Last week, the Street Profits challenged The Viking Raiders for the NXT Tag Team Championship. Sadly, we never got an official ending to the bout, as the Forgotten Sons interrupted, ending it in a no contest. The Viking Raiders would eventually vacate the titles, leaving the NXT tag team scene in disarray.
Thankfully, NXT General Manager William Regal had a brilliant idea to settle the issue, and it included four of the best teams on the roster.
The titles will be awarded to the winners of a Fatal-4-Way Ladder match at NXT TakeOver: XXV. It will be the Street Profits vs the Forgotten Sons vs Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan vs the Undisputed Era (Kyle O'Reilly & Bobby Fish).
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Speaking of the Undisputed Era, the four-man tandem opened tonight's show, reunited after Roderick Strong attacked Matt Riddle last week. Cole picked up a mic and said that the Undisputed Era isn't going anywhere, and they own everyone on the NXT roster.
Cole once again promised that the group would be "draped in championship gold." At NXT TakeOver, Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly will take back the NXT Tag Team Titles while Adam Cole will be crowned as the new NXT Champion. Before he could continue, he was interrupted by NXT Champion Johnny Gargano.
Gargano accused Cole of being unable to beat him without his backup. Cole once again said that he was able to beat him one-on-one at the last TakeOver, taking the first fall. Gargano reminded him that he was two falls short, and he needs to understand that one fall doesn't matter.
Their time was cut short as Matt Riddle invaded the ring, taking out all four members of the UnUndisputedra. They fought back and attempted to jump the King of Bros, but Gargano jumped in to aid him in the assault. Gargano and Riddle sent the Undisputed Era packing as they stood tall in the ring.
Sean Maluta vs Mansoor
Maluta took Mansoor to the ground, but the high flyer was easily able to escape the hold before sending Maluta overhead with a hurricanrana and a dropkick. Maluta answered with a spinning heel kick and a running boot, followed up by a Samoan drop.
Mansoor tried to pick himself up in the corner but was met with a running knee, followed by a leaping Code Breaker from the top rope. Mansoor kicked out and was caught in a neck crank, but escaped again and rocked Maluta with several forearms and a springboard neckbreaker. Mansoor finished off Maluta with a spinning reverse suplex-style facebuster.
Results: Mansoor defeated Sean Maluta via pinfall.
Backstage, Cathy Kelly was waiting outside William Regal's office while a commotion was heard from inside. The NXT GM was arguing with the Undisputed Era, who were furious about being jumped by Riddle and Gargano earlier in the night.
After they stormed off, Regal informed Kelly that Riddle would take on Roderick Strong at NXT TakeOver: XXV. However, tonight would see the King of Bros team up with Johnny Wrestling to take on the Undisputed Era's Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly.
The NXT North American Champion Velveteen Dream came out next, addressing the NXT crowd at Full Sail University. Dream said that, though many want to feel, touch, and hold the Dream, he's too big to hold. Surprisingly, he was interrupted by NXT favorite Tyler Breeze.
Prince Pretty, sporting a new hair cut, was met with "Welcome Home" and "Breeze is Gorgeous" chants from the crowd. Breeze said that when he was here before, he had the whole world talking about him. However, when he left, so did the beauty, and cheap knockoffs began to emerge trying to take over his role, including Velveteen Dream.
Dream said that the spotlight of the NXT Universe wants a real man, not a boy, especially not one who plays cops and robbers. The champion cut Breeze further, going after him for not being able to make it on Monday and Tuesday nights.
Breeze countered, saying that he was uninspired, and came back to NXT because he's inspired by Dream and his North American Championship. Dream said that he deserves nothing, and should start off at the back of the line. However, he didn't want to leave him empty-handed and offered a chance at a selfie.
Breeze contemplated it, then brought Dream in for a close up before leveling him with a strong right hand across the jaw.
Breeze was met backstage by Cathy Kelly, who asked why he attacked the Dream. Breeze said that he's an NXT OG, and all he wanted to do was introduce the Vainglorious One to an inspired Prince Pretty.
Candice LeRae vs Reina Gonzalez
LeRae tried to take the fight to the imposing Gonzalez, but the size difference was too much to handle at first. A stiff rear clothesline took down LeRae, who was slammed into the mat with a spinning powerslam.
