Last week on NXT, Drake Maverick shocked everyone when he would walk away from his match with KUSHIDA with a win. He survived an armbar for long enough to pin his opponent. This put the A Block of the Interim Cruiserweight Championship tournament in an odd predicament. Maverick, KUSHIDA & Jake Atlas all had 2-1 records, forcing a three way tie with no clear winner. Because of this, they will meet in a triple threat match to kick off this weeks episode of NXT. Who will go on to face El Hijo Del Fantasma in the finals?
Jake Atlas Takes Early Control
Action would start with a stand off with all three men, with some strikes as Atlas would focus on Maverick with some heavy chops. Maverick would be thrown over the head of Atlas into a dropkick to KUSHIDA, before Maverick ran into a Tilt-A-Whirl Backbreaker from Atlas. The quick cover would be broken up by KUSHIDA, who would throw Atlas out of the ring before looking to submit Maverick, attacking the injured left arm from their previous match. Atlas would break this up, throw KUSHIDA to the outside and launch himself to the outside with a moonsault. Maverick would rush to join the outside scuffle, but Atlas would be on the apron and slam his shoulder into the gut of Maverick, giving enough space to hit a springboard blockbuster.
Fast Paced Action From KUSHIDA
After kicking out of a pinfall following a neckbreaker from Atlas, KUSHIDA would look to get control of the match with his hip toss into cartwheel dropkick special. He’d follow this up by kicking the injured arm of Maverick, and with both men in adjacent corners, shoteis would be delivered en masse. Maverick would be propped on the top rope by KUSHIDA, but Atlas would save him and they would look to use a Doomsday Device type move. A boot from Maverick would knock off the balance of Atlas, allowing KUSHIDA to go for a roll up. Maverick would look to break his up, but would find himself caught in a german suplex by KUSHIDA, who would nearly pin both men.
After Maverick & Atlas would kick out, all three men would exchange blows in the middle of the ring. Maverick would end up with the upperhand due to his crafty nature, tripping both his opponents into the corner, then hitting his middle rope missle dropkick on KUSHIDA. Atlas would rush Maverick, being sent over the top rope as KUSHIDA came in with a kick intended for Maverick, but hitting Atlas instead. Not bothered by this, KUSHIDA would go for a diving senton to the outside, crashing down on Atlas. He would quickly get back in the ring with a tornado DDT on Maverick, before going for an armbar. Maverick would nearly repeat last weeks win as he reversed into a pin, but KUSHIDA survived.
Drake Maverick Is An Opportunist
With all three men having gone all out from the start, they were looking gassed early. Atlas would hit an inverted suplex for a near fall, being broken up by Maverick. The crowd would cheer on Maverick as he dodged a shoulder tackle, sending Atlas into the post before hitting the Dudley Dog for a near fall. KUSHIDA would break this up with a stomp to the head, followed by some Kawada Kicks. This only fired up Maverick, who would be dropped with a huge right hand. He would next look to drop Atlas with a handspring back elbow, but would be caught into a German Suplex, which lead to KUSHIDA rolling to the outside.
A slam to Maverick in the corner would but him in position for the Rainbow DDT, which would have won the match but KUSHIDA pulled him out of the ring at two. A pump kick dropped KUSHIDA, before Atlas tried again. Stopping him at the top was KUSHIDA, before a leaping forearm from Maverick would knock Atlas down. KUSHIDA would lock in the armlock on Maverick, only for a pump kick from Atlas to knock him to the mat.
An armbreaker would stop Atlas, and KUSHIDA would hit the flying armbar off the top rope. Atlas would be distracted by pain, KUSHIDA distracted by the smell of victory. This allowed Maverick to crawl in, place one arm over Atlas, and before he could tap out the referee would count to three. KUSHIDA thought he won until the music of Maverick hit. However, a later camera cut would show that Atlas tapped out at two.
Another Match To Go?
Drake Maverick has been the star of this tournament, with the story revolving around him fighting for his job after being released from WWE. However, this dusty finish could very well lead to a rematch between Maverick & KUSHIDA. Will the officials decision stand, as he didn’t see the tap out? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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