WWE NXT Spotlight: 11/15/17 By Kurt Zamora

Welcome one and all to the last installment of the NXT Spotlight before Takeover: WarGames. All eyes will be on Houston this weekend with the double header of Takeover and Survivor Series. With all the talk being about the changes in the Survivor Series card, it almost feels like War Games has been forgotten about. This is a huge match for the brand though and it’s got a fairly solid undercard. Let’s see what the Yellow and Black has in store for us just 3 days before Takeover!

The Street Profits vs. Riddick Moss & Tino Sabbatelli

Angelo Dawkins and Sabbatelli start the match. Dawkins with a go behind takedown but Sabbatelli then catches him with a back elbow. Montez Ford makes a blind tag while Dawkins leapfrogs Sabbatelli and then they double team him. Moss comes in and gets a double dropkick for his troubles. Ford charges Sabbatelli with a 360 clothesline in the corner. Moss distracts Ford though and it allows Sabbatelli to come from behind and nail Ford. That changes the momentum as Moss tags in. He nails Ford with a back suplex. Moss taunts Ford and then tags back in Sabbatelli. Sabbatelli with straight right hands as he talks trash to both of his opponents. Ford avoids another back suplex and ducks under Sabbatelli to make a hot tag. Dawkins comes in and cleans house until he misses a 360 clothesline on Sabbatelli in the corner. Sabbatelli knocks Ford off the apron but turns around into a straight right hand by Dawkins. Dawkins with a pin, Ford grabs Moss and that actually gets the pinfall.

Winners: The Street Profits

K-Tank’s Take: That was a really weak finish. The punch didn’t even look that good. I was hoping this would be saved for next week as I really wanted to see The Street Profits live in Houston, but oh well. Moss and Sabbatelli are so good together. They need a team name though.

We then go to a really good video package hyping the match between Aleister Black and The Velveteen Dream at Takeover.

Lars Sullivan vs. Raul Mendoza

Mendoza avoids a charging Sullivan and hits repeated kicks to no effect. Mendoza tries a springboard move off the top rope but Sullivan just headbutts him in midair. Sullivan hits a huge avalanche splash in the corner and then follows it with a second one. Sullivan hits a version of the Tour of the Islands slam. He then lands multiple crossface strikes. He then gets Mendoza up in his version of a urinagi to which Mauro refers to the Freak Accident now.

Winner: Lars Sullivan

Post match, Sullivan gets Mendoza up but Kassius Ohno comes out before he can do anything. Both men stare down one another and Sullivan evilly laughs at Ohno. Sullivan leaves the ring as he continues to laugh.

K-Tank’s Take: Pretty straight forward with this one. Not much to say.

We go to William Regal’s office where Johnny Gargano comes in. Gargano says he still belongs here and he can get to where he needs to be. Regal says that Pete Dunne has offered a open challenge for next week on NXT to challenge him for the UK Title. Regal says that Gargano is the perfect person to accept that challenge. Gargano agrees and the match is set. That is going to be a barnburner and I’m so glad I can see it live in Houston.

We then go to a video package showing us how we got to War Games with the three teams involved, Sanity, Undisputed Era, & AOP/Roddy Strong.

Ember Moon vs. Mercedes Martinez

Mercedes with a side headlock but Ember shoots her off, only be taken down with a shoulder tackle. Mercedes then goes back to the headlock. Mercedes with a kick to the gut and a right hand. She goes for a hiptoss but Ember lands on her feet and takes out Mercedes with a dropkick. She trips Mercedes down to her knees and hits another dropkick to the side of her head. Both women trade forearm shots. Ember comes off the ropes and is caught in a spinebuster. Mercedes with a pin but Ember kicks out. We go to commercial.

We return to Ember with a rollup on Mercedes, but she kicks out. Ember misses an enziguri and then Mercedes chops her into next week. Mercedes with a snap suplex and then turns it into her version of the Three Amigos. Ember is able to kick out after it though. Mercedes goes for a fisherman’s suplex but Ember fights out and then lands a step up enziguri. Ember with a standing hurricanrana that sends Mercedes to the floor. Ember goes for broke and hits a low bridge suicide dive. She had a ton of momentum on that dive. She gets Mercedes back in and goes to the top rope but Mercedes catches her with a big boot and then hits a version of the RKO. Ember is able to kick out again. Mercedes once again wants the fisherman’s suplex but Ember turns it into a small package. Mercedes kicks out. Ember with a kick to the spine and then goes back up top again and this time she comes off with The Eclipse and gets the win.

Winner: Ember Moon

Post match, Nikki Cross’ music hits and she appears in the crowd. She’s followed by the other two competitors, Peyton Royce and Kairi Sane. We will have a new NXT Women’s champion on Saturday.

K-Tank’s Take: Peyton Royce was looking INCREDIBLE tonight. Just for those that are keeping score. I have a pretty good idea who I’m picking to win this match, but I’ll save it for my preview piece later this week.

Championship Face-Off

Drew McIntyre makes his way to the ring for a face to face encounter with his #1 Contender, Andrade Almas. Drew talks before Almas comes out and says how it’s great when a plan comes together. Zelina Vega’s plan came together and now Almas has a title shot at War Games. He’s in trouble now though. It’s one thing to ask for an opportunity, it’s another to actually get it. You find out what type of man you are when the pressure starts. It’s clear what type of man McIntyre is. Zelina, she’s been rambling on about mountains, but she’s going to find out soon that McIntyre is the bloody mountain. So now is the time for Almas to come face to face with McIntyre. Don’t do it to prove anything to McIntyre or Zelina, do it for yourself. Let’s see what type of man Almas is. Unless of course, Zelina won’t let him off the leash for the night.

Almas’ music hits but Vega is the only one to show up at first. Finally Almas shows up though and makes a beeline for the ring and both men start brawling. Vega tries to jump on McIntyre but he catches her in midair. He puts her down but Almas chop blocks him down and then attacks the leg. Almas gets him up and nails his Hammerlock DDT. Vega picks up the NXT title and hypes up her man winning as they both look approvingly at McIntyre hurt on the mat. That ends our show.

K-Tank’s Take: Almas and Vega together are so good. This match is probably the 3rd most important, which is odd for an NXT Takeover, but I still think these two are going to deliver a hell of a bout.

Myself and our fearless leader John Canton will have a Takeover preview piece later this week, so that’s where I’ll have all my official predictions. John will be covering Takeover live for the site as I’ll be at Takeover live. I couldn’t miss War Games live. I’ll more than likely have a review of the match/show next week. Until next time, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do… but if you do, name it after me.