It has all come down to this. Eight men entered the field to crown an interim Cruiserweight Champion while Jordan Devlin has been unable to defend. Jack Gallagher, Jake Atlas, Isiah Scott, Tony Nese, Akira Tozawa and KUSHIDA all failed to make it to the finals. Drake Maverick, fighting for his job would win the A-Block, after the block ended in a three way tie, but Maverick would win a triple threat. El Hijo Del Fantasma would have an easier path, simply leaving the B-Block with the best record in an impressive series of debut matches. With the title now one match away, who would leave with the gold and book a ticket to face Devlin? Would Maverick save his job?
El Hijo Del Fantasma Nearly Steals This One
The bell would ring, and the match would start off with a show of sportsmanship with a handshake. Fantasma is not to be trusted, as he would slip in for a rollup off this for a two count. This served to get into the head of Maverick as much as it was meant to get a win. Some grappling followed, as Maverick kept a level head. He has proven he can win matches like this, but only if he remains collected.
An armdrag takedown into a Monkey Flip would keep control for Fantasma, who went for another quick pinfall with a crucifix. Maverick kicked out, but the mindgames continue as frustration settled in. A flying head scissors would finally get some momenteum for Maverick, but Fantasma would flee to the outside. Maverick came after him, but the luchador slide out of the way of the baseball slide and look to regain control with a powerbomb. Getting onto the apron would save Maverick as he’d escape hit a flipping senton off the apron as our first commercial break of the match set in.
Maverick Maintains Control As Best He Can
Coming back from the break, we see Maverick has Fantasma in the corner for some strikes before throwing him across the ring. Fantasma would rush back in but a dropkick to the knee sent Fantasma face first into the middle turnbuckle, before delivering a dropkick from the middle rope, sending Fantasma to the outside. Maverick would presue his opponent, but a sitout powerbomb would drop him hard. Being thrown back in the ring, Maverick would find a way to kick out as he screamed in pain.
The lower back would become the target, as Fantasma would push Maverick into the ropes and send forearms to the back. A surfboard stretch would further hurt the back, but Maverick is not a quitter. He’d survive the hold,but the damage was done. He’d be pulled back to the middle of the ring, and a backdrop driver would get a two count. A second backdrop would be countered by a punch to the face.
Fired Up At Last
Fighting through a hurt back, Maverick would dropkick the knee of Fantasma again, looking for the same combo from earlier. Only difference is this time, the underdog is feral. The dropkick would be countered into a boston crab, but Maverick would crawl to the ropes to break the hold. There is no quit in him, not now. Fantasma would not quit either, and look to put Maverick down. A powerbomb in the middle of the room would get a two count, but there was zero resistance to the move happening. Fantasma would get in the face of Maverick in the corner, who would yell he isn’t quitting as he’d slap Fantasma across the face.
Beating down Fantasma in the corner with strikes, he’d nearly be DQ’d after ignoring the 5 count. A wheelbarrow dropkick would follow this up, with Maverick going to the top rope for an elbow drop. This would only get a on count sadly. A spinebuster would drop Maverick quick, but he’d counter Fantasma who went to the top rope. A scrap on the apron would send Fantasma to the floor.
The Masked Men Are Here
Over the past few months of NXT, there have been kidnappings done by masked men in the parking lot. They would come down to ringside, but Maverick would seemingly save Fantasma. He dove through the ropes onto them and fought them off. However, he’d come into the ring to a superkick, followed by the Phantom Driver. El Hijo Del Fantasma won the match due to this, and will soon be looking to prove he is the true champion when Devlin returns.
Drake Maverick Isn’t Going Away
The main story in this tournament was Maverick fighting to save his job. He didn’t win, but he proved how good he is, how valuable he is. This would all end with him in the ring, heartbroken. The crowd would give him a standing ovation and beat on the plexiglass. He’d speak to the camera and thank everyone for their support. At this time, it would be a familar scene. We’ve been here before. He’d slowly walk up the ramp, saying his final goodbyes. Triple H walks out, and hands him an NXT contract saying ‘you’ve earned this.’
This is the perfect way to end this saga, it’s unclear if Maverick was released only in storyline, if support won it back, but at the end of the day, he won his job back.
Are you satisfied with how all this went? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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