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This week's edition of NXT was packed to the brim with championship gold. With two championship bouts and an exciting announcement made by NXT Champion Johnny Gargano, the Black & Yellow Brand didn't plan on slowing down following TakeOver and WrestleMania last week.
Tonight, Shayna Baszler would face off against Kairi Sane one final time. If the Pirate Princess failed to capture the NXT Women's Championship this time around, she would have no more chances against the Queen of Spades.
Opening the show, we saw former Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy challenge the NXT North American Champion Velveteen Dream for his title. Dream, who handed Matt Riddle his first loss at NXT TakeOver: New York, successfully defending the championship. Dream and Murphy met backstage at WrestleMania after the Juggernaut lost his belt to the new Cruiserweight Champion, Tony Nese. After being teased by the Vainglorious One for failing on the Grandest Stage of Them All, Murphy looked to add a new prize to his trophy case.
NXT North American Championship: Buddy Murphy vs Velveteen Dream (c)
Murphy and Dream locked up in a collar and elbow tie up, with the champion forcing the challenger into the corner. When Dream disrespected him, Muprhy immediately snapped on a headlock, bringing him down to the ground.
Dream managed to escape, locking in a headlock of his own. Finally, after Murphy broke away, the two kipped up back to their feet, meeting each other's gaze in the middle of the ring. The two men dodged each other's fists, but Murphy caught Dream with a running hurricanrana.
He looked to go for a dive to the outside, but Dream slid back in, taunting the Juggernaut. Murphy didn't take kindly to this, grabbing both his arms and delivering a vicious knee to the jaw of the champion. Dream barely kicked out at two.
On the apron, Dream was sent into the ring post, dropping down to the ramp where Murphy finally dove onto him. Back inside, a meteora almost sealed the deal, but Dream again kicked out. Murphy continued to punish Dream with a series of kicks to the back, followed up by a sleeper hold.
Dream squirmed and stretched out in the middle of the ring, trying to find the ropes wherever he could. A second wind helped get him back to his feet, where he drove Murphy into the corner. Murphy broke the hold but shoved Dream's face into the middle turnbuckle.
Dream was set up for a double knee in the corner, but caught the former Cruiserweight Champion with a superkick just as he flew in, sending him sprawling down to the mat. Dream picked up momentum here, dropping Murphy with dropkicks and elbows, before sending him outside to the ramp. A double ax handle wiped out Murphy, and Dream brought him back inside for the Purple Rainmaker.
Murphy made it to his feet, but Dream managed to recover mid dive, returning for a codebreaker. Murphy kicked out. Dream quickly set up for the Dream Valley Driver, but Murphy escaped, hanging Dream's neck up on the ropes. He shook off the cobwebs, however, and met Murphy at the top, looking for a superplex to the outside. The two traded strikes and crashed and burned, landing on the floor below.
They made it back inside before the ten count and again traded standing strikes. A DDT planted Dream in the middle of the ring, but the champion miraculously kicked out. Murphy went up top and attempted the sunset flip. Dream managed to counter into the Dream Valley Driver. In the nick of time, the Best Kept Secret broke out of the pinfall.
Dream went up top, but Murphy bent him under the top turnbuckle pad for a superkick before driving him into the mat with a sit out powerbomb, bending him up like an acordion. Though he kicked out, Velveteen Dream suffered serious damage when he rolled out to the apron, as Buddy Murphy leveled him with a horrid running knee.
Murphy had to break the ref's ten count, allowing Dream to wake back up. A Fameasser and Dream Valley Driver kept Murphy down long enough to be hit with the Purple Rainmaker.
Results: Velveteen Dream defeated Buddy Murphy vial pinfall.
In a pre-recorded video, The Street Profits went to William Regal's office in an attempt to get a shot at the War Raiders. However, as they knocked on the door, the NXT Tag Team Champions emerged. Hanson and Rowe revealed that the match had already been made, and the two teams would face each other next week on NXT.
Johnny Gargano addressed the crowd for the first time since winning the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver: New York. The crowd erupted for him, and showered him in "Johnny Champion" and "You Deserve It" chants. Gargano said that it was a long time coming, but he's finally found himself at the top of NXT.
However, before he could continue, he was interrupted by Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, and Bobby Fish. Cole said that Gargano got lucky in their match. He said that he picked up the first pinfall victory, and if it had been any other match, he'd be standing in Full Sail as the new NXT Champion.
