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NXT North American Championship: Johnny Gargano vs Damian Priest vs Leon Ruff (c) at WarGames
Damian Priest was sent to the floor immediately so Johnny Gargano could focus on the "weaker opponent" Leon Ruff at WarGames. The NXT North American Champion's speed was tough for Gargano to keep up with, as he struggled to fight back. Priest ran in, tossing Ruff away to get his hands on Johnny TakeOver.
Ruff, tired of the disrespect, hit a springboard dropkick on both men. Priest tried to walk past him again, but Ruff wouldn't have it. Ruff and Gargano teamed up to send Priest to the floor. The NXT Triple Crown Champion tried to keep Ruff working as a partner but instead caught Ruff setting up for a dive, hitting the slingshot spear instead.
Gargano set up the DIY superkick only to be pulled to the floor by the former NXT North American Champion. Priest continued to batter Gargano, and caught Ruff going for a dive. Confused, NXT's Archer of Infamy warned Ruff not to attack him anymore. Ruff didn't listen, and was sent through the plexiglass with the Razor's Edge.
Priest, immediately, felt terrible about what he'd done. He apologized as he was taken away by officials, and Priest struggled to deal with what he'd done. Gargano took advantage, hitting Priest with a tornado DDT on the floor. Priest avoided One Final Beat, but inside the ring he was hit with a standing shiranui. Priest kicked out and took Gargano'd head off with a clothesline.
As both men struggled to stand, Leon Ruff returned to the match, leaping over Priest and battering Gargano. Priest and Gargano were hit with a dive on the door by the NXT North American Champion. A corner corkscrew springboard cutter planted Gargano's face on the mat, but it wasn't enough to put Johnny Wrestling away at WarGames.
Gargano was hit by a rebound clothesline, and again barely kicked out. Leon Ruff moved up, but when he turned around, stared right into the eyes of the Archer of Infamy. "No more chances, Leon." Ruff's dive missed, and a boot nearly decapitated him. Priest planted both Ruff and Gargano at the same time with a flatliner.
With Ruff and Gargano set up in the corners, Priest ran into both of them with a series of leaping elbows. A broken Arrow sent Ruff into Gargano. Setting up for the Razor's Edge, Priest couldn't hold onto Gargano, who sent Preist into the ring post. With Priest's head sitting on the second turnbuckle, Gargano lawn darted Ruff into Priest.
Gargano tied Priest up in the ropes in the other ring, but was taken down by a crucifix pin from Ruff. Unfortunatey for Ruff, he failed to get the pin. The Frog Splash missed, and just as Gargano locked in the Gargano Escape, Priest broke free to stop Ruff from tapping. A diving heel kick took out Gargano.
NXT's biggest underdog pelted Priest with a pair of clotheslines. No dice. Priest bounced Ruff away, and as Ruff went for the rebound clothesline, a superkick took Ruff out of the match. Priest countered One Final Beat with a sit-out uranage. However, six Ghostfaced mystery cronies attacked Priest before he could get the win at WarGames.
Preist dove onto all six men, and caught Gargano diving, hitting a chokeslam on the apron. Ruff tried to steal it with a Frog Splash, and Priest just barely broke up the pin. Ruff pelted Priest with a series of strikes, but the cyclone kick turned him inside out at WarGames.
Priest looked for the Reckoning on Gargano. Though Gargano escaped it, two cyclone kicks left him nearly unconscious. As Priest set up the Reckoning, another Ghostface hit Priest with a lead pipe at WarGames.
With the biggest threat eliminated, Gargano spiked Ruff with One Final Beat to win the NXT NA Title for a third time at WarGames.
Results: Johnny Gargano defeated Leon Ruff via pinfall on NXT TakeOver: WarGames.
Grade: A
After the match, the final Ghostface was revealed to be Austin Theory, who quit NXT last month. Just like Candice LeRae took Indi Hartwell under her wing, Johnny Gargano has apparently done the same for Theory.
