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NXT Cruiserweight Championship: Santos Escobar w/Legado Del Fantasma vs Kushida (c) in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida was sent to the floor just as the bell rang. Just as it looked like Legado Del Fantasma was going to lay into the Japanese star, NXT Tag Champions MSK dove onto both Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza. The referee sent both teams to the back, leaving Santos Escobar with no safety net tonight.
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During the break, Santos Escobar took over, and we returned to see him holding Kushida in a cloverleaf. On the second rope, Escobar hit a gutbuster as the former NXT Cruiserweight Champion dropped Kushida stomach first on the ring post. Escobar locked in a Boston Crab on the steps, which managed to stretch Kushida's neck against the ring post.
Back in the ring, Escobar trapped the champ in a surfboard stretch. After transitioning to a crossface, Escobar stretched Kushida out in the ropes, working over the back and ribs. The Time Splitter dropped into the corner after the running double knee strike to the chest.
Kushida countered an avalanche hurricanrana, nearly getting a pinfall. The handspring back elbow connected, and Kushida followed that with the arm drag/dropkick. Escobar responded with the pump knee and hit the Phantom Driver for the first fall of the night.
Santos Escobar (1) pinned Kushida (0) on NXT.
After the first fall, Kushida locked in a cross armbreaker right in the middle of the ring. There was nowhere for him to go, forcing Escobar to tap quickly.
Kushida (1) forced Santos Escobar (1) to tap out on NXT.
During the final break of the night, Escobar and Kushida traded the upper hand several times. Santos drove the champ into the barricade to break the Hoverboard Lock, but Kushida didn't loosen his grip.
Escobar finally broke away when he dropped the Japanese star on the ropes. The Arrow from the Depths of Hell connected, giving Escobar a two-count.
Kushida dropped onto Escobar's left arm, leaving him in agonizing pain. A penalty kick to the arm forced Santos to the floor where he was dropped face first with a shoulder dislocating armbreaker.
Back in the ring, and inside cradle nearly gave Escobar the NXT Cruiserweight Championship back. Another Phantom Driver failed, and Kushida looked for a roll-up.
Escobar finally broke away from Kushida who nearly picked up the win after countering a sunset flip. A double clothesline left both men down on the mat.
Escobar stunned Kushida with the enzuigiri at the top and hoped for an avalanche Phantom Driver. Kushida fought out and took his opponent all the way to the mat with a Hoverboard Lock.
Escobar couldn't get to the ropes as Kushida rolled him back to the middle of the ring. The former NXT Cruiserweight Champion fought and crawled to the ropes, somehow.
Another Hoverboard Lock was synched in, but when Kushida couldn't take him off his feet, he dropped his challenger on his head in the corner with a Hoverboard suplex.
A second one in the middle of the ring was enough to put Santos Escobar away once and for all.
Result: Kushida defeated Santos Escobar via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: A+
