5 HUGE NXT TakeOver: War Games 2018 Predictions You Need To Know

2018's been a strange year for NXT.

More than any period in the brand's history, it captured the sweet spot of every observer, wrestling and otherwise. Dave Meltzer gave the TakeOver: Philadelphia and TakeOver: New Orleans main events his glowing maximum rating, and even if you're a fan that hates the tenured scribe, you probably wouldn't find much to disagree with him. More than ever, main roster supercards were left in the dust by the developmental brand.

Unfortunately, the Network show hasn't shone as brightly.

The NXT roster looks in rude health when viewed five times a year through the prism of a TakeOver special, but the weekly product has exposed cracks between the brilliant and the bright-eyed wider than ever before.

Johnny Gargano - and more specifically, his feud with Tommaso Ciampa - was the common denominator of the aforementioned early-year classics. His babyface fire was virtually unrivalled, save perhaps for the inimitable likeability of Becky Lynch and Daniel Bryan. Unlike Lynch and Bryan, his heel turn seemed borne out of necessity to plug holes in the roster, and has at times made bigger ones in the plot. He's also yet to flex his muscles as a villain like 'The Man', or even sneer as convincingly as the brand new low-blowing WWE Champion.

That's not to say his War Games match won't deliver, but could the exponential quality increase he kickstarted result in his match going from being the best to the worst?

Serving as the full and frank explanation of his attack on Aleister Black and fleshing out of his recent heel turn, the expositional promo Johnny Gargano cut as he walked down a figurative and painfully literal dark path became the subject of some division amongst fans.

Those that praised it claimed one of the brand's best all-rounders had provided a heart-stopping introduction to his new pitch black persona ahead of a WarGames clash that will almost certainly surpass great expectations. Almost as loud were the concerns that a godlike babyface had relegated himself to that of a goth goober, unable to evoke the intended emotion through unconvincing delivery of questionable content.

Black himself even called Gargano a "dork" following the promo, echoing those less attached to the half-baked #JohnnyGarganoDidNothingWrong gimmick 'Jonny Wrestling' is currently working online.

Brilliantly, NXT have assembled a video package that allows for the story to be told mostly through the two characters' actions, rather than words. And it's through this that it becomes apparent again how good this match could actually be, particularly considering the time they should be afforded. It's the hardest to predict, but after an up and down year, Black simply needs it more.