NXT Takeover 31 Results: Johnny Gargano vs. Damien Priest [NXT North American Championship Match]

You don’t earn a nickname like ‘Johnny Takeover’ by not showing up for big matches, and Johnny Gargano has been everywhere on a Takeover card. From pre-show to main event, he’s always given his all, and that is what Damien Priest has to deal with tonight. The NXT North American Championship is on the line, Priest having won it at Takeover 30, and Gargano wants to bring it home, and become the first ever two-time champion to kick off NXT Takeover 31!

A Fast Start From Both Men

They would take no time getting started, Gargano & Priest throwing a flurry of strikes, with the speed of Gargano giving him the edge. Priest would finally catch him with a spinning heel kick, and that would slow Gargano right down. More heavy strikes would batter Gargano, the heavyweight showing his dominance until a backbreaker was countered into an attempted Gargano Escape. Priest would resist that, and just boot Gargano down.

This match would go to the mat, but a wrist lock would almost lead to the Old School from Priest, before Gargano slipped out and sent him to the apron. A precise kick to the knee would stun Priest and then Gargano would dump him down to the outside, before diving through the ropes and shoving Priest into the chain link fence & plexiglass that surrounds the ring. Gargano would follow this up by throwing Priest into the steel steps, but a single right hand from Priest will stun you every time, but it wouldn’t keep Gargano down long.

Priest would soon find himself tied up in the ropes, taking all of a front dropkick before Gargano dove onto him, finally grounding Priest in the ring for some submission wrestling, focusing on that knee he kicked earlier. Gargano would be shoved off, but that leg was a target to slow Priest down if he got too much momentum. This would also get Priest fired up, and he’d build up to an elevated Flatliner with strikes, dropping Gargano jaw first before hitting some flying elbows in the corner.

The Signature Moves Come Out

Priest would hit the Broken Arrow in the center of the ring, but Gargano would kick out at two. A Razors Edge would be planned next, but Gargano fought out and looked for his rolling kick, with it being blocked and he got slammed into the mat before being set up for another Razors Edge, which was countered into a sunset flip, getting Gargano a two count. Both men would take some time to catch their breath after this, before Gargano threw more elbows down at Priest, only to run into a strike before this turned into a slugfest of elbows and kicks.

Priest would springboard off the rope for a forearm to the jaw and went for the tornado kick, Gargano easily dodging and sending Priest to the outside. Gargano went for the dive, but got caught in South of Heaven, but landed on the apron before having his feet kicked out from underneath. A Razor’s Edge onto the apron would punish Gargano, but Priest took too long getting to the pin and Gargano kicked out at two.

Priest would go for another leaping back elbow, but Gargano got the chop block in mid air, more damage to the left knee, but the pain drove him forward. Gargano would go for Gargano Escape, Priest countered into the Reckoning, Gargano countered into a standing sliced bread into a forearm to the back of the neck in an incredible sequence of moves. Priest would get cocky and spend too much time taunting before a superkick, and almost got Chokeslammed, but slipped out into a rollup before going to the apron for One Final Beat. This would fail, and Priest nailed South Of Heaven for a near fall.

Damien Priest & Johnny Gargano Are Exhausted

Working through the pain to the left knee, Priest would go to the top rope but Gargano smartly rolled out of the ring. Priest was gonna fly anyways, but Gargano pulled security into the flight path. This caused two security guards to be taken out, a big distraction allowing for a low blow from Gargano! He’d throw him back in the ring, hit a superkick but Priest still kicked out at two!

The Gargano Escape would be applied with the left knee trapped, right in the middle of the ring, but Priest managed to drag himself to the ropes. Gargano noticed the steel steps at ringside, and had evil intentions in mind. Priests would be set up near them on the apron, and have to fight to not land back first, as Gargano hit a big forearm. Priest would hit a big kick, but Gargano came back with two superkicks before setting up One Final Beat. Gargano would be stopped in mid air, set up on the ropes, and a special Reckoning got Priest his second defense of the NXT North American Championship.

This was a perfect NXT Takeover opening match with its fast pace and great performances. It was Damien Priest’s best match yet, as he keeps getting better and better. Match Rating: ⅘ (****)

Who will get the next shot at Damien Priest? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.

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