While usually NXT Takeover events are home to many big championship matches, this is all we are getting tonight. Leon Ruff against all odds beat Johnny Gargano to become NXT North American Champion a few weeks back, with heavy help from Damien Priest. Priest also helped him retain the championship, but Ruff was starting to feel like he wasn’t respected.
Suddenly, this underdog showed some bark, and would challenge both men to a title match for NXT Takeover: War Games, and now we’re here. Leon Ruff is a great wrestler, and tonight might be his biggest moment yet, but don’t be shocked if Priest or Gargano walk away with the belt tonight. He needs to control his emotions, stay calm, and prove he belongs as the champion.
Leon Ruff Has An Early End To The Night?
Ruff would be thrown aside early by Priest before he was superkicked in the face. Gargano tried to take Ruff out early, while just keeping Priest out of the ring. Ruff showed his insane agility and slipped away from Gargano before showing some fancy footwork on the ropes for a hurricarana, and threw some strikes in the corner. Priest again just threw Ruff away, and yelled “just get out of my way”.
Not seeing Ruff was a threat was a mistake, as he dove in with a missile dropkick and was ready to throw hands despite the size disadvantage. Together with Gargano, they’d pick Priest apart, but once he was on the outside, Gargano nailed the slingshot spear for a two count. The superkick was set up and Priest would pull him out of the ring.
Ruff dove onto Priest again and was again told to get out of his way, before slapping the taste out of his mouth. Priest responded by hitting a Razors Edge through the barricade, potentially ending Ruff’s night. He’d apologize as Ruff was helped to the back, but Gargano would attack from behind. Gargano hit a tornado DDT on the outside. He tried for One Final Beat onto the ramp, but Priest countered out and hit a spinning heel kick.
Damien Priest Has A Ton Of Fight
Gargano came back with a Sliced Bread No. 2 in the middle of the ring, but couldn’t get more than two. Priest missed some kicks before being chopped down to pop up with a kick to the face before running through Gargano with a lariat. He’d take a breather, and Leon Ruff exploded back down the apron and launched off Priest onto Gargano. Gargano slipped outside, and Ruff dived onto both men. Back in the ring, a flying cutter got Ruff a two count, and he’s proving he can hang.
He went to the top rope only to be ripped back down by Gargano, who threw him into the ropes but Ruff bounced back with a lariat. Priest was back and said Ruff had no more chances, before hitting a big boot and getting a two for one flatliner, dropping both men. He’d hit elbow strikes in the corners before using the Broken Arrow to throw Ruff into Gargano.
Priest set up Razors Edge, but Gargano slipped behind and shoved him into the ringpost. Ruff was again a weapon to be thrown, this time into Priest. Gargano would tie Priest up in the ropes, and look to beat Ruff before being trapped with the Crucifix pin for a two count. Ruff missed the top rope frog splash, and was trapped in the Gargano Escape. Priest got free and broke the hold, taking Gargano out and moving to Ruff.
The Johnny Gargano Way Works
Ruff tried for the rebound lariat, but Gargano caught the superkick on Ruff. Priest dropped Gargano with a chokeslam, before having to fight off an army of Ghostfaces here to support Gargano. He’d beat six goons down, catch Gargano with another chokeslam. Gargano rolled into a frog splash, but Priest saved the match at two.
Ruff kept on fighting before being taken out with a spinning knee from Priest. Gargano ran in to apply the Gargano Escape, but was countered and kicked in the head. Now with the ring clear, another Ghostface with a steel pipe took Priest out. Ruff got a rollup for two, but was hit with One Final Beat for the loss. Johnny Gargano is now a three time North American Champion. Austin Theory was the Ghostface with the steel pipe, unmasking after the match.
Who are these other mysterious followers of the Gargano Way? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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