Last week, the Undisputed Era interrupted Johnny Gargano's NXT Championship celebration. After years of grinding, Gargano finally captured the one title that avoided him, making him the first ever NXT Triple Crown Champion.
Adam Cole wouldn't allow Gargano to soak in the spotlight, as he and the rest of the Era jumped Gargano, beating him down at the beginning of the show. Tonight, Gargano looked to get some much-needed revenge by taking on Roderick Strong, the man that threw the first strike last week.
Jaxson Ryker w/The Forgotten Sons vs Humberto Carrillo
Ryker's power was overwhelming at the beginning of this matchup. Carrillo attempted to outmanoeuvre his larger opponent but had a hard time getting away from his grasp. A springboard kick allowed him to create some space, and he took Ryker out with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors and a handspring back elbow.
Ryker broke out of the pin and launched Carrillo into the corner with an arm drag. He left the cruiserweight in the tree of woe, beating him down with some rough forearm smashes. The Widow Maker spinebuster forced him to roll outside. However, Ryker didn't let up, sending him careening into the barricade. Eventually, Ryker tossed him into the audience as the Sons cheered him on. As he continued to beat down Carrillo, the ref rang the bell.
Results: No contest.
Carrillo was saved from the Forgotten Sons by Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan, keeping them at bay with a pair of steel chairs. Lorcan checked on him while Burch watched his back.
Adam Cole was interrupted during a photoshoot and asked how he felt about Roderick Strong getting an opportunity against Johnny Gargano tonight. Cole said that, while he felt he should be in the match, he was confident in Strong's abilities and believed he would easily overcome Gargano. The camera panned over to Matt Riddle, who called out Cole for being jealous of his friend and stablemate.
Vanessa Borne & Aliyah vs Candice LeRae & Kacy Catanzaro
Aliyah and Catanzaro started off the match, with Aliyah taking over early and connecting with a rolling knee drop. Catanzaro got back on top, bringing her into the corner and sending her across the ring with a headscissors. A somersault axe kick rocked Aliyah, but she managed to get back on top, tagging in Borne.
Borne and Aliyah dropped Catanzaro with a double suplex. The Ninja Warrior kicked out. Several forearm smashes to the back and a headbutt left Catanzaro struggling in the corner, trying to get to her feet. Borne stomped her out and cut off an attempt to tag in LeRae.
Aliyah tagged in and the duo beat their opponent down in the ropes. A modified surfboard stretch targeted the back of Catanzaro. She attempted to break out but Aliyah pulled her hair back.
Catanzaro turned another double suplex into a pair of neckbreakers, taking down both Borne and Aliyah and allowing her to tag in LeRae. A missile dropkick dropped Borne while a baseball slide took out Aliyah on the outside. Back in the ring, a jawbreaker and a snapmare set up Borne for a step up senton splash. A springboard moonsault finished off Borne, awarding LeRae and Catanzaro the victory.
Results: Candice LeRae & Kacy Catanzaro defeated Vanessa Borne and Aliyah.
Backstage, Io Shirai was interviewed about what transpired last week when Shayna Baszler injured the arm of Kairi Sane. Shirai stated that her actions were horrible, but before she was finished, she was attacked by Marina Shafir, Jessamyn Duke, and Baszler.
Next week, Kushida will officially debut on NXT. Regal was asked backstage about what to expect when he showed up next week. Before he could answer, Kassius Ohno interrupted him, asking for a match. Regal obliged, making it official.
Last week, we saw footage of the Street Profits attempting to get a shot against the War Raiders Hanson and Rowe. The NXT Tag Team Champions decided, after hearing enough of their trash talk, to ask NXT General Manager William Regal for the match before the Profits could get to his office, setting up the bout tonight.
Street Profits vs War Raiders
Ford dove onto Hanson and Rowe before they even made it to the ring, sending Rowe inside for a spear from Dawkins. A frog splash from Ford nearly earned the Street Profits an incredible upset victory.
Rowe avoided their tag team finish, tagging in Hanson who assaulted Dawkins. Moving in, Ford was able to avoid some stiff offense from the big man, but a killer clothesline left him on the outside of the ring. Hanson went back to work on Dawkins, working over the left shoulder. With a tag, Rowe slammed Dawkins in the middle of the ring then dropped Hanson on top of him.
