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NXT Championship Match: Johnny Gargano vs Karrion Kross (c) w/Scarlett with Samoa Joe as Special Guest Referee
The NXT Champion took some punches early but forced his challenger into the corner before hitting an exploder suplex. Karrion Kross was demolishing Johnny Gargano, choking him out and hitting a suplex with ease.
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Gargano escaped Kross' grasp for a dropkick through the ropes. Another one knocked Kross off the apron, and Gargano hit a rolling senton to bring the champion down. However, the NXT Champion was right back to his feet, and the second Gargano turned around he was met with a big boot.
The first-ever NXT Triple Crown Champion took advantage of Kross eying Samoa Joe to send him into the ring steps. Kross shook it off, picking Gargano up with a choke bomb into the announcer's desk.
After Gargano crawled back inside the ring, Kross hammered him with more heavy-handed strikes. Kross whipped Gargano into the corner for a nasty tumble. Gargano avoided an attack in the corner, though, sending Kross shoulder first into the ring post.
A series of clotheslines were shrugged off by the NXT Champion, but Gargano rocked him with a step-up enzuigiri. Kross bounced off the ropes and was met with the slingshot spear. He rolled to the floor after kicking out and was sent into the barricade with a suicide dive.
One Final Beat was countered into a pair of suplexes, earning Kross a near fall over the Heart and Soul of NXT. Kross took Gargano to the top for the Doomsday Saito. Gargano turned it into a crossbody mid-air and followed with a series of roundhouse kicks.
The third was countered with a lariat, and Kross ran him into the corner. Gargano countered a power slam with a tilt-a-whirl DDT. Kross kicked out and hit a chokeslam. Bouncing off the ropes for a clothesline, Gargano countered with a superkick.
Gargano went for Garga-No Escape, locking it in after avoiding the Kross Jacket. The NXT Champion stood up out of the submission and locked in the Kross Jacket. Gargano just barely got to the ropes. Kross refused to break the hold and was launched across the ring by Joe.
Kross and Joe stared each other down, but the NXT Champion managed to keep his temper in check. On the floor, Kross bounced Gargano's head off the plexiglass several times. He went to use the steel steps but was stopped by Joe.
Gargano used the distraction to hit a tilt-a-whirl DDT on Kross. One Final Beat planted Kross for the closest two-count we've seen in months. Kross countered the superkick with his Doomsday Forearm. A trio of powerbombs and a Doomsday Saito left Gargano out on the mat.
Kross stared at Joe before hitting one final Doomsday Forearm on Gargano.
Results: Karrion Kross defeated Johnny Gargano via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: A
Karrion Kross got back in Samoa Joe's face. Joe said all Kross had to do was make a move, but Kross was held back by Scarlett. As soon as Joe turned to walk away, though, Kross synched in the Kross Jacket.
Kross provoked Joe, it's happening! Are we getting Kross vs Joe in NXT? Guess we will have to tune in next week to find out!
