[Ranallo] War Raiders won War Games for their team,
Wow.
What a splash through the table
as Hanson makes a big splash at War Games
and the carnage speaks for itself.
[Watson] Look at Hanson from War Raiders trying to put this thing away.
Look at the distance covered by the big man.
[McGuinness] He used the ropes from the other ring
and weren't enough for Roderick Strong, the savior of the Undisputed Era.
This terrible match would be over.
[Ranallo] All eight NXT Superstars struggling,
trying to find it within their soul, within their mind
how they can do the next to impossible.
Somehow, someway find a way to claim victory
for their team and in this battle for the ages.
[crowd chanting]
[Ranallo] Cole is the only one on his feet
and he's barely hanging on using the ropes.
It was Adam Cole that earned the victory in the first War Games match last year.
With the last shot at Adam Cole.
[McGuinness] Wait, what--
[Ranallo] If Adam Cole escapes, if Adam Cole lands on the floor
or Ricochet there--
Then their team loses, what are they doing?
[McGuinness] It can't be what Cole had in mind.
[Ranallo] I wonder what he had in mind.
Oh, wow.
[McGuinness] Perhaps he's looking for an offensive maneuver
and he may unfortunately, the only receiver end in one now--
[Ranallo] Ricochet and Cole in the most perilous position you can be
in here at War Games.
The top of the cage.
[McGuinness] You think back over the annals of sports entertainment.
[Watson] No, here comes Strauss.
[Ranallo] And remember Roderick Strong.
Wait, they're gonna push Ricochet off the cage.
If Ricochet fall to the outside, Undisputed Era wins.
[McGuinness] This is genius again.
You know what Cole did, he went on top
to beat Ricochet up there knowing he could throw Ricochet out
and win the match.
That's absolute genius.
Tell me I'm a liar.
[Ranallo] Cole, Dunne, Strong and Ricochet are on the fence.
You're absolutely right, Nigel, but look where Cole finds himself.
They're all in a perilous position.
They were in a perilous position when they signed to compete at War Games.
[McGuinness] Look at the knee of Dunne, the right knee that was injured.
[Watson] Dunne has Cole hooked, though,
he set him up with a suplex.
[Ranallo] Oh my God, the numbers continue to grow.
Oh, wow.
It's--oh, this is not going to end well for Adam Cole.
Bobby Fish.
What is--
[Watson] Look at that.
[Ranallo] Fish is trying to choke out Hanson by the--what?
[Watson] Look at this.
[McGuinness] Oh, my God.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] What in the hell was that?
Incredible.
[Watson] Hey guys, this is--
[crowd chanting]
[Watson] This is War Games, prepare to expect the unexpected.
Bodies just sprawled out all over the place.
One more time.
[Ranallo] And the best human to host belong to Ricochet.
[McGuinness] An avalanche of humanity.
[Ranallo] An avalanche indeed as Ricochet,
on the top of the cage beginning to stir
as the seven other superstars try desperately to get to their feet.
What is Ricochet thinking?
-[McGuinness] Oh, no. -[Ranallo] No.
[Ranallo] Don't tell me Ricochet--
The preeminent high flyer.
[McGuinness] Whoa.
[Watson] Show time, baby.
[Ranallo] [indistinct] to Ricochet in full effect
and he has wrecked the rest of the competition.
But then he wrecked himself as well.
Incredible athleticism.
Mama Effin' Mia, can you believe
what we are witnessing here tonight at War Games?
[Watson] The North American champion said if he gets to the top of this cage,
they would get crazy and he fulfilled his promise
because that was absolutely insane.
[McGuinness] With a different angle to spin the rotation.
[crowd cheering]
[Watson] This is the man that can fly, doesn't need a cape,
doesn't need wings, x marks to spot.
Ricochet takes out everybody.
[Ranallo] A terrible rotation moonsault.
And the look on the NXT universe faces say it all.
There is only one, One and Only Ricochet, the NXT north American champion.
[crowd yelling]
[McGuinness] Now both teams by osmosis.
[Ranallo] Both teams are brutalizing each other, Nigel.
[McGuinness] Fuming.
[Ranallo] It's time to regroup for both,
the Undisputed Era, the War Raiders, Ricochet and Pete Dunne.
[indistinct]
[McGuinness] All eight gladiators.
[Ranallo] And it is ridiculous if you ask me if all eight are standing.
[McGuinness] A line [indistinct].
