Tonight, Johnny Gargano gets the chance he’s been looking for. A one on one encounter with NXT Champion Karrion Kross, with the gold on the line. Since the build to NXT Takeover: In Your House, Gargano has been taking shots at Kross and dropping him. Things have escalated in recent weeks, with Kross even trying to run Gargano over. Due to the chaos, Samoa Joe has been named the special guest referee for this encounter.
Bronson Reed Interrupts Adam Cole Before Main Event
One man who would be watching this match very closely is Adam Cole. Last week, he defeated Kyle O’Reilly in an epic match. He proved that he’s the greatest superstar in NXT history, and O’Reilly’s last win was a total fluke. O’Reilly gave an interview earlier in the night, and claimed that he wants a rematch. However, Cole knows he’d just embarrass him once again.
Cole right now has his eyes on Samoa Joe, and would say that no one but Joe is suited to take on someone like him. However, one man who wants a shot at Cole is Bronson Reed. Cole can manipulate people when they have something to lose, but Reed has nothing to lose following his recent NXT North American Championship loss. Fans were curious what was next for Reed, and it became clear as he sent Cole running to the hills.
All The Ingredients Of A Classic Match
Samoa Joe would stare Cole down, before getting into the ring for his referee duties. Gargano would be next to the ring, and he was all business tonight. Kross had his usual grand entrance, and that completed the big match feel. Before the bell could even ring, Gargano started throwing some forearms to the dismay of Samoa Joe.
Kross weathered this early storm, before throwing Gargano with an exploder suplex. He’d hit some stomps, before a quick suplex. Gargano stayed focused as Kross got cocky, and hit a dropkick to the back before a baseball slide through the ropes and a cannonball senton. Kross was right back up, and stalked up to Gargano to hit a big boot.
Gargano dodged a shoulder tackle and Kross was rammed right into the steel steps, but recovered to hit a double arm chokeslam right into the announce table. We’d go to a picture in picture break, and Gargano would be beaten down in the ring as Kross flaunted his power and strikes. Gargano would be choked in the corner, before throwing some forearms only to be shut right down.
Back from the break, Kross would have a sleeper hold applied on Gargano who fought free. Gargano got his boots up and into the face of Kross, before dodging a spear in the corner sending Kross shoulder first into steel. Kross would then be rocked by an enziguri and slingshot spear, sending him to the outside.
Karrion Kross Holds Onto His Gold
Gargano looked for One Final Beat would be countered into a suplex, before Kross placed him onto the top rope. Kross would look for a top rope Doomsday Saito, but Gargano countered on the way down. Some quick buzzsaw kicks set up a superkick, but Kross cut him down with a lariat. Kross wanted a running powerslam, but Gargano nailed a quick DDT as a counter before being planted with a chokeslam.
Gargano blocked a lariat with a superkick before going for Gargano Escape, with Kross countering into an attempt of Kross Jacket. This was countered into the Gargano Escape, but Kross was able to power out. The Kross Jacket was applied on Garagno, and he was fading fast but he saw the ropes and made the short but long crawl.
Joe would break the hold himself at four, much to the dismay of Kross. After a brief faceoff, Kross followed Gargano outside and slammed him against the barricades. Kross grabbed steel steps, and Joe disarmed him causing another face off. Garagno took advantage and hit a DDT through the ropes, before nailing One Final Beat in the ring for a two count.
Gargano missed the superkick, and took an elbow strike to the head. Three powerbombs and a Doomsday Saito would all but knock Gargano out, but Kross wanted the killing blow. The elbow to the back of the head took Gargano down, and he’d get into the face of Joe one last time.
Karrion Kross has a winning formula with his recent matches, and this was another very good one from him. Gargano played the underdog perfectly, and the tension between Joe & Kross was a major highlight. In the end, Kross remained champion, but he made a major mistake in the end. Match Rating: 3.75/5 (*** 3/4)
That major mistake would be choking out Samoa Joe following the match. Joe can’t get physical unless provoked, and Kross did more than just that. How will Samoa Joe get his revenge? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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