Welcome to another edition of WWE Heat Index, wherein we discuss the interest level for the various feuds heading into the pay-per-view events. This time around, we’re focusing on NXT TakeOver: WarGames 2018 coming this Saturday night.
The way this works is a pretty simple three-way breakdown of Hot, Lukewarm and Cold. If you like something and you’re very interested in how WWE is setting up the program, it’s Hot (aka Good). If you’re a bit on the fence about it and see some problems, but it’s not awful, then it’s just Okay or Lukewarm. The ones that are the most problematic that you have no interest in are Cold (aka Bad).
Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section to let everyone know what your thermometer reads for each feud as I tell you what my thoughts are below!
Without further ado, let’s get started!
NXT Championship Match: Tommaso Ciampa (c) vs. Velveteen Dream = Hot
You put two of my favorites on the roster together with an uncertain outcome and the easy bet that they’ll put on a fantastic performance in the ring and you’ve sold me.
I don’t care if the story is a little thin, or if the build to this wasn’t the strongest, or if they’re both pretty much heels and that runs the risk of a split crowd. This is going to be fun as hell and no matter which one of them wins, I’ll be happy about it, which minimizes the risk and lets me sit back, relax, and just enjoy rather than having to analyze every little bit.
Prediction: Tommaso Ciampa retains the title.
NXT Women’s Championship 2-Out-of-3 Falls Match: Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Kairi Sane = Hot / Lukewarm
Their previous matches have all been great and this is likely going to cap off the feud, so you know they’re going to try their best to really put a stamp on it.
I have no reason to believe I shouldn’t be enthusiastic about this, but I do have to dock it just a smidge due to its inevitability.
The likelihood of Sane winning the belt back is just not there. Baszler is going to win this to put herself back on top definitively, and that’s more than okay.
Prediction: Shayna Baszler retains the title.
WarGames Match: The Undisputed ERA vs. Ricochet, Pete Dunne and War Raiders = Lukewarm
To be absolutely perfectly honest, I’m not as excited about this match as I was with last year’s and it’s entirely down to the people involved.
It made more sense to have AOP, SAnitY and The Undisputed ERA the last time, even with Roderick Strong randomly pairing with Akam and Rezar, than the babyface quartet we have this time—at least, in my opinion.
Yes, they’ve all had their issues with The Undisputed ERA, but so have plenty of others like EC3, Oney Lorcan, Danny Burch, Trent Seven and Tyler Bate. Maybe I’m just underwhelmed by Hanson and Rowe.
Still, the match should be good and thoroughly entertaining. It may not have the biggest selling points to me to get me super invested, but I’m still going to enjoy it.
Prediction: The Undisputed ERA win.
Johnny Gargano vs. Aleister Black = Hot
I have no idea what WWE has planned for Gargano’s heel turn and if it will stick, or if this is just one of those things that will be twisted to get him back to being the uber babyface, which makes me significantly curious about how this match will go down.
Even ignoring the storyline elements of it, these two are so rock solid in the ring that it’s a surefire guarantee they’ll tear the house down and put on an amazing match, which means I’m confident this will be one of my favorite matches of this entire weekend.
Prediction: Aleister Black wins.
Those are my thoughts, but how do you feel about these particular feuds? What’s hot and what’s cold in your mind? Fill us in on your point of view in the comments below!
