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With it being the go-home show for NXT, the Superstars of the Yellow Brand looked to build any kind of momentum they could before NXT TakeOver: Phoenix. Johnny Gargano still had to answer for his attack on Ricochet two weeks ago, and we were sure to see Tommaso Ciampa and Aleister Black brawl one final time.
Who would end the final NXT before TakeOver with their arms raised high, and who would be left face down in the ring?
Dream opened the show, saying that he had a sparkle in his eye, and that sparkle was one of gold. The Dream seemed to be looking towards an NXT North American Championship shot, only to be interrupted by Adam Cole and the rest of the Undisputed Era.
Cole said that everyone knows 2019 would be the year of the Undisputed Era, and claimed to capture all gold in NXT. While O'Reilly and Strong were busy defending the NXT Tag Team Titles, Cole and Fish were looking to pick up the NXT and North American titles in the near future.
Fish told Dream to live in reality, as the stable would continue to dominate throughout 2019. Dream said that he was ready to dispute the claim, then baited Adam Cole and Bobby Fish into the ring, only to send them out the other side. Dream walked back up the ramp with his head held high while the two men were fuming in the ring.
A promo package was shown for the upcoming NXT Women's Championship match between the un-de-fea-ted Bianca Belair and the champion Shayna Baszler. Belair said that Baszler had a great 2018, even becoming a 2-time champion...but that also means that she lost.
Kairi Sane and Io Shirai were also scheduled for a match later on in the night. Next, however, would be Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel taking on the hard-hitting duo of Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch.
Last week's main event showdown between Keith Lee and Kassius Ohno was highlighted, including the controversial finish. Due to that and Riddle and Ohno's rising heat between each other, they'll face off at NXT TakeOver: Phoenix in a one-on-one match.
Prior to the tag match, it was revealed that Velveteen Dream would face Bobby Fish.
Lorcan & Burch vs Aichner & Barthell
Lorcan and Barthell started off the match and quickly broke down to trading blows. Barthell drove Lorcan into their corner and tagged in Aichner who took Lorcan down with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
Barthell and Aichner kept beating down Lorcan, but he eventually escaped to tag in Burch, who lit up both opponents in a 2-on-1 fury. A headbutt left Barthell on the ground while Burch focused on the legal man, Aichner. Burch tagged in Lorcan, but before they could go for their finish, Barthell interrupted, sending crashing to the mat with an Air Raid Crash.
A clothesline from Aichner turned Lorcan inside out, and Aichner and Lorcan hit the launching brainbuster. A double springboard moonsault nearly gave Aichner the win, but Lorcan escaped.
Lorcan countered another double team maneuver, locking in Aichner with a single leg Boston crab. Barthell and Burch got back in the ring, and all four men traded some deadly strikes with each other.
Lorcan and Burch took Barthell out on the outside, only for Aichner to leap to the top rope and take all three men down with a crossbody. Lorcan rolled up Aichner in the ring while Burch kept Barthell away to pick up the win.
Results: Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch defeated Fabian Aichner & Marcell Barthel via pinfall.
Dream and Fish will main event tonight's episode of NXT. Next up would be a tag team match featuring Io Shirai and Kairi Sane.
Tanea Brooks & Amber Nova vs Io Shirai & Kairi Sane
Shirai began the match with Nova, quickly taking Nova down with a dropkick. Tagging in Sane, the two dropped Nova with a chop and a neckbreaker. Sane connected with the gliding D in the corner. Brooks distracted Sane, allowing Nova to take her out before she could hit the InSane Elbow.
In the ring, Brooks attempted a suplex, but Sane escaped. A spear left Brooks stunned as Sane tagged in Shirai. Shirai sent Brooks rolling away with the Tiger Feint Kick, then connected with a springboard double dropkick on Nova and Brooks.
Shirai launched Sane into the air for an InSane Elbow Drop, and Sane repaid the favor, sending Shirai up for the moonsault and the victory.
Results: Shirai & Sane defeated Brooks & Nova via pinfall.
After the match, Sane and Shirai were met backstage by Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke, and it looks like we'll be getting a feud out of them in the future.
Velveteen Dream vs Bobby Fish
Fish started off the match with an elbow strike and a kick to the leg before Dream escaped his range. Dream came back in, catching Fish's leg. A shoulder block sent Dream down, but the Vainglorious One countered a second one, nearly getting the rolling DVD. Fish escaped and was hit with a standing dropkick for his trouble.
A crossbody from the top rope sent Fish running for the outside, where Adam Cole helped him escape. Dream followed, taking Fish out with a springboard dropkick and a double ax handle from the top.
Back inside the ring, the two men traded blows, with Dream winning out. However, a distraction from Adam Cole allowed Fish to take over, bringing him outside for a dragon screw to the barricade, damaging Dream's leg.
Fish sent Dream back inside and smelled blood in the water. Fish pelted Dream with strikes and went for a cover after a tope atomico. Dream kicked out at two. Dream crawled to the corner, but Fish followed him, continuing to work over the leg. Dream pushed him off but was eventually taken down by an elbow to the back of the right knee.
Dream fought out of a leg lock, and caught Fish with two knee strikes, followed by a single leg dropkick from the top rope. Fish kicked out. Fish was on the receiving end of a handful of punches in the corner but kicked Dream in the knee. He went for a running clothesline, only for Dream to turn it into a Double-A Spinebuster.
Fish countered the Purple Rainmaker into a kneebar, attempting to get a submission victory while Adam Cole held the rope away from Dream. Eventually, the ref saw and stopped it. Before he could send Cole to the back, Dream rolled Fish up for a near fall. He sent Fish into Cole on the outside, then hit him with the Rolling DVD back in the ring.
A Purple Rainmaker would seal the deal for Dream.
Results: Velveteen Dream defeated Bobby Fish via pinfall.
Next week, the Street Profits will take on the Forgotten Sons in a tag team match. Kairi Sane & Io Shirai will also face Jessamyn Duke & Marina Shafir.
Ricochet went to the ring, waiting to hear from Johnny Gargano, who two weeks prior caught him with a cheap shot, leaving him laying in the middle of the ring. The NXT North American Champion said Gargano of 2019 is the same man as Gargano of 2018, and that the only person he cares about is himself. Ricochet said that in 2018, he was something that Gargano was not... a champion.
Gargano finally came out, and said if this was 2018, he would've rushed the ring "like a madman." Gargano attempted another cheap shot, but Ricochet was ready. However, Ciampa rolled in and helped Gargano beat him down.
While Gargano and Ricochet fought on the outside, Aleister Black assaulted Ciampa, beating him down in the corner. Gargano came in to make the save, taking Black down with a superkick. DIY chants rained down as Gargano watched Ciampa beat down his challenger.
Gargano and Ciampa laid both of their opponents out, Gargano with a leaping DDT and Ciampa with the Fairy Tale Ending.
Both men left the ring and met on the ramp, staring into each other's eyes and at the carnage that laid in the ring. At the top of the ramp, Ciampa extended his hand, but before Gargano could accept, Candice LeRae stopped him.
