Io Shirai & Dakota Kai vs Jessamyn Duke & Marina Shafir
Kicking off tonight’s episode of NXT was the NXT TV in ring debut for Duke & Shafir against Shirai & Kai. Kai is beaten down early in the match by Duke. Shirai gets the hot tag, busts out a 619 and hits a picture perfect asai moonsault to pick up the win for her team.
Shirai legitimately is one of the best wrestlers in the entire world and I cannot wait to see what she can do in NXT and WWE going forward.
Dominik Dijakovic vs Aaron Mackey
After being signed for what seems like several years, the former Donovan Dijak (Dijakovic) has finally properly debut on NXT. This was a squash match purely to put over the strength and move set of Dijakovic.
This man is the real deal. I see him dominating the roster and don’t be surprised if he’s a champion before long. If you don’t believe me, find his 5 star classic against Keith Lee in PWG.
Heavy Machinery vs Jobbers
A week before their NXT Tag Team championship match against the Undisputed Era, Tucker Knight and Otis Dozovic took on two men who weren’t exactly named on the broadcast. Undisputed Era showed up early on and Heavy Machinery send them a message by dominating their opponents.
The match ends when Dozovic hits both men with a double Compacter for the win. Both teams face off to hype their match next week. I’m assuming this match next week will be Heavy Machinery’s last match in NXT as they have been announced to be coming to the main roster in the near future.
Johnny Gargano vs Aleister Black in a steel cage
The main event is a rematch from TakeOver War Games but this time inside a steel cage. Gargano attacks Black during his entrance and the two brawl outside the cage before the match starts.
Black has the upper hand as they begin the match. Aleister tries to quicken the match pace but Gargano keeps looking to slow it down early. Gargano’s selling of Black’s offense looks amazing.
In a shocking turn of events, NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa comes down to the ring to beat down Black as both him and Gargano are leaving the cage. This drew Gargano back into the ring and we got a moment I never thought i’d see again. Gargano & Ciampa, former tag team partners turned bitter rivals come together for a common hatred in Black and hit him with their old signature move as Gargano pins Black for the win.
The crowd wants DIY back and I want DIY back. This was an amazing angle to end the show on and it will be interesting to see how WWE will be able to follow this up.
Overall, this was a solid show. While the under card matches lacked in substance, the main event more than made up for it as well as the angle at the end with Gargano & Ciampa.
Next week looks to be stacked with matches such as Undisputed Era vs Heavy Machinery for the NXT Tag Team Championships as well as a fatal four way to determine the #1 contender for the NXT Women’s Championship at NXT TakeOver Pheonix.
