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After a whirlwind of a year, Johnny Gargano entered 2019 as the number one contender for Ricochet's North American Championship.
As expected, the two men started the match with an absolute technical masterclass as the two men reversed a number of holds before Gargano primed The One and Only for that superkick and the two men broke apart.
Ricochet kipped up from a shoulder tackle only to be driven into the canvas by an angry Gargano before the two men went on to exchange pin attempts but no man could secure more than a one count.
Once again the two men stared down following the fast-paced spot and the crowd chanted about how entertained they already were minutes into the match.
Ricochet found his feet as he flipped over the top rope and delivered a moonsault clothesline from off the ring post onto the outside. The two men then exchanged pleasantries in the corner which ended with a facebuster onto the top turnbuckle for Ricochet.
The back and forth continued as both men proved who well they knew each other by reversing many of their attempted moves before Ricochet ended the flurry of abuse with a standing moonsault on Gargano's back.
Ricochet then remained on top and went on to deliver a 619 into the corner followed by a European uppercut from the top rope before attempting the pin from a Northern Lights Suplex, but it still wasn't enough.
A sitout powerbomb got Gargano a quick two and a half count before he locked in the crossface and looked to force the Champion to tap. Ricochet had the move well scouted and looked to roll into a pin before he caught Gargano in the springboard DDT and threw him back first to the outside and dived out after him.
A standing shooting star press followed by a moonsault from the second rope was still only enough to secure a two count as The Champion continued to dig deep in this fantastic exchange.
Ricochet landed on his feet from a hurricanrana as he flipped through the air and left the watching crowd and Gargano absolutely speechless. Gargano finally hit the superkick but Ricochet responded with a backflip kick of his own before he found himself in The Gargano Escape.
Gargano moved out the way of the 630 and looked as though he had escaped when he was on the outside, but somehow Ricochet leapfrogged the ring post to his a senton on the outside. Ricochet then looked for the Shooting Star Press but Gargano had it well scouted and got his knees up.
Gargano hit a reverse rana on the outside followed by a springboard DDT for a near fall of his own which brought the NXT Universe to their feet.
Gargano then pulled the padding up on the outside of the ring and looked for the DDT off the ring apron onto concrete but changed his mind. Ricochet then blocked the superkick attempt and followed it up with a clothesline, before going for The Phoenix Splash.
The Splash missed and Gargano then hit the Superkick before Ricochet locked in the Gargano Escape on Gargano himself.
Gargano suplexed Ricochet onto the concrete on the outside before rolling him back into the ring, followed by a slingshot DDT which won Gargano the North American Championship.
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