[Ranallo] Wow, a classic standoff here at War Games.
[McGuinness] A steel grating n between all of these.
Here we go!
[crowd chanting]
[Ranallo] War Games is about to be taken to the next level.
You think this is your time--
Your turn!
[Ranallo] Warfare, it's just warfare!
And all hell has broken loose at War Games.
[McGuinness] An alleyway of brutality.
Oh!
[McGuinness] Who came out on top? I don't know.
[Ranallo] Well, it's Rowe who's standing for the moment
before he gets taken down by a desperate Bobby Fish.
And after all of this, we are packed to even terms, you guys.
It has been an astounding display.
Oh!
[Ranallo] Rowe manhandling Bobby Fish
and just destroying his jaw with that knee
and the War Raiders now are setting up Bobby Fish fallout.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] O'Reilly, though quick to grab the neck of Rowe,
but here comes Strong.
And Strong blasted Rowe with the kick.
[McGuinness] I love combinations, it took down Rowe--
[Ranallo] It's the last stand for the Undisputed Era.
[Watson] Do you see Hanson just hammering through?
[Ranallo] Double back elbow, come on.
Hanson with a headspring double back elbow.
This--
[crowd] Oh!
[Ranallo] It's a nightmare for those involved,
but I must be dreaming because I can't believe what we're seeing.
Back elbow.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] Adam Cole [indistinct].
Oh, wow, Pete Dunne manipulates the toes and then the fingers.
[McGuinness] Here it is.
[Ranallo] Back and forth, what a counter into the DDT by Adam Cole.
And there it is.
Adam Cole looking upon Pete Dunne away with the last shot
into the repeat.
[crowd counting]
[crowd cheering]
Adam Cole exposed his knee.
Adam Cole is looking to send the Undisputed Era to victory.
But now Pete Dunne--
[crowd] Oh!
[Ranallo] Will it be the bitter end of this brutal battle?
[Watson] Ricochet.
[Ranallo] Ricochet flied through the air
and both Ricochet and Dunne have full cover--
They won.
[bell rings]
[rock music playing]
[Ranallo] Wow.
[female announcer] Your winners, the team of the War Raiders,
the NXT North American champion, Ricochet,
and the WWE United Kingdom champion,
Pete Dunne.
[Ranallo] Pete Dunne and Ricochet, both pinned Adam Cole.
An outstanding ovation here
from the 13,600 in attendance
at the Staples Center witnessing another brutal chapter of NXT history.
[McGuinness] What an incredible match.
[Ranallo] And none of these superstars will ever be the same
physically, mentally, spiritually.
And now, Ricochet and Pete Dunne collect their wares.
They both pinned Adam Cole.
But, you know, they have unfinished business as well
involved in the first champion versus championship match
that was spoiled by the Undisputed Era by the look and a show of respect.
[McGuinness] Unbelievable display of physicality on this match.
[crowd] Oh!
[McGuinness] Both teams giving up their body and their soul.
[indistinct]
[McGuinness] A powerslam took down Cole.
And if it wasn't for the save, the match would have been over at that point.
[Watson] Look at Bobby Fish coming down here on Rowe,
plating Rowe through the table.
And you're talking about teams laying their bodies on the line
to walk out here to be able to say
they were the winners of the War Games match.
[crowd cheering]
[McGuinness] Hook to the leg and it was Strong
who would come to the save for the trashcan.
I mean, look at this.
[Ranallo] Oh, wow, sensational spectacle courtesy of Ricochet.
[crowd cheering]
[Ranallo] The NXT cheat code.
[McGuinness] Full strike, everyone down
and then it look like Adam Cole would repeat history and win War Games.
But instead, he would get caught first by Dunne.
Boom, bitter end in the center and then out of nowhere,
oh, full 50 splash, Cole had no way of protecting himself.
And both Dunne and Ricochet…
[bell rings]
[McGuinness] …Covering Cole for the win.
[rock music playing]
[Watson] And Ricochet and Dunne, both found an opportunity,
found success by putting their differences aside for the night
and now they can both stand tall
winners at War Games.
[Ranallo] An amazing night of NXT action
culminates with another wild War Games
in which the War Raiders along with Dunne and Ricochet stand tall.
The Undisputed Era's win streak at War Games is over.
It's Survival of the Fittest, Survivor Series weekend.
[crowd cheering]
[rock music playing]
Subtitle translation by: Luciana Salusso ries weekend.