Bobby Roode (C) vs. Kassius Ohno (for the NXT Championship)
Kassius Ohno’s challenged Bobby Roode in his first match in NXT since his return earlier this year.
Ohno tried to surprise Roode with a couple of pinning combinations as soon as the match began but Roode survived and rolled outside the ring.
Ohno continued his dominance once Roode re-entered the fray, hitting him with a jumping switch kick. Roode briefly looked like he was about to gain a foothold in the match but Ohno’s striking was just too good, and he kept Roode on the backfoot. He dumped Roode outside the ring again, with a clothesline, before we headed to commercial once again.
When we came back from commercial, Roode had finally taken back control thanks to a clothesline to the back of Ohno’s head. Roode then stomped on Ohno and choked him with his boot in the corner.
Ohno looked to mount a comeback, but Roode snuffed it out at the start with a back elbow. He followed up with an elbow drop before locking in a side headlock.
Ohno finally got back to his feet and hit Roode with a modified Stunner to set himself free. Ohno then used his momentum from an Irish Whip to manoeuvre over the top rope and onto the apron. He then hit Roode with a big boot through the ropes. Roode then reversed an Irish Whip attempt by Ohno and sent him crashing over the turnbuckle and onto the floor as we headed for our last commercial break.
Roode continued to try and club Ohno into submission after the break. He then attempted an Implant DDT, but Ohno reversed it into a release vertical suplex. Ohno followed it up with a running dropkick before doing a kip up which sent the fans into a frenzy. He then hit a spinning Cyclone kick, but Roode kicked out at two and a half.
Ohno then went for a jumping senton, but Roode got the knees up and followed it up with a vicious backstabber. Ohno then blocked a clothesline in the corner and hit another switch kick which he followed with a blockbuster from the middle rope for another nearfall.
Ohno then went for the finishing blow, but Roode blocked the forearm and hit a spinebuster for a two count.
Roode went for another Glorious DDT, but Ohno broke out of it and connected with his patented forearm. Unfortunately, Roode got knocked out of the ring, and Ohno couldn’t cover him. Ohno went out and dragged him back in before hitting a senton. He then covered Roode again, but it was just another nearfall.
Ohno went to finish Roode off with another forearm, but Roode somehow broke free and hit the Implant DDT to pin Kassius Ohno and retain his title.
A great showing from Kassius Ohno on his NXT return, but it just wasn’t enough in the end.
Bobby Roode def. Kassius Ohno
Shinsuke Nakamura will now face Bobby Roode at NXT TakeOver: Orlando.
Teddy Long snaps when Swerve Strickland's race is brought up HERE