Gargano countered, asking if there was trouble in paradise in Undisputed Era, with the group claiming that they'd be showered in gold in 2019. He stated that he won two-to-one, forcing Cole to tap out in back-to-back falls. The Champion did however reveal that he'd be happy to take Cole on tonight. Cole walked down the ramp, but Gargano was blindsided by the fourth member of Undisputed Era, Roderick Strong. Strong delivered a high knee to the temple of the champion, leveling him while the rest of the Era rushed the ring.
Held down by Fish, O'Reilly, and Strong, Cole delivered a pinpoint superkick to the jaw. UE stood over Gargano victorious as a group of referees rushed down ringside to check on him.
NXT's latest signing Kushida will make his NXT debut in two weeks.
Aaron Frye vs Dominik Dijakovic
Aaron Frye didn't have a chance to make an impact tonight, as Dijakovic leveled him with a rolling big boot.
Results: Dominik Dijakovic defeated Aaron Frye via pinfall.
After the match, Dijakovic stated that he was only in NXT thanks to his family making their way over to the US. The giant seemed to be chasing the American dream and NXT's own American Dream, the NXT North American Champion Velveteen Dream.
Backstage, Cathy Kelly caught up with the Undisputed Era. However, as they were celebrating, they were interrupted by William Regal. Regal stated that Gargano met with him, and wanted to face a member of the group. Cole asked when he was facing the champion, but Regal revealed that it would actually be Roderick Strong who was given the opportunity. Cole seemed upset with the decision, while Strong celebrated and Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly looked on confused.
Vanessa Bourne and Aliyah were upset in the back, claiming that they weren't ready when Aliyah was defeated by Candice LeRae last week. Bourne said that they'd be ready next week, and challenged LeRae to find another "lower."
Shayna Baszler and Kairi Sane's paths have been intertwined since they stepped foot inside the WWE. Both superstars made it to the finals of the inaugural Mae Young Classic, where the Pirate Princess defeated the Queen of Spades. The next year, Sane would capture the NXT Women's Championship by defeating Shayna Baszler at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn IV.
Baszler would quickly recapture the title, putting Sane to sleep at WWE Evolution. Their feud never lost steam, as Sane has consistently stayed in the title picture, and even teamed up with her tag team partner Io Shirai to defeat Baszler's posse, Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir.
Tonight, Sane looked to finally recapture the NXT Women's Championship from the first ever two-time champion. However, to do that she had to put something on the line. Therefore, if she lost to Baszler tonight, Sane would lose the right to ever challenge for the title again.
NXT Women's Championship Match: Kairi Sane vs Shayna Baszler (c)
Baszler drove Sane into the corner, but the challenger avoided a stiff haymaker and sent her into the bottom turnbuckle with a vicious elbow. Chasing Baszler to the outside, Sane kept up the attack with a crossbody. Back inside, the women traded elbow strikes.
A devastating striking combination left Sane nearly out cold following a stiff knee, but she was able to kick out. Launched into the corner, her face was smashed in by another knee. Again, Sane kicked out. Baszler tried to lock in the Kirafuda Clutch, but the former champion escaped to the corner. Baszler went for another knee only for Sane to avoid, causing Baszler to crash into the turnbuckle. A spear turned Baszler inside out.
Sane delivered a series of chops and strikes to Baszler and managed to catch a kick, sending her across the ring with a dragon screw. Sane managed to lock in the Anchor and really wore down the champion, but Baszler was able to get to the rope. Sane went up top while she was still recovering, driving her elbow into her back with an InSane Elbow.
Baszler rushed the top rope as Sane went for a second elbow. She wasn't able to hit a superplex as her back was too damaged from the Anchor and elbow drop. Sane pushed her off and landed on top of her with a double foot stomp. Outside, Baszler avoided a running elbow from the apron. Sane crashed into the barricade, giving Baszler an opportunity.
Inside the ring, Baszler warped Sane's arm before delivering an armbreaker, leaving the Pirate Princess screaming in agony. The Queen of Spades slammed Sane down face first and locked Sane's arm in another modified submission.
Sane rolled outside and the ref asked for someone to come check on her. Io Shirai also rushed down rigside. However, as Sane was distracted, Baszler pulled her up by the hair. She attempted to break Sane's arm, but Shirai made the save, ending Sane's dream of capturing the NXT Women's Championship, but saving her arm in the process.
Results: Shayna Baszler defeated Kairi Sane via disqualification.
Shafir and Duke pulled Shirai outside and forced her to watch while Baszler delivered the arm shattering stomp anyway. Shirai's good intentions were in vain, as the Queen of Spades and the rest of the Four Horsewomen stood atop the ramp in victory.