LeRae managed to damage Gonzalez's arm with a double knee arm breaker, then sent her outside with a schoolboy through the apron. A springboard crossbody was caught by Gonzalez, but LeRae escaped her grasp, sending her into the ring steps.
Back inside, a flying hurricanrana from the top rope sent Gonzalez across the ring into the corner. LeRae followed up with a series of punches and a top rope missile dropkick. Gonzalez was put away after a springboard moonsault.
Results: Candice LeRae defeated Reina Gonzalez via pinfall.
After the match, LeRae was surrounded by the Horsewomen. Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke, and Marina Shafir brought a 3-on-1 beatdown to LeRae, but she was saved by Io Shirai, who was carrying a kendo stick. Shirai broke the stick across the backs of all three women, sending them scurrying up the ramp as she checked on LeRae.
Prior to the main event, two matches were announced for next week. The HBIC isn't finished with the Est of NXT, as Mia Yim will take on Bianca Belair once again. Also, we see the return of Kushida, who will face 205 Live's Drew Gulak.
Matt Riddle & Johnny Gargano vs. The Undisputed Era (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly)
Kyle O'Reilly began the bout with the only NXT Triple Crown Champion Johnny Gargano. They took each other to the mat, wrestling to a stalemate and escaping back to their feet, with Gargano nearly avoiding a kick from O'Reilly.
O'Reilly brought Gargano into a Triangle Choke, but Gargano escaped and nearly struck him in the Gargano Escape. O'Reilly finally caught Gargano with a boot to the gut, bringing him to UE's corner for a tag to Bobby Fish.
Fish took out Gargano with a right hand and attempted to take a cheap shot at Riddle. Riddle avoided and landed a stiff kick to the chest of Kyle O'Reilly. Fish then took him out but was caught by a kick to the jaw from Gargano.
Back inside, Gargano tagged in Riddle and held Fish as Riddle delivered a nasty punching/chopping combination. Riddle brought Fish into the corner for a running forearm, then knocked O'Reilly off with one. He hit Fish again and sent him across the ring with an exploder suplex.
O'Reilly tried to get back in but was taken out by Riddle again. Riddle took Fish over with a pair of gutwrench suplexes. O'Reilly interrupted again, getting a gutwrench suplex for his trouble. Another attempt left Riddle doubled over in pain as his ribs were still injured from last week. Fish and O'Reilly took over here, leveling him with a forearm and taking him to the corner.
Fish tagged in O'Reilly and held Riddle in the corner as O'Reilly connected with a running elbow to the face. Riddle was brought out to the middle of the mat where knee strikes further damaged his ribs. Fish tagged back in for a double snap suplex. Riddle kicked out at two.
Fish fell onto RIddle with a tope atomico from the apron, then tagged in O'Reilly who locked in an abdominal stretch while pelting his ribs with strikes. Riddle broke out, and the two traded strikes, leading to a ripcord knee from Riddle.
Gargano and Fish were tagged back in, and the NXT Champion unloaded on the Undisputed Era. Gargano took them down with a clothesline/bulldog combo, followed up by a tornado DDT/enziguri.
Gargano tried to roll up Fish, who was tagged by O'Reilly and held onto the ropes. The duo hit Chasing the Dragon, but Gargano kicked out. Gargano escaped another tandem assault and laid out Fish with a strike. O'Reilly went after him but was leveled by a German suplex and a penalty kick from Matt Riddle, leaving all four men on the ground.
Fish ran at Gargano, who avoided the shoulder block and was tagged by Riddle. A beautiful sequence ended with a superkick from Gargano and a Broton Splash followed up by a Broton Splash. O'Reilly broke up the pin. Gargano tossed him into Riddle's knee lawn dart style, sending him to the outside. Riddle planted Fish with a powerbomb and a knee, but O'Reilly pulled Fish out of the pinfall.
Adam Cole came out to cause a distraction, causing Gargano to chase after him with a suicide dive. While the referee was busy with them, Roderick Strong came in, planting Riddle with a backbreaker on the apron. Riddle was finished off by O'Reilly and Fish with the High and Low.
Results: The Undisputed Era defeated Matt Riddle & Johnny Gargano via pinfall.
After the match, the group continued the assault, leaving both men out cold in the middle of the ring as they looked onward to TakeOver: XXV.