NXT TakeOver: WarGames preview, Nov. 18, 2017:

NXT Champion Drew McIntyre vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas

SAnitY vs. The Undisputed ERA vs. The Authors of Pain & Roderick Strong

NXT Women’s Championship Fatal 4-Way Match

Aleister Black vs. Velveteen Dream

Kassius Ohno vs. Lars Sullivan

NXT Champion Drew McIntyre vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas

NXT Champion Drew McIntyre will put his title on the line tonight at TakeOver: WarGames against
the red-hot Andrade “Cien” Almas.
Over the last few months, Almas has been on an incredible winning streak, turning his previous
misfortunes completely around thanks in large part to Zelina Vega coming back into his life.
Vega – who is acting as Almas’ business manager – has done everything from offer up a timely in-ring
distraction to ordering Almas when to strike. Simply put, Vega has kept Almas’ focus on the prize:
the NXT Championship.
If Almas and Vega want to claim the coveted title, it’s going to take the performance of a lifetime.
Since coming to NXT, McIntyre has shown no signs of slowing down. Having reached his goal of claiming
the NXT Title, the Scottish Superstar is determined to be a champion the NXT Universe can be proud
of. And that means being a fighting champion.
Over recent weeks, the outspoken Vega made multiple attempts to get a title opportunity for her client
by egging on McIntyre, who in response demanded Almas challenge him to his face. Following the Oct.
25 episode of NXT, McIntyre finally had heard enough from the trash talking Almas and Vega, taking to
Twitter to declare that he would meet Almas face-to-face the following week. This prompted General
Manager William Regal to step in via Twitter and make a title showdown between the two adversaries
official.

SAnitY vs. The Undisputed ERA vs. The Authors of Pain & Roderick Strong

(Triple Threat WarGames Match)
The highly popular WarGames Match is back, and it’s returning in the biggest way imaginable.
Tonight at NXT TakeOver: WarGames, the teams of SAnitY, The Undisputed ERA and The Authors of Pain
& Roderick Strong will wage war inside the hellacious steel structure that surrounds not one, but two rings.
The WarGames Match is as barbaric as it is historic, dating back to the days of the NWA before
becoming a staple in WCW. The unique and unforgiving contest features two rings, side-by-side,
surrounded by a giant steel cage. At TakeOver: WarGames in Houston, each group selects one member
to start the bout inside the cage, while the remaining team members are locked inside shark cages
by the entranceway. After five minutes, the final two members from one team enter the match, giving
that group a brief yet brutal advantage. Three minutes later, the second team’s members are released,
followed by the final team’s competitors following another three-minute period. Once all nine Superstars
are inside the ruthless steel structure, the first competitor to pick up a pinfall or submission
earns the victory for his side.

NXT Women’s Championship Fatal 4-Way Match

A new NXT Women’s Champion will be crowned at TakeOver: WarGames when Kairi Sane, Ember Moon,
Peyton Royce and SAnitY’s Nikki Cross do battle in a Fatal 4-Way Match for the vacant title.
For weeks, the NXT Universe watched with baited breath as new contenders qualified for the hotly
anticipated title showdown, which determines Asuka’s successor as the NXT Women’s Champion.
Asuka’s countrymate, Kairi Sane of Japan, was the first Superstar named to the match. The Pirate
Princess, a newcomer to NXT, earned the right after triumphing in the inaugural Mae Young Classic.
Royce and Moon both qualified by claiming victories in Triple Threat Matches, while Cross earned
her berth by winning a massive Battle Royal on the Oct. 25 edition of NXT.
The NXT Women’s Title has been vacant since Asuka chose to relinquish the championship on Sept. 6,
bringing a close to The Empress of Tomorrow’s historic 523-day reign.
With the table finally set for what’s destined to be an epic encounter, the only thing left to do
is count down the days until TakeOver: WarGames. Witness history in the making when the next
edition of NXT’s critically acclaimed TakeOver series streams live tonight at 8 ET/5 PT, exclusively
on the award-winning WWE Network.

Aleister Black vs. Velveteen Dream

Velveteen Dream has succeeded in getting Aleister Black’s attention, but come NXT Takeover WarGames,
the purple-clad provocateur might wish that he hadn’t.
Black issued his most forceful response to the Dream’s campaign on the Nov. 1 edition of NXT,
proclaiming that he will make sure the NXT Universe never forgets Velveteen Dream’s name at
TakeOver: WarGames.
The Dutch destroyer’s strong words came a week after Velveteen Dream blindsided him and ran him
into the steel ring steps. Velveteen Dream then tied Black’s arms in the ring ropes, slapped him
in the face and demanded he utter the Dream’s name. The ambush made Black, who is undefeated in NXT
competition, look more vulnerable than the NXT Universe has ever seen him.
Black has maintained a steely composure while racking up one of NXT’s best win-loss records, so
picking a fight with the black-metal mutilator might seem like a recipe for disaster. Yet, the
Dream is a Superstar unlike any other. Beyond all the head games and unorthodox antics, he remains
among the brand’s most gifted competitors. Could his outrageous bid for recognition simply be a
ploy to keep one step ahead of the death-metal mutilator? Perhaps just as importantly, will
Velveteen Dream make Black say his name in Houston?

Kassius Ohno vs. Lars Sullivan

In a match that WWE Hall of Famer announcer Jim Ross might term a “slobberknocker,” NXT’s resident
Knockout Artist, Kassius Ohno, will battle the behemoth known as Lars Sullivan at NXT TakeOver: WarGames.
Surprisingly, this match came about at the request of Ohno, who sought out General Manager William
Regal on the Nov. 8 episode of NXT in hopes moving into NXT Title contention. Currently riding an
impressive winning streak, The Knockout Artist wants to show Regal that he is worthy of such an
opportunity by toppling the 300-plus pound Sullivan.
Since arriving in NXT and showing that he can’t play nice with others by routinely destroying his
own tag team partners, Sullivan has put together his own winning streak, proving to be unstoppable
in singles competition. The hulking Superstar has powered his way past the likes of No Way Jose,
Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch, competitors who are all known for their ability to unleash a hard-hitting attack.
If there is one Superstar in NXT who could overcome Sullivan’s size and strength, however, it’s Ohno.
The highly-acclaimed striker’s Rolling Elbow is a finishing move that — if it lands on the jaw of
Sullivan — could be enough to keep the brute down for the three-count.
Will Ohno KO the seemingly impervious Sullivan? Or will the ravenous Sullivan beat down The Knockout
Artist’s hopes of fighting his way into NXT Title contention? No matter the outcome, the NXT Universe
is in store for a slugfest of epic proportions.