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This week's NXT was all about the tag-team action with the show opening with Heavy Machinery Vs. Tino Sabatelli and Riddick Moss and ending with the big #1 Contendership match between Authors of Pain and The Street Profits.
It wasn't all just tag-team action though as we had a few shocking announcements from William Regal and Johnny Gargano, and a couple of singles-actions matches involving Roderick Strong and Mae Young Classic competitor Lacey Evans.
Riddick Moss & Tino Sabatelli vs Heavy Machinery
The opening match of the show is made when Moss and Sabatelli park their Maserati in the wrong place and Otis Dozovic lifts it out of the way, much to the dismay of the former tag-team.
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The match started with Sabatelli getting an early drop-kick on Dozovic, but the tables turned when he attempted a second drop-kick as Dozovic caught him in mid-air and made the tag, leading to Dual Facelock Airplane Spins to Moss and Sabatelli.
Heavy Machinery then remained in control for most of the match until Moss hit a Chop Block on Dozovic, putting the big man down. Dozovic then endured punishment until he could make a hot-tag to Tucker Knight who cleaned house.
However, in the melee Moss managed to roll Knight up from behind and used the ropes as leverage to get the surprise pin.
Result: Tino Sabatellie & Riddick Moss Def. Heavy Machinery
We get a brief backstage promo cut by the Undisputed ERA. Adam Cole says he will 'mangle and embarrass' Aleister Black at NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia and Fish and O'Reilly say it doesn't matter whether it's the Authors of Pain, or The Street Prophets they're going to get dropped.
Roderick Strong vs Fabian Aichner
We have Roderick Strong coming fresh off his beatdown at the hands of The Undisputed ERA last week, taking on Fabian Aicher, a man who has impressed in recent weeks and even has an NXT victory over current NXT Title #1 contender Johnny Gargano.
Strong and Aichner exchanged counters until Aicher finally got the upper-hand and managed to slam Strong to the mat. Aichner then maintained control throughout the match as he refused to give Strong space, using his power to contain him
The finish comes when Aichner grabs the ropes on a fireman's carry, which lead to a backbreaker onto Strong, but Strong then reversed a top rope manouvre from Aichner, hitting his own Backbreaker before locking in the Strong Hold.
Result: Roderick Strong Def. Fabian Aichner
After the match Roderick Strong reveals that he is the next person who is going to atttempt to stop Lars Sullivan's path of destruction, by calling the destructive NXT big-man out.
There's a really, really good video package on the currently absent TM61, who appear to be close to returning. The package highlights their lives from the time they met when they were 16, to the beginning of their NXT career before Thorne got injured.
NXT is always great with its video packages that put wrestlers in positions to be honest and open, the Drew McIntyre interview from a couple of months ago was similar. I'd highly recommend everyone watches this, and then check out the second part next week.
Lacey Evans Vs. Aliyah
Singles action up next as the Lady of NXT takes on Aliyah, who many will be relieved to see is still there and competing. I've always liked Lacey Evans' pin-up style look, and I thought she had a good showing in the Mae Young Classic.
The match starts with both ladies playing to their strengths, Evans goes for power moves against her smaller opponent, and Aliyah attempted speed and agility to evade them.
Evans eventually got the upper-hand when she caught Aliyah and rubbed her face against the ropes, before hitting a Springboard Elbow. Aliyah rallied herself briefly but Evans picks up the win with a right-hand punch for three.
Result: Lacey Evans Def. Aliyah
After the match Evans cuts a promo about how William Regal shouldn't let 'societal trash' like Nikki Cross, Ember Moon or Kairi Sane in NXT, and that a real lady like Evans was going to clean house.
Evans noticed Shayna Baszler entering the arena and swiftly left. Baszler then made her way to the ring and put an already downed Aliyah in her submission hold until Ember Moon ran her off.
William Regal talking to Christy St Cloud then makes the NXT Women's Title match official, and it'll be Ember Moon defending her title against Shayna Baszler at NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia.
Zelina Vega then interrupts and tells Regal that she agrees with Velveteen Dream about Johnny Gargano, that he was carried as a tag-team wrestler and was 'gifted' a title opportunity he doesn't deserve. She thinks Gargano should put his opportunity on the line against Dream, but Regal disagrees.
We then get a brief backstage vignette from No Way Jose who promises that 2018 will be fun and that the'll be making his '2018' debut next week.
Johnny Gargano cuts emotional in-ring promo
Gargano says that he saw what Vega just said to Regal about how he doesn't deserve a title shot. He talks about how he can hear people talking about him behind their back - Zelina, Dream and even William Regal don't think he's good enough.
Gargano then got more impassioned, saying he's done being doubted, he isn't a broken man, this is his time. He's going to give Dream a shot at the #1 contendership next week, because he knows who he is now, he's Johnny 'Freaking' Wrestling and he's the next NXT Champion.
Great promo here, folks.
Authors of Pain vs The Street Profits - #1 Contendership for NXT Tag-Team Titles
Montez Ford started the match against Akam and immediately got overpowered by the bigger man. The Authors of Pain then traded quick tags to wear down Montez Ford, with Ford even nearly passing out from a Choke Hold. The AOP then continue to wear down Ford, with the Street Profit having to kick-out of a pin after a slam.
After Ford gets beaten down some more, he managed to get close to his corner to tag in Angelo Dawkins. This angered Rezar who tried to take a shot at Dawkins, but this allowed Ford to make the tag. A fresh Dawkins then cleans up.
Dawkins hit a Elevated Drop-Kick and Spinebuster for a near-fall, but it's broken up by Akam. A brawl then ensued until Paul Ellering signalled that he'd had enough and the AOP put an end to the Street Profits
Result: The Author's of Pain Def. The Street Profits
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