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NXT North American Championship Match: Bronson Reed vs Johnny Gargano (c) w/Austin Theory
The NXT North American Champion struggled to get his challenger off his feet. Despite having to go through an exhausting Gauntlet Eliminator on NXT TakeOver Night One, Bronson Reed looked fresh as a daisy.
A massive fallaway slam nearly sent Johnny Gargano across the ring and through the ropes. Gargano hit his slingshot spear, but it didn't drop the big man. A series of bear-paw-sized chops battered Gargano into the mat. Gargano's clotheslines and kicks failed to bring the big man down.
However, a chop block finally gave him an opening, and a flying clothesline dropped the challenger.
Gargano escaped a powerbomb attempt and avoided a seated senton, delivering a sliding clothesline to the back. Johnny TakeOver kept Reed down on the mat, locking in a crossface and kneeing the monstrous competitor in the ribs. Reed broke away and caught Gargano diving, turning it into a powerslam in mid-air.
Reed's delayed suplex was nearly countered, but Reed turned it into a death valley driver, getting a near fall on the NXT North American Champion. Gargano avoided a deadlift superplex, hanging Reed up in the ropes for an elevated backstabber.
Johnny hit the superkick to the midsection but was dropped with a big suplex by The Colossal One. Reed moved up for The Tsunami, but Gargano rolled across the ring. A running senton missed, and the North American Champion followed up with a crucifix pinfall attempt.
Reed was spiked with a poison rana, and Gargano Escape was locked in. Reed escaped to the elevated ramp and countered One Final Beat with a forearm smash. A Razor's Edge launched Gargano over the ropes.
Somehow, Gargano was still able to avoid the Tsunami and followed that with a superkick to the back of the head. One, two, no! Reed kicked out.
Reed managed to drop Gargano and again went for the Tsunami. With Gargano distracting the ref, it allowed Austin Theory to draw Reed's attention.
Gargano crotched Reed up top. As he went for the top rope rana, Reed landed on his feet. A powerbomb planted Gargano. Theory just managed to get his foot on the ropes.
Theory was proud of himself and faced the consequences of his actions when Reed used Gargano as a weapon to batter him.
A suicide dive crushed Theory, but Gargano took advantage. Sending Reed back inside, Gargano set up for One Final Beat. Again, Reed countered, hitting an Air Raid Crash for a near fall at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
Two superkicks stunned Reed, and Gargano avoided a diving moonsault to deliver back-to-back One Final Beats to finally put Reed away and retain the NXT North American Championship.
Results: Johnny Gargano defeated Bronson Reed via pinfall at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
Grade: B+
Teddy Long snaps when Swerve Strickland's race is brought up HERE
