WWE NXT TakeOver: WarGames predictions - WarGames x2, Finn Bálor vs. Matt Riddle, more!

WWE NXT will be putting on their latest live special tomorrow (Sat., Nov. 23, 2019). The Survivor Series eve show will be called WarGames for the third straight year. And this time, it will feature two of the titular matches, one for the men and one for the women.

The card set to come our way tomorrow at 7PM Eastern, from Rosemont, Illinois’ Allstate Arena and exclusively on WWE Network, looks to be the usual high quality we’ve come to expect from the black-and-gold.

If you're new or someone who only checks out NXT for the live specials, we've got a full preview of the matches coming up for you between now and belltime. Right now, we've assembled a motley crew of Cagesiders who watch & love NXT to give us their thoughts & predictions on each.

Let's get to it.

WWE NXT TakeOver: WarGames PREDICTIONS

Undisputed ERA vs. Tommaso Ciampa, Keith Lee, Dominik Dijakovic & MYSTERY PARTNER

Sean Rueter: Sure, Trips has Ciampa high on the “We. Are. N-X-T” juice, but can he really trust his teammates? Can Keith & DD remember they’re supposed to superplex the littler guys and not each other? How honorable can this MYSTERY PARTNER be if he doesn’t even want to step up and join the fray in the weeks leading up to The Match Beyond (can I say that here)? The ERA are brothers, man! Pick: Undisputed ERA

Kyle Decker: Undisputed has been on a roll since claiming all the titles. It’s time for them to get knocked down a peg. Pick: Team Ciampa

Rev. Claire Elizabeth: So I’ve been mostly out on NXT lately due to being busy on Wednesday nights liveblogging AEW and it’s a real pleasant surprise to see a MonSTARS reunion on our babyface team! Anyway, WarGames with a spicy dominant heel stable in the mix? PLUS a mystery partner?! Babyface win, folks. Pick: MonSTARS (Keith Lee & Dominik Dijakovic), Tommaso Ciampa, & ???

Stella Cheeks (of the always awesome NYD podcast, and Cageside social media maven): The Undisputed ERA have been all but unstoppable, but Daddy’s home and now it’s time for their fun to end. Plus, Lee & Dijakovic are behemoths. They are gonna squash ERA like the annoying bugs they are. Do they even need a fourth person?!? Pick: Tommaso Ciampa, Keith Lee, Dominik Dijakovic & friend

Henry T. Casey: When I said put Keith Lee and Dijak on NXT TakeOver, I didn’t know they’d get throw into the fire of a WarGames match. That being said, it’s time for the Era to bask in this L. Pick: Team Limitless Daddy, aka Ciampa, Lee, Dijakovic and ?

Tommy Messano (of the one-and-only Bros B4 Elbows pod): Without knowing Team Ciampa’s mystery partner, I lean Undisputed Era here. The ERA holds a 1-1 record in WarGames matches and I think they avoid falling below .500 on Saturday night. Plus the world needs to see a Kyle O’Reilly air guitar solo on top of the cage. Pick: Undisputed ERA

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Rhea Ripley, Tegan Nox, Candice LeRae & Mia Yim vs. Shayna Baszler, Bianca Belair, Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray

Sean Rueter: If they wouldn’t let Becky Lynch beat Rhea... this is the set-up for Ripley finally ending Shayna’s reign. And Mia & Candice both owe Io one (or two, or three). I reserve the right to change my selection if Poppy plays the bad girls to the ring, but... Pick: Team Ripley

Kyle Decker: I’m not entirely sure on this one. Part of me wants to pick the heels just because I picked the babyfaces in the other WarGames. But there are two champions on that heel team. The good gals winning could set up multiple title matches - someone against Shayna and someone against Kay Lee. Pick: Team Ripley

Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Ah, this is the match where my NXT layoff hurts, huh? I feel like I have next to no idea how to call this one. But my gut feeling here is Shayna’s reign is way overripe and we need a big babyface win here to set up whoever’s going to dethrone her. Pick: Candice LeRae, Mia Yim, Rhea Ripley, & Tegan Nox

Stella Cheeks: My Shayna stanning aside this is a situation where the champ can actually take a loss. There will be so much going on here it would be fine if Shayna lost on a PPV. Plus, Rhea Ripley is red hot! Her going against Sasha and Becky in one week and not only living to tell the tale, but kicking ass in both encounters makes her look like a star! NXT could use a little babyface action here. Pick: Candice LeRae, Mia Yim, Rhea Ripley, & Tegan Nox

Henry T. Casey: I’m at a loss because the story on NXT TV with this match is less about the above named athletes and more about Dakota Kickin’ Kai trying and trying. Is she turning on Team Rhea? Is she the inevitable NEW CHAMP!? Either way, I see an ending that puts Shayna’s run in jeopardy. Pick: Team Rhea.

