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NXT is one week away from a major title bout with Karrion Kross vs Finn Balor II. However, tonight's episode was historic in its own right, as Johnny Gargano defended the NXT North American Championship against Bronson Reed in a steel cage match.
Indi Hartwell found out some important information regarding her possible romance with Dexter Lumis while two teams got ready to determine the No.1 Contenders for the NXT Women's Tag Team Titles. Another faction fell apart this week as a member of a major group was ousted. All that and much more tonight.
We kicked the night off with an excellent match between two young NXT Superstars, Toni Storm, and Zoey Stark. These women are in the middle of a heated feud to see who is truly the best, and if their first match was anything to go by, this next installment was gonna be a show-stealer.
Toni Storm vs Zoey Stark on NXT
Former NXT UK Champion Toni Storm struggled in the opening moments of this match, as she was sent to the floor for a big dive from Zoey Stark. Following up, Stark hit a springboard dropkick on Storm. However, Toni yanked her off the apron, causing a bad landing on the spine.
Storm left Stark against the stairs, crashing into her with a running hip attack. Back in the ring, the former NXT UK Women's Champion caught Zoey Stark with a beautiful snap suplex for a two-count.
A backbreaker earned Storm another near fall. Stark finally got a chance to breathe after rocking Toni with an enzuigiri. They traded shots throughout NXT's first break, and when we came back, Stark stunned Storm with a thrust kick.
A sliding clothesline and sliding knee to the face both left Storm down for a close count. Toni blocked the half-and-half suplex, but her Storm Zero was countered into a hurricanrana. Stark followed with a half-and-half for a two-count.
Storm ducked a clothesline and hit the German suplex. After that, Storm Zero connected, yet somehow NXT's favorite underdog kicked out.
Storm then brought out a new finisher that was truly spectacular. A reverse headlock takeover into a DDT spiked Stark right on her head. There was no kicking out of that.
Results: Toni Storm defeated Zoey Stark via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B+
Storm's celebration was cut short when Franky Monet interrupted and stole her spotlight.
MSK had a lot of teams coming after their NXT Tag Team Titles. Backstage, Legado Del Fantasma and Team Dad (working name) locked horns, believing that both teams were deserving of the shot at MSK.
That's why we'd get a match between these four men. Who would emerge as the true No.1 Contenders to the NXT Tag Team Champions?
The NXT Women's Tag Champions were taking care of themselves with a special spa day. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell were trashing Dexter Lumis, who had snuck into the room and was massaging Hartwell's cranium while their eyes were covered. When he heard that, he sadly walked away. Poor guy...
Jake Atlas vs Cameron Grimes on NXT
Prior to this match, NXT's Thousand Dollar Man played a video highlighting Ted Dibiase's most embarrassing moments. Cameron Grimes cackled and howled, but the crowd chanted for the Million Dollar Man.
Jake Atlas sent Grimes to the floor as we cut to break. His plans didn't work out too well, and now Cameron was in serious trouble with one of the best cruiserweights in NXT and WWE as a whole.
Back from the break, Jake Atlas hit a stunning springboard arm drag followed by an enzuigiri and hurricanrana for a two-count. Grimes hammered Atlas with strikes for some time, but a roundhouse was caught and Atlas launched him chest first into the turnbuckle.
Atlas hit a German suplex on Grimes, but the superman forearm caught Atlas as soon as he got back to his feet. A discus lariat turned Grimes inside out for a near fall.
Grimes knocked Atlas off the top and set up for the Cave In. However, Ted Dibiase's music hit, distracting Grimes and allowing Atlas to roll him up for the win.
Results: Jake Atlas defeated Cameron Grimes via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B
Grimes tried to chase down the WWE Hall Of Famer but he was already in his limo and mocked the NXT star on his way out of the CWC.
Former NXT UK Champion Pete Dunne was interviewed backstage. Dunne has made it his goal to prove himself as the best technician in NXT. The Bruiserweight said that he loved getting the audience to react to him snapping fingers and bending limbs farther than they're supposed to.
