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Full Sail Arena was packed and ready to see what the next few weeks of programming would be like for the NXT Universe. As everyone is still shaking from the aftershock of NXT TakeOver: WarGames, the Philly TakeOver event is just around the corner and there needed to be some big movement toward that WWE Network special.
The only drawback I could pick out from this set of tapings is a lack of Velveteen Dream. After his insanely good match against Aleister Black at NXT TakeOver: WarGames where everyone was saying his name afterwards, he really should be featured a lot more. Let's just hope they're able to insert him into the episodes somehow via backstage segments.
Beware, this article is one big spoiler after another, so as long as you're prepared for that let's get right into it.
Wolfgang vs Kona Reeves
Kona Reeves is a guy with a huge upside, but he was unsuccessful against Wolfgang in the opening contest of the night. It's great to see Wolfie back to wrestling shape because he had to miss some recent events after he was injured in Aberdeen, Scotland and had to sit out the rest of that tour.
Winner: Wolfgang via pinfall
Andrade "Cien" Almas speaks
The new NXT Champion had a chance to address the Full Sail crowd and in a promo which was delivered in English and Spanish, he boasted about his ring ability and how he's the top star of the company.
Along with Zelina Vega, Almas drew a ton of heat while he took credit for injuring Drew McIntyre which is what you do if you're a heel like that. He said people needed to embrace the legend and rise for him.
He really does make a great champion, but I just wonder how long he'll be holding on to that title.
Building towards the next NXT TakeOver
Killian Dain vs Trent Seven
The winner of this match would get a spot in the fatal four-way to determine the next #1 contender for Andrade "Cien" Almas' NXT Title. Killian Dain is a huge brute force who can move well beyond a man his size usually can and he used that exceptional ability and size to his advantage in this contest.
After a nice little match, Trent Seven found Killian Dain to be too much that night.
Winner: Killian Dain via pinfall
Sonya Deville vs Ruby Riott (No DQ Match)
These two women just received the honour of being called up to the main roster. It's interesting they faced each other here in this way because Deville and Riott ended up on separate brands so who knows when the last time we'll see these two tangle?
This could very well have been both of these ladies' NXT swansongs and the fans realised how important this match was.
After a rather gruelling contest, Sonya defeated Ruby when Riott passed out while in the clutches of Deville's dangerous triangle on the ropes.
Winner: Sonya Deville via submission
Johnny Gargano vs Kassius Ohno
Even though it's rather sad that Kassius Ohno has been relegated to an almost upper tier enhancement talent at this point, he brought everything he had for this match. The winner would be inserted into the fatal four-way to determine the new #1 contender for Andrade "Cien" Almas' title and neither man was backing down from this fight.
After a nice battle, Johnny Wrestling came away with the victory leaving some to wonder if Ohno would ever get the acknowledgement he really deserves in WWE's developmental territory.
Winner: Johnny Gargano via pinfall
Lars Sullivan vs Roderick Strong
This was yet another match to determine the fatal four-way for the #1 contendership match later on. Lars Sullivan is an absolute monster and it really showed during this contest. There wasn't much Roderick Strong could do to topple the big man in this match although he did try his best.
In the end, it was just too much for Strong and he fell to Lars Sullivan and his unpredictable yet still incredibly violent moveset.
Winner: Lars Sullivan via pinfall
The night heats up
Ember Moon vs Peyton Royce
As much as Royce would have loved this match to have an iconic finish, it just wasn't the Austrailian's night. Ember Moon defeated Peyton Royce which shouldn't have been such a huge surprise.
The fact Billie Kay and Peyton Royce both attacked Ember Moon after the match was over shouldn't have been a huge surprise either. But when Nikki Cross ran down to make the save it certainly turned a few heads.
Of course, Cross being the unpredictable and possibly most insane member of SaNITy, did not disappoint when she started running around like a madwoman and exited through the crowd.
Andrade "Cien" Almas vs Fabian Aichner
The new NXT Champion was in the building and he came for a fight. Even though he didn't put his title on the line, he still gave Fabian Aichner everything he had. In the end, it was enough to topple the Italian WWE Performance Center standout.
Winner: Andrade "Cien" Almas
Adam Cole vs Aleister Black
This match was said to be a great one and there's a very good reason for that because both Cole and Black are incredible in the ring. The winner of this match would receive the fourth and final spot to determine the #1 contender who would go on to NXT TakeOver: Philly to face Almas for the NXT Championship.
Although most people would assume that Adam Cole is earmarked to be NXT Champion, and he very well might be -- this was not his night. In a rather surprising turn of events, Adam Cole fell to the man formally known as Tommy End when he ate a Black Mass and took the pinfall.
Winner: Aleister Black via pinfall
Authors Of Pain vs Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch
The Authors Of Pain might not be holding NXT's top tag team gold, but they're still champions at heart. They are also probably very close to being called up to the main roster as well.
But they are still in NXT and laying waste to anyone they could find. Lorcan and Burch filled this void at the television taping for being someone for AOP to trample over.
Winners: Authors Of Pain via pinfall
Titles on the line
SaNITy vs Undisputed Era (NXT Tag Team Title Match)
This match was only a matter of time but some people didn't expect it to happen at a television taping. But WWE obviously has some plans in store for these two teams, especially Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly.
The roof blew off Full Sail Arena when Fish and O'Reilly toppled Eric Young and Killian Dain to walk away as the brand new NXT Tag Team Champions.
Ember Moon vs Sonya Deville (NXT Women's Title Match)
Ember Moon recently won her first taste of WWE gold and she wasn't ready to drop that title anytime soon. After a rather gruelling encounter, Moon ended up retaining her title over the new resident of Raw's Absolution faction.
But after the match was over, things heated up as Kairi Sane slid in the ring to make her presence known. However, she wasn't the only one who wanted to make a statement to Ember Moon because Sane's Mae Young Classic finale opponent, Shayna Baszler, ran in and choked The Pirate Princess out before staring down Ember Moon without skipping a beat.
Pete Dunne vs Tyler Bate (WWE United Kingdom Title Match)
The "Bruiserweight" Pete Dunne should never be taken lightly but neither should former WWE UK Champion Tyler Bate. These two had one of the best matches of the year at NXT TakeOver: Chicago and they didn't disappoint in Full Sail Arena.
After an incredible match between two of the most talented performers on the roster, Pete Dunne came out on top thanks to his Bitter End.
Winner: Pete Dunn via pinfall
Street Profits vs Enhancement Talent
The Street Profits won a pretty basic match, but there was nothing basic about the message they had for the NXT locker room after their definitive win.
Winners: Street Profits via pinfall
Killian Dain vs Aleister Black vs Lars Sullivan vs Johnny Gargano (#1 Contender Match)
It looks like this match had a lot more to do with setting up NXT TakeOver: Philly than just figuring out who would be facing Andrade "Cien" Almas. The four men in this match were hungry to prove what they could do and put on a great match which was given the time to really escalate to a proper crescendo.
Aleister Black appeared to have the match in the bad, but Undisputed Era swarmed the ring and stopped that from happening. Seeing how Black toppled Adam Cole to earn a spot in this match, logic would dictate these two will scrap eventually.
But it was Johnny Gargano's night as he ended up scoring the win over Aleister Black to secure the main event match at NXT TakeOver: Philly for the NXT Title.
Winner: Johnny Gargano
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