Firs, lets do a brief history on this feud. When Pete Dunne was unable to make it to NXT to help defend his half of the NXT Tag Team Championships, Timothy Thatcher would be hand picked as the new partner of Matt Riddle. After a successful defense against Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish, they seemed to gel well. However, a miscommunication in their defense against Imperium would lead to them breaking down in a hurry. They would clash the same night they lost their titles, with Riddle sneaking a win after reversing a submission into a pinfall.
Thatcher didn’t want this happening again, and called for a special type of match. This isn’t a cage match like WWE normally holds, this is being called the Fight Pit. A special cage was constructed, there is no ropes, no turnbuckle padding, no pinfalls, you can only win by pinfall or submission. Add in WWE Hall Of Famer Kurt Angle as special guest referee? This is going to be fight to remember. Who would walk away at the end of this short but intense rivalry?
More Akin To MMA Than Professional Wrestling
The match would start fast and furiously, with Riddle diving off the upper part of the cage into a roll, with him coming up with a stiff elbow strike to the face of Thatcher. He would lay strikes into Thatcher along the cage before taking him to the mat with a double leg take down and laying in some ground and pound. With Riddle looking for the rear naked choke early, Thatcher would slip out of danger and get back to his feet. One blocked kick later and Thatcher was in control of Riddle, applying a sleeper hold on Riddle. Riddle would use the cage to break free, and apply a rear waist lock and would hit a German Suplex before hitting the Broton.
Timothy Thatcher Suffers An Injury
Finally back to his feet after the assault from Riddle, Thatcher would counter another kick and an open palm strike to the face would stun Riddle. This wouldn’t help much as Riddle would come off the cage with a hard kick to the side of the head. Another kick on the ground for good measure and Kurt Angle would start the count. Thatcher would be back on his feet by the count of 7, with a pool of blood coming out of his mouth. Two teeth on the mat show the reason for this. Ringside doctors would check him out, and he would have the option to give the match up. He of course declined this, now even more prepared to tear the arm off Riddle. Angle would grab a towel to help tidy up Thatcher, put some gloves on and this grudge match would continue after a commercial break.
Back To Action
Back from the break, Riddle is trapped in a guillotine choke by Thatcher, but he would fight out with some ground and break. They would battle at the edge of the cage, with Thatcher looking for an armbar. Riddle would slip out and get back to his feet, with strikes flying again as Thatcher would be kicked into the cage. Looking for another kick off the cage, Thatcher would counter this time and catch Riddle out of the sky, nearly getting him in the Fujiwara Armbar.
Riddle would get out, and look to hoist Thatcher up for a powerbomb, only to dumped over the head of his opponent onto the mat. Thatcher would slam Riddle into the cage before hitting a huge Belly To Belly Suplex. Going for the leg, Thatcher would apply a heel hook, kick Riddle a few times before setting in a single leg crab, then transitioning into an STF.
Not getting the submission, Thatcher would instead stomp Riddle and allow Angle to start the 10 count. Riddle would rise into a Butterfly Suplex, with Thatcher floating over and looking for the armbar again. This would be unsuccessful, and Riddle would gain control as he looked for the Bromission unsuccessfully.
Brawling On Top Of The Cage
More sprawling, submission attempts and more would lead to Thatcher attempting a triangle choke, with Riddle powering out and looking for a powerbomb. Thatcher would use the cage to his advantage and hold on to break free. Riddle would take chase, and they fight on the elevated top, giving the chance for a knockout to occur from a fall. They would exchange srikes, with Riddle having his foot caught as Thatcher would apply an ankle lock, then being hung off the cage, letting the blood rush to his head.
He would fight his way back up, and escape the hold, but miss a Broton, hitting hard on the steel. A suplex from Thatcher would follow this up, and then he would look to do a Butterfly Suplex to the ring. Riddle would fight free and hit a ripcord knee, sending Thatcher to the ring, a seven foot fall.
Not content to let Angle count a potential knockout, Riddle would look for the Floating Bro, nailing Thatcher right in the ribs. Somehow, Thatcher would look to get back to his feet. Using the cage to rise, he would absorb some strikes before dodging Riddle, who went face first into the steel. Thatcher would apply a choke, and Riddle would fight out using the cage and slamming him into the mat, but Thatcher would sink the choke in once again. Riddle would show little sign of life, Angle checked the arm, and it was limp. Thatcher succeeded in choking him out.
A Perfect Send Off For Matt Riddle
With rumors surrounding a Smackdown debut for Matt Riddle, this was a great way to end his tenure in NXT. It is best to leave a brand on your back, with this elevating Timothy Thatcher in a huge way. It possibly even gave this future NXT Champion his own signature match. Matt Riddle in NXT has been fun, and he should go on to do great things, but on this night, he got beat.
Do you think Timothy Thatcher will go on to be a major star in NXT following this huge win? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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