He conquered NXT UK, and now it's time to take over NXT in the United States.
Alexander Wolfe w/Imperium vs Killian Dain w/Drake Maverick on NXT
These former NXT Tag Team Champions and stablemates faced off in singles competition. Alexander Wolfe and Killian Dain traded uppercuts and hammering fists, and it wasn't too surprising to see Dain take over. Killian nearly decapitated Wolfe with a massive clothesline. Fabian Aichner attacked Drake Maverick and ate a boot for his troubles.
Unfortunately, that was enough for Dain to lose his momentum. Imperium's Marcel Barthel sent a chair into the ring, and Wolfe hesitated. Eventually, he relented but was crushed with The Divide before he could use the weapon.
Results: Killian Dain defeated Alexander Wolfe via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: C
After the match, Imperium attacked Alexander Wolfe. The European Bomb drove Wolfe into the mat as they eliminated the only weak link from their group.
Legado Del Fantasma vs Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher on NXT
Former NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa kicked things off with Joaquin Wilde, dominating in the early moments of the match. Timothy Thatcher and Raul Mendoza soon swapped in, but Legado Del Fantasma still couldn't gain the upper hand. The hard-nosed brawlers left Wilde and Mendoza constantly rocked.
Mendoza got a shot in on Ciampa finally, but it only served to anger NXT's Blackheart. Ciampa dragged Mendoza to Thatcher, who looked to tear the arm off his opponent. Mendoza tossed several roundhouses in his direction, but Thatcher ate every kick and locked in an ankle lock.
Ciampa ran in to catch Wilde with the same maneuver, nearly giving us a double tap out. Legado Del Fantasma hit a pair of jawbreakers, but were caught with some stiff shots by their opponents, leaving all four men down as we cut to break.
Back on NXT, CIampa was clubbing both members of LDF with clotheslines in a one-on-two beatdown. Wilde saved Mendoza from Willow's Bell and a double spinebuster and a wishbone left Ciampa in danger. At this point, they revealed that Raul Mendoza had been nearly knocked out before the break. For now, he's been cleared by NXT medical.
Thatcher made it in and stunned Mendoza with some uppercuts and a half-hatch suplex. Any time Mendoza seemed out of harm's way, Ciampa or Thatcher would pump the brakes with a heavy elbow or right hand.
Mendoza blocked the Fairy Tale Ending and got to his partner. Wilde and Mendoza hit the assisted springing moonsault/springboard moonsault combination for a two-count. Legado del Fantasma set up for their leg sweep/flying roundhouse combination, but Mendoza was pulled to the floor by Thatcher.
Former NXT UK Tag Team Champions Grizzled Young Veterans ran in as the ref was distracted, hitting Ciampa with Ticket to Mayhem on the apron. Back in the ring, LDF hit their finisher for the win.
Results: Legado Del Fantasma defeated Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B+
Backstage, McKenzie was interviewing Bobby Fish, who wanted to send a message to Oney Lorcan and Pete Dunne. Bobby needed revenge against those who put him on the shelf.
As far as Dunne claiming to be the best around NXT? It was time to put that to the test. We'd get a match between NXT's Bruiserweight and Fish next week.
InDex is still alive on NXT
The NXT Women's Tag Champions were at the spa when Candice LeRae's credit card was declined. It was revealed that some unpaid expenses were responsible, and they ended up being the flowers and chocolates LeRae bought to convince Indi Hartwell that Dexter Lumis didn't love her anymore. Hartwell figured it out and ran off shouting, "He still loves me!"
Speaking of The Way, Austin Theory was with NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano, who was incredibly confident regarding his title match against Bronson Reed in the NXT main event tonight.
Aliyah w/The Robert Stone Brand vs Sarray on NXT
The latest NXT signee attempted to show some respect to Aliyah and was knocked on her back for her troubles. Though Sarray hit a springboard arm drag, a distraction from The Robert Stone Brand allowed Aliyah to catch her with a back elbow to the face.
