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The first NXT of 2019 sought to highlight all of the great moments in 2018, while a certain Gatekeeper got another shot at the King of Bros.
At NXT TakeOver: WarGames II, Matt Riddle knocked out Kassius Ohno and beat him in less than ten seconds. However, Ohno hasn't taken that lying down and has continued to challenge Riddle, even assaulting him after his match with Punishment Martinez last month. Tonight, he got his shot at redemption.
NXT North American Championship 6-Man Ladder Match Highlights:
The highlights opened with The Velveteen Dream, who dropped a sky-high Purple Rainmaker off of a ladder onto Lars Sullivan. The Dream was stopped from ascending the ladder by the debuting EC3, who then brawled with the Beast of Belfast, Killian Dain.
We saw all six men (Dain, EC3, Sullivan, Dream, Adam Cole, Ricochet) fight to become the first-ever North American Champion. This elongated clip showed us the Vader Bomb from Dain onto EC3, with Adam Cole on his back, Ricochet hitting a moonsault off of a falling ladder, Lars Sullivan's test of strength with Dain, and more.
This match was regarded as one of the best matches of the entire year. And with all of these huge moments packed into this war, it's not hard to see why.
The match ended with the crowning of the first NXT North American Champion, Adam Cole. The leader of the Undisputed Era cemented himself as one of the top guys in NXT with his win here, toppling five of NXT's best. This ladder match ended up being one of the WWE's Match of the Year candidates.
Breakout Superstar of the Year Nominees:
- Ricochet
- Dakota Kai
- Lars Sullivan
- Rhea Ripley
- War Raiders
- Lacey Evans
- EC3
- Bianca Belair
Johnny Gargano vs Tommaso Ciampa: 2018 Retrospective
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa were in, arguably, the most personal rivalry of the entire year. The destruction of #DIY in 2017 was a defining moment for NXT, and when Tommaso Ciampa returned in early 2018, fans were dying to see how this would play out.
Johnny Gargano's year of failure in 2017 was highlighted, culminating at NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia in 2018, where Tommaso Ciampa attacked Gargano again.
An unsanctioned match was eventually scheduled for NXT TakeOver: New Orleans between the former Tag Team Champions, and Johnny Gargano would finally overcome his demons, beating Ciampa after a brutal war.
Though he won, Gargano wasn't rid of Ciampa, and a street fight between the two ended in shocking fashion. A handcuffed and badly beaten Tommaso Ciampa managed to connect with a DDT to the uncovered wrestling mat, knocking Gargano out cold and giving Ciampa a big win over his former friend.
Aleister Black vs Andrade "Cien" Almas Highlights
To continue on with the story between Gargano and Ciampa, we first had to relive the epic encounter between Aleister Black and Andrade "Cien" Almas for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans. Almas had a great run with the title, first defeating Drew McIntyre at the end of 2017, then knocking off Johnny Gargano in 2018.
Black and Almas had an incredible showdown at TakeOver: New Orleans, with Black having to fight a constant uphill battle against Almas and his manager Zelina Vega. Black eventually overcame Almas and captured the NXT Championship during WrestleMania weekend.
Tommaso Ciampa vs Aleister Black: The Beginning of the Fairy Tale Ending
After defeating Johnny Gargano at NXT TakeOver: Chicago II, Tommaso Ciampa was next in line for a title bout. Ciampa and Aleister Black took their fight to the next level, and it felt almost as personal as the Ciampa/Gargano rivalry.
Black, in the end, was cheated out of his NXT Championship when Johnny Gargano accidentally caught him in the head with the title. A Fairy Tale Ending from Ciampa would seal his fate, and usher in the era of the Blackheart.
Aleister Black is attacked
After months of investigations, we finally learned that it was Johnny Gargano who attacked Tommaso Ciampa from behind prior to NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn IV, taking him out of the title bout and keeping him away from his rematch.
Nikki Cross teased that she knew who it was the entire time, and Cross teased multiple superstars, including Velveteen Dream and Tommaso Ciampa. However, the returning Aleister Black was eventually told by Cross, and the next week was assaulted again by Johnny Gargano.
This led to a vicious brawl between the two superstars at NXT TakeOver: WarGames II, where Black would "absolve Gargano of his sins."
Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson, and Nigel McGuinness highlighted the recent feud between Matt Riddle and Kassius Ohno. The Knockout Artist looked to reignite his career in the WWE with a huge victory over Riddle tonight.
