NXT TakeOver WarGames II: 8 Things It Got Right

3. Velveteen’s Dream Getting Shattered

Tommaso Ciampa Velveteen Dream
WWE.com

Beyond the Hollywood Hogan-style appearance, tributes to Hulk, Randy Savage and Ric Flair via borrowing their signature moves and all the other pizzaz that comes with a Velveteen Dream match, there was a hidden story. He, more than anyone else in NXT, will have to learn to dispense with flash for the sake of it if he ever wants to become champion.

That was what this writer took away from his loss to Tommaso Ciampa anyway. Maybe it's a little too in-depth, but it's cool to be able to look beneath the surface of storylines, isn't it?

At TakeOver, it was the right call to keep the belt on Ciampa and further Velveteen's heartache as a nearly man who has captured fan hearts. The best know how to make a loss mean something, and this star-enhancing defeat arguably meant more to Dream's career than an unlikely title win would have. There's no rush with this guy.

Velveteen is a special kind of performer. He proved that by making the sh*tting 'Leg Drop Of Doom' work on a card that included double Moonsaults, weapon shots galore and the titular WarGames stipulation. For now, he's better off title-less.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.