On Night One of NXT Takeover: Stand & Deliver, Raquel Gonzalez was finally able to prove that Io Shirai can be beaten in a championship match. Now, Gonzalez is looking to show that she can be equally unstoppable on top of the NXT Women’s division, as she makes her first title defense tonight. Starting off with a crafty and pissed off veteran like Mercedes Martinez is a great way to kick off a legendary reign, or prove your big win might have been a fluke. Tonight will truly be a test of who Raquel Gonzalez is as a champion.
Hard Hitting Action From The Very Start
Mercedes Martinez took a big breath as she hit the ring, knowing that this is her biggest chance in NXT yet. Dakota Kai would be in the corner of Gonzalez for this match, but hopefully won’t spend too much time getting involved. Martinez came right at Gonzalez and took her over the top rope with a lariat, before hitting a cannonball senton off the apron. She’d send Kai running, before driving Gonzalez into the barricade.
Gonzalez was thrown into the ring, where she’d use the high ground to get the advantage with some clubbing blows to the back. She’d get the veteran in the Camel Clutch, before throwing her down to the mat when she struggled to her feet. Martinez fought back into this match with some strikes before diving her into the corner, only for Gonzalez to come back twice as hard with strikes.
Gonzalez nailed a powerslam into the middle of the ring, getting a two count before nailing a suplex. She’d crank the neck of Martinez, who was able to get a rope break to break the hold, but Gonzalez stayed on the offensive with a huge lariat. Another powerslam and another two count for Gonzalez, but she’d stay focused and go for a chinlock. Martinez would get free and take Gonzalez down for some strikes, before she was dumped outside of the ring.
Raquel Gonzalez Earns Her First Title Defense
Gonzalez took a moment to recover before Martinez came into the ring to attempt a rear naked choke, before Gonzalez countered into a powerslam. Martinez responded by setting up a Dragon Screw Neckbreaker using the ropes to prop Gonzalez up. This got a two count, and Gonzalez went to the apron. Martinez followed and nailed a spear, slamming Gonzalez onto the hardest part of the ring.
Back in the ring, Martinez was thrown throat first into the top rope, and stumbled right outside. Gonzalez picked Martinez up and drove her shoulder first into the ring post for a two count. Martinez refused to give up and nailed a jawbreaker, before hitting some savage strikes. Gonzalez came back with a lariat for a near fall, before opting for a simple backbreaker.
She’d look for the one arm powerbomb, but Martinez had it scouted and countered into a sunset flip before nailing the knee strike to the jaw. Martinez hit the Fisherman Buster, before some more knees to the jaw. Gonzalez would find another gear, nailed a desperate big boot and dropped Martinez with the powerbomb for the win.
You don’t often see hard hitting matches of this type from the ladies of WWE, and that makes matches like this really stand out. Martinez & Gonzalez beat the hell out of each other, and there was some great drama with the near falls at the end. Gonzalez looked wise beyond her years, thanks to Martinez guiding this match. Not the best match of this style you’ll find in NXT, but a solid title defense. Match Rating: 3.25/5 (*** 1/4)
Who will be the next challenger for Raquel Gonzalez? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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