This is the last stop before NXT Takeover: Orlando. Will there be new developments in the card? Will the events of this week have long term implications on the brand? Let's find out, shall we? The show begins with a close up of the announcers, with Tom Phillips talking about NXT Takeover in Orlando and mentioning how this will be Nigel McGuinness' first Takeover. He touches upon the main event for the night between Kassius Ohno and Elias Samson in a 'Loser leaves NXT' match.
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Johnny Gargano vs. Dash Wilder vs. Akam (Triple Threat Match)
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Even before the match began, the arena exploded with chants of 'Johnny Wrestling'. Johnny Gargano leapt onto the back of Akam to start the match but was thrown off immediately. Similarly even Wilder's offense did not cause much damage to the Author of Pain. Even though the men hate each other in kayfabe, Dash Wilder and Johnny Gargano teamed up to take down the monstrous Akam and send him outside the ring.
Wilder sat on the ring ropes, spreading it for Gargano to make a suicide drive but tried to attack Gargano as he went for the move. Gargano caught his leg and took Wilder down with a clothesline. Akam came back into the ring and took out Johnny Wrestling and he was about to do the same with Wilder though Dawson pulled him out of the way. We go into commercial and see The Revival retreating from Akam, up the ramp.
We come back into the ring to see Akam dominating Gargano, as Phillips mentions that the triple threat match is now one on one, as The Revival retreated to the back. With an arm drop and a torture rack, Akam was truly in control but spurred on by the crowd, Gargano managed to fight out. Gargano dodged Akam's offense and after a flurry of attacks that had minimal impact, delivered a spear through the middle rope.
With Akam in the corner, Gargano assaulted him with a variety of chops and punches, but the monster knocked Gargano out with a kick. As Akam got Gargano into position to deliver his version of the Razor’s Edge (presumably), Gargano escaped and retaliated with three big kicks. As Gargano went for the cover, Rezar pulled him out of the ring.
Ciampa came in, to even the odds and while he got the advantage on Rezar, Akam brought him down. Gargano went for a DDT, but Akam planted him face-first into the turnbuckle. As Akam delivered a devastating power bomb, Scott Dawson grabbed his leg. Dash Wilder rushed into the ring to pick up the win. All three announcers praised the strategy of the Revival.
Dash Wilder def. Johnny Gargano and Akam
We saw a graphic advertising the official contract signing between Asuka and Ember Moon, later during the show. Then, we saw a video package of Heavy Machinery, a team we’ve only seen once before, making their NXT comeback. This was followed by a package promoting the NXT Download Festival tour. Then, we saw a splendid video package pronouncing the debut of Aleister Black at the NXT Takeover: Orlando show.
Heavy Machinery vs.Jonathan Ortagun and Mike Marshall
650 pounds in total, Heavy Machinery looked imposing indeed. Ortagun started the match against Tucker Knight as the announcers spoke about the amateur wrestling background of both members of Heavy Machinery. With a massive hip toss and a bear hug, Knight was truly in control.
As Dozovic was tagged in, he continued with the bear hug, and when Ortagun tried to escape, Dozovic picked him up by the neck. Mike Marshall was tagged in, but Dozovic slammed him onto the mat. Both men delivered synchronised offence, even something called ‘Boom Shaka Loom’. Marshall got some offence in, but Knight and especially Dozovic mowed down both men thereafter.
Celebrating with more chants of 'boom shaka laka' or something like that, Dozovic delivered a massive Belly to Belly suplex to Ortagun. A pinfall attempt was broken up by Mike Marshall. After some more domination by Heavy Machinery, Dozovic picked Knight and dropped him on Ortagun to take the big win. An impressive showcase by heavy machinery.
Heavy Machinery def. Johnathan Ortagun and Mike Marshall
We caught up with NXT General Manager William Regal backstage presiding over a contract signing between Asuka and Ember Moon. When Regal mentioned Ember Moon’s name, Asuka started snickering and chuckling under her breath. Ember Moon seemed unfazed and said that Asuka was a great NXT champion, but she would dethrone The Empress of Tomorrow.
Asuka responded by saying that Ember is not ready for the challenge. Moon said she’s been ready for a long time. Still laughing, Asuka walked away while Regal wished Moon good luck for Takeover.
We went into commercial before seeing graphics of the main event for the night as well as an exclusive look at the rivalry between Nakamura and Roode. After an ad showcasing the NXT: The Future is Now book, we got our glimpse of another official NXT theme song- Purple by Baroness.
A very cool video package followed for Bobby Roode, the underlying theme of which was 'Bobby Roode is NXT’. Nakamura’s side of the coin/promo was more about ‘NXT belongs to the fans’.
This was followed by Paul Ellering cutting a promo, warning #DIY to not believe in fairy tales.
Yes, we heard the song Loud by the band 'Motionless in White’, another theme song for NXT Takeover: Orlando. Yes, in 2017, song titles are shorter than band names.
A new match was added to the NXT Takeover lineup. An 8-man tag match (with two women) between No Way Jose, Roderick Strong, Tye Dillinger and Ruby Riot against SAnitY.
Kassius Ohno vs. Elias Samson (Loser Leaves NXT match)
It’s time for our main event of the night. The crowd seemed really into the match, all throughout. Both the men took the other down in pinfall attempts, neither managing to succeed. Samson got Ohno into a headlock, but he reversed it into an armlock.
Some knockdowns and quick covers followed from Ohno, but The Drifter would kick out. Samson drifted (no pun intended) to the outside, but a baseball slide caught him as Ohno pushed him back inside. Samson pushed Ohno into the ringside post, as the latter tumbled to the outside and we went into commercial.
We return from Wrestlemania 33 commercials to see Elias Samson beating down on Kassius Ohno. Ohno kicked out of a near fall and Samson reversed a pinfall attempt into a beautiful crossface/Banks Statement. After struggling for an extended period of time, Ohno finally reached the bottom rope and Samson let go of him. The two men exchanged some hard fists and Ohno kicked out of another pinfall attempt. Ohno retaliated with some hard knees and a roundhouse kick, scoring a near fall on The Drifter. The match was heating up.
Samson tried to score a pinfall with his feet on the ropes but the official saw it. Ohno retaliated with some hard open hand slaps to Samson. Ohno barely kicked out after a knee from Samson. Ohno also kicked out of a neckbreaker and a pinfall roll up when Samson got him into a roll up attempt. A Rolling Elbow out of nowhere from Ohno knocked Samson out, allowing him to pick up the win.
Kassius Ohno def. Elias Samson, Samson has to leave NXT forever.
Elias Samson could not come to terms with the fact that he had to leave NXT for good. Two referees and several officials came in to drag him out of the arena. Samson said he would leave but he just needed his guitar. We saw Kassius Ohno with the guitar soon after. As Samson came to the ring to get his guitar back, Ohno stomped on it breaking it for good! We went off the air, with Ohno breaking the guitar some more.
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The show ended with a promo of NXT Takeover: Orlando. See you again in just a few days!
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