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This week's WWE NXT kicked off with a promo by the Velveteen Dream. Dream said that everyone dreamt of being NXT Champion but not everyone got to experience it. Unlike them, he had the chance to get himself a shot at the NXT Championship when he faced Johnny Gargano later on in the night.
No Way Jose vs Cezar Bononi
Jose started the batch strong, holding Bononi in a side-headlock. Bononi hit back with a dropkick, showing his athleticism. He followed it with a Pumphandle Slam for a 2-count. The Brazilian continued his impressive showing as he locked in a headlock.
Jose rebounded off the ropes and hit a Swinging Neckbreaker. He followed it up with Powerslam before setting up Bononi for the Pop-Up Punch for the win.
A big and much needed win for No Way Jose on his return to NXT television.
No Way Jose def. Cezar Bononi
The opening match was followed by a video package hyping up Alesiter Black vs Adam Cole.
Bianca Belair vs Latoya
Latoya went for an early roll up but Belair blocked it and ran her down with a shoulder charger. She followed it up with boots in the corner followed by a flurry of shoulder thrusts. Latoya looked to bounce off the ropes for a hurracanrana bu Belair blocked it and hit a backbreaker.
Latoya looked to fight her way back with a couple of low kicks but Belair floored her with a forearm. Belair followed it up with a chicken-wing facebuster.
Latoya went for a double-axe handle but Belair whipped her with her hair and finished Latoya off with the reverse powerbomb.
Bianca Belair def. Latoya
Shayna Baszler and Ember Moon face off
Ember Moon and Shayna Baszler went face-to-face with Percy acting as moderator. Moon said that the NXT Women's Division used had honour before Shayna Baszler had come over. Moon admonished her for being a bully and for trying to injure Dakota Kai.
Baszler replied that even she had had hardships on her road to the WWE, but unlike Ember, she didn't tell everyone about them.
Part 2 of TM-61's journey to NXT.
We sat down with Shane Thorne and Nick Miller as they told us the second part of their journey to WWE.
Authors of Pain vs Unnamed Jobbers
Authors didn't wait for the match to begin and went right for their opponents. They hit their opponents with Death Valley Drivers into the turnbuckles, laying them out.
They then took turns at the mic, warning Fish and O'Reilly what was going to happen to them at TakeOver.
Akam and Rezar then hit their opponents with the Super Collider and left.
No Result
Johnny Gargano vs Velveteen Dream (winner faces Andrade 'Cien' Almas at TakeOver)
The fans were hot for this match with duelling Johnny Wrestling-Velvetten chants. Velvetten got the better of the opening exchanges but his cockiness allowed Gargano to briefly lock in the Garga-No-Escape. Velveteen fought like a fish on water and somehow reached the ropes as we cut to commercial.
When we came back, we saw Dream acrobatically use and Irish Whip to make his way to the apron. Once again showing off let Gargano get the better of Dream as Gargano hit a running dropkick, sending Dream face-first onto the apron. Gargano followed it with a canonball from the apron.
Gargano rolled Velveteen Dream back into the ring but got hit with a swinging neckbreaker as he tried to get himself back into the ring. Gargano got a 2-count off a backslide before Dream dumped him out of the ring.
Dream then headed to the top turnbuckle before jumping back down. He headed back out to the ring and continued to work on Gargano, hitting him with a backdrop onto the apron as we cut to the last commercial break.
We came back from the break to see Gargano fired up, hitting Dream with a step-up enzeguiri. He followed it up with a rolling kick before hitting a twisting Flatliner from the turnbuckle. Gargano then went after Dream's arm before both men rolled each other up for nearfalls. Dream followed it up with a Superkick and Gargano replied with a rebounding lariat. Gargano crawled and covered Dream for a nearfall.
Gargano looked for the Garga-No-Escape but Dream hit his patended twisting DDT but Gargano managed to kick out right before the third fall. Dream then went for the top rope but Gargano pulled him down, sending him crawling out to ringside.
Gargano then hit a suicide dive before rolling Dream back into the ring and heading to the top rope. Dream ran into the top rope casuing Gargano to lose his footing. Dream then hit an Avalanche Death Valley Driver from the middle rope but Gargano still kicked out at the last second.
Chants of "Johnny" broke out as Dream headed to the top rope again for the Purple Rainmaker. Gargano got his knees up to meet Dream's elbow and hit Dream with a Superkick before locking in the Garga-No-Escape. Dream finally tapped out to confirm that Gargano is the one going to TakeOver to meet Andrade 'Cien' Almas for the NXT Championship.
What a performance from Gargano. He could be a top babyface in the making if treated right.
Johnny Gargano def. Velveteen Dream
After the match Andrade came out accompanied by Zelina Vega. Andrade attacked Gargano and was about to hit him with te title belt when Gargano replied with an enzeguiri and followed it with a springboard DDT. He then locked in the Garga-No-Escape before lifting the title belt as we went off air.