Nominees for Tag Team of the Year
- Lorcan & Burch
- Street Profits
- Heavy Machinery
- Moustache Mountain
- War Raiders
- Undisputed Era
Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch vs Undisputed Era
With a roster absolutely stacked from top to bottom, nobody expected to see Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch get a shot at the NXT Tag Team Titles, much less get a standing ovation from the Chicago crowd that night. In fact, when they came out, they were nearly booed out of the building. However, the two men ended up winning over the crowd on this night.
Stiff strikes, impressive counters, and the absolutely insane toughness and fortitude that Lorcan and Burch held at NXT TakeOver: Chicago II earned them the respect and adoration of the NXT Universe. Lorcan and Burch aren't the flashiest guys on the card, but they're two of the toughest guys you'll see on Wednesday nights, and that's more than enough to get a following.
Rivalry of the Year
- Almas v Gargano
- Baszler vs Moon
- Gargano vs Ciampa
- Undisputed Era vs Moustache Mountain
- Velveteen Dream vs Ricochet
- Aleister Black, Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, Nikki Cross
- Kairi Sane vs Shayna Baszler
Future Stars of NXT
- Matt Riddle
- Mia Yim
- Keith Lee
- Forgotten Sons
- Candice LeRae
- Marina Shafir & Jessamyn Duke
- Kona Reeves
- Dominik Dijakovic
- Io Shirai
Bianca Belair vs Deonna Purrazzo
Bianca Belair earned the right to challenge Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women's Championship at NXT TakeOver: Pheonix. Tonight, NXT gave us a brief showing of what Belair is capable of as she ran through Deonna Purrazzo.
Johnny Gargano vs Aleister Black
Aleister Black and Johnny Gargano started off at a 10. There was no feeling out process, these two men were here to hurt each other at NXT TakeOver: WarGames II. Gargano's arrogance and pride led him to try to rid NXT of Black, believing that he himself was the chosen one.
Black took every shot Gargano threw at him and kept on coming. Nothing was going to stop the Dutch Destroyer from exacting his revenge, and the former NXT Champion delivered in an NXT classic this night.
However, Gargano got his win back with the help of Tommaso Ciampa two weeks later. The NXT Champion aided Gargano in putting Black away, even performing their old DIY finisher on Black. After the match, Gargano avoided any questions in regards to Ciampa.
Male Competitor of the Year
- Adam Cole
- Pete Dunne
- Andrade "Cien" Almas
- Ricochet
- Velveteen Dream
- Johnny Gargano
- Aleister Black
- Tommaso Ciampa
Female Competitor of the Year
- Ember Moon
- Kairi Sane
- Bianca Belair
- Shayna Baszler
Main Event: Kassius Ohno vs Matt Riddle
Ohno avoided a quick strike from Riddle, and the King of Bros escaped a spinning big boot, driving Ohno into the corner with an array of strikes. An exploder suplex sent Ohno across the ring, and Riddle continued to beat down on Ohno, who could barely get off the ground.
A right hand from Ohno finally shook Riddle, and a release suplex took the air out of NXT's latest acquisition. Ohno set up Riddle in the corner, and a big boot from the Knockout Artist almost left him unconscious.
A snapmare followed up by a rolling senton nearly gave Ohno the victory, but Riddle kicked out. Ohno continued to manhandle Riddle, bringing him to the ropes, but Riddle managed to escape and drove Ohno to the mat head first with a German suplex.
Riddle kicked Ohno repeatedly in the chest, but Ohno caught him, then delivered a knee and the cyclone boot to Riddle's jaw. Riddle kicked out.
Ohno taunted Riddle, which only seemed to anger the former Evolve Champion. Riddle lit up Ohno with multiple palm strikes and a vicious kick to the head.
Ohno endured everything, and put Riddle back onto the mat followed by two running senton splashes. Riddle avoided the third one and locked in the Bromission.
Results: Matt Riddle defeated Kassius Ohno via submission.
The King of Bros continued his streak in NXT as Kassius Ohno sat in the corner in disbelief. Depressed, he rolled outside and sat on the ramp. Riddle walked over to Ohno and extended his fist in hopes of a fist bump. Ohno initially turned his back, but then went back inside the ring to congratulate Riddle.
A "BroNo" chant started as Ohno and Riddle went for a fist bump, only for Ohno to send Riddle crashing into the turnbuckle.
Ohno beat Riddle down around ringside, ending it with a rolling elbow, then fist bumping with the unconscious Riddle to end the show.
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