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Gauntlet Eliminator to determine No.1 Contender for the NXT Championship
Kushida and Kyle O'Reilly started the NXT Gauntlet Eliminator. The former NXT Tag Team Champion brought Kushida to the mat where both men jockeyed for position.
O'Reilly had the upper hand in the match for a while but was caught with a hip toss/dropkick combination. Kushida followed up with an arm wrench, wrapping O'Reilly's arm around his leg before dropping down for a shoulder breaker.
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Both men began slugging in the middle of the ring as the third competitor, Bronson Reed, emerged. The Colossal One of NXT rolled in and squashed both of his competitors. Kushida was lifted over Reed's head and shot into O'Reilly with a military press slam.
Reed followed that with an attempt at a double Samoan Drop. Kushida escaped and tried to cut Reed down. A handspring double back elbow took out O'Reilly momentarily and dropped Reed to a knee. Kushida and O'Reilly tied back up, with O'Reilly going for an armbar on the Time Splitter.
Reed broke it up and was trapped in a heel hook. Kushida set up O'Reilly with the Hoverboard Lock, but Reed broke it up again. A big senton on O'Reilly crushed the multi-time NXT Tag Team Champion.
All three men fought to the top, but O'Reilly was launched onto the barricade. As the ref checked on him, Velveteen Dream rushed in and planted Kushida with the Dream Valley Driver. Reed took advantage, landing on Kushida with the Tsunami Splash for the first elimination.
First Elimination: Bronson Reed defeated Kushida via pinfall on NXT.
Timothy Thatcher was next, and we went to break just as he entered the ring. When we came back, the final entrant, Cameron Grimes, emerged. Four of the five members of the NXT Gauntlet Eliminator were now in the ring.
Grimes took out Reed with a diving crossbody and pelted O'Reilly with a kick on the apron. As he rolled back in, he superkicked Thatcher. However, Grimes' momentum was haulted with a big bodyattack by Reed. All four men traded blows here, with O'Reilly laying out Thatcher before getting platned with a spin-out sidewalk slam by Grimes.
As Grimes turned around, he was hit with a gigantic clothesline from Reed. While Thatcher held Reed on the apron in a sleeper but was kicked to the floor by Grimes. O'Reilly followed up with a diving knee. Reed launched Grimes onto O'Reilly and Thatcher, then joined them on the floor.
Thatcher hammered Reed with some stiff shots and brought the big man back inside. The Thatch-as-Thatch-Can teacher was planted with a Death Valley Driver, however, and was nearly eliminated. O'Reilly jumped back in the match, looking to eliminate Reed's legs.
Reed planted O'Reilly with a powerbomb, but couldn't get the elimination. Grimes took advantage of a distracted Reed, but was launched to the floor again. Reed found the perfect moment to send himself through the ropes, taking out all his opponents with a suicide dive.
Thatcher was the first to his feet, and it seemed that Reed was worse for wear following the dive. Thatcher worked over the big man's arm while Grimes and O'Reilly moved to the ring.
With Reed momentarily out of commission, Thatcher and Grimes took turns clobbering O'Reilly. Thatcher tried to turn O'Reilly over for the single leg Boston Crab, but couldn't get it. He transitioned to a Fujiwara Armbar attempt, but again failed to sinch it in.
Reed was back in the ring at this point, and Grimes and Thatcher again teamed up. Reed shook them off and slammed dropped O'Reilly with a Road Warrior Animal style powerslam. As Grimes and Thatcher rushed him, Reed spiked Thatcher onto Grimes with a uranage side slam. .
O'Reilly caught Reed after a Tsunami Splash attempt with a big knee to the back, eliminating him.
Second Elimination: Kyle O'Reilly defeated Bronson Reed via pinfall on NXT.
O'Reilly, Thatcher, and Grimes were left. Thatcher's butterfly suplex on O'Reilly was blocked, and the two stiff strikers took turns rocking one another. Grimes was caught with a wiffed enziguri.
Thatcher locked O'Reilly in a sleeper while the UE star held Grimes in an ankle lock. Both submissions were broken, leading to O'Reilly lighting up Thatcher with a kicking combination. Thatcher responded with European uppercuts and slapped the taste out of O'Reilly's mouth.
Kyle O'Reilly managed to eliminate Thatcher with a roll-up.
Third Elimination: Kyle O'Reilly defeated Timothy Thatcher via pinfall on NXT.
Immmediately after O'Reilly stood up, he was hit with the Cave In by Grimes. Luckily, he was close enough to the ropes to break the pin. Grimes trashed O'Reilly, stating he wasn't like Adam Cole, the man of the group.
O'Reilly was planted with a spinning powerslam but kicked out. Both men threw out their best strikes, with Grimes getting the better of O'Reilly with a roundhouse. The second Cave In missed, though, and O'Reilly locked in a heel hook, forcing the submission.
Results: Kyle O'Reilly defeated Cameron Grimes via submission on NXT.
Grade: A+
Kyle O'Reilly will now challenge Finn Balor for the NXT Championship, O'Reilly's first singles title, at NXT TakeOver on October 4th. Adam Cole and Roderick Strong rushed the ring to celebrate with O'Reilly.
NXT Champion Finn Balor stood on the stage and stared down his new challenger.
