The interim Cruiserweight Championship tournament started as the story of who will be the one to eventually face Jordan Devlin. This is still the stakes for seven of the men, but it has gotten much more serious than this for Drake Maverick. A week ago, he was released from his WWE contract, but has still chosen to be involved in this tournament.
These next three matches are the most important of his tournament, if not his life. Victory wouldn’t just get him the NXT Interim Cruiserweight Championship, it could save his job. Jake Atlas would be his first opponent, who was simply looking for a chance to prove himself in WWE. Would Maverick start his road to saving his job right, or would Atlas be another roadblock?
Drake Maverick Proves He Is Legit
This was a more serious Drake Maverick then we have ever seen, locking up quick with Atlas. He would apply a tight headlock to start, but Atlas would slip away before showing off his agility with a series of counters. Maverick would pick the ankle of Atlas, and start showing off his submission skills on the mat, with Atlas slipping away. Back on their feet, Maverick would deliver a quick kick the leg which rocked Atlas. An attempted dropkick nearly lead to Maverick being thrown out of the ring, but he would be able to counter into a hurricarana over the top rope. Focused on victory, he would take Atlas back into the ring, only to be hit with a big backbreaker for a near fall.
Atlas would take advantage of the newly hurt back, with a strong whip into the turnbuckle, then applying pressure to the ribs of Maverick. Maverick would fight out, running into the corner sending Atlas face first into the top turnbuckle. Atlas would then charge back at Maverick, and go shoulder into the post. Another kick to the leg followed by some open palm uppercuts would chop away at Atlas, before he hit a missle dropkick. This would be a prelude to another attempt at Tequila Sunrise as Atlas quickly scrambled to the ropes. Maverick would be relentless, and dive through the ropes to keep the pressure on Atlas.
Jake Atlas Makes A Hard Choice
Throwing Atlas back in the ring, Maverick would hit an elbow drop off the top rope to the face for a near fall. A cutter attempt in the corner would be countered, and Atlas hit a big superkick to get a chance to catch his breath and climb the top rope. Maverick would quickly recover and climb up with him to attempt a top rope hurricarana, but Atlas help on. Atlas took this chance to hit an impressive cartwheel DDT off the top rope, and win the first match of A-Block.
This puts Maverick in a less than favorable position, but not an impossible one. It just adds pressure to his next two matches, and makes this story even more intense. Atlas is now the leader in A-Block, but will be tied with either KUSHIDA or Tony Nese after their match later.
Will Drake Maverick bounce back from this loss? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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