A running boot caught Sarray under the jaw in the corner, giving the NXT veteran a two-count. Sarray and Aliyah traded rights and forearms, with the former getting the best of her opponent with a leaping spinning back kick. A German spiked Aliyah and Sarray followed with a missile dropkick.
The hesitation dropkick in the ropes connected as well, and the high-angle sleeper dumped Aliyah on her skull for the win.
Results: Sarray defeated Aliyah via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B-
We got a vignette from NXT's resident Tank Girls, Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart, who vowed to get their titles back from The Way.
Hit Row w/Isaiah "Swerve" Scott vs Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari on NXT
NXT saw three 205 Live Superstars go head-to-head on Tuesday night as Ashante "Thee" Adonis squared off with the OGs. However, Top Dolla, a man well over that weight limit, effortlessly stacked both opponents on his shoulders for a double Wasteland slam.
Dolla dragged Daivari into the corner for Adonis to take over. Ashante hit a picture-perfect dropkick, dropping Daivari Dinero to the mat. Dolla tagged in and crushed Daivari in the corner as Adonis hit the Long Kiss Goodnight superkick on Nese.
Dolla finished the match, and Hit Row's NXT debut, with a fireman's carry brainbuster.
Results: Hit Row defeat Nese & Daivari.
Grade: B-
Hit Row bragged about their dominant performance tonight. However, Isaiah "Swerve" Scott let it be known that he would be focusing on that NXT North American Championship match tonight. Swerve hinted that he'd be the next man up, regardless of who walked out on top.
NXT GM William Regal stated that he'd be bringing in several new talents to NXT to fill in the already stacked women's and cruiserweight divisions. As far as the NXT Women's Titles, Shotzi and Ember will face NXT Women's Champion Raquel Gonzalez and Dakot Kai next week to determine the No.1 contenders for the championships.
Bronson Reed vs Johnny Gargano (c) w/Austin Theory in a Steel Cage Match for the NXT North American Title
NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano rushed to the door and nearly made it down the stairs before he was caught by his challenger. Bronson Reed cornered Gargano off at several spots, forcing him to try and fight The Colossal One.
Reed sent Gargano out of the air and down to the mat, swatting him like a fly. A toss into the steel cage left Gargano grasping at his head. Reed left Johnny in between the ropes and cage but missed the splash. Luckily for him, Gargano's spear through the ropes failed when his feet were caught in the cage, allowing Reed to hit the elevated DDT.
Gargano went after the knee of Reed and followed up with a moonsault off the top. Another dive failed, however, as Bronson flattened The Way leader with a death valley driver. Before he could get to the top of the cage, Austin Theory made the save. The first-ever NXT Triple Crown champ took out Reed's knee again and pelted him with several kicks to the head.
The Colossal One found himself in between the ropes, where Gargano kicked the middle one to serve as a low blow. Johnny followed up by going after the midsection of NXT's Colossal One. Reed did manage to get a near fall after hitting a Samoan Drop from Bret's Rope.
Gargano responded with a phenomenal move of his own, sending Reed across the way with a sunset flip bomb from the top rope. Though he couldn't get the pin, Austin Theory came in and tried to pull the NXT North American Champion out of the cage. Reed put a stop to it and crushed Gargano with a senton.
Johnny's superkick barely affected Reed, who responded with a strong right. Gargano scrambled to the top and hit a leaping poison Rana, spiking the challenger on his neck.
The Way leader attempted One Final Beat, but Reed caught him and sent him careening into the cage. Bronson made it to the door but Theory sent it crashing into his head.
As if that wasn't enough, Gargano followed that with a springboard One Final Beat. Still, Reed would not die.
Johnny Gargano nearly escaped the cage only to be driven almost through the mat with an avalanche powerbomb. Reed looked to climb up and was again stopped by Theory.
Reed fought both members of The Way, sending each falling out of the cage. Reed followed with the Tsunami off the top rope. A second Tsunami flattened Gargano, earning Reed his first-ever championship on NXT.
Results: Bronson Reed defeated Johnny Gargano via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: A
Bronson Reed has now won his first major title in WWE and was clearly emotional. The reign of the Colossal One is well and truly underway!
