TakeOver gets its first Pre-Show match at WarGames

Since going live on Wednesdays means they don’t need post-TakeOver filler matches, NXT can now use the time they used to use filming those bouts for something else. In the tradition of WWE’s Sunday events, that something else will be a match.

It was announced last night that TakeOver: WarGames will have a pre-show match. There’s not a ton of story behind it, but it does pit two men who’ve gotten a lot of time on television for the black-and-gold brand against one another. And the purple brand, which may now just be a division of NXT. But let’s focus on the matter at hand.

Isaiah “Swerve” Scott was someone quite a few people were considering as the fourth member of Team Ciampa in the men’s WarGames match. He’s coming off a win over another member of the Breakout Tournament group, Australian big man Bronson Reed.

Angel Garza’s been on a roll, and has been getting over with the NXT crowd. But his roll was slowed a bit on Nov. 12 when he lost a Cruiserweight title match against Lio Rush. It wasn’t slowed too much, however, since his foot was on the rope as he was being pinned.

The winner of this one should be in a position to challenge Lio Rush for the purple belt. Check out NXT’s first pre-show match, and follow along with the Cageside community in Rev. Claire’s unparalleled live blog, to see whether that’s Swerve or Garza.