8 WWE NXT TakeOver: WarGames 2020 Impulse Reactions
3. Leon Ruff (c) Vs. Johnny Gargano Vs. Damian Priest
In keeping with the exquisite and organic booking that got the men here, there was a lot going on in this Triple Threat match for Leon Ruff's North American title. It was, ultimately, its undoing.
Damian Priest couldn't decide if he was friend or foe of the gutsy and game titleholder, seemingly needing to be teased into snapping on him before nearly removing him completely with a powerbomb on the floor.
This built narrative sympathy for the Champion (for whatever that's worth without a live crowd), but it felt dropped cold by the time Ruff was laying down for a Johnny Gargano win. A busy conclusion saw Priest looking awesome taking out a Retribution of Ghostfaces before being clobbered by the main one to take him out of the match entirely.
Little focus was placed on the heartbreak of Ruff's loss as 'Johnny Wrestling' toasted his history-making third stint with the title. Said hooded figure was revealed to be Austin Theory, who was named in the Speaking Out allegations and wasn't terribly missed during his time away.
The bulk of the work was between good and great at all time - Gargano is virtually incapable of otherwise - but this played like a match probably felt more exciting in planning than execution.