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NXT championship: Andrade "Cien" Almas (c) vs. Johnny Gargano
It's no secret that Almas and Gargano have an incredible amount of in-ring chemistry together. They've proven it on multiple occasions, including their show stealing effort at "TakeOver: Brooklyn III." But outside of Gargano's quest to avenge two straight losses to Almas, this chapter of their feud has had a very one-sided build as Gargano won three different matches to qualify for the opportunity. Luckily, a bit of that was salvaged in the closing moments of Wednesday's edition of NXT TV.
Before this week's show, all we had seen were backstage segments featuring Almas' associate Zelina Vega verbally dismissing Gargano's chances to become NXT champion, and Gargano's persistent push to prove his worth. That push to remove any doubt about how valid a challenger he was went so far that Gargano put his championship opportunity on the line this week against the Velveteen Dream.
When Gargano initially earned his spot as the number one contender, first by defeating Kassius Ohno and then by winning a Fatal 4-way match against Aleister Black, Lars Sullivan and Killian Dain, it was as a replacement of an injured Velveteen Dream. Just three days before TakeOver: Philadelphia, Dream received his chance to be catapulted right into the main event of TakeOver, only to fall just short in an outstanding that allowed both in-ring magicians do what they do best.
While Gargano's journey as a singles competitor has been compelling, Almas' title reign has been anything but. He has performed in a couple trivial matches since beating Drew McIntyre in Houston, but Almas hasn't been nearly as visible as he should've been over the last two months. Almas needed to be on this week's show, and thankfully he was.
Following Gargano's victory, Almas and Vega attempted to capitalize on a worn-out challenger, but after Almas tossed Gargano out of the ring, Gargano answered by charging back in and hitting a slingshot DDT. He added salt to the wound by posing with the NXT championship as the show went off the air.
Underwhelming build to this particular match aside, these two are certainly capable of producing a match-of-the-weekend candidate. They've done it before, and with the intensely personal way each of their first two matches ended, there's something to build from in the match. No matter how it goes, the specter of Tommaso Ciampa looms large.
Kassius Ohno vs. Velveteen Dream
This match was only announced three days prior to the event, which is a bit disappointing since both men could easily do some great storytelling. However, both Kassius Ohno and Velveteen Dream are great in the ring and will undoubtedly create a self-contained story throughout this match. There is a slight link between both Ohno and Dream recently and that is the recent NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament.
In the first round of matches, Ohno was expecting to face Dream but due to injury, Dream was replaced by Johnny Gargano instead. Gargano would end up defeating Ohno and winning the #1 Contender’s spot. If Dream was in the tournament instead of Johnny Wrestling, Ohno could have won and been in the main event facing Andrade “Cien” Almas for the gold. Velveteen Dream tried to take “his” spot away from Gargano in a match this week, but Gargano won and kept his opportunity for the NXT Championship.
Prediction:
It seems like Kassius Ohno’s role in NXT is to help elevate everyone else. While that can hopefully change at some point, doing the honors for Velveteen Dream seems like the right call. Winner: Velveteen Dream
Aleister Black vs. Adam Cole – Extreme Rules Match
Here is a match that more obviously stemmed from the NXT Championship #1 Contender’s tournament. In the first round, Aleister Black defeated Adam Cole in their only encounter to date, which clearly didn’t sit well with the leader of the Undisputed ERA. In the Fatal Four-Way finals, Cole (along with Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly) would assault Black and prevent him from challenging for the NXT Championship.
After weeks of back-and-forth brawling, William Regal decided that things needed to be taken to the next level. Regal decided to add the Extreme Rules stipulation so that there could be a definitive winner without disqualifications getting in the way. Also, Philadelphia is practically the home of the Extreme Rules match.
Prediction:
Since the match is Extreme Rules, Adam Cole can have his allies help him win. The addition of weapons can also equalize Cole’s chances while keeping the credibility that Black has garnered over the past year. Winner: Adam Cole
Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly (c) vs. The Authors of Pain – NXT Tag Team Championships
It is a bit of a surprise that the Authors of Pain are still in NXT. After losing the NXT Tag Team Championships to SAnitY last year, it seemed like Akam and Rezar were destined to join the main roster tag scene. However, they found themselves defeating the Street Profits on route to potentially capturing the gold for the second time.
Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly debuted a few months ago with a ton of buzz around them already. They entered NXT with a long history of success, both as solo competitors and as the team known as reDRagon. Since joining NXT, the Undisputed ERA won the only War Games match in the brand’s history, then Fish and O’Reilly ended the short tag title reign of SAnitY.
Prediction:
That being said, now seems like as good of a time as any for AoP to give Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly the rub before getting called up. Raw could use a couple more tag teams and this would be a welcome addition. Winners, and STILL NXT Tag Team Champions: Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly
Ember Moon (c) vs. Shayna Baszler – NXT Women’s Championship
Shayna Baszler only debuted for NXT about a month ago, but she was sure to make a quick ascent to the top of the women’s division. After matches (hers or others’), she would try and purposely hurt the other women to show how tough she is. She choked out Aliyah and someone at the Performance Center and she may have broken Dakota Kai’s arm.
Baszler’s last attempt of injuring a competitor was met with resistance from Ember Moon. The NXT Women’s Champion doesn’t back down from a fight and she was going to stand up for the division. Moon is the woman who came closest to defeating Asuka, so it makes sense that she is the one to step up to the former UFC fighter. Baszler was the runner-up in the Mae Young Classic, so Moon has to be careful not to take her lightly.
Prediction:
After months of chasing the NXT Women’s Championship, it would be a huge letdown for Moon to lose the title before she finds her stride atop the women’s division. Baszler is almost acting like the female Brock Lesnar of NXT and while that has its place, she will become a lot more interesting with a few wrinkles in her character. Moon needs the win here while Baszler could use this loss to motivate herself to become better, more interesting, and more ready for the spotlight next time. Winner, and STILL NXT Women’s Champion: Ember Moon