Tommy Messano: By far the toughest match to pick on the night. I want both teams to win and see a path to victory for both squads. Hope the first ever women’s WarGames match closes the show. Team Baszler gets their hands raised, likely with some interference from I wanna say Mary & Jessica? Pick: Team Baszler

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Matt Riddle vs. Finn Bálor

Sean Rueter: There’s lots of ways to protect Bro. Undisputed ERA and/or The O.C. show up to distract Riddle and further the Finn-trigue (I’ve filed a trademark on that, so if WWE uses, they’ll hear from my lawyers). Johnny Gargano tries to help and screws it up. Good old fashioned cheating from The Real Rock ‘N’ Roller. But you don’t derail The Prince in his first match back. Pick: Finn Bálor

Kyle Decker: Matt Riddle is the replacement for Johnny Gargano. So unless the story is Finn Bálor dealing with a loss and not establishing him as a killer heel, he wins here. Should be a fantastic match. Pick: Finn Bálor

Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Gosh, nobody ever seems to want to push Matt Riddle as hard or as fast as I’d like them to, do they? Unfair, frankly. Anyway, yeah, the Real Rock ‘n Roller sticks one to the King of Bros here. Pick: Finn Balor

Stella Cheeks: No amount of weed can prepare Riddle for the ass kicking he is about to get. Bálor has to win and he has to win with absolute brutality. If this whole bad guy shtick is going to work in NXT then he as to leave a trail of bodies in his wake. But the real question here is will this match make me care about pro-wrestler Finn Bálor? Pick: Finn Bálor

Henry T. Casey: Matt Riddle is bro-loved, he’s a guy you can bring back to the top immediately despite a loss here or there. Finn Bálor? Well, this rebranding should really start with a win. Pick: Finn Bálor

Tommy Messano: Bro? Bro.....this a huge spot for Matt Riddle but the match is more about Finn Balor’s return to NXT. Riddle will have his nights, but Saturday night is all about rebooting Balor with a high profile victory. Pick: Finn Bálor

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Pete Dunne vs. Killian Dain vs. Damian Priest

Sean Rueter: Not that SAnitY’s main roster run wasn’t memorable or anything, but The Bruiserweight is the one who’ll get the Survivor Series crowd rocking after they get “BOOM” and “BAY BAY” out of their system during the champ’s entrance. Pick: Pete Dunne

Kyle Decker: With the winner facing Adam Cole, who is heel, on Sunday, it makes sense to pick the only babyface in this match. Killian Dain vs. Cole would still be enjoyable, but I don’t think they go heel vs. heel. Pick: Peter Dunne

Rev. Claire Elizabeth: If it’s anybody’s time here, it’s got to be the Bruiserweight’s, no? Dunne/Cole is the best possible NXT showcase for Survivor Series based on the options we have here, so... that’s the match. Although the cynical part of me wants to pick Priest just because the fact that Punishment Martinez not only got signed, but is getting pushed (to some extent) is wild to me. Pick: Pete Dunne

Stella Cheeks: You know who sucks? Damian Priest. His whole gimmick is a joke. It doesn’t fit his look or his vibe. It’s awful and makes me not want to watch this match. Dain isn’t ready to go back to main roster and be welcomed by a ruthless crowd (I imagine crickets) and every one loves Peter. Which match sounds like money - Cole versus the absolute joke that is Damien Priest? Cole versus the guy that no one cared about on the main roster? Or Cole versus Pete Dunne, Bruiserweight and former MOTY winner? Pick: Pete Dunne

Henry T. Casey: I want to go Priest, mostly because I think Cole retains and Pete shouldn’t lose on a major PPV, but WWE seemingly wants Sunday to be a no-questions-asked must-watch. Pick: PETER!

Tommy Messano: The story here is about Pete Dunne’s path to redemption, Killian Dain’s transformation into a viable single competitor, and they mystery behind Damian Priest. Give me the x-factor and minor upset as Priest wins, then goes on to face Adam Cole on Sunday. Pick: Damian Priest

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That's who we've got. Who are you taking, Cagesiders?

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