Another edition of NXT War Games has come and gone. The future is now as NXT 2.0 stood tall over NXT Black and Gold to close out the show on Sunday night. As NXT moves ahead with a guy like Bron Breakker, the show was more about Team Black and Gold as they were the ones people were cheering for not the new crop of talent. And that is a telling sign considering guys like Carmelo Hayes, Tony D’Angelo and Grayson Walker are going to be featured moving forward.
Entering the match, you knew Team 2.0 was going to win and they did with Breakker pinning Tommaso Ciampa. And that is the right move as Breakker will be winning the NXT title down the road. However, outside of Breakker, the real story of the match was Team Black and Gold. The crowd was really behind Team Black and Gold, especially Johnny Gargano. It is widely speculated that this was Gargano’s final match in NXT. Gargano had accomplished everything in the company except competing in NXT War Games. Johnny Gargano showed why he was Johnny Takeover. Gargano and Ciampa were able to hit all their DIY moves especially the finisher right onto Breakker before it was broken up.
And rightfully so the crowd was behind Black and Gold because those were the guys that made the brand what it was before they decided to change it into more a developmental show. Team Black and Gold were the clear babyfaces in this match with Team 2.0. And the match was worked like that with 2.0 having the advantage in the match. The babyfaces had to claw and fight their way back, which the crowd was behind. Anytime Gargano, Ciampa, Pete Dunne, or LA Knight did anything the crowd popped for them.
And even though Knight has only been with NXT for a short term, he felt like he had been there longer. His babyface comeback was something magical to see. He hit all of his spots on the heels. While you can disagree how they turned him babyface, Knight was perfect for this match. Another guy that was perfect for this match was Dunne. He has been in War Games before, so he knows what to expect. As the second man in for Black and Gold, he was able to do all of his spots as well.
And even though Black and Gold lost, it felt like they won with the way they put over the new talent and the crowd reaction for every move they made. Not only that it was indicative of the night. For the most part, it was the old guard winning over the new guard. Again outside of the main event, look at the winners, Roderick Strong, Cameron Grimes, and Team Black Gold Women’s team.
As much as WWE wants to change NXT, the Black and Gold Brand will live on forever. Because they laid the groundwork for what is to come. They were the staple that made NXT better than the main roster. And in a loss to Team 2.0, NXT Black and Gold again showed why they can be the future of the company despite what others in the company think.
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