Rowe looked to continue their now dominant showcase, but a strong right from Dawkins knocked him nearly unconscious. Both Hanson and Ford were tagged in. Ford struck Hanson with several running clotheslines, followed by a superkick to the gut. He avoided a clothesline from the big man and connected with a standing dropkick. He then showed off his incredible strength, picking the big man up for a stalling sidewalk slam.
Rowe attempted to make the save but was sent outside. Dawkins assisted Ford with a unique version of the Sliced Bread No.2, but Hanson kicked out. With Dawkins tagged back in, they tried to take on Hanson 2-on-1. He broke through a double team manoeuvre, taking out both Street Profits with a handspring elbow. With Rowe back in, they massacred the Profits, crushing Ford in the corner with a shotgun dropkick and an assisted hip attack.
Dawkins was tossed outside after being crushed with a German Suplex/Springboard Clothesline combination. With his partner out of the picture, the NXT Tag Team Champions finished off Ford with Thor's Hammer.
Results: The War Raiders defeated the Street Profits via pinfall.
Mia Yim was interviewed backstage, asking what she thinks about the Queen of Spades. Yim said that she may be unstoppable, but hasn't exactly won her last several matches on her own. The HBIC then said that she'll get an opportunity soon and prove why she's a threat to Shayna Baszler's NXT Women's Championship reign.
Johnny Gargano vs Roderick Strong
Strong tackled Gargano to open the match, looking to keep the NXT Champion grounded with a gator roll and a headlock. Gargano shoved him off but was knocked down by a shoulder block. Gargano avoided a kick and went for the Gargano Escape. Strong rolled him up, forcing him to break the hold.
Strong had to escape to the outside once Gargano took over. He rushed inside, but was taken care of with an arm drag followed by a clothesline to the outside. A superkick from the apron stunned Strong as he walked around the ring trying to shake the cobwebs. Gargano looked for a baseball slide, but Strong caught him, connecting with a backbreaker assisted by the ring apron.
Inside the ring, Strong set Gargano up in the corner, attacking his abdomen with shoulder thrusts. Gargano tried to fight out with a chop but was put down with a gutbuster. After kicking out of the pin, Strong tried to work over his back with various strikes and submission holds. Gargano made it back to his feet but was dropped with another backbreaker.
In the corner, a massive chop across the chest took Gargano off his feet, forcing the champion to land on his head. As he struggled to get to the apron, he was locked in a modified Figure-4-Leglock while in the ropes. Strong placed Gargano in the Gory Special. Gargano broke out and fought out of the corner with a strong elbow.
Strong was sent outside, but dragged Gargano out and tried to sling him into the barricade. Gargano countered into an arm drag into the barricade, forcing the former Tag Team Champion to retreat to the inside. An enziguri and slingshot spear nearly won Gargano the match.
Strong tried to roll up Gargano, but was met with a rolling kick to the jaw. Both men found themselves on the outside. Strong tried to connect with the wrecking ball dropkick, but Gargano avoided and lept onto him with a rolling senton. The champion set up for the Slingshot DDT. Strong countered, holding him in the fireman's carry position. Gargano escaped with a hurricanrana and connected with a superkick to the jaw.
In the corner, Strong was punished with several stiff knife-edge chops to the chest and face. Gargano looked for the lawn dart into the opposite corner, but Strong escaped. An Angle Slam was countered. Both men traded attempts at their signature moves, ending with Strong catching Gargano in another attempt at the slingshot spear, dropping him with a double underhook backbreaker.
In the middle of the ring, both men delivered vicious strikes. Elbows, kicks, and clotheslines hammered both men. Strong avoided Gargano's patented kneeling superkick and connected with a series of harsh backbreakers. Gargano kicked out. Strong looked to lock Gargano in another submission hold, but was trapped in the Gargano Escape. Adam Cole attempted to interfere, as did the rest of the Undisputed Era.
However, Matt Riddle made the save, taking out Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly. Cole sent him into ground with a right hand and tried to superkick Gargano. His foot found the jaw of Roderick Strong, though, allowing Gargano to finish him off with the Slingshot DDT.
Results: Johnny Gargano defeated Roderick Strong via pinfall.
As the Undisputed Era argued in the middle of the ring, Matt Riddle and Johnny Gargano celebrated at the top of the ramp. Fish and O'Reilly tried to play peacemaker. Thankfully for the group, cooler heads prevailed, and the Undisputed Era walked out